The Big City Emergency Managers (BCEM) Emerging Leaders (EL) Program is a highly regarded initiative designed to empower the next generation of rising leaders in emergency management. Each year, BCEM brings together nominated participants from across the nation’s largest metropolitan jurisdictions to connect, collaborate, and learn from public- and private-sector leaders. The program fosters robust emergency management operations while cultivating the skills and perspectives needed to meet tomorrow’s challenges.
This year’s program will take place from October 20–24, 2025, in Washington, DC, where participants will have the opportunity to attend workshops and hear from industry experts. Hagerty has nominated Alejandro Munera, Recovery Manager, whose extensive experience in government administration will provide a valuable perspective to the cohort.
Hagerty’s Role at BCEM EL
As a proud sponsor of both BCEM and the EL Program, Hagerty is honored to co-host this year’s event. Our team looks forward to engaging with participants and contributing to the program by sharing leadership perspectives, career experiences, and insights on the evolving field of emergency management.
Featured Sessions
- Leadership Talk with Steve Hagerty: Hagerty’s Founder and President will reflect on his career in emergency management—spanning more than two decades of disaster leadership and public service—in a talk titled “Executive Leadership and Emergency Management.”
- Keynote Presentation with Brock Long: Our Executive Chairman and former Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator will lead a session titled “Emergency Management 2.0: The Future of Our Field and Leadership Priorities.”
Additionally, Hagerty professionals Brian Baker, Jessi Widhalm, and Ashley Dalton will represent our firm at the event, engaging with participants and supporting program activities.
For more information about the BCEM organization and the EL Program, please visit bigcityem.org.
Steve Hagerty is the Founder and President of Hagerty Consulting and the former Mayor of Evanston, IL. Steve has personally served clients after some of our nation’s largest disasters, including 9/11, the California wildfires, Hurricane Katrina, and, most recently, Hurricane Ida, the Surfside building collapse, and the global COVID-19 pandemic. During his tenure as mayor, Steve successfully led Evanston through the pandemic. Today, Steve guides one of the nation’s leading emergency management firms as it helps communities across the United States prepare for, respond to, and recover from major disasters.
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.