Teri Smith, emergency management director for Douglas County, was one of 46 candidates approved by the International Association of Emergency Managers Certification Commission to receive the Certified Emergency Manager credential.

The CEM designation is the highest honor of professional achievement available from the commission, which has in its membership more than 4,500 emergency managers.

The new class of CEMs joins the 1,358 other emergency managers approved for the designation since January 1993, bringing the total number of CEMs to 1,404.

The commission administers the program for the profession, and policy decisions and judgments are made by a commission of 19 professionals in the field.

The commission met Sept. 30 through Oct. 2 and approved applicants who successfully completed an extensive credentials package, a management essay and written examination.