Justin Kates and Emily Martuscello

Justin currently serves as the Senior Business Continuity Advisor for America’s favorite convenience store, Wawa, Inc. In this role, he is responsible for architecting a new business continuity program for Wawa’s expanding footprint of over 1,000 stores with over 45,000 associates across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and Washington D.C. Before Wawa, Justin served 17 years in government, most recently in the City of Somerville, MA as their Director of Emergency Management & Communications. In Somerville, he was responsible for implementing the City’s inaugural comprehensive emergency management program and initiating the integration of their citywide 911 and dispatch operations. Additionally, Justin served over a decade as Director of Emergency Management for two Mayoral senior leadership teams in the City of Nashua, NH, and as a homeland security consultant for the State of Delaware. He is a Master Business Continuity Professional (MBCP) affiliated with the Disaster Recovery Institute (DRI) International and is a Certified Emergency Manager (CEM) affiliated with the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM). Justin attained a Bachelor of Arts concentrated in Emergency Management and Public Administration from the University of Delaware and a Master of Arts in Security Studies from the Naval Postgraduate School's Center for Homeland Defense and Security. From 2021 to 2024, Justin served in succession as the 2nd Vice President, 1st Vice President, and President of IAEM USA Council. He also served as a member of the FEMA National Advisory Council in 2023 and 2024. || Emily Martuscello is a distinguished executive in emergency management, currently leading the City of Nashua, New Hampshire, as the Director of Emergency Management. An alumna of George Washington University, she holds a degree in Political Communications and Emergency Health Services and earned her Master of Science in Executive Leadership from Champlain College. In her present role, Emily orchestrates a comprehensive emergency management program, distinguishing herself as a visionary leader who integrates strategic innovation and operational excellence to safeguard and enhance community resilience. Emily possesses an extensive understanding of the emergency management enterprise, positioning her as a key thought leader in informing its reform and advancement. Her career spans local and federal levels, providing her with a unique perspective on the systemic challenges and opportunities within the field. Her journey in emergency management began with the Nashua Office of Emergency Management, where she focused on citizen preparedness and community outreach, earning recognition as IAEM's 2017 Emergency Management Volunteer of the Year. Progressing to the State of New Hampshire Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, she excelled as the EMPG program manager, spearheaded state-wide preparedness campaigns, and led as the state exercise and training officer. Emily's tenure at FEMA as Region I's inaugural Continuous Improvement Advisor marked a period of transformative change. She was instrumental in developing a robust continuous improvement program and played a pivotal role in the documentation of lessons learned and best practices, significantly contributing to FEMA's after-action reports. Her innovative leadership in establishing FEMA's Crowdsourcing Unit post-Hurricane Maria revolutionized situational awareness and decision-making support across emergency management operations. A staunch advocate for knowledge sharing and professional development, Emily is committed to empowering FEMA staff and fellow emergency managers. She pioneered a Lean training program, fostering a culture of learning and innovation, and significantly enhancing process improvement capabilities. Her collaboration with IAEM Region I in developing the Crowdsource EM toolkit exemplifies her dedication to enhancing operational efficiency and stakeholder engagement. At the helm of Nashua's emergency management, Emily's visionary leadership, combined with her rich expertise and passion for empowering professionals, continues to drive the evolution of emergency preparedness, response, and resilience in the face of evolving challenges. Her deep understanding of the emergency management landscape and her strategic insights make her a leading voice in shaping its future direction and effectiveness.