Waterville, Maine - Colby College Assistant Director of Athletics and Head Equipment Manager Nicole Clark has been making a major impact on her profession this summer, leading a monumental, multi-year national initiative for the Athletic Equipment Managers Association (AEMA).

For the past four years, Clark has served as the Certification Manual Committee Chair for the AEMA. In this role, she spearheaded a committee of equipment managers spanning all levels of sports—including the NFL, NCAA Division I, NCAA Division III, and industry vendors—to execute a thorough overhaul of the association's official certification manual. The updated manual reflects the most current industry standards across the five core domains of the profession: Department Administration, Safety and Standards, Operations, Purchasing and Procurement, and Inventory Control.

The culmination of this four-year project was unveiled in June at the annual AEMA Convention in Northern Kentucky/Cincinnati. Clark addressed the entire association during the welcome meeting, where it was officially announced that this edition of the manual will be completely digital for the first time in history and provided as a complimentary benefit to all AEMA members.

"This project was truly a labor of love for our profession," said Clark. "Updating and digitizing this resource required hundreds of hours of review, editing, writing, and collaboration. Our goal was to create a living resource that reflects the realities of today's equipment manager while providing a strong foundation for future generations of professionals. I am incredibly grateful to every committee member, contributor, and volunteer who dedicated their time and expertise to bringing this project to life."

Serving as the primary study guide for individuals seeking AEMA certification and a lifelong reference tool for active managers, the transition to a fully digital format will allow for seamless content updates, easier access, and ensures the material stays aligned with evolving safety and operational standards.

"Certification is an important aspect in the growth of our equipment management profession, and we are extremely pleased to be moving into the digital format of the fourth edition of our certification manual," said Kelly Jones, E.M.C., Certification Steering Committee Chair. "The time and commitment to complete this project demonstrates the passion and love that our members have for the AEMA. The Manual Committee, led by Nicole Clark, worked diligently in creating this edition and their work is very much appreciated."

Building on the momentum of the manual's launch, Clark was invited to Raleigh, North Carolina, in July to collaborate with the Exam Construction Committee and Meazure Learning. During the session, Clark helped draft new certification test questions for the upcoming fall exam, gaining valuable behind-the-scenes professional development on the full lifecycle of the credentialing process.

Equipment manager certification is vital to collegiate and professional athletics, validating specialized expertise in athlete safety, equipment fitting, proper maintenance, procurement, and risk management.

In addition to her work on the certification manual and exam construction, Clark continues to shape the association through several other key governance roles. She serves on the AEMA Policies and Procedures Committee and acts as the Membership Chair for District I, covering six New England states, New York, New Jersey, and four eastern Canadian provinces.

Clark's extensive involvement and national leadership not only elevate the operational standards on Mayflower Hill, but help pave the way for the future of the athletic equipment management profession nationwide.

"As a dedicated and passionate AEMA member, I know that, next to our members, certification is one of the most valuable assets that our association has," Clark added. "I am extremely proud to be doing this work for our organization, as it will live on in future certified equipment managers... I am excited to see where our certification journey leads us in the future of the profession, and I am hopeful that this builds a path towards accreditation."