March 30, 2021 — Emergency management work can range from medical assistance to infrastructure support and food distribution. Many emergency management professionals gain valuable experience through volunteer opportunities, where they can put new methods of disaster response into practice. While there are many chances to volunteer at home, international opportunities with organizations like the Peace Corps also have the added incentive to collaborate with teams from other countries. To close out Women’s History Month in March and looking ahead to National Volunteering Month in April, NYC Emergency Management’s latest “Prep Talk” podcast episode highlights the careers of three female emergency managers and Peace Corps alumnae who share how their experiences, including both successes and challenges, have shaped them into the professionals they are today. 

NYC Emergency Management’s Rachel Sulaymanov, executive director of government relations; Shraddha Ramani, director of public safety and the GIS data development center; and Lindsay Einhorn, interagency exercise specialist, discuss how their time with the Peace Corps impacted their careers and their lives, as well as their take on the future of the emergency management field. You can listen to the latest episode on SoundCloud, iTunes, and Spreaker. 

Rachel Sulaymanov joined NYC Emergency Management in 2007, and is currently the executive director of government relations. She is responsible for managing programs and issues related to policy, intergovernmental and legislative initiatives, as well as overseeing outreach and communication to elected officials and community stakeholders. Sulaymanov served as a community development volunteer in the United States Peace Corps in Uzbekistan from 2000 to 2001, where she worked with women and children in rural and isolated areas. 

Shraddha Ramani joined NYC Emergency Management in 2016, and is currently director of public safety and the geographic information systems (GIS) data development center. She manages the integration, analysis, visualization, and sharing of data to inform emergency planning. Ramani served as a natural resources conservation volunteer with the Peace Corps in Ecuador from 2009 to 2011, where she conducted environmental education workshops, established a school recycling program, and worked with a community-based ecotourism organization.  

Lindsay Einhorn joined NYC Emergency Management in 2016, and is currently an interagency exercise specialist. In her role, she coordinates with local, state, and federal emergency management agencies and organizations and develop processes, protocols, procedures, and operations as part of emergency response operations. Einhorn served as a conservation and natural resource management specialist in Ethiopia with the Peace Corps from 2010 to 2012.

Alexandra Kirton served as a guest co-host for this “Prep Talk” episode. She is a fellow in the John D. Solomon Fellowship for Public Service and works with NYC Emergency Management's government relations unit. Prior to becoming a fellow, Kirton was a policy intern at the NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services. She is a Colorado native pursuing a Master in Public Administration at New York University's Wagner School of Public Service.  

As the preeminent international service organization of the United States, the Peace Corps sends Americans with a passion for service abroad to work with communities and create lasting change. Volunteers develop sustainable solutions to address challenges in education, health, economic development, agriculture, environment and youth development. Through their Peace Corps experience, Volunteers gain a unique cultural understanding and a life-long commitment to service that positions them to succeed in today's global economy. Since President John F. Kennedy established the Peace Corps in 1961, more than 240,000 Americans of all ages have served in 142 countries worldwide.

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