IPF Employees Earn Michigan Professional Emergency Manager Certifications
Tierra Nelson
August 3, 2026
When an emergency happens, preparation is everything. For three Infrastructure Planning and Facilities (IPF) employees, strengthening that preparation meant investing in new knowledge, building stronger partnerships, and learning alongside emergency management professionals from across Michigan.
Jamie Kracko, Safety Coordinator for IPF Safety and Power & Water, is currently completing the Michigan Professional Emergency Manager (PEM) certification program, while Kelly Feister, Facilities Service Center Manager, and Nathan Ellsworth, Work Management Team Supervisor, earned their certifications in June. Together, they are bringing new knowledge and best practices back to Michigan State University that will help strengthen emergency preparedness across the organization.
Offered through the Michigan State Police Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division, the Michigan Professional Emergency Manager Program equips emergency management professionals with the knowledge and skills needed to prevent, prepare for, respond to, recover from, and mitigate emergencies. Participants complete 21 Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) courses, instructor-led training, practical exercises, and ongoing professional development to maintain their certification.
Learning That Starts Before an Emergency
Although each participant entered the program from a different perspective, they left with a shared understanding: effective emergency response is built long before an incident occurs.
The certification emphasizes nationally recognized emergency management practices that focus on preparation, communication, and coordination. Participants explored frameworks such as the Incident Command System (ICS), the FEMA Planning "P", and the Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP), learning how standardized processes help organizations make informed decisions, coordinate resources, and communicate effectively during emergencies.
For Kracko, the certification was an opportunity to strengthen the work she already does in safety and emergency planning.
"I was motivated to pursue the PEM program to strengthen my ability to support effective emergency planning and response within our organization," Kracko said. "The opportunity to expand my knowledge in emergency management and align with best practices was a natural extension of my professional development goals."
One concept resonated with all three participants: the importance of what emergency management professionals often call "blue sky days." These are the days spent developing procedures, conducting training exercises, evaluating hazards, and building relationships; work that often happens behind the scenes but becomes critical when emergencies arise.
"The work done during 'blue sky days'—training, procedure development, relationship building and more—is critical to the success of our response during an active emergency," Feister said.
That philosophy reinforced that emergency preparedness is not a one-time effort but an ongoing process of planning, evaluating and improving.
More Than Coursework
While the technical content provided valuable knowledge, participants agreed that some of the most meaningful learning happened through conversations with emergency management professionals from across Michigan.
Training alongside representatives from law enforcement, fire departments, emergency medical services, public health agencies, and other organizations gave participants an opportunity to exchange ideas, discuss real-world scenarios, and build relationships that can strengthen future collaboration.
For Ellsworth, those connections became one of the most valuable aspects of the program.
"I was able to meet and begin building relationships with local Police, Fire, and EMS staff that may be responding to MSU in the event of an emergency," Ellsworth said. "I also collected examples of how other organization's structure documents and procedures that we can learn from."
He also found that the classroom discussions helped bring the coursework to life.
"Lots of the information can feel like 'common sense,' but during the examples and activities you see firsthand how easy it is to forget what you took for granted," Ellsworth said. "By finding ways to apply what you're learning to your past experiences or departmental goals, you can really get a grasp for why something is important."
Strengthening IPF's Emergency Preparedness
While earning the PEM certification is an individual accomplishment, the greatest impact will be seen across the organization.
Participants believe the knowledge gained through the program will strengthen emergency preparedness throughout IPF by enhancing coordination between departments, improving communication with campus partners, and standardizing emergency procedures.
The group also identified opportunities to evaluate existing emergency response processes, develop hazard-specific emergency operation plans, and create more consistent documentation aligned with emergency management for best practices. Expanding training during "blue sky days" will help ensure employees understand their roles and responsibilities before an emergency occurs, creating a more coordinated and effective response when it matters most.
By applying what they have learned, the team hopes to strengthen not only IPF's emergency response capabilities but also its ability to anticipate challenges, reduce risk, and continuously improve preparedness across the organization.
Looking Ahead
For Kracko, Feister and Ellsworth, earning their Michigan Professional Emergency Manager certifications represents more than professional development. It reflects a shared commitment to strengthening IPF's emergency preparedness and supporting the safety of the Michigan State University community.
As emergency planning continues to evolve, the knowledge, relationships and best practices gained through the PEM Program will help IPF build on its existing efforts to create a more coordinated, resilient and prepared organization.
After all, the strongest emergency response begins long before an emergency occurs.