I recently returned to the office from our Fall World 2010 conference. Along with the boxes, supplies and paperwork required to put on a conference, I brought back positive feelings about the business continuity industry.
The vibe at the Fall World conference was markedly improved over those from the past few years. While all our conference attendees have always been pleasant and eager to improve the industry, this event’s crowd seemed more optimistic. I take that as a good sign for our industry.
Our show vendors still struggle in some areas, but they too were feeling that things might finally be on the upswing. It has been a painfully slow time for many of us over the past few years, but there are several bright spots that have emerged.
I listened with interest to Ashley P. Moore, FEMA representative, who spoke on “How Will PS-Prep Affect You?” According to the ANSI-ASQ National Accreditation Board (ANAB), PS-Prep is a partnership between DHS and the private sector that will enable private entities to receive emergency preparedness certification. Businesses can choose to comply with one or all of three standards (ASIS, BS 25999, and/or NFPA 1600) to receive the PS Prep certification.
I am pleased to see programs such as this move forward in our industry. Having these certifications in place will bring more validity to our industry.
Requiring specific documentation of BC programs could make it easier on several fronts for organizations. For one, having that certification can be a definite advantage over competitors. And, having the documentation in place for all aspects of your program will make it easier for management to approve budgets and authorize personnel training or hiring. This is a big advantage and I hope that many will take advantage of programs such as these.
Complete details of the PS Prep program can be found at www.ANAB.org and you can also access Moore’s Fall World 2010 session through our Fall World ON DEMAND product. Details for purchasing the package can be found at www.twosense.com/DRJ-F10/ index.html. For one fee, you will gain access to our other exciting and informative sessions as well.
Also, I hope that you will take advantage of the many new networking opportunities available on our totally revamped website. DRJ.com has undergone a major overhaul. We are making it easier for you to gain information from the best website in the disaster recovery industry.
Check us out to find out many of the new networking tools we have put into place. Our forums are now up and running. It is a great place to discuss today’s issues. You can reach out to more than 100,000 subscribers and gain feedback, advice and empathy.
We also have blogs, community groups and much more. Be sure to utilize these great networking tools. It is the perfect way to meet new people in the industry and stay connected with those you already know.
You will also find information on our next conference, Spring World 2011 on drj.com. The preliminary brochure is available now for this conference which will be held March 27-30, 2011 in Orlando, Fla.
We will once again feature cutting edge topics, interactive workshops and numerous networking opportunities. If you’d like to see pictures of our past show, check out the article on Fall World 2010 in this edition of DRJ. We have a lot of fun while we are learning at all of our conferences.
The session agenda for Spring World 2011 will be released soon. Keep an eye on your mailboxes and on drj.com for all the details.
I look forward to seeing you at our next show!
