George Kelemen

George Kelemen serves as Executive Director for the Industry Council for Emergency Response Technologies (iCERT), having joined iCERT in October of 2021. In this role, he provides executive leadership for iCERT and represents the critical industrial sector of public safety technology, an area of vital importance to all Americans. Specifically, he leads iCERT’s work related to the organization’s commitment to the promotion and implementation of advanced emergency communications technologies and solutions, as well as the interoperability of all components of the emergency response ecosystem. Kelemen provides extensive legislative and regulatory advocacy expertise on behalf of iCERT’s members, in addition to providing excellent member service and value. Kelemen came to iCERT after spending nearly six years as President & CEO of the Texas Retailers Association (TRA), where he successfully led the effort to restore member engagement, legislative and regulatory relevance, and financial stability and strength to a nearly century-old statewide trade association. He returns to the national association landscape, having spent 11 years prior to TRA in senior leadership positions for several of the most influential associations in America, including the Airports Council International – North America (ACI-NA) and AARP. In Washington, DC, Kelemen served as the Senior Vice President for Government and Political Affairs at the Airports Council International, North America (ACI-NA), the trade association representing commercial airports in the U.S. and Canada. As ACI-NA’s chief lobbyist, he led the development of strategies to influence congressional and legislative actions affecting airports and the aviation industry. Prior to joining ACI-NA, Kelemen served as the Senior Director for External Affairs at the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), the Cancer Society’s lobbying arm in Washington, DC, where he cultivated, developed, and maintained corporate relationships, as well as coordinated outreach to members of Congress. He also spent over 10 years at AARP in various government relations and advocacy leadership capacities at federal and state levels, culminating as the Association’s Director of Congressional Relations and Political Affairs. During his decade-plus with AARP, he played key leadership roles in the passage of landmark legislation such as Medicare Part D and the Affordable Care Act. Originally from Houston, Kelemen began his career working in Texas, in various political and government affairs roles, as well as in state government, in the gubernatorial administration of George W. Bush. He has a comprehensive understanding of the legislative and regulatory processes at all levels of government, as well as how membership associations can most effectively leverage their collective efforts to achieve successful outcomes. He has a proven ability to effectively communicate with internal and external audiences alike, as well as with decision and policymakers, and maintains a network of bipartisan contacts and relationships in Washington, DC, and across the US. Kelemen is a graduate of the University of Houston, with a bachelor’s degree in political science, and has native fluency in Spanish.