Weekly Insider
preparedness
National Preparedness Month
NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS MONTH: FOCUS ON FEMA & HHS
September 26 | >>Register
CENTRA Technology, Inc. | Arlington, VA

 

GTSC recognizes National Preparedness Month (NPM) each September with an extensive program aimed at helping companies get prepared and understand why their own preparedness is key to the missions of Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). If the homeland and national security community isn't buttoned up, how can we help our Federal partners achieve mission?

 

For this year's NPM, GTSC has partnered with the InfraGard National Capital Region Members Alliance (INCRMA), the FBI's public private partnership with the private sector that works to create a more resilient critical infrastructure in the Washington, DC metro area. Join GTSC and InfraGard to hear from key preparedness officials in FEMA and HHS about how your company can be prepared and assist with appropriate mission areas to be a part of the Whole Community of emergency management. 

 

Speakers:

 

Sara Bryant
Sara Bryant
Program Development Section Chief Preparedness Grants Division,
FEMA
Brian Kamoie
Newly Confirmed!  
Brian Kamoie
Assistant Administrator
Grant Programs
FEMA
David Kaufman
David Kaufman
Associate Administrator 
for Policy, Program Analysis, and International Affairs
FEMA
Nicole Lurie
Dr. Nicole Lurie
Assistant Secretary
for Preparedness and Response, Department of Health and Human Services


Darryl Madden
Director
READY Campaign
FEMA

Jason McNamara
Jason McNamara
Vice President
Obsidian Analysis 
former Chief of Staff to Administrator Craig Fugate
FEMA

Joseph Trindal
Joseph Trindal
President
InfraGard National Capital Region Members Alliance
& President, Direct Action Resilience
 
Dr. Michael Walter
Detection Branch Chief 
& Program Manager BioWatch,
Office of Health Affairs, DHS


townhall
NIEM NIEMVIRTUAL TOWN HALL
September 17 | 2 PM EDT | >>Register
 
The National Information Exchange Model (NIEM) Town Halls provide a stage to discuss all of the awesome ways our community is using NIEM to advance their missions. The September Town Hall will feature leaders from the Prescription Drug Monitoring Information Exchange (PMIX). They'll share how NIEM has been a foundation for PMIX implementation and how it's enabled states to share critical information that helps protect citizens' health. The NIEM Town Hall is free and open to everyone.
David Aguilar

WHSWHS 2013 BBQ Cook-Off with Special Guest Judge:  David Aguilar

Sept. 21 | 12:00-4:00 pm. | Bolling Air Force Base

 

WHS is proud to announce that David Aguilar, former Commissioner of CBP will join us as a guest judge at the BBQ!!  

 

REGISTER through this email and attend for only $15 for all you can eat BBQ, live music and entertainment for the whole family!  All proceeds go to support the Border Patrol Foundation! 
 

 

preparednesswebinars
Prepare My Business NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS MONTH 
WEBINARS TO PREPARE YOUR BUSINESS
September 18 & 25 | 2 PM EDT 
 
Join the Small Business Administration (SBA) during National Preparedness Month for focused webinars on simple steps you can implement that could mean the difference between surviving a disaster, and giving in to one.

 

September 18: The NEW 10 Steps to Preparedness - Lessons from the Past

What would you do if a fire, flood, equipment malfunction or health pandemic occurred at your office? If you had 15 minutes to evacuate, what would you take and where would you go? How would you continue servicing your clients? Think it can't happen to you? Statistics show that 94% of small business owners believe a disaster could seriously disrupt their business within the next two years. Are you prepared? >>Register

 

September 25: Crisis Communications for any Organization

During an emergency, it is imperative that those within your organization know how to communicate effectively. This includes both internal and external communications, and applies to emergencies of all types, large and small. >>Register  

readyrating
AMERICAN RED CROSS
Ready Rating
READY RATING PROGRAM
 
The Challenge

As a business leader, you can't ignore the facts. Emergencies are inevitable, and as much as 40 percent of businesses never reopen following a disaster.1

 

We know the "what if?" is hard to think about and we also know the process for getting prepared can be cumbersome and complicated. Having an emergency preparedness plan in place also helps to ensure the health, welfare and peace of mind of your employees, their families and your business's community while meeting your business needs.

 

The Solution

Since its inception, the Red Cross Ready Rating program

(readyrating.org) has been recognized by preparedness experts as the necessary and easy solution to help businesses, organizations and schools become ready to respond to and successfully withstand a disaster and other emergencies.

 

Ready Rating is an easy, web-based, self-paced member program designed to help organizations of all sizes become better prepared for emergencies. Members complete a free online self-assessment of their current readiness levels and receive immediate customized feedback on each area of preparedness, including strengths and areas in need of 

improvement.Members then gain access to an

information-rich Ready Rating program guide with tips to

improve preparedness.

 

Linda Mathes 
CEO 
National Capital Region 
American Red Cross 
Visit: www.readyrating.org

Follow:  @RedCrossNCR

 

Linda Mathes, selected as a 2008 Washingtonian of the Year, is the Chief Executive Officer of the American Red Cross in the National Capital Region which includes the District of Columbia; counties of Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, Montgomery, Prince George's and Prince William; and cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, Manassas and Manassas Park. Linda was recently invited to the White House to help recognize Red Cross Champions of Change. 

American Red Cross NCR  

 

 

international
International
MAPPING THE INTERNATIONAL SALES LANDSCAPE IN THE DEFENSE & HOMELAND SECURITY MARKETS
September 24 | 10:00 AM - 12 PM | >>Register

In 2012, U.S. foreign military sales topped $65 billion. This panel will introduce small and mid-sized companies to some of the possibilities and pitfalls that accompany expanding into the international market.  The speakers will discuss the types of opportunities available and how to access them, the differences between foreign military sales (FMS) and direct commercial sales (DCS) and how to leverage the U.S. government and foreign embassies in the D.C. area.  This will be the first in a series of events designed to get GTSC members and other small and mid-sized companies thinking about the possibility of diversifying their revenues through international work. >>Read More

 

Speakers: 
 
Evan Croen Evan Croen
Director
Government Sales Research Bloomberg Government 
Marisa Lino Marisa Lino

Ambassador (ret.)

Corporate Director

Homeland, Civil, Regulatory & International Relations

Northrup Grumman Corporation

 
Vangala Ram Vangala S. Ram

Office Director

Bureau of Political-Military Affairs & Office of Regional Security and Arms Transfers

U.S. Department of State 

 
 
 

The GTSC International Action Group is chaired by RADM Donald Loren, Od Dominion Strategies, and Brandon Torres Declet, GTSC Strategic Advisor and CEO of Southern Crux International.

Old Dominion Strategies SoCrux International  

Fire
firedillsBEYOND FIRE DRILLS

 

Turn on the news following a mass shooting and the witnesses describe the same scene: people barricading themselves in rooms, hiding under tables, scrambling for shelter as a shooter stalks through the building. As unlikely as it seems, it is possible to prepare for this situation and make your workplace safer.

 

The Current Statistics

The FBI defines a mass shooting as an event where four or more people are killed. USA Today used that definition to analyze 146 mass shootings during the last seven years and found that over 900 people had been killed in mass shootings. The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence defines a mass shooting as three or more people killed or injured in a single incident. Following their standard, they estimate more than 20 mass shootings per year in the US. 

 

The Need for Drills

Practice makes perfect. Most of the victims or witnesses involved in a mass shooting were taught how to calmly evacuate a building in case of a fire as children, but almost none of them know how to react if they are faced with gunfire. Conducting regular drills provides your organization with the muscle memory to respond effectively to an active shooter incident. >>Read More

 

Lilly Harris
Lilly Harris
CEO, MSA

Lilly Harris is the President and CEO of Man-Machine Systems Assessment (MSA). MSA is an Economically Disadvantaged Woman-Owned Small Business with 23 years of government contracting experience. MSA is passionate about our Warfighters and the preparedness of our nation. MSA works diligently to evaluate defense systems, ensure continuity of operations and support mission critical programs that are aligned with our passion and mission. 

 

Visit: www.msaincorp.com

Follow: @MSAincorp

serino
GTSC Insight Icon
INSIGHT SESSION WITH
RICHARD SERINO, DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR, FEMA 
September 30 | 2:30 - 4:30 PM | >>Register 

 

Richard Serino

Richard Serino

Deputy Administrator

Federal Emergency Management Agency


Mr. Richard Serino was appointed by President Obama and confirmed by the Senate as the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Deputy Administrator in October 2009. In this role, he works directly with Administrator Craig Fugate to promote the "whole community" approach to emergency management, which seeks to build, sustain, and improve the Department's capacity to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards. 

FedBizOpps
procurementwebinarDHS PROCUREMENT WEBINAR SERIES

The Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Office of the Chief Procurement Officer's Industry Liaison will moderate a series of industry information webinars during FY14. The purpose of the webinars will be to share information and answer questions with industry around various procurement topics and opportunities similar to past DHS Industry days. Your participation is requested. Please post discussion topics or questions to [email protected].
BONUS OFFERINGS FROM GTSC MEMBERS & PARTNERS
SIA

  Security Industry Association: 

  Securing New Ground 
  November 5-6 | New York City | Register
FINAL THOUGHT FOR YOUR WEEK:

"Prefer a loss to a dishonest gain; the one brings pain at the moment, the other for all time."
---Chilon of Sparta, Philosopher

It's About the Mission. The Government Technology & Services Coalition (GTSC) is a nonprofit 501(c)(6), non-partisan association of innovative, agile small and midsized company CEOs that create, develop, and implement solutions for the Federal homeland and national security sector. These companies founded the Coalition to band together to work with their Federal partners to achieve their mission despite significant budget challenges by bringing the innovation, creativity and exceptionalism of successful small businesses to the homeland and national security mission. 
 
Our vision is to support and assist our government partners to achieve their critical homeland and national security missions with the highest integrity; best and most innovative technologies; and results-based, quality products and services to prevent, protect against, mitigate, respond to, and recover from any terrorist attack or natural disaster.
 
Our mission is to provide exceptional advocacy, capacity building, partnership opportunities and marketing in the Federal security space for small and mid-sized companies that bring the solutions that help us achieve our vision.
 

Connect with GTSC to get more news, articles & information!

Like us on Facebook   Follow us on Twitter   View our profile on LinkedIn  Visit our blog