Firas N. Makarem, CFM 

With a rich history of experience serving FEMA and state and local governments since 1996, Firas has led numerous strategic programs and delivered hundreds of assignments related to floodplain management, mitigation and disaster response and recovery nationwide. He has served as Chairman of the Inter­na­tional Flood Policy Committee for the Association of State Floodplain Managers and more recently as a trustee on the Executive Board of Directors for the ASFPM Foundation. Since 2014, he has led the imple­men­ta­tion of CDM Smith’s strategy to expand program, construc­tion and emergency management services by leveraging new tech­nolo­gies, stream­lin­ing processes and strength­en­ing our ability to deliver program­matic needs globally.

What inspires you? I’m inspired by seeing those who I have coached or mentored advance and succeed in their careers.

What’s your favorite part of the job? Hearing our clients say that we are the most honest and transparent consultant they have ever worked with.  

What’s something you enjoy doing on your day off? Spending time playing soccer with my three boys.  

What’s your personal motto? Impossible is not a fact. It’s an opinion.