Leadership

MDEMA Officers

The officers of this Association shall be a President, First Vice-President, Second Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer and Parlimentarian. Officers shall be elected at the Annual Meeting by a majority vote of active members. The Parlimentarian will hold no voting rights on the Executive Committee.

The term of each officer shall be for one year, beginning July 1 and ending June 30, following the election at the Annual Meeting.
The consecutive term limit for President, First Vice President, and Second Vice President shall not exceed three terms. However, after leaving office for a year or serving in a different officer position, that member can seek re-election for the position of President, First Vice President, or Second Vice President.

PRESIDENT

Emily Wesselhoff, 3rd Term 

Emily Wesselhoff is the Strategic Programs Manager at the Maryland Department of Emergency Management, where she leads statewide capability assessments and supports the design and implementation of strategic initiatives to strengthen emergency management systems. Her work emphasizes data-driven approaches to identifying gaps, tracking progress, and informing policy and investment decisions. Emily brings a multidisciplinary background including experience in public health, finance, customer service, and the arts, which supports her broad, systems-level perspective. She holds dual bachelor's degrees in Biology (with a minor in Public Health) and Spanish Language from Towson University and is a graduate of the Naval Postgraduate School’s Emergence Program. Her work focuses on improving coordination, advancing preparedness, and helping emergency management organizations make better use of information to support decision-making.

FIRST VICE PRESIDENT

Todd Tracey, 1st Term

Todd Tracey is a dedicated emergency management professional currently serving as the Emergency Preparedness & Operations Coordinator at the Maryland Institute of Emergency Medical Services Systems (MIEMSS). In this role, he focuses on the preparedness, operational readiness, and resilience of the Maryland Emergency Medical Services System. With a strong foundation in both emergency response and administrative leadership, Todd brings a unique perspective to the field. 

Prior to joining MIEMSS, Todd served as a Senior Preparedness Specialist at the Maryland Department of Emergency Management for over six years. In this role he oversaw the State Special Event Program overseeing the consequence management planning for several Presidential Inaugurations, the Gubernatorial Inauguration of Governor Wes Moore, the 2022 Maryland Fleet Week & Fly Over Baltimore, and several other significant events in Maryland. 

Before becoming an emergency manager, Todd served as a volunteer firefighter and EMT for over a decade, honing their skills in crisis management and teamwork. During this time, they held leadership positions within the volunteer fire service, gaining invaluable experience in strategic planning, resource allocation, and community engagement. 

Todd holds an Associates of Applied Science in Emergency Management from the Frederick Community College and Bachelors of Science in Public Safety Administration from the University of Maryland, Global Campus. They are also a member of the prestigious National Emergency Management Advanced Academy FY-25 cohort, demonstrating a continued commitment to professional growth and excellence.

SECOND VICE PRESIDENT

Matt Miziorko, 2nd Term

SECRETARY

Vanessa Calaban

Vanessa Calaban (she/her) is a disaster risk reduction planner with the Maryland Department of Emergency Management, where her portfolio covers everything from disaster housing to food system resiliency to hazard mitigation planning to critical infrastructure protection. She has worked in the State Emergency Operations Center for multiple incidents and events, and she occasionally serves as the Statewide Duty Officer. Prior to her work at MDEM, Vanessa studied disaster communications and community preparedness initiatives while living in Taiwan. As an emergency manager, she is continually seeking opportunities to learn about and advocate for universal access throughout the disaster cycle.

Vanessa is a Maryland Professional Emergency Manager and holds a Master of Public Administration with an emergency management concentration from the University of Colorado; a Graduate Certificate in Women, Politics, and Public Policy from the University of Massachusetts; and a Bachelor of Music from Ithaca College. She enjoys hiking, gardening, meeting new dogs, and finding the perfect GIF for every situation.

TREASURER

Michaela Seabrease

Michaela Seabrease is an Emergency Management Specialist with the Howard County Office of Emergency Management, where she leads several key programs, including Finance and Grants, Planning, EOC Technician coordination, and contract management. Her background blends financial oversight with emergency planning, giving her a strong foundation for both operational and strategic initiatives.

Michaela holds a Bachelor of Science in Health Administration with a double minor in Public Health and Biology from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She currently serves as Chair of the UASI Finance and Grants Committee supporting regional collaboration and development.

She completed FEMA's Emergency Management Institute Basic Academy in 2023 and has joined the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM) as she works toward earning her Certified Emergency Manager (CEM) designation.

PARLIAMENTARIAN

Carolyn Malloy

Carolyn Malloy currently serves the State of Maryland as the State National Incident Management System (NIMS) Officer, where she is responsible for all facets of the development of the State NIMS Program, including the Maryland Qualification System (MDQS). Carolyn also serves as the Certifying Officer (CO) for MDQS.

Carolyn has been in the emergency management field for over five years, with expertise in emergency planning, program development, operational readiness, financial sustainability, and continuity of operations. She has worked within state-level emergency management departments in Maryland and Kentucky, and in the healthcare emergency preparedness area with the Eastern Virginia Healthcare Coalition. Her experience includes coordinating state-level and regional responses to COVID-19. civil unrest, and weather-related incidents.

Carolyn is a graduate of Eastern Kentucky University with a Master’s of Science in Safety, Security and Emergency Management, with a concentration in Emergency Management and Homeland Security. She also has a Bachelor’s of Arts in American Studies from the College of Saint Elizabeth.

EX-OFFICIO TREASURER

Preeti Emrick

Ms. Emrick is the Director of the Anne Arundel County Office of Emergency Management with over 15 years of experience in emergency management. She is responsible for the overall management and strategic direction of the office. Ms. Emrick works with other County Departments to ensure coordination of planning, response, and recovery efforts.

She was previously the Corporate Emergency Manager for the University of Maryland Capital Region Health hospital system where she was the chair of the Prince George’s Healthcare Collaboration on Emergency Preparedness.

Prior to working for Capital Region Health, she was a Senior Law and Policy Analyst with the University of Maryland Center for Health and Homeland Security. During this time, she provided emergency preparedness consulting to various local health and emergency management departments, the Maryland Department of Emergency Management, and the District of Columbia’s Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency.

Ms. Emrick holds a JD from the American University Washington College of Law, and BAs in Asian Studies and Political Science from the University of Michigan.