Crowne Plaza Hotel, Springfield, Illinois

Welcome to the 2009 Illinois Emergency Management Agency Conference. Since our initial conference in 1997, the IEMA Conference has played host to thousands of professionals in the emergency responder community. The conference has always provided an opportunity to receive valuable training, build coalitions among a diverse population of responder disciplines, and learn innovative ways to help the individuals and communities in our state become better prepared to confront disasters. This year's conference will once again provide all of that and more. The focus of the 2009 IEMA Conference will be on developing strategies for identifying and responding to emerging threats. In the time since the events of 9/11 and subsequent experience of Hurricane Katrina, the emergency response community has focused significant attention and effort on enhanced planning and preparedness in response to a wide range of natural and man-made disasters. We have hardened our critical infrastructure against terror threats, increased our capacity to mitigate threats like IEDs and VIEDs, and strengthened our plans for responding to floods, tornados, earthquakes and a host of other catastrophes. All this work is important. However there is a range of threats out there that merit our specific attention. Those include biological threats, pandemic threats and cyber threats, just to name a few. I am very pleased to offer a lineup of talented presenters that will speak to these threats and offer their insights on how to combat these threats. We do well to recall one of the principle findings of the 9/11 Commission Report -- the "Failure of Imagination" that brought us to the brink of disaster. As we work to address current threats we need to start thinking more deeply about the emerging threats that will confront us. I hope to bring those threats into greater focus through this conference. We always strive to provide content beneficial in a multi-hazard, multi-discipline environment. With each disaster we learn the importance of working cooperatively, building new capabilities and understanding the lessons learned and smart practices from each event. When you look at the break out sessions offered in this year's conference you will see plenty of opportunity to do each one. One noteworthy item this year is the establishment of an Emergency Management Remembrance Display. As with other disciplines, we in the emergency management community would like to take the opportunity to recognize those that are no longer with us that have "made their mark" in the field of emergency management. Elsewhere on this website you will find the method of providing us with the information we need to adequately recognize those that have helped us all so much. Based on your comments and input you will notice a number of improvements in this year's conference. Most importantly, even in these tough economic times, we have continued to hold down the cost of the conference because we feel the training provided at the conference offers great public safety benefit to you and the entire state. You will also notice that we've tried to "individualize" your conference experience by allowing you to individually select breakout sessions, optional training, conference meals, etc., that are most beneficial to you. I would also encourage you to personally invite other individuals and groups that you feel would benefit from attending our conference. More than likely someone has invited you previously and you've learned the benefits of this conference. Please take an opportunity to share those benefits with others. Again, I welcome you to this year's conference. We'll see you soon Sincerely, Andrew Velasquez III, Director