Shandi is joining the Government Practice group as a Principal. She is coming to McChrystal Group from Emergency Management Partners where she was the Vice President and Preparedness Lead. In this role Shandi built the preparedness practice area from scratch, increasing the firm’s revenue by over $6 million. Shandi was also responsible for the firms first non-FEMA federal contract with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services supporting their emergency management program. Prior to EM Partners, Shandi had her own emergency management consulting firm, EM Strategies, LLC. As the Principal, her goal was to empower clients and partners to build stronger emergency management programs, from recovery processes, and debris management planning to strategic comprehensive program development.
Prior to EM Strategies Shandi was an Associate at Dewberry where she was able to gain experience across the entire spectrum of emergency management. During her time at Dewberry, she supported and managed a number of federal projects at FEMA, DHS US Visit and the National Cooperative Highway Research Program. She also supported a myriad of state and local emergency management projects from across the United States.
During the course of her career, she has been afforded the opportunity to work with some of the nation’s best emergency management experts. From 2015 to 2024 Shandi served on the board of the National Emergency Management Association as the Private Sector Committee Chair. In this position she initiated the Information Sharing Task Force through a partnership with FEMA. This task force developed a systematic approach and guidance for public and private partners to engage and establish planning priorities. Shandi is a co-founder of the Private Sector Emergency Management Association; she sits on the advisory board for the Electric Infrastructure Security Council and has supported various projects at the Naval Post Grad Center for Homeland Defense and Security.
Prior to emergency management, Shandi practiced social work. She was a Social Service Representative at DC Child and Family Services in Washington, DC and was a Child Advocate at the Salvation Army’s West Women and Children’s Shelter in Portland, OR.
Shandi has a Bachelor of Science in Social Work from the University of Portland, a Masters in Political Management and Graduate Certificate in Crisis and Emergency Management from The George Washington University. Shandi lives in Northern Virginia with her husband Justin, daughter Shannon and their golden retriever Lilo. Shandi’s husband is a Special Agent for the United States Secret Service and their daughter plays volleyball. When they aren’t at volleyball tournaments they like to travel, cook, hike and cycle.
Shandi is joining the Government Practice group as a Principal. She is coming to McChrystal Group from Emergency Management Partners where she was the Vice President and Preparedness Lead. In this role Shandi built the preparedness practice area from scratch, increasing the firm’s revenue by over $6 million. Shandi was also responsible for the firms first non-FEMA federal contract with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services supporting their emergency management program. Prior to EM Partners, Shandi had her own emergency management consulting firm, EM Strategies, LLC. As the Principal, her goal was to empower clients and partners to build stronger emergency management programs, from recovery processes, and debris management planning to strategic comprehensive program development.
Prior to EM Strategies Shandi was an Associate at Dewberry where she was able to gain experience across the entire spectrum of emergency management. During her time at Dewberry, she supported and managed a number of federal projects at FEMA, DHS US Visit and the National Cooperative Highway Research Program. She also supported a myriad of state and local emergency management projects from across the United States.
During the course of her career, she has been afforded the opportunity to work with some of the nation’s best emergency management experts. From 2015 to 2024 Shandi served on the board of the National Emergency Management Association as the Private Sector Committee Chair. In this position she initiated the Information Sharing Task Force through a partnership with FEMA. This task force developed a systematic approach and guidance for public and private partners to engage and establish planning priorities. Shandi is a co-founder of the Private Sector Emergency Management Association; she sits on the advisory board for the Electric Infrastructure Security Council and has supported various projects at the Naval Post Grad Center for Homeland Defense and Security.
Prior to emergency management, Shandi practiced social work. She was a Social Service Representative at DC Child and Family Services in Washington, DC and was a Child Advocate at the Salvation Army’s West Women and Children’s Shelter in Portland, OR.
Shandi has a Bachelor of Science in Social Work from the University of Portland, a Masters in Political Management and Graduate Certificate in Crisis and Emergency Management from The George Washington University. Shandi lives in Northern Virginia with her husband Justin, daughter Shannon and their golden retriever Lilo. Shandi’s husband is a Special Agent for the United States Secret Service and their daughter plays volleyball. When they aren’t at volleyball tournaments they like to travel, cook, hike and cycle.
