Dear NAEM Members,

There is little doubt that 2026 will be another year of tremendous change, challenge, and opportunity. Environmental systems, workforces, and business models are evolving at unprecedented speed. Inside our organizations, we’re navigating transformation while being asked to move faster, deliver more, and manage greater risk.

As NAEM Board Chair Nicole Wilkinson shared during our Annual Member Meeting, "EHS professionals have the ability to lead through these challenges. We lead through ambiguity, and we create stability for our teams even when the business is shifting around us. In moments of uncertainty, our profession shows up at its best — calm under pressure, deeply collaborative, and focused on protecting both operations and communities."

And you don’t have to do it alone. NAEM is a strong community of professionals dedicated to advancing and empowering each other with the knowledge to stay ahead of disruption, not just respond to it. By sharing lessons learned and strengthening each other’s preparedness, we build resilience that lasts.

As you navigate the year ahead, I encourage you to use the NAEM community intentionally to support you and your team. Take Nicole’s call to action to heart: “Lean in — share your experience, challenge one another, and fully engage with this community. The more we participate, the stronger and more effective we become as leaders, and the greater the impact we can make for our people, our planet, and the businesses we serve.”

At NAEM, we are here to listen and respond to your needs. We welcome your ideas and suggestions so that we can support the important work you do each day. Together we will tackle the challenges that lie ahead and continue to advance our roles and our profession through education, benchmarking, research, and peer-to-peer sharing.

NAEM is honored to be your professional home. Thank you for all you do and for being an NAEM member.

Sincerely,

Carol Singer Neuvelt
Executive Director
NAEM