President’s Welcome

Dear New Member,

I wanted to take the opportunity to welcome (or re-welcome) each of you to the National Information Officers Association (NIOA). I truly believe that we have the most dedicated group of communicators in the world. The men and women in our association work around the clock in our communities to keep them informed of life-saving information. We collaborate, innovate and advocate on issues that affect each of us. I have never been a part of a professional organization that takes care of each other more than the members of the NIOA. When crisis occurs across the nation, members reach out to other members to offer help, encouragement, and a listening ear.

As communicators, we are working in an information saturated world where we need to determine if the information is accurate or misinformation. That is where quality training and relationships allow you to be better public information officers. The NIOA is on the leading edge of training in public information. Our annual conference offers some of the best case studies, experienced public information officer presentations and networking opportunities to enhance your knowledge, skills and abilities as communicators. Our bi-monthly webinars offer engagement throughout the year for our members and an opportunity to present to our membership. Our regional directors are a resource for you to use year-round to stay connected.

Lastly, as your president I will be an advocate for you and our profession. I am a big supporter of mental health resources for all first responders including public information officers. Too often, the PIO is left out of critical incident stress or peer support debriefings following an incident. Always make sure your team has access to these very important resources.

Once again, welcome to the National Information Officers Association family. On behalf of our Executive Director, Lisa McNeal, our Executive Board and Regional Directors, we look forward to working with you during the next year.

Until next time,

Jason Elmore, MPIO, PIO
President, National Information Officers Association
Deputy Director of Communications | Chief Agency Spokesperson
Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM)
jason.elmore@vdem.virginia.gov