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General Session 1
8:15 a.m. – 9:15 a.m.

Making the Most of Difficult Situations: Changing Markets, Changing Times

Garrison Wynn

In the uncertain world of business continuity, it’s important to have real solutions! In this insightful session we’ll examine the challenges we face and learn how to laugh at our problems while using them as catalysts for success. This session covers a lot of ground and provides easily implemented, proven solutions that can be implemented in all aspects of business continuity and related fields.
As a speaker, advisor, and entertainer, Garrison Wynn has a background in manufacturing, entertainment, telecommunications, and financial services. An experienced actor in films and a stand-up comedian, he has hosted PBS specials and national radio programs.

General Session 2
9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.

Never Gamble With The Continuity of Your Business

Don DeMarco
IBM BRCS

Keeping your business operational can have high stakes. It’s time to ante up and get in the game! Learn how to improve your odds for a successful business continuity program. Tips and tricks for implementing comprehensive business protection will be shared. Don’t let your plans fold; walk away from this session with winning strategies!
Don DeMarco is vice president of IBM’s Business Resilience and Continuity Services, Americas, a business line of IBM Global Services. DeMarco joined IBM in the United States in 1980. Early in his career he held numerous operational and management positions associated with large scale information technology centers serving IBM in North America.

General Session 3
10:45 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.

The Greatest Threat in Our Lifetime:
What Are You Doing to Get Ready?

Regina Phelps
EMS Solutions

An influenza pandemic could be the greatest disaster in our lifetime…or could it? Health experts say it is a matter of if, not when the next pandemic will impact the globe. In the face of a pandemic, airports, airlines, businesses and the public face the risk of quarantine; the death toll could be in the millions. This general session will guide you through the maze of current medical information. This will include a discussion of the history of pandemics, current suggested practices, the current state of disease outbreaks in the world and what you should be doing to be ready.
Regina Phelps, CEM, RN, BSN, MPA is an internationally recognized expert in the field of emergency management and contingency planning. She is founder of Emergency Management & Safety Solutions a consulting and training firm.

General Session 4
8:15 a.m. – 9:15 a.m.

Hurricane Katrina Response

Brandon Bond
DHS/DMAT

This presentation will discuss the National Disaster Medical Systems response to Hurricane Katrina. You will be taken through the first 12 days of the disaster from the initial mobilization to the Superdome from the responder’s perspective. Throughout the presentation lessons learned will be discussed that can be applied to your corporate and personal emergency response plans.
Brandon Bond is the disaster preparedness manager for Kaiser Permanente’s National Security Services and a member of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Bay Area Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT CA-6). Bond was deployed with CA-6 to to the Superdome and the New Orleans Airport.

General Session 5
9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.

The Value of a Corporate Ethical Disaster

Robert C. Chandler, Ph.D.
Pepperdine University

The risks of ethical misconduct disasters have been neglected by continuity planners and senior corporate management. Ethical misconduct disasters are costly disruptions to business operations, loss of brand or reputation value, and in some instance the demise of many well-known companies. This session presents the call to expand continuity planning to include integrity as a mission critical factor. Recent revelations about ethical misconduct scandals make the prospects of the “unthinkable ethical disaster” a realistic concern for every business. No company is immune from these threats.
Robert C. Chandler, Ph.D. is the Blanche E. Seaver professor and chair of the communication division in the Center for Communication and Business at Pepperdine University specializing in crisis communication. He is the author of several books, including BCP Media’s Crisis Communication Planning and The Value of a Corporate Ethical Disaster.

General Session 6
10:45 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.

Business Continuity and Risk Management:
An Integrated Approach

Mark Vanston, Hewlett-Packard

Ellen Pfeiffer, Hewlett-Packard

In addition to working closely with facilities/real estate, human resources, and line-of-business leaders, business continuity should be a core discipline of IT. Creating and maintaining contingency plans, processes, and technologies, along with cultural changes take time ... and lots of it. Corporations should institute a risk management program across both business and technology. Disciplines of business continuity and risk management are often blurred. Both disciplines use similar tools and techniques, including risk assessment, business continuity planning, and BIAs. Business continuity encompasses all processes necessary to restore business functionality during a time of crisis. Risk management incorporates a wider variety of functions, including positive impact, negative impact, and business non-stoppage. The inherent value of business continuity is clearer when we consider that not all risks can be managed. Unless risk management
and business continuity are institutionalized into day-to-day activities, organizations will find themselves increasingly exposed.

Mark Vanston is the chief strategist and senior business development manager within Hewlett-Packard’s Business Continuity & Enterprise Risk Strategies division. Vanston provides valuable insight and strategic direction to further evolve HP’s business continuity and availability services offerings.

Ellen Pfeiffer is a business development manager and senior business continuity consultant in HP’s Business Continuity Services practice. Previous to this role, Pfeiffer was the director in HP’s Global Risk Management organization with responsibilities for the enterprise-wide business continuity program as well as risk assessment,
risk mitigation, and crisis management.

General Session 7
8:15 a.m. – 9:15 a.m.

Surf’s Up: How About Your BCP?

Barry Pruitt
PruSpeak, Inc.

Better, cheaper, faster! Nearer deadline, less budget, higher quality! Reorganize, reengineer, revisit! SOX, HIPPA, Homeland Security. The mantra may be different, but the danger is the same. Ignore what’s necessary for what’s currently popular or mandated. A constantly changing business environment creates an urgent need to reassess your approach to BC planning. You’ll gain an overview of the martial art of business continuity planning – FASTpractice -- including the components, processes, and practices required for BCP success – from gaining commitment to communication to making the presentation.
Barry Pruitt is president of PruSpeak Incorporated, a global training and consulting organization, and teaches at the USC School of Business.

General Session 8
9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.

Organizational Survival:
The Integration of the Major BCP Plans

Martin Gonzalez
BearingPoint

There is no “silver bullet” for organizational survival, only accepting the reality that many elements must come together to drive the company’s emergency response, continuity of operations, and recovery from the event. In most organizations, significant work has gone into designing recovery solutions for the technology infrastructure. However, senior management is coming to the realization that other vital components must also be addressed. This session will discuss the need to have an integrated CORE (Crisis Organizational Response) plan, disaster recovery plan, and business resumption plan in order to deliver viable organizational survival capability across the enterprise.
Martin Gonzalez is a senior manager with BearingPoint. His responsibilities include the execution of business resumption processes after a major hurricane destroyed a company’s world headquarter and damaged its data center.

General Session 9
10:45 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.

Disasters Shimasters! How To Find The Meaning
in The Madness of Disaster Recovery

Vali Hawkins Mitchell
Inner Directions, LLP

Recent disasters, including Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma, have taken their toll on us physically and mentally. Whether you are personally involved or just watch from afar, disasters of any type can have a big impact on continuity planners, responders and more. Learn how to design a personalized self-care manual so you can stay in the game for the long haul. Learn how to turn your daily grind into meaningful practice with the same self-care techniques that has been field tested and approved during Katrina and Rita. How do you find meaning in the madness of difficult work? Under stress some people become “looters” while others become “heroes.” Disaster work changes us; learn how to pay attention with this simple to use, self-managed, well tested technique that will keep you alert rather than numb in any crisis.
Vali J. Hawkins Mitchell, Ph.D., LMHC, is a certified traumatologist. She has two decades of working as a mental health counselor, researcher, national business consultant and coach, trauma and disaster specialist, author, workshop facilitator, speaker, and educator.