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 Brian Baker and Dr. Chris Rodriguez: Hagerty’s Vice President and Dr. Chris Rodriguez, Assistant City Administrator, Washington, DC, will reflect on their careers in the emergency management field 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 professional 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.
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.
Brian Baker is Vice President at Hagerty and 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.