From March 10 to 14, 2026, the National Emergency Management Association (NEMA) will host its Mid-Year Forum in Washington, DC. This premier event brings together emergency management leaders and partners from across the country for meaningful connection and dialogue. The Forum offers an opportunity to engage with peers, strengthen professional relationships, and discuss the most pressing issues facing emergency management today. As disasters grow more frequent, complex, and costly, collaboration across federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial partners is more important than ever.
This year’s event will feature timely conversations on emerging and evolving priorities across the emergency management landscape. Topics include disaster readiness and response, recovery and mitigation strategies, workforce challenges, federal–state coordination, and the policies and programs that shape how communities prepare for and recover from disasters. Attendees will hear directly from national leaders, share lessons learned, and explore practical approaches they can apply in their own jurisdictions.
Connect with Hagerty
Hagerty Consulting is proud to return as a sponsor of the NEMA Mid-Year Forum. We value the opportunity to support this important event and to contribute to conversations that help move the emergency management field forward. Our Executive Chairman, Brock Long, Regional Client Services Director, Cris McCombs, and Vice President, Brian Baker, will be in attendance and look forward to connecting throughout the week. We invite all participants to stop by our expo booth and connect with our team!
For additional details on this event, please visit the official NEMA Mid-Year Forum website.
About Our Team
Brock Long is the Executive Chairman of Hagerty Consulting and the former Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). During his tenure at FEMA, he led responses to major disasters and implemented pivotal initiatives to strengthen emergency management systems. Previously, Brock served as Director of Alabama’s Emergency Management Agency, where he played a key role in responding to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. With over 25 years of experience, Brock now enhances Hagerty’s leadership and advocacy efforts, advancing the future of emergency management.
Cristine McCombs is a Regional Client Services Director at Hagerty and the former Director of the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA). As the first woman to lead the agency, she guided Massachusetts to full accreditation from the Emergency Management Accreditation Program (EMAP). Additionally, Cristine earned the highest grade from the United States (US) Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) National Review while overseeing planning for major events like the Boston Marathon. With over 25 years of experience, she now advises clients on emergency preparedness, response, and recovery.
Brian Baker is an expert in homeland security, emergency preparedness, disaster response, and recovery with nearly two decades of public service leadership. He previously served as Executive Deputy Director and Interim Director of the District of Columbia Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency (DC HSEMA). Now Vice President at Hagerty, Brian plays a key role in business development while advising and speaking widely within the emergency management community.