By Kathryn Kretschmer-Weyland
June 27, 2005

The United States Conference of Mayors was introduced to its newest Platinum Member, EMA, Inc., during the Plenary Session June 12 at the Annual Meeting in Chicago. Judith Cascio, EMA Vice President for the Public Sector, spoke to mayors, noting that EMA recognizes the special demands and expectations that mayors and their city employees face. More and more cities must do more with less. EMA applauds mayors for thier commitment and vision which will sustain cities for decades to come.

EMA offers comprehensive advisory services for cities, public works agencies, utilities, and manufacturers. Public sector service providers are under increasing pressure to do more with less. EMA helps public agencies in developing and implementing sound, cost effective business strategies to respond to current demands with innovative, cost-effective solutions that can save millions of dollars and hundreds of jobs. Services offered include vulnerability and disaster avoidance services, reengineering and organizational services, operations and maintenance services, business systems, engineering systems, and e-business services. EMA helps cities save millions in tax dollars while providing improved services.

EMA shared a video presentation Extreme Makeover — Advisory Services to Save Your City Money. The video highlighted Akron as a specific case, where EMA's services were able to help a city become more efficient. Akron faced issues in trying to provide good utility services to its growing population. Of particular concern was the water and sewage department. Akron had some of the highest water rates in the region, but an overhaul of this department saved the city countless overtime hours while providing citizens with improved services. Akron avoided privatizing its water and sewer system, and EMA worked with the city and its employees to help the new system be adopted and embraced. All this was accomplished without laying off any municipal employees. EMA helped the city to reorganize and utilize new techniques to accomplish more without spending more. Workers and services are now able to be utilized and deployed more efficiently and with less overtime. Akron has been nationally recognized for its wastewater treatment plan meeting EPA standards.

For more information on how EMA advisory services can help your city improve services and meet increasing demands, contact Judith Cascio at 651-639-5600 or send email to jcascio@ema-inc.com. You may also contact Kathryn Kretschmer-Weyland with the Conference of Mayors at 301-460-5251 or send email to kweyland@usmayors.org. More information of how EMA has helped cities is available by visiting the website www.ema-inc.com.