The challenges facing the Society are rapidly changing as the weather, water, and climate enterprise evolves. Several that warrant special attention at this critical juncture are bridging the knowledge gap from university to the workforce, scientific integrity, diversity of perspectives and communication. AMS needs to be agile, adaptable, and transformative in tackling the impacts on the Society. First, strong communication and partnership across the enterprise with our business stakeholders is critical and must be built from a diversification of membership.

Diversity is multi-dimensional and essential to advance collaborative discussion and scientific innovation. AMS offers a unique venue for collaboration. We should harness this opportunity to openly share and discuss the topics of impact and importance where everyone has a voice. Bridging this gap plays a key role in strengthening relationships and scientific competencies.

In an era shaped by the rapid advancement of information technology and a myriad of data sources, scientific integrity stands as the constant—grounding discovery in truth and trust. The AMS plays a vital and enduring role as a steward of the integrity of science and the scientific process, championing rigor, and transparency. A commitment from the entire enterprise is essential in combating misinformation while maintaining “truth in science” which is one of the core values of the AMS Mission. As thought leaders, we must embrace the evolution of the enterprise and together we can empower all members to synergistically address the challenges facing the Society.

I am truly honored to be among my fellow nominees for AMS Council. If elected, I will foster a welcoming, teaming environment guided by open communication and transparency. I will leverage my experience leading the planning and execution of the AMS Washington Forum and apply learnings from participating in the Mind the Gap Workshop, while helping to reimagine and strengthen the value AMS provides to its members—ensuring continued relevance and impact into the future. 

Heidi Centola is a Technology Sales Leader that drives growth with innovation and creative, strategic solutions across the IBM Automation Platform and Sustainability portfolios. Since joining IBM in 2018, Heidi has fostered and strengthened strategic partnerships with customers and business partners in CPG/Retail, Manufacturing, and E&U market sectors as well as Agribusiness.  

Prior to joining IBM-The Weather Company, Heidi gained more than 15 years’ experience in professional meteorology and business development. She most recently served as a Senior Business Development Manager for Schneider Electric Cloud Services (DTN) where she facilitated strategic partnerships both internally and externally to aid in the growth of the energy management and sustainability businesses through organic innovation and custom weather solutions for segments such as Retail and Healthcare. Heidi also worked as the Manager of the Agricultural and Alternative Investment Products at CME Group focused on the volume growth development of the global weather futures and options, global dairy products and alternative investment products. In this role, she collaborated with large institutional traders and brokers across the globe including but not limited to corporate commercials, hedge funds, banks, reinsurance/insurance, and energy companies. Prior to CME Group, Heidi served as Manager, Strategic Relations for Earth Networks as well as worked as a Senior Account Executive for WeatherBug focused on energy trading.  Her background also includes various client-facing roles with WSI. While at WSI, Heidi played an integral role in the growth and development of the energy offer to traders and utilities.

Centola holds a B.S. degree in meteorology with a minor in technical mathematics from Plymouth State University in New Hampshire. Heidi is the past Commissioner of the Commission on the Weather, Water and Climate Enterprise (CWWCE) of the American Meteorological Society (AMS). She also participates in committees within this commission as well as leadership roles including the past chair of the Board on Enterprise Economic Development (BEED) and past chair of the AMS Energy Committee. She also served on the Board of Directors for the Weather Risk Management Association (WRMA).