Leadership

MDEMA Officers

The officers of this Association shall be a President, First Vice-President, Second Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer and Parlimentarian. Officers shall be elected at the Annual Meeting by a majority vote of active members. The Parlimentarian will hold no voting rights on the Executive Committee.

The term of each office shall be for a period of one fiscal year, beginning July 1 after the election has occurred.
The consecutive term limit for President, First Vice President, and Second Vice President shall not exceed three terms. However, after leaving office for a year or serving in a different officer position, that member can seek re-election for the position of President, First Vice President, or Second Vice President.

PRESIDENT

Emily Wesselhoff, 2nd Term 

Emily works as a Preparedness Analyst at the Maryland Department of Emergency Management. Initially exploring a career in emergency medicine, her volunteer work at the Johns Hopkins Emergency Department shifted her focus to emergency management. Her unique background includes finance, public health, customer service, and even stints as a professional musician, actor, and teacher. Emily is adept in executing statewide capability gap analyses, planning, and response coordination. She holds a BS in Biology with a minor in Public Health as well as a BA in Spanish Language from Towson University. She has recently completed the Emergence Program at the Naval Postgraduate School's Center for Homeland Defense and Security and is currently working on a capstone for the Planning Practitioner Program through the Emergency Management Institute.

FIRST VICE PRESIDENT

Valerie Hawkins, 1st Term

Valerie Hawkins is currently the Director of Public Safety and Emergency Manager for Carroll County, Maryland, and has been dedicated to public service since embarking on her emergency services career in 1997.  Her varied experiences as an American Red Cross Disaster Services responder and instructor, as a career and volunteer paramedic in Carroll County, as a public health emergency preparedness planner, and in the field of emergency management provide a well-rounded perspective to her leadership role in emergency management operations.

Ms. Hawkins earned a bachelor’s degree in Emergency Management from the University of Maryland University College and has served as past Committee Chair of the Baltimore UASI Emergency Management Committee as well as the Chair of the MD Emergency Management Association’s Donald Doc Lumpkins Memorial Scholarship Committee.

SECOND VICE PRESIDENT

Matt Miziorko, 1st Term

TREASURER

Preeti Emrick

Ms. Emrick is the Director of the Anne Arundel County Office of Emergency Management with over 15 years of experience in emergency management. She is responsible for the overall management and strategic direction of the office. Ms. Emrick works with other County Departments to ensure coordination of planning, response, and recovery efforts.

She was previously the Corporate Emergency Manager for the University of Maryland Capital Region Health hospital system where she was the chair of the Prince George’s Healthcare Collaboration on Emergency Preparedness.

Prior to working for Capital Region Health, she was a Senior Law and Policy Analyst with the University of Maryland Center for Health and Homeland Security. During this time, she provided emergency preparedness consulting to various local health and emergency management departments, the Maryland Department of Emergency Management, and the District of Columbia’s Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency.

Ms. Emrick holds a JD from the American University Washington College of Law, and BAs in Asian Studies and Political Science from the University of Michigan.

SECRETARY

Vanessa Calaban

Vanessa Calaban (she/her) is a disaster risk reduction planner with the Maryland Department of Emergency Management, where her portfolio covers everything from disaster housing to food system resiliency to hazard mitigation planning to critical infrastructure protection. She has worked in the State Emergency Operations Center for multiple incidents and events, and she occasionally serves as the Statewide Duty Officer. Prior to her work at MDEM, Vanessa studied disaster communications and community preparedness initiatives while living in Taiwan. As an emergency manager, she is continually seeking opportunities to learn about and advocate for universal access throughout the disaster cycle.

Vanessa is a Maryland Professional Emergency Manager and holds a Master of Public Administration with an emergency management concentration from the University of Colorado; a Graduate Certificate in Women, Politics, and Public Policy from the University of Massachusetts; and a Bachelor of Music from Ithaca College. She enjoys hiking, gardening, meeting new dogs, and finding the perfect GIF for every situation.

PARLIAMENTARIAN

Todd Tracey

Todd Tracey is a dedicated emergency management professional currently serving as the Emergency Preparedness & Operations Coordinator at the Maryland Institute of Emergency Medical Services Systems (MIEMSS). In this role, he focuses on the preparedness, operational readiness, and resilience of the Maryland Emergency Medical Services System. With a strong foundation in both emergency response and administrative leadership, Todd brings a unique perspective to the field. 

Prior to joining MIEMSS, Todd served as a Senior Preparedness Specialist at the Maryland Department of Emergency Management for over six years. In this role he oversaw the State Special Event Program overseeing the consequence management planning for several Presidential Inaugurations, the Gubernatorial Inauguration of Governor Wes Moore, the 2022 Maryland Fleet Week & Fly Over Baltimore, and several other significant events in Maryland. 

Before becoming an emergency manager, Todd served as a volunteer firefighter and EMT for over a decade, honing their skills in crisis management and teamwork. During this time, they held leadership positions within the volunteer fire service, gaining invaluable experience in strategic planning, resource allocation, and community engagement. 

Todd holds an Associates of Applied Science in Emergency Management from the Frederick Community College and Bachelors of Science in Public Safety Administration from the University of Maryland, Global Campus. They are also a member of the prestigious National Emergency Management Advanced Academy FY-25 cohort, demonstrating a continued commitment to professional growth and excellence.

EX-OFFICIO TREASURER

Marianne Souders

Marianne manages Montgomery County Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security’s Planning Division. The planning division is responsible for coordinating with multiple county departments, agencies, as well as public and private partners to develop emergency plans and preparedness initiatives. Additionally, the Planning Division is responsible for community engagement and outreach activities that enhance the awareness and preparedness abilities of the citizens who live and work in Montgomery County.