Mr. Spaulding co-founded the Executive Development Institute of the International Association of Black Professional Fire Fighters, Inc. (IABPFF) with Dr. Carl Holmes at Florida A&M University. Romeo O. Spaulding is President Emeritus and served as the former Executive Director of the IABPFF from 1988-2002. The IABPFF represented approximately 8,500 fire service personnel in 35 states plus the District of Columbia and Barbados, West Indies, Bermuda, England, Canada, The Bahamas, South America, Central America, and Africa.

In 1991, retired Oklahoma City Assistant Fire Chief Carl Holmes, co-founded EDI with Mr. Romeo Spaulding and others. Their goal was to enhance managerial training for the advancement of professionals within the fire service industry. Since its inception, EDI has successfully trained more than 2,500 fire service professionals across the U.S. and abroad. EDI is one of the nation’s largest and most renowned organizations which is committed to excellence by offering quality professional training today to serve those leading the country’s fire service tomorrow.

Mrs. Holmes, wife of EDI co-founder Dr. Carl Holmes, was instrumental in the administration of the organization. For decades, Mrs. Holmes supported the organization by managing EDI conference registration and managing accounting and financial records to keep the EDI running smoothly behind the scenes. In addition, Mrs. Holmes was a trailblazer in civil service. She became one of the first African Americans hired at the Federal Aviation Association in Oklahoma City. She rose through the ranks to become one of the first African American female Training Specialists for the FAA, where she helped develop instructor training for FAA personnel across the country.