Congratulations to our Public Relations and Information Manager, Stephanie Lewis, on completing the Executive Public Information Officer (EPIO) program through FEMA’s National Disaster & Emergency Management University (NDEMU), part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
The 10-month EPIO program is the culminating level of FEMA’s Public Information Officer training series and prepares experienced public information professionals for executive-level leadership, strategic decision-making, and trusted-advisor roles within their organizations.
With the addition of the 2026 graduating class, Stephanie is now one of only 28 EPIOs in Florida and among 225 EPIO graduates worldwide.
This accomplishment reflects a continued investment in professional development and brings additional executive-level communication knowledge and perspective back to the Lakeland Fire Department and the City of Lakeland.