5TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE

April 2, 2019

National Conference Center

East Windsor, New Jersey

April 2, 2019

Dear Members, Partners and Guests;

Welcome! We hope this day will be filled with many opportunities to advance the VOAD movement and build skills and relationships to engage the whole community in preparedness, response and recovery. The NJVOAD Board of Trustees is grateful to the Conference Planning & Advisory Committee and the staff for their time, energy and effort in planning and executing this conference.

We extend our gratitude to the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness for their generous support of this conference. We also extend our thanks to our sponsors who helped make this conference possible: The Governor’s Office of Volunteerism, Islamic Relief USA, NJM Insurance Group, PSEG and Comcast.

We are grateful to Dr. Daniel Aldrich for providing our keynote address and setting the tone for the conference. Thanks also to our plenary panel, workshop presenters and conference exhibitors who are providing information and resources to improve preparedness, resiliency, knowledge and relationships throughout New Jersey.

Lastly, thank YOU for your participation in NJVOAD’s fifth annual conference. If you are not formally connected to NJVOAD as a member or partner, please contact Keith Adams (kadams@njvoad.org or 609- 251-7825) or visit njvoad.org for details on how to get and stay connected. We look forward to your continued support and involvement!

In Collaboration, The Board of Trustees, NJVOAD

Arnold Valentin, Chairperson ~ Anthony Pluchino, Vice Chair Elaine O’Conner, Secretary ~ Yaakov Bindell, Treasurer

Maria Nikolatos ~ Araif Yusuff ~ Jonathan Connors Cathy McCann, Chairperson Emeritus

Keith Adams, Executive Director Linda Hardy, Program Coordinator

4/2/19 NJVOAD Conference Schedule – At a Glance Time Location Event / Topic

8:30 AM - 9:00 AM Windsor Ballroom / Lobby Registration, Breakfast & Exhibitors

9:00 AM - 9:15 AM Windsor Ballroom Welcome, Introductions & Acknowledgments

9:15 AM - 10:15 AM Windsor Ballroom Keynote Address

10:15 AM - 10:30 AM Windsor Ballroom Break, Networking & Exhibitors

10:3

0 A

M -

11

:45

AM

Room A Resilientville Exercise

Room C Climate Change and NJ Extreme Weather

Room D Multi-Stakeholder Problem Solving and Cross Sector Partnerships through Collaborative Communication

Room E Engaging the Faith-Based Community

Room F What’s New with FEMA

11:45 AM - 12:15 PM Windsor Ballroom Lunch & Networking

12:15 PM - 1:15 PM Windsor Ballroom Plenary Panel

1:15 PM - 1:30 PM Windsor Ballroom Break, Networking & Exhibitors

1:30

PM

- 2

:45

PM

Room A QPR - Question, Persuade, and Refer

Room C The Essentials of Crisis Communication

Room D Autism Preparedness for First Responders

Room E Partnering with ADRCs to Serve People with Access and Functional Needs

Room F Overview of the New Jersey All-Hazard Incident Management Team

2:45 PM - 3:15 PM Windsor Ballroom Last Chance for Exhibitors, Snack Break and Networking

3:15

PM

- 4

:30

PM

Room A QPR - Question, Persuade, and Refer

Room C The Essentials of Crisis Communication

Room D Timelines and Processes of Long-Term Recovery

Room E What’s New with FEMA

Room F Engaging the Whole Community to Enhance New Jersey’s Preparedness

Keynote Address – 9:15 AM - 10:15 AM

Dr. Daniel P. Aldrich is Director of the

Security and Resilience Studies Program and

Professor in political science and public

policy at Northeastern University in Boston.

Aldrich has published five books and more

than 45 peer-reviewed articles and has

written op-eds for the New York Times, CNN,

The Conversation, and many other media

outlets. He has spent more than 5 years in

India, Japan, and Africa carrying out

fieldwork, and his work has been funded by

the Fulbright Foundation, the Abe

Foundation, and the Japan Foundation,

among other institutions. He Tweets at

@danielpaldrich.

Sponsored by

CONFERENCE AGENDA and SPEAKER INFORMATION

Social ties, bottom up organization, and local resources are critical components of a successful crisis response. How well can we organize our neighborhoods after a major disaster? Using maps and small groups we'll simulate a disaster in a New Jersey town and will work through an exercise organizing local responses.

Dr. Daniel P. Aldrich is Director of the Security and Resilience Studies Program and Professor in political science and public policy at Northeastern University in Boston. Aldrich has published five books and more than 45 peer-reviewed articles and has written op-eds for the New York Times, CNN, The Conversation, and many other media outlets. He has spent more than 5 years in India, Japan, and Africa carrying out fieldwork, and his work has been funded by the Fulbright Foundation, the Abe Foundation, and the Japan Foundation, among other institutions. He Tweets at @danielpaldrich.

This session will examine extreme weather in New Jersey, past, present and future. Emphasis will be on increasing threats of such events as the climate system warms and becomes more energized.

Dr. David A. Robinson is a Distinguished Professor of Geography at Rutgers University and New Jersey’s State Climatologist. He has expertise in the collection and archiving of accurate climatic data and is interested in climate change (particularly state and regional climate issues), hemispheric and regional snow cover dynamics, and interactions of snow cover with other climate elements. As state climatologist, he works with a wide array of user communities who require climatological expertise to solve problems. He oversees the Rutgers New Jersey Weather Network, a constellation of over 60 stations that observe a variety of variables every five minutes, sits on numerous state committees and provides public education through presentations and media interviews. Robinson recently was a member of the National Academy of Sciences’ Board on Atmospheric Sciences and Climate, is past president of the American Association of State Climatologists, is a Fellow of the American Meteorological Society and has received the Lifetime Achievement award of the American Association of Geographers.

Breakout Sessions – 10:30 AM - 11:45 AM

Room A Resilientville Exercise – Dr. Daniel Aldrich

Room C Climate Change and NJ Extreme Weather Concerns – Dr. David Robinson

Using research from Rutgers NetSci Lab in the School of Communication and Information and Northwestern University's Network for Nonprofits and Social Impact, this session develops a framework of collaborative communication to inform a collective discussion of the challenges and problems of collaboration in disaster response and recovery. Together, session participants will develop some collective solutions and a toolkit for collaboratively solving the problems of disaster response and recovery that arise through multi-stakeholder decision-making and cross-sector partnership.

Jack Harris is a Research Associate at Northwestern University’s Network for Nonprofits and Social Impact in the Department of Communication. Jack’s research focuses on the role of networked stakeholder relationships in post-disaster recovery, the role of the plural sector in community resilience and crisis management, and the use of qualitative network analysis to uncover and reconstruct organizational relationships and community partnerships in disaster-

impacted communities. He has presented and published his research in internationally recognized venues such as at The International Communication Association, The Political Networks Conference and in the Journal of Contingencies and Crisis Management. Jack has also contributed chapters on Resilience Processes in the International Encyclopedia of Organizational Communication and on Interorganizational Resilience Networks in Social Network Analysis of Disaster, Response, Recovery, and Adaptation. He holds a PhD from Rutgers School of Communication and Information and was a Governor’s Executive Fellow at Rutgers Eagleton Institute of Politics.

Room D Multi-Stakeholder Problem Solving and Cross Sector Partnerships through

Collaborative Communication – Dr. John Harris

Building partnerships is a key way to ensure that our emergency management plans are functional when disaster strikes. The Faith-Based community can serve as a vital supporting partner in any emergency management plan. From mass care operations to mucking out homes, from feeding operations to volunteer support, the Faith-Based community can make a difference. Learn about the NJ Interfaith Council and how congregations across the state are partnering with emergency managers to offer support and vital resources during disasters.

Joseph Geleta currently serves as the Director of Emergency Management for the NJ Department of Human Services. He is directly responsible for emergency management activities associated with the Department’s 9 facilities and 12,000 employees. He serves as the State of New Jersey’s Mass Care (Sheltering/Feeding) lead during disaster response operations. He retired from the NJ State Police after 30 years of service and was leading New Jersey’s Hurricane Sandy recovery effort along with FEMA Colleagues. Upon his retirement, Joe served as the Executive Director of the NJ211 Partnership.

NJ FEMA Integration Team (FIT) & Building Community Resilience through Facilitated Tabletop Exercises

In fiscal year 2018, New Jersey became one of the first states to have FEMA staff co-located with its emergency management agency, known as a FEMA Integration Team. NJ FIT provides technical and training assistance regarding FEMA programs and continuous on-site support to the state. As disasters transition into long term recovery, FEMA and its partners are working to increase capabilities and build resilience to fulfill its mission to help people before, during and after disasters.

FEMA’s #1 goal outlined in its 2018-2019 Strategic Plan is to Build a Culture of Preparedness. FEMA cannot achieve its goal without community partners, and tabletop exercises are an easy, inexpensive way to build resilience in your community. As a part of FEMA’s efforts today, they will be discussing techniques on how you can deliver a tabletop exercise in your community.

Room E Engaging the Faith-Based Community – Mr. Joseph Geleta

Room F What’s New with FEMA – Mr. Dennis Dura, Ms. Lori Ross, Mr. Paul Perillo, Ms.

Deborah Costa

Dennis Dura began his 37-year career in the emergency management field in 1981 as a volunteer coordinator in his home township's emergency management program. He has been employed by two National NGO’s, The American Red Cross in positions around the country and the American Radio Relay League, the latter as their first Emergency Planning & Response Manager. Starting in the late 1990’s Dennis has been employed by the NJ State Police, NJ Department of Human Services and NJ Department of Children and Families all in emergency management positions. Dennis is

currently employed with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Region II and serves as the Mass Care Lead in the Individual Assistance Branch, Recovery Division. During Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico, he managed the mass care response as his first role with the agency. Dennis instructs Mass Care courses for the FEMA Emergency Management Institute. He holds a BS in Criminal Justice and is a Certified Business Resilience Manager and Associate Emergency Manager and holds a FCC Extra Class Amateur Radio License.

Lori Ross is the FEMA Voluntary Agency Liaison (VAL) for New Jersey, starting out as a local hire for Hurricane Sandy in 2012. She has also held positions in the National Disaster Recovery Support Cadre as a Community Planning and Capacity Building Specialist, Region II Disaster Survivor Assistance Trainer and as a Preliminary Damage Assessment Team Lead. Lori has a twenty (20) year demonstrated track record in neighborhood revitalization/ recovery programming in New Jersey, securing over $10 million in grants for a small distressed local community. She has experience working in the private, public and non-profit sectors and brings to FEMA a comprehensive knowledge of federal, state and local grant programs. Lori has been an active volunteer her entire adult life and is passionate about whole community recovery. She holds a B.A. in Political Science from Monmouth University.

Paul Perillo is a Community Emergency/ Recovery Assistance Specialist for the Recovery Integration Coordination cadre. In his role he supports ongoing recovery efforts with NJSP, county and local OEM and recovery organizations. Paul joined FEMA in January 2013. Paul has a BS in Business Administration and brings to FEMA over 40 years in public/private sector management. He is the former Vice President of Operations for a publicly held Fortune 1000 healthcare company. Paul also served as the regional

HIPAA Privacy Official. He was a lead executive who helped build a new mental health and substance abuse recovery model in Louisiana following Hurricane Katrina. Paul possesses very strong leadership skills, high level project management ability with a proven track record to manage various levels of projects and capitalizing on his strong people skills. He has extensive personal knowledge of the area impacted by Hurricane Sandy. He is a Coach Evaluator and Disaster Survivor Assessment trainer and also experienced leading Preliminary Disaster Assessments in New Jersey.

Deborah Costa serves as the NJ FIT (FEMA Integration Team) Preparedness Specialist. The FIT program was created to enhance FEMA’s customer service and the efficiency of its program delivery pre-disaster, building on existing partnerships to strengthen readiness across the State. In this position she supports CERT, conducts community outreach, fosters individual preparedness, and provides technical assistance and education about preparedness policies and programs which allow communities to become more resilient. Prior to her FIT position Debbie held a position in FEMA’s Region II National Preparedness Division as an Individual and Community Preparedness Specialist and as a FEMA Certified Professional Continuity of Operations Practitioner Level 1. In 2017 Debbie received an Administrator’s Award for the COOP work she did with NJ Department of Education and school administrators. She is the Editor of the Individual and Community Preparedness Bulletin, the POC for the National Youth Preparedness Council and founder of the Regional

Youth Preparedness Council. In this capacity she works to guide and support preparedness efforts by teens in their schools and local communities.

This featured presentation will offer a conversation on the effects of climate change—and resultant frequency and severity of disasters—as well as the challenges presented by the “new normal” to organizations and communities throughout the disaster cycle.

Dr. Kathleen Donohue Rennie, New Jersey City University

Dr. Jack Harris, Northwestern University’s Network for Nonprofits and Social Impact

Mr. Steven Crimando, Director of Training, DMHA Disaster and Terrorism Branch

Dr. David Robinson, New Jersey State Climatologist, Rutgers University

Plenary Presentation – 12:15 PM - 1:15 PM Disasters: The New Normal?

Breakout Sessions – 1:30 PM - 2:45 PM

Question, Persuade, and Refer — the three simple steps anyone can learn to help save a life from suicide. Just as people trained in CPR and the Heimlich Maneuver help save thousands of lives each year, people trained in QPR learn how to recognize the warning signs of a suicide crisis and how to question, persuade, and refer someone to help. Each year thousands of Americans, like you, are saying "Yes" to saving the life of a friend, colleague, sibling, or neighbor.

Megan Sullivan is the Deputy Director of the Disaster & Terrorism Branch of the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services. She is a certified Disaster Response Crisis Counselor, trained in the FEMA and Red Cross models and is currently a part of the Division of Mental Health and Addictions’ Disaster and Terrorism Branch which develops contingency planning for the public’s mental health needs surrounding various types of emergencies. She serves on the Operations Board of the Disaster

Response Crisis Counselor Certification and is one of the trainers for the DRCC curriculum. She has deployed to Louisiana for hurricane relief and to the United States Virgin Islands with the New Jersey Emergency Medical Services taskforce after Hurricanes Irma and Maria. Sullivan is a graduate of Villanova University and holds a Master of Education in Counseling Psychology from Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey. She holds licenses as a Professional Counselor and Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor. She has also trained in marital and family counseling at The Center for Family, Community and Social Justice in Princeton, NJ.

As professionals rise through the ranks, they will face issues that thrust them into the spotlight and threaten organizational reputation. A recent study found that 9 in 10 business leaders (94%) admit that the executives in their organizations need more training in core communication disciplines, such as reputation management and strategic communication. Are you prepared? This breakout session reviews elements of strategic communication imperative before, during and after crisis events, with a focus on the essential nature of core values in leading organizational response.

Room A QPR Question, Persuade, and Refer – Ms. Megan Sullivan

Room C The Essentials of Crisis Communication – Dr. Kathleen Renne

Dr. Kathleen Donohue Rennie is the unique combination of full- time public relations professional and full-time professor. With 20+ years of experience through her public relations consulting firm, Kathy successfully develops and implements strategic communications campaigns for a broad range of clients, including those in pharmaceuticals, healthcare, education, banking, technology, energy, business-to-business, nonprofit organizations and more. Before forming her firm, Kathy was a spokesperson and media relations representative for NJ TRANSIT. She has conducted a wide variety of corporate and nonprofit seminars focused on communication management and strategy. In addition to practicing public relations, Kathy teaches integrated marketing communications, crisis communication, executive leadership communication, and media relations at New Jersey City University, where she is an Associate Professor. She is also a guest lecturer for the Executive MBA Program at Rutgers University and for the Stillman School of Business at Seton Hall University. Kathy holds a Ph.D. in

Leadership, Management and Policy and wrote her dissertation on crisis communication. She also earned an undergraduate degree in communication and English (from Rutgers University) as well as a Master of Arts in Corporate and Public Communication (from Seton Hall University). She is an accredited public relations counselor and PRSA Fellow.

Coping with an emergency or disaster situation can be stressful for anyone--especially individuals who have autism. This workshop will provide essential tips to help community responders assist individuals who have autism in preparing for and responding to various types of emergencies; a list of items individuals who have autism may need at a shelter; details on the State's Register Ready program and available resources

Kelly Boyd is an Access & Functional Needs Planner for the NJ Office of Emergency Management and serves as a Co-Chair of the NJ Group for Access and Integration Needs in Emergencies & Disasters (NJGAINED). Previously, she served as the AmeriCorps Program Officer for the New Jersey Commission on National & Community Service and the Disaster & Disability Services Coordinator for the NJ Governor’s Office of Volunteerism. Kelly was also a disaster reservist for FEMA Region 2, an Emergency Management Specialist at the NJ Division of Developmental

Disabilities, and an Emergency Preparedness Contractor for Arc Mercer.

Room D Autism Preparedness for First Responders – Ms. Kelly Boyd and Ms. Carole Tonks

Carole Tonks has over 20 years’ experience in the disability community. She has served for the past 10 years as the Executive Director for the Alliance Center for Independence (ACI) in Edison, New Jersey. ACI is a center for independent living serving individuals in Middlesex, Somerset and Union counties. Carole has been involved in emergency preparedness since 2011. Prior to ACI, Carole worked for 13 years at the NJ Council on Developmental Disabilities, where she was the coordinator of their statewide advocacy project. She is a member of the Statewide Advisory Committee for the United States Commission on Civil Rights. Carole became involved in disability rights after her son was born with Autism. She lives in Brick, NJ with her husband Jerry and their son Jason.

An Area Agency on Aging (AAA) is designated in each of New Jersey's 21 counties to serve as the primary entity responsible for developing comprehensive, coordinated systems of community-based services for older adults. AAAs also serve as Aging & Disability Resource Connection (ADRC) lead agencies in their county, ensuring seniors, adults with disabilities and their caregivers have easy access to information and long-term services and supports. ADRCs are committed to helping people with access and functional needs to prepare for, withstand, and recover from disasters. ADRCs have an extensive reach into their communities and they can serve as valuable partners to reach and serve the elderly, persons with disabilities, caregivers, and other populations most in need of assistance in emergencies. Sessions participants will learn about the background and structure of the ADRC network in NJ, potential resources, and opportunities for developing partnerships.

Tess Tomasi serves as the Information & Assistance/Care Management Supervisor for the Bergen County Division of Senior Services. Tess started her career in service in 1995 in San Francisco. Since then, she has worked in homeless shelters, housing authorities, affordable housing nonprofits, and other social service agencies. Immediately after Hurricane Sandy, Tess became the Project Manager for the Bergen County VOAD Long-Term Recovery Committee (LTRC), where she led an outstanding professional staff of 13 and a legion of volunteers to provide recovery assistance to residents affected by the storm. She developed a single-point-of-entry system headquartered at the

Recovery Information Center in Moonachie. The system provided the residents with streamlined access to the resources of the 60+ LTRC member organizations including case management, home repair, and financial assistance. Tess holds a Bachelor's degree in Literature from the University of San Francisco and a Master's degree in Public Administration from Fairleigh Dickinson University.

Room E Partnering with ADRCs to Serve People with Access and Functional Needs – Ms. Tess

Tomasi and Ms. Andrea Mancini

Members of the New Jersey All-Hazard Incident Management Team (NJ-AHIMT) will discuss the history and mission of this new multi-agency team that provides incident management support both in-state and outside the State. The Team is administered and managed by the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management. Staff from NJOEM will present on: the Team’s goals and objectives; member qualifications; training and exercising; deployments for incidents and events; expectations; and administrative issues. The speakers will also explain the process for individuals to join the NJ-AHIMT through the execution of an Inter-Agency MOU and application materials.

SGT Daniel Cunning is assigned to the Training and Exercise Unit (TEU) of the Emergency Management Section of the State Police. In his role in the Training and Exercise Unit, Dan has contact with emergency managers from many different agencies, representing different levels of government, different states, the private sector, school officials, non-governmental organizations, and community members. Prior to working in the Training and Exercise Unit, Dan was assigned to the Emergency Response Bureau of the Emergency Management Section as a Regional Representative. Regional Representatives work with county and local OEM coordinators to plan and prepare for emergencies and disasters during times of tranquility, but when an event occurs, they respond to the affected county. The Regional Representatives channel information up and down the chain of command, ensure appropriate response actions are taken, and facilitate resource requests in an effort to bring resolution to the incident. Dan has been a trooper for twelve years. He spent seven years as a general duty road trooper before being selected to be a station detective. Although being a detective was rewarding and challenging work, when the opportunity came to be part of something larger, emergency management, Dan took the opportunity and has been in the section three years. Outside of work, most of Dan’s time is spent with his family, his lovely wife, his twenty-year- old daughter, and eleven-year-old son.

SGT Lee Carvalho’s responsibilities, as the Bioterrorism Coordinator for the City of Newark, New Jersey from 1996 through 2004, included supporting and enhancing the integration of local emergency management, health, and medical systems into a coordinated, sustained local capability to respond effectively to a mass casualty incident. In 2004 Lee joined the New Jersey State Police and has been with the Homeland Security Section for the majority of his NJSP career. He worked within the Emergency Response Bureau as a Regional Representative. His role included representing the Governor and State Director of

Room F Overview of the New Jersey All-Hazard Incident Management Team (NJ-AHIMT) and

NJOEM’s Training and Exercise Unit (TEU) – SGT Daniel Cunning, SGT Lee Carvalho,

LT Ronald B. Roberts, Jr.

Emergency Management at all emergency and disaster situations in the State as well as monitoring all hazard situations and assuring proper response and recovery activities. Lee participated in response to any incident and provided interaction between local and state government to expedite and centralize the State’s response. These activities included State, County and Municipal EOC activations, participation in actual operations, and technical assistance during the response and recovery phase. As a Regional Representative, Lee was also responsible for providing status reports of events, through channels, to the Office of the Governor and Attorney General. In the post-emergency phase, he was responsible for the incident’s evaluation and critique. He also assisted with the development, review and compliance of all county and municipal Emergency Operations Plans. This last year Sergeant Carvalho has worked in the State Emergency Operations Unit managing and operating the State Emergency Operations Center and currently also assists in overseeing and managing the New Jersey All Hazards Incident Management Team.

LT Ronald B. Roberts, Jr. began his career in Emergency Management in 2011 as the Training Officer in the New Jersey State Police Communications Bureau. This position entailed the pre-service and in- service training for the 200 9-1-1 Public Safety Telecommunicators at the five State Police dispatch sites in New Jersey. He earned his 9-1-1 Instructor National Certification and his New Jersey Emergency Medical Dispatch certification. Thereafter, he was assigned to the Training & Exercise Unit (TEU) in 2013, a position that he still holds to this date. The Training & Exercise Unit is responsible for conducting emergency management training courses for state, county, municipal,

and private sector individuals who have emergency management responsibilities or work in related fields. Ron was on the 2015 FEMA National Training & Exercise Symposium Roundtable, where he was one of 18 representatives from various tribal, state and federal agencies. In 2016, he completed the L0110 EMPP Basic Academy Train the Trainer course. Ron is also an ICS instructor and he has completed several All Hazard Incident Management Team (AHIMT) position-specific courses. He is a member of the New Jersey State Police Incident Management Team. Ron also instructs several of the Advanced Professional Series courses throughout New Jersey. During exercises and activations, Ron serves in the State Emergency Operations Center. He was also the assistant State Exercise Director for the National Level Exercise “Gotham Shield” in 2017. He is also a 2018 graduate of the National Emergency Management Advanced Academy at the FEMA Emergency Management Institute in Emmitsburg, MD. Prior to transferring to the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management, Ron was an instructor at the New Jersey State Police Academy for 7 years. He taught several disciplines, including self-defense, tactics and use of force, basic police procedures, firearms and intelligence-based policing. He was a road trooper for 7 years at 4 Troop ‘A’ stations in Southern New Jersey. Ron earned his B.A. in Criminal Justice from Stockton University and his M.A. in Human Resource Training and Development from Seton Hall University.

Question, Persuade, and Refer — the three simple steps anyone can learn to help save a life from suicide. Just as people trained in CPR and the Heimlich Maneuver help save thousands of lives each year, people trained in QPR learn how to recognize the warning signs of a suicide crisis and how to question, persuade, and refer someone to help. Each year thousands of Americans, like you, are saying "Yes" to saving the life of a friend, colleague, sibling, or neighbor.

Megan Sullivan is the Deputy Director of the Disaster & Terrorism Branch of the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services. She is a certified Disaster Response Crisis Counselor, trained in the FEMA and Red Cross models and is currently a part of the Division of Mental Health and Addictions’ Disaster and Terrorism Branch which develops contingency planning for the public’s mental health needs surrounding various types of emergencies. She serves on the Operations Board of the Disaster

Response Crisis Counselor Certification and is one of the trainers for the DRCC curriculum. She has deployed to Louisiana for hurricane relief and to the United States Virgin Islands with the New Jersey Emergency Medical Services taskforce after Hurricanes Irma and Maria. Sullivan is a graduate of Villanova University and holds a Master of Education in Counseling Psychology from Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey. She holds licenses as a Professional Counselor and Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor. She has also trained in marital and family counseling at The Center for Family, Community and Social Justice in Princeton, NJ.

Breakout Sessions – 3:15 PM - 4:30 PM

Room A QPR Question, Persuade, and Refer – Ms. Megan Sullivan

As professionals rise through the ranks, they will face issues that thrust them into the spotlight and threaten organizational reputation. A recent study found that 9 in 10 business leaders (94%) admit that the executives in their organizations need more training in core communication disciplines, such as reputation management and strategic communication. Are you prepared? This breakout session reviews elements of strategic communication imperative before, during and after crisis events, with a focus on the essential nature of core values in leading organizational response.

Dr. Kathleen Donohue Rennie is the unique combination of full-

time public relations professional and full-time professor. With 20+ years of experience through her public relations consulting firm, Kathy successfully develops and implements strategic communications campaigns for a broad range of clients, including those in pharmaceuticals, healthcare, education, banking, technology, energy, business-to-business, nonprofit organizations and more. Before forming her firm, Kathy was a spokesperson and media relations representative for NJ TRANSIT. She has conducted a wide variety of corporate and nonprofit seminars focused on communication management and strategy. In addition to practicing public relations, Kathy teaches integrated marketing communications, crisis communication, executive leadership communication, and media relations at New Jersey City University, where she is an Associate Professor. She is also a guest lecturer for the Executive MBA Program at Rutgers University and for the Stillman School of Business at Seton Hall University. Kathy holds a Ph.D. in Leadership, Management and Policy and wrote her dissertation on crisis communication. She also earned an undergraduate degree in communication and English (from Rutgers University) as well as a Master of Arts in Corporate and Public Communication (from Seton Hall University). She is an accredited public relations counselor and PRSA Fellow.

Using research from Rutgers NetSci Lab in the School of Communication and Information and Northwestern University's Network for Nonprofits and Social Impact, this session develops a framework of collaborative communication to inform a collective discussion of the challenges and problems of collaboration in disaster response and recovery. Together, session participants will develop some collective solutions and a toolkit for collaboratively solving the problems of disaster response and recovery that arise through multi-stakeholder decision-making and cross-sector partnership.

Room D Timelines and Processes of Long-Term Recovery – Dr. John Harris

Room C The Essentials of Crisis Communication – Dr. Kathleen Renee

Jack Harris is a Research Associate at Northwestern University’s Network for Nonprofits and Social Impact in the Department of Communication. Jack’s research focuses on the role of networked stakeholder relationships in post-disaster recovery, the role of the plural sector in community resilience and crisis management, and the use of qualitative network analysis to uncover and reconstruct organizational relationships and community partnerships in disaster-

impacted communities. He has presented and published his research in internationally recognized venues such as at The International Communication Association, The Political Networks Conference and in the Journal of Contingencies and Crisis Management. Jack has also contributed chapters on Resilience Processes in the International Encyclopedia of Organizational Communication and on Interorganizational Resilience Networks in Social Network Analysis of Disaster, Response, Recovery, and Adaptation. He holds a PhD from Rutgers School of Communication and Information and was a Governor’s Executive Fellow at Rutgers Eagleton Institute of Politics.

NJ FEMA Integration Team (FIT) & Building Community Resilience through Facilitated Tabletop Exercises

In fiscal year 2018, New Jersey became one of the first states to have FEMA staff co-located with its emergency management agency, known as a FEMA Integration Team. NJ FIT provides technical and training assistance regarding FEMA programs and continuous on-site support to the state. As disasters transition into long term recovery, FEMA and its partners are working to increase capabilities and build resilience to fulfill its mission to help people before, during and after disasters.

FEMA’s #1 goal outlined in its 2018-2019 Strategic Plan is to Build a Culture of Preparedness. FEMA cannot achieve its goal without community partners, and tabletop exercises are an easy, inexpensive way to build resilience in your community. As a part of FEMA’s efforts today, they will be discussing techniques on how you can deliver a tabletop exercise in your community.

Room E What’s New with FEMA – Mr. Dennis Dura, Ms. Lori Ross, Mr. Paul Perillo, Ms.

Deborah Costa

Dennis Dura began his 37-year career in the emergency management field in 1981 as a volunteer coordinator in his home township's emergency management program. He has been employed by two National NGO’s, The American Red Cross in positions around the country and the American Radio Relay League, the latter as their first Emergency Planning & Response Manager. Starting in the late 1990’s Dennis has been employed by the NJ State Police, NJ Department of Human Services and NJ Department of Children and Families all in emergency management positions. Dennis is

currently employed with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Region II and serves as the Mass Care Lead in the Individual Assistance Branch, Recovery Division. During Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico, he managed the mass care response as his first role with the agency. Dennis instructs Mass Care courses for the FEMA Emergency Management Institute. He holds a BS in Criminal Justice and is a Certified Business Resilience Manager and Associate Emergency Manager and holds a FCC Extra Class Amateur Radio License.

Lori Ross is the FEMA Voluntary Agency Liaison (VAL) for New Jersey, starting out as a local hire for Hurricane Sandy in 2012. She has also held positions in the National Disaster Recovery Support Cadre as a Community Planning and Capacity Building Specialist, Region II Disaster Survivor Assistance Trainer and as a Preliminary Damage Assessment Team Lead. Lori has a twenty (20) year demonstrated track record in neighborhood revitalization/ recovery programming in New Jersey, securing over $10 million in grants for a small distressed local community. She has experience working in the private, public and non-profit sectors and brings to FEMA a comprehensive knowledge of federal, state and local grant programs. Lori has been an active volunteer her entire adult life and is passionate about whole community recovery. She holds a B.A. in Political Science from Monmouth University.

Paul Perillo is a Community Emergency/ Recovery Assistance Specialist for the Recovery Integration Coordination cadre. In his role he supports ongoing recovery efforts with NJSP, county and local OEM and recovery organizations including NJVOAD and the FEMA R2 VAL. Paul joined FEMA in January 2013. Paul has a BS in Business Administration and brings to FEMA over 40 years in public/private sector management. He is the former

Vice President of Operations for a publicly held Fortune 1000 healthcare company. Paul also served as the regional HIPAA Privacy Official. He was a lead executive who helped build a new mental health and substance abuse recovery model in Louisiana following Hurricane Katrina. Paul possesses very strong leadership skills, high level project management ability with a proven track record to manage various levels of projects and capitalizing on his strong people skills. He has extensive personal knowledge of the area impacted by Hurricane Sandy. He is a Coach Evaluator and Disaster Survivor Assessment trainer and also experienced leading Preliminary Disaster Assessments in New Jersey.

Deborah Costa serves as the NJ FIT (FEMA Integration Team) Preparedness Specialist. The FIT program was created to enhance FEMA’s customer service and the efficiency of its program delivery pre-disaster, building on existing partnerships to strengthen readiness across the State. In this position she supports CERT, conducts community outreach, fosters individual preparedness, and provides technical assistance and education about preparedness policies and programs which allow communities to become more resilient. Prior to her FIT position Debbie held a position in FEMA’s Region II National Preparedness Division as an Individual and Community Preparedness Specialist and as a FEMA Certified Professional Continuity of Operations Practitioner Level 1. In 2017 Debbie received an Administrator’s Award for the COOP work she did with NJ Department of Education and school administrators. She is the Editor of the Region II Individual and Community Preparedness Bulletin, the Region II POC for the National Youth Preparedness Council and founder of the Region II Regional Youth Preparedness Council. In this capacity she

works to guide and support preparedness efforts by teens in their schools and local communities.

Homeland security starts with hometown security. The whole community plays a vital role in ensuring the safety and security of New Jersey. During this session, representatives from the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness will discuss threat information, including tactics and targets, and share preparedness tools and resources that can help enhance your organizations and community’s safety and security.

Charles Ambio serves as a Senior Planner with the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness, helping build preparedness and resiliency across New Jersey. He analyzes risk, determines preparedness gaps, provides recommendations and coordinates collaboration among public and private sector partners, including New Jersey’s Infrastructure Advisory Committee and Mass Gathering Working Group. Prior to joining the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness in August 2017, Charles was a member of the New York City Police Department, where he served for almost 21 years and retired as a Second Grade Detective. He spent eleven years with their Counterterrorism Division, serving as one of the original team members of the NYPD SHIELD Program, a public-private partnership dedicated to providing best practices, counterterrorism training, lessons learned and information sharing with government agencies, non-government organizations, private businesses, and the community. Charles holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the College of Staten Island (The City University of New York), where he majored in Accounting.

Room F Engaging the Whole Community to Enhance New Jersey’s Preparedness –

Mr. James McDavitt, Mr. Charles Ambio, and Ms. Christine Franchi

Jim McDavitt is a Senior Planner in the Risk Management Bureau at the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness (NJOHSP). Through risk analysis, strategic planning, and partner engagement, Jim is responsible for managing programs aimed at strengthening the security and resiliency in New Jersey. He coordinates New Jersey’s Hometown Security Initiative, the State’s program that engages local communities to enhance their preparedness. Prior to joining NJOHSP, Jim worked as a consultant in Washington D.C., supporting risk management efforts for

the Department of Homeland Security. Jim holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Roger Williams University, where he studied Criminal Justice, Political Science, and Networking and Security.

We Hope You Have Enjoyed the Conference!

Please Make Sure You Fill Out Your Evaluations After Each Session Attended.

Made possible through

generous support from…

Exhibitors

Adventist Community Services ~ Affordable Housing Alliance of Monmouth and

Ocean Counties ~ Catholic Charities, Diocese of Trenton ~ Mental Health

Association of New Jersey ~ New Jersey Center for Non-Profits ~ Tri-State

Canine Rescue ~ United Sikhs

Grateful acknowledgment to the New Jersey Office of Homeland

Security and Preparedness, the Governor’s Office of Volunteerism,

and the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management, without

whose support this conference would not be possible.

Keynote Sponsor

Bag Sponsor

Partners