Behind the scenes, E-rate consultants spend time on professional development, industry collaboration, and efforts to strengthen the program. You may not spend much time thinking about that, and that’s perfectly understandable. Through E-MPA, consultants work together to share best practices, uphold a common code of ethics, and continually raise professional standards. The annual conference serves as a focal point for those efforts. Here are a few of my impressions from this year’s meeting.
What Is E-MPA?
The E-rate Management Professionals Association (E-MPA) is a professional organization dedicated to advancing the E-rate consulting industry through education, certification, ethical standards, and professional development. Its mission is to promote accountability, strengthen industry expertise, and support consultants who help schools and libraries successfully navigate the E-rate program. Each month, E-MPA members meet to continue education and accountability, and each year we gather to discuss long-term improvements.
Collaboration, Advocacy, and a Shared Vision
One of my biggest takeaways from the E-MPA Annual Conference was the power of collaboration. While E-rate consultants may compete in the marketplace, the conference reinforced that we share a common purpose: helping schools and libraries access the connectivity and technology resources their communities depend on.
Throughout the conference, professionals from across the industry came together to discuss challenges facing the E-rate community and identify opportunities to strengthen the program. A recurring theme was the importance of constructive advocacy. Rather than simply highlighting concerns, conversations focused on educating stakeholders, communicating the potential impact of policy decisions, and proposing practical solutions that support applicants and the long-term success of E-rate.
What stayed with me most: the people.
What stood out most to me was the passion and dedication of the people in the room. It was refreshing to engage with professionals who genuinely care about the work they do and the communities they serve. Attendees openly shared ideas, challenged assumptions, and engaged in thoughtful discussion, all with the shared goal of making the program better. That level of engagement reflects a profession committed not only to expertise and compliance, but also to continuous improvement.
I was equally encouraged by conversations focused on the future of E-MPA and the E-rate consulting profession. Several sessions centered on strengthening the association, upholding our code of ethics, and continuing to raise professional standards across the industry. What impressed me most was the willingness to take an honest look at where we are today, acknowledge opportunities for growth, and remain focused on moving forward. There was clear recognition that meaningful progress has been made, but no interest in becoming complacent.
Why This Matters to You
You won’t see most of this work directly. But when your consultant, whoever they are, shows up better trained, held to a shared code of ethics, and connected to a wider professional community, that’s part of what you’re getting.
The takeaway: better-trained consultants, held to a real standard. If you ever want to know more, a simple question like “are you CEMP certified?” is a fair one to ask, and one E-MPA’s code of ethics is designed to support.
Final Thoughts
I left the conference optimistic about the future of both E-MPA and the broader E-rate community. The strongest message I took away was that collaboration remains one of our industry’s greatest strengths. It was encouraging to see professionals, including competitors, come together to address shared challenges, advocate thoughtful solutions, and support the continued success of the E-rate program.
The conference reinforced that meaningful progress happens when people are willing to listen, learn from one another, and work toward a common goal. That spirit of collaboration, coupled with a commitment to professionalism, ethical standards, and continuous improvement, will continue to move the E-rate community forward.
One of the ways we like to provide more information and training on E-rate is our monthly My E-rate Guides webinars. Have a question about what is going on with E-rate right now? Register for the next webinar, October 8, and bring it with you.
About the Author: Heidi Leonard has been an E-rate Guide at Funds For Learning for nearly three years. Before joining the GuideTeam, she was a classroom teacher. She started as a substitute, then taught second grade, then eighth, which means she worked on the front lines. Outside of work, Heidi gardens, cooks, and reads in roughly equal measure.
