Emergency Management Administrator
City of Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States
Benjamin Rance has over 11 years of experience working in Emergency Management and Community Development. As the Emergency Management Administrator for Grand Rapids, he has led city-wide efforts to strengthen training, preparedness and resilience both internally and externally. He leads the planning team for the newly-opened Acrisure Amphitheater and oversees emergency planning and response operations related to large events in the City.
Prior to working for the City of Grand Rapids, he was the Program Manager for Community Resilience at FEMA. In that role, Benjamin was responsible for engaging with federal partners, State agencies and local Emergency Managers to provide resources and guidance into community development actions to increase resilience and preparedness for communities and individuals. During his time at FEMA, he has deployed to the National Response Coordination Center to support COVID response efforts, as well as to Puerto Rico, North Carolina and Mississippi for disaster response operations.
Benjamin is a Certified Professional Emergency Manager (PEM) in the state of Michigan, and earned a master’s degree in Natural Resources Management from the University of Alaska Fairbanks. He received his bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies from Western Michigan University.
Six Words, Big Impact: Elevating Your Emergency Management Story
Wednesday, November 11, 2026
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM PST