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Strategic Session 1
Intermediate/Advanced

Disaster Recovery Texas Style!

Shirley Scott
Texas Dept. of Family and Protective Services

Learn the use and benefits of remote computing for ready access to files, programs and e-mail when workers are away from their office PCs. In addition, discussion will include the emergency response roles, BC for critical services, contract agreements, mobile software applications, security and remote computing and on line collaboration. See a demonstration of real life examples from disaster response efforts for Hurricanes Katrina and Rita as staged and implemented in Texas.
Shirley Scott, CISSP, is the director of operations, information technology for the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. She has been involved with state emergency operations as a representative from the Texas Health and Human Services agency and contractor or employee with FEMA.

Managerial Session 1
Novice/Intermediate/Advanced

Connect-The-Dots: Will All Of Your Plans Really Work Together?

Evan Sicle
Commercebank, N.A.

Business process recovery plans, crisis communication plans, technical recovery plans, executive response plans, emergency life/safety plans – so many plans, but will they all work together? How will your company’s crisis and recovery plans, developed by different teams in your company, at different times, work together at time of disaster? How will the response teams integrate when it really counts? How do you “connect-the-dots”? See real-life examples of how continuity plan integration works and what you need to do to ensure that your company can truly “connect-the-dots” between all of your business continuity and disaster recovery teams. You will leave this session with a pragmatic approach to smoothly integrating all facets of disaster planning.
Evan Sicle, PMP is the operational risk officer for Commercebank, N.A providing professional, specialized skills relating to the development and coordination of the bank’s business continuity planning and Sarbanes-Oxley internal control attestation using the COSO and COBIT framework.

Technical Session 1
Intermediate/Advanced

Building a BC Website

Lynda Geraci, CBCP
Siemans Shared Services LLC

In this informal, informational session planners are encouraged to participate as they learn the best tips and tricks for building a BC website. Discussion will include website contents, understanding your intended audience, security, and maintenance cycles.
Lynda Geraci, CBCP, business continuity manager at Siemens Shared Services in Orlando, Florida, is responsible for Siemens business continuity program and co-chairs the business continuity initiative for Siemens America. She has more than 25 years background in publishing, warehouse, retail, distribution, call and customer service centers, human resources, air transportation, power utility, government and diverse operating environments.

Emergency Response Session 1
Novice/Intermediate/Advanced

Selecting an Emergency Notification and Escalation System

Chris Gay, CBCP
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of FL

This session is intended to help in the decision making process of choosing an emergency notification and escalation system. Learn the benefits of implementing a notification system and the steps for vendor evaluation. Recommendations and possible options for securing funding for the tool will be discussed. Details about product features and capabilities including what they are and how you would use them will also be discussed. Attendees will leave with an understanding of the general functionality and capabilities of this emerging communication technology. Guidelines will be presented for the selection process as well as insights into the emerging technology of communication tools.
Chris Gay, CBCP, is manager – disaster recovery/ systems continuity management, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida. He has responsibility for the maintenance and preservation of the company’s disaster recovery program to ensure mission critical business functions are available and protected in an adverse event.

Advanced Session 1
Advanced

Finding Data Protection Choices That Meet Your Disaster Recovery Priorities

David Hill
Mesabi Group

Dan Tanner
ProgresSmart

Yes, you must concern yourself with people, processes, and technology in your planning. But don’t forget your data. Data protection is changing dramatically, and you are going to have to plan to match up your requirements to protect and recover your data. And to reconcile your vital data recovery needs with the money that you have available. In this presentation, we will show you how you can proceed. We will give you some simple rules as to how to make sense out of all the confusion and how to build an effective data protection architecture as part of your overall business continuity and disaster recovery planning.
David Hill is principal with the Mesabi Group. He has an advanced degree from MIT’s Sloan School.
Dan Tanner is founder of ProgresSmart. He is a computer industry veteran and is extensively and widely cited, honored, and published.

Information Session 1
Novice/Intermediate/Advanced

One Storm, Six Recoveries and 10 Lessons Learned

Gerry Printz, CBCP
AMSADOR, Ltd.

On August 29, 2005, Katrina struck land. This is the story of the planning and recovery of five companies located in different parts of Mississippi. You will learn what went right and what went wrong. More importantly, you will hear of the 10 most important lessons learned as a result of Katrina. A sixth recovery, the presenter’s business and family recovery will also be discussed. This intimate look into these organizations, in different industries and of different sizes will be of benefit to everyone, not just those in hurricane country.
Gerry Printz, CBCP, CISA, CISSP has more than 25 years of experience in information systems. He has designed and prepared information systems assessments, business continuity plans and security programs for a wide variety of firms.