EMEAA Announces First State Chapter

Washington, D.C. July 22, 2025                                                               

The Emergency Management External Affairs Association (EMEAA) is pleased to announce the creation of the organization’s first state chapter. EMEAA’s board of directors have approved the North Carolina Chapter of the Emergency Management External Affairs Association (EMEAA-NC).

“EMEAA is about connecting emergency management external affairs professionals to learn, collaborate, and share experiences with one another,” said EMEAA President Bob Jensen. “Having a state chapter is a great way to get our members connected at the state and local level, and North Carolina is a fantastic place to get that started.”

 

Emergency management relies on effective vertical and horizontal communication and collaboration.  This state chapter model expands that latitude to excel in both directions.  This model also benefits national, state, local and tribal collaboration among crisis communicators. 

EMEAA members who reside or work in North Carolina will be able to participate in the state chapter and its programming. Franklin County Public Information Officer James Hicks will serve as Chair of the state chapter, and City of Raleigh Assistant Director of Public Affairs Ran Northam will serve as Vice Chair.

 

“Ran and I have wanted, for a long time, an organization to collaborate on ideas, issues and challenges facing emergency management communicators,” said Hicks. “EMEAA is providing a way for us to connect with other EMEAA members in our state to work together, train together, and tackle emergencies together.”

 

For more information and/or media requests, contact EMEAA-NC Vice Chair Ran Northam, ran.northam@raleighnc.gov, and EMEAA Founder and Vice President, Dan Stoneking, dan@em-eaa.org.  Public Affairs and External Affairs professionals who would like to create a chapter for their state should also contact Dan Stoneking.

 

To learn more about EMEAA, or become a member, visit em-eaa.org .