Our Strengths, Challenges & Opportunities
     A successful strategic plan requires an accurate appraisal of our strengths and challenges. By identifying our strengths and being 
    candid about our challenges, we can leverage opportunities to improve our strategic position and effectively serve our stakeholders. 
    OUR STRENGTHS 
    When evaluating our organizational strengths, it is clear that the IHMM has significant advantages, 
    including:
    • Brand recognition – IHMM certifications are recognized and valued by government regulatory 
     agencies in the U.S. and many in the environmental protection, engineering, health sciences, 
     transportation, and public safety sectors.
    • Organizational stability – IHMM was established 35 years ago and is financially viable.
    • Passionate and committed volunteer leadership – IHMM has an experienced Board of Directors 
     that is engaged and committed to IHMM’s long-term success.
    • Passionate and committed staff – IHMM has an experienced staff that is engaged and 
     committed to IHMM’s long-term success.
    • Quality certification programs – IHMM programs are fundamentally and technically sound and 
     recognized as the Gold Standard in environmental fields.
    • New leadership – The new Executive Director has extensive experience in managing non-profit 
     organizations successfully. 
                         2019-2022 IHMM Strategic Plan    2
      Our Strengths, Challenges & Opportunities
     OUR CHALLENGES
      
     The IHMM has its challenges, both real and perceived, which must be addressed to ensure a sustainable future, including:
     • Aging certificant base – The majority of current certificants are consultants or in the latter part of their careers which could 
      decrease the base of certificants to serve in the near future.
     • Attracting younger professionals as certificants – IHMM has a smaller base of certificants that are early-career professionals 
      and it is not known if this is due to lack of awareness of the benefits of IHMM certifications, ineffective marketing and value 
      propositions to appeal to this audience, or if younger professionals perceive certifications as non-relevant to their career goals.
     • Competition with other certifying organizations – Since IHMM’s inception, other organizations were established that provide 
      similar or competing certification programs. 
     • Decrease in certifications – A significant growth in the environmental sector 30 years ago created a demand for certifications 
      which has been decreasing over time and is influenced by regulations and the growth and contraction of industry segments. 
      Perception that a state license is more valuable.
     • Maintain a Continuous Pool of New Certificants – Reliance on another organization to generate leads for new certificants have 
      not been successful and IHMM has seen a decrease in new certificants from this partnership.
     • Marketing Effectiveness – Although IHMM has reputable certification programs, it lacks a compelling raison d’etre, value 
      propositions that resonate with its stakeholders, and the ability to communicate effectively with different audiences.
     • Strained Organizational Resources – IHMM has a small employed staff and Board of Directors to manage day-to-day 
      operations to implement initiatives effectively. 
     • Lack of Strategic Direction and Measurable Outcomes – IHMM has a vision and mission statement, an abundance of ideas 
      that don’t have plans of actions, the resources to execute on them or measures of success that demonstrate a ROI.
                                2019-2022 IHMM Strategic Plan              3
     Our Strengths, Challenges & Opportunities
    OUR OPPORTUNITIES
    The IHMM has collective assets which could be leveraged to develop a sustainable future for IHMM, including:
    • Adding more value to certificants – Provide programs, peer-to-peer interactions/networking and resources 
     to current certificants to help them achieve success in their professions. 
    • Acquisitions of certifying organizations – A pending merger provides IHMM the opportunity to promote and 
     manage a highly recognized credential and IHMM could proactively seek other opportunities to acquire other 
     organizations. [ISHM]
    • Creating a membership organization for certificants – The decision for IHMM to create its own membership 
     organization will help to generate new leads for potential certificants.
    • Developing a strategic direction with clear goals and action – With effective and engaged leadership in 
     place, IHMM could align its direction and initiatives to set a new course for sustainability.
    • Targeting industry sectors – Explore opportunities to target industry sectors and early-career professionals to 
     promote IHMM certification programs.
    • Technology investments – A new database and other software will improve marketing activities, data 
     collection and management, and improve operational efficiencies.
    • Communications strategies combined with marketing expertise will improve new certificant applications, 
     recertifications and overall customer loyalty. 
                        2019-2022 IHMM Strategic Plan   4
       THE CHALLENGES ARE NOT UNSURMOUNTABLE.  WE 
                                   HAVE A PLAN.
        The IHMM’s 2019 – 2022 strategic plan provides a blueprint to leverage our strengths, overcome our challenges and capitalize on the opportunities ahead of us. The IHMM 
                           leadership and staff have been tasked with facilitating and accomplishing this plan.
                                    Why IHMM Exists
            We believe there is only one Earth; our passion is to protect it.
                                 Our Vision Statement 
        IHMM credentials and competency standards are embraced worldwide
                                 Our Mission Statement 
          IHMM delivers professional standards of the highest excellence for 
      credentials and administers and promotes accredited credential programs 
      for professionals in the hazardous materials, health, safety, and dangerous 
                             goods communities of practice.
      Completed 5/31/2019 and edited to the website
                                   2019-2022 IHMM Strategic Plan                   5
                        The “why” is an emotional statement of
                        a deeply held belief that appeals to the limbic 
                        brain. IHMM’s new “why” is just that, a deeply held 
                        belief expressed as a passion.
                        The “vision” component is about the art of
                        seeing the invisible, and is connected to our
                        “why.” Our belief and passion lends itself to
                        our having a vision. IHMM’s “vision” now 
                        aligns with its “why.”
                        The “mission” we are on is the delivery
                        of programs that match our “why” and our
                        “vision,” now all three align with each other.
                        2019-2022 IHMM Strategic Plan   6