Amy Sebring: Welcome to the EIIP Virtual Forum Round Table! Amy Sebring: Today we are pleased to introduce another EIIP Partner, Contingency Management Consultants, in the person of Mr. John Laye, CMC, President and Managing Partner. Amy Sebring: He is also a Director Emeritus of University of California at Berkeley's certificate program for emergency preparedness managers. His emergency management experience began in 1972 with hurricane Agnes while he was a U.S. Navy officer. Amy Sebring: After retiring, while he was in county and regional level emergency management, John instructed for California's Specialized Training Institute and now continues with public policy instruction at FEMA's Emergency Management Institute and strategic planning for University of California Extension. Amy Sebring: For a complete bio with photo see: http://www.businesscontinuity.com/page5.html Amy Sebring: Welcome John, and thank you very much for being with us today. JohnLaye: My pleasure. Having fought my way through the net gremlins. I see I'm not alone. JohnLaye: I'll start with a little something about our company. JohnLaye: Contingency Management Consultants is pretty close to what we do. JohnLaye: We put together teams to develop emergency plans for corporations and government agencies. JohnLaye: In the process, we train their crisis management teams, so they are not continually dependent on o us. JohnLaye: We also usually find a number of ways they can mitigate their exposures. JohnLaye: Just now, we are working with several water districts and financial institutions. JohnLaye: By the way, I agree with the earlier comments about Y2K. Absolute madness. JohnLaye: Our largest commercial client : Boeing. Smallest (art lovers alert), Ansel Adams Galleries JohnLaye: Largest government entity: FEMA by way of my instruction at EMI. JohnLaye: Smallest: the Mayor of Orinda stopped me on the sidewalk, said "I just found out what you DO!" (GULP), and "You will Chair the Disaster Council" JohnLaye: That was pro bono, of course. JohnLaye: Can I answer any questions about about Contingency Management Consultants? Amy Sebring: Ok, if we are ready to turn you over to the audience ... Amy Sebring: audience please enter a question mark (?) to indicate you wish to be recognized, go ahead and compose your comment or question, but wait for recognition before hitting the enter key or clicking on Send. Amy Sebring: Ok, we are ready for your questions or comments. Amy Sebring: I have one I would like to start off with .... Amy Sebring: John, are you seeing any interest among governments ... Amy Sebring: in Continuity of Operations ... Amy Sebring: and do you think lessons learned in the private sector can be transposed to the public? JohnLaye: Good question! We see some government agencies (utilities, mostly, along with public safety) realizing that certain of their functions really have to be NO Break. JohnLaye: About the transfer of concept to public agencies. It depends on the jurisdiction. Rick Tobin: ? Amy Sebring: Rick please. JohnLaye: Hi, Rick. Rick Tobin: Problems..sorry...one sec Ron Brittan: ? JohnLaye: Going back to Amy's 2nd Q. Amy Sebring: Ok, we will wait for you Rick. JohnLaye: Yes, on the transfer of lessons learned. BUT... Rick Tobin: Isn't there a problem with turnover of staff in government and the public sector right now that makes continuity planning a mammoth undertaking? JohnLaye: Not just in public sector. JohnLaye: I began a job for a financial institution yesterday. Their data base is about 60% out of date, mostly names & phone numbers. Rick Tobin: Yes, it seems epidemic and the institutional memory is being devastated. JohnLaye: We'll have to live with the need to very quickly up date data bases. JohnLaye: We will also have to devise "instant" training on the plans in place. JohnLaye: But we've r always had that problem, if you think about it. Amy Sebring: John, did you want to add something to the answer about transferring lessons learned? JohnLaye: For instance, who among us has EVER started a response with all the trained people in place? Avagene Moore: ? JohnLaye: Amy - yep. About the transfer... JohnLaye: In communities that understand the end point is a healthy community AND it's economic base... JohnLaye: There, the liaison between gov't Emer. Program and businesses (esp. the big ones) JohnLaye: is seen as a necessity. For some communities, there are formal govt-private roundtable type orgs. Amy Sebring: Ron Brittan please. Ron Brittan: Do you get involved in organizations in other countries? JohnLaye: These insure lessons learned get through the whole response and recovery planning groups v. quickly. JohnLaye: Yes. We have been asked to lecture and partner in especially Southeast Asia and parts of Europe. Amy Sebring: Avagene please. Avagene Moore: John, from your experience with both public and private sectors, what in your opinion is the greatest need or deficiency in emergency planning today? JohnLaye: I do not send my teams to certain countries, as I want to get everyone back. JohnLaye: I think we do not spend enough time and effort preparing to recover. JohnLaye: Let me expand that a bit, please. Rick Tobin: ? JohnLaye: "Recover" really means 1) continuity ("no break") 2) restoration (transparent to the end user) 3) recovery within the next cycle, and 4) later JohnLaye: Hi, Rick Amy Sebring: Rick please. Amy Sebring: ? Rick Tobin: As much as we tell organizations over and over again, they still send all of their leaders in one plane or one car to meetings. How many companies and government agencies have to be crippled before people get the picture? JohnLaye: Problem is, we professionals know that's bad practice. Senior mgt. concentrates on efficient use of time. JohnLaye: They see an airplane as another place to conference. Amy Sebring: To follow up on Rick's question, are key personnel (a la succession) part of what you suggest to companies? JohnLaye: You bet! If the crisis mgt. team doesn't include alternates, we've still got work to do. Amy Sebring: I also understand that some of your clients have won awards? Are there any you can tell us about? JohnLaye: Something about Sr. Mgrs. -- they are by nature risk- takers, and some think they're immortal. JohnLaye: If you have teenagers, you know what I mean. JohnLaye: I am a little surprised no one took my private-public organizations bait. JohnLaye: Is that now doctrine? How many of you local emergency mgrs. have such an org.?? Rick Tobin: ? JohnLaye: Yes, Rick. JohnLaye: Must still be having probs. Amy Sebring: That's Ok, I was asking you about client awards John. Any you can tell us about? JohnLaye: About the awards. Ranged from NCCEM President's Award when we first got public sector and private talking JohnLaye: By the way, the suspicion and cultures are equally negative at first. JohnLaye: Kind of like 2 dogs first approaching each other. Stiff- legged, hair on end, JohnLaye: and a lot of insincere tail-wagging. Amy Sebring: Nice analogy. Rick your question please. Rick Tobin: Legal issues and insurance concerns are becoming a key factor in continuity planning. Do you use lawyers and insurance actuaries when explaining the need due diligence? JohnLaye: Yes, especially lawyers. One woman comes on pretty strong, saying "If you don't prepare adequately, I'll get you later!" JohnLaye: With the erosion of sovereign immunity, that's becoming a major interest for government officials. Rick Tobin: Ouch! Amy Sebring: ? Amy Sebring: Any test cases out in California yet? JohnLaye: California just had a case where Dept. of Corrections senior managers about to retire were civilly sued for wrongful deaths. Amy Sebring: ? JohnLaye: They squeaked out by out-of-court settlements, but the lesson is out there for all. Amy Sebring: Do you not have any protection in emergency response? JohnLaye: Yes, emergency response is covered by Calif's. Good Samaritan Act, but not failure to prepare for foreseeable events. JohnLaye: Acts of God are just about down to none. JohnLaye: So, If I , as a former paramedic, stop to render aid at an accident... Covered. JohnLaye: If I, as an emergency planner, fail to include a key element or recognize a major threat... JohnLaye: Question for local emergency managers here today... JohnLaye: Which do / do not have a formal organization brining together public and private orgs' reps? Amy Sebring: ? JohnLaye: Go, Amy! Amy Sebring: Directly related, we have our LEPC which is mostly response types. Amy Sebring: But has provided a decent forum to get people talking to each other. JohnLaye: Yep, and a good start. Mostly hazmat oriented, those I know. Amy Sebring: Does anyone else have such an organization? JohnLaye: How about joint planning for response and for recovery?? Amy Sebring: I think Steve Charvat does in his community, but we lost him. Amy Sebring: Rick, do you have any such Disaster Council or committee? Amy Sebring: Project Impact is encouraging this also. JohnLaye: Those I know: Carson, Milpitas, S.F. Peninsula, Steve's Amy Sebring: New York State has also had an initiative in this area. JohnLaye: Yes. James Lee Witt has repeatedly made that point. JohnLaye: Here's something troubling me. Amy Sebring: I am not sure of the current status, but we spoke with them a year ago when it was getting started. JohnLaye: When I teach Integrated Emergency Mgt. at E.M.I., whole communities come back, BUT... Rick Tobin: Disaster Councils are being replaced in California with Operational Area councils...slowly but surely. JohnLaye: They do not bring their private sector partners. Avagene Moore: ? Amy Sebring: Avagene please. JohnLaye: Do the Operational Area (County) Councils incorporate private sector reps? Avagene Moore: John, is it your sense that we are doing any better job at making public elected officials see their role in planning? JohnLaye: Excellent point, Avagene! Seems to depend on the groundwork done by the Local Emergency Mgr. JohnLaye: Where he / she is willing to invest the time in developing relationships, yes. Amy Sebring: ? Rick Tobin: I haven't been to any of the Op Area Councils, but I did serve on the Disaster Council in my county four years ago...and we never, ever had the private sector join in...in fact, they cut out a lot of government agencies as well. JohnLaye: Amy, go! Amy Sebring: We also suffer from the turnover Rick alluded to in City Management...you develop a good relationship and poof, they are gone and you have to start from scratch! Avagene Moore: ? JohnLaye: Yes. Worse, with elected officials. Amy Sebring: Avagene and then we will wrap up. Avagene Moore: John, I know you have no crystal ball, but what do you predict for the future of local programs as we know them? JohnLaye: I think integration with the private and non-profit sector is a must. Not the least benefit is... JohnLaye: The political support that comes from having them in your corner. JohnLaye: Otherwise, when the economy turns down, there will be great pressure to discontinue or cut them back. Amy Sebring: Thank you very much John. Before I ask Ava for our upcoming events ... Amy Sebring: here is a link to the NY State program I mentioned ... Amy Sebring: http://www.nysemo.state.ny.us/Joint/ Amy Sebring: Ava, can you tell us what is coming up please. Avagene Moore: I will be happy to, Amy. Thank you. Avagene Moore: Tomorrow, Weds Mar 10, 12: 00 Noon EST, we will be in the Virtual Library to talk about "The FireNet Story: Information Technology Use at the Aberdeen Proving Ground Fire Department," with Ann Willis, George Washington University, and Kevin Farrell, Aberdeen Proving Grounds. Avagene Moore: Next week, the Tuesday, March 16, 1: 00 PM EST Round Table will be led by one of our newest Partners, Presponse System Integration, Ltd. Make plans to be here for that discussion. Avagene Moore: On Weds, Mar 17, we have scheduled a panel discussion on the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HGMP) that features State of Missouri hazard mitigation folks. Avagene Moore: Back to you, Amy. Amy Sebring: Thanks Ava. Thank you again very much for visiting with us John ... Amy Sebring: hope you will come back often! JohnLaye: My pleasure. Amy Sebring: Thank you audience. We will adjourn for now, but you are invited to remain a few minutes longer for some open discussion.