Northshore Conifer posted on May 11, 2010 08:55
Conference to focus on planning and information for small- and medium-sized businesses
The American Red Cross Southeast Louisiana Chapter will host a business continuity and planning conference on Friday, May 21, 2010 in New Orleans for small- and medium-sized businesses.
The event, sponsored by Grainger, the leading broad line supplier of maintenance, repair and operating products, and FedEx Corp., a worldwide provider of transportation, e-commerce and business services, is designed to help businesses plan and prepare for disasters and will feature several civic and industry leaders including keynote addresses from American Red Cross President and CEO Gail McGovern and Grainger Chairman, President, and CEO Jim Ryan. McGovern and Ryan will speak to the power of public-private partnerships and the need for businesses to develop a “culture of preparedness” within their operating structures.
“Our community knows very well the importance of business preparedness and continuity. We know, first hand, that after any disaster the public relies upon the business community to return – to help enable citizens to return,” stated Kay Wilkins, CEO of the Southeast Louisiana Chapter. “We are thrilled to be able to host this conference, to make certain that all of our businesses are prepared for anything and to ensure the resiliency of our community.”
The half-day program will offer attendees opportunities to learn from and network with experts on how to make their businesses as resilient as possible. Information will be geared toward owners and managers of small- and medium-sized businesses, as well as emergency/disaster preparedness planners working with businesses and safety officers assigned to developing preparedness plans for employees. Attendees will receive customizable toolkits and templates that will assist them with beginning the disaster planning process.
Conference topics will include perspective around plans for the Southeast Louisiana area, public response efforts from the American Red Cross Southeast Louisiana Chapter and local emergency preparedness officials. Attendees will also receive an update on the state of business recovery in the metro New Orleans area five years after Hurricane Katrina from Michael Hecht, President and CEO, Greater New Orleans Inc. Harry W. Rhulen of Firestorm Solutions, LLC, will provide best practices for developing business continuity plans that help businesses maintain essential operations following a disaster.
The event will take place from 8:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. at the Sheraton Hotel Waterbury Ballroom located at 500 Canal Street in downtown New Orleans. There is no cost to attend the conference. Businesses interested in attending should RSVP to Shasta Butler at the American Red Cross Southeast Louisiana Chapter, subtler@arcno.org or (504) 620-3120.