About this Conference:
A crisis occurs. Whether it's an act of violence, corporate restructuring, a natural disaster, a pandemic, or a social emergency, is your company prepared to deal with it? Most organizations have plans in place to deal with operations, infrastructure, and PR, but what about your most valuable asset-your workforce? There is no business recovery without employees able to return to work.
What You'll Gain from this Conference...
• An Understanding of Complex Human Impact Issues
• Guidelines for Continuity Planning & Crisis Team Building
• How to Monitor Effects of Crisis Long-after the Event Occurred
and more!
Free Private Consultations throughout the day!
Experts will be available throughout the day to provide half-hour consultations regarding Human Impact issues that participants may be facing in their organization. Due to limited time, registration will be on a first come, first serve basis.
Conference Agenda
8:30-9 a.m.—Registration and Coffee
9:00-9:15 a.m.—Welcome and Overview
9:15-10:15 a.m.—Keynote Address
The Stages of Disasters and their Human Impact
Individuals, workforces, and entire communities experience predictable patterns following disasters. Understanding the stages or lifecycle of disasters and how each stage of response and recovery is different can help planners and responders develop more appropriate expectations and interventions.
Session Goal: Obtain a clear understanding of the dynamics and ways people and workflow might be affected. Discuss specific characteristics of disasters and how to minimize the psychosocial effects and repercussions to your business & people.
Speaker: Kevin Becker, Psy.D., organized and participated in responses following the 9/11 attacks, the Asian Tsunami, Hurricane Katrina, and the Pakistan earthquake. Specializing in trauma and crisis intervention for 15 years, he is a clinical psychologist, instructor in Clinical Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School's Dept. of Psychiatry at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, and Director of the Institute for Trauma & Crisis at Beth Israel. He is former director of the Trauma Center in Boston, an international research and treatment facility, former VP of Marsh Crisis Consulting, Marsh USA, and founding chair of the Massachusetts Disaster Response Network.
10:15-10:30 a.m.—Break
10:30 a.m.-Noon—Two Concurrent Sessions
Individual & Social Reactions to Trauma & Stress
The purpose of Crisis Management Programs is to enhance organizational resilience so that the organization is better prepared to function during and after crises and disasters. Nearly one-third of people have serious psychological and emotional reactions when experiencing extreme crises, such as environmental or man-made disasters. Others have less severe reactions, but most people will experience some kind of interruption in their ability to focus. This could slow down or even stop workflow.
Session Goal: Look at some of the common psychological, emotional, and social reactions to trauma and stress, and how age groups might respond differently. Learn signs of distress and what to do, and not do, when addressing them.
Speaker: Guy Sapirstein, Ph.D., is a psychologist, consultant, and facilitator specializing in psychological trauma and disaster and crisis preparedness. Following 9/11, he consulted to employees, agencies and families of first responders directly affected by the attacks. He also has been consulting to companies and employees post-Katrina and following the 2005 Pakistan earthquake. He is Discipline Chair for Human Impact at the International Consortium for Organizational Resilience and active with the New England Disaster Recovery Information Exchange and Global Alliance for Disaster Reduction. A senior partner of Organizational Resilience International, he has consulted on leadership, team building, and coping with crisis and change. He has presented at national and international conferences and published articles on human impact preparedness, mind-body issues, and social resilience.
Developing an Effective Crisis Communication Plan
One of the most important factors in surviving and thriving in a crisis is communication--internally to employees and externally with the agencies and support systems critical to disaster recovery. Organizations with a well-tuned plan will be better positioned to mitigate the impact of virtually any type of disaster.
Session Goal: Review key principles and steps in establishing an effective crisis communication plan and learn what common mistakes to avoid.
Speaker: Kevin Becker, Psy.D. (see biography above)
Noon-1:00 p.m.—Lunch at the Wentworth Ballroom and Industry-focused Discussions
Over a delicious lunch, you'll have the choice of networking with others from similar industries as yours, such as manufacturing, hospitals, schools, etc., to discuss disaster-planning within your industry, or you may lunch at a non-specific table.
1:00-2:15 p.m.—Panel of Government Experts: What Assistance You Can Expect from the State
New Hampshire's top emergency managers will share their perspectives regarding the responsibilities of state government during a crisis or disaster. This will provide specific information for NH businesses and give attendees from other states useful information to knowledgeably ask for clarification from their officials. What you can expect from the state and what roles belong with the private sector will be discussed.
Panel Members:
Chris Pope, NH Director of Homeland Security & Emergency Management
Paul Deignan, NH Disaster Behavior Response Team Coordinator
Kathy Doutt, NH Asst. Director of Homeland Security & Emergency Management
José Montero, NH State Epidemiologist
Facilitator: Gerri King, Ph.D., is a social psychologist and organizational consultant, facilitator, and trainer to corporations and organizations throughout the U.S. and in other countries. She is founding partner of Human Dynamics Associates, Inc., and a senior partner of Organizational Resilience International. Her expertise includes: leadership during crises, cultural integration in mergers and acquisitions, succession and strategic planning, conflict and crisis facilitation, communication, self-directed teams, managing change and critical events, and building resilience.
2:15-2:30 p.m.—Break
2:30-4:00 p.m.—Two Concurrent Sessions
Continuity of Operations Planning: Closing the Loop & Building Crisis Teams
Continuity planning must go beyond planning for IT or production interruptions, taking into account the effect a crisis may have on the employee's ability to maintain a work focus while potentially having to deal with personal and family issues during a critical event. This practical, yet unique, approach to continuity planning combines process, policies, and procedures with the variable of human emotion and reaction in times of crisis or change.
Session Goal: Close the loop so that your organization's crisis management plan includes all of the necessary components. Discuss how incorporating the human factor as a critical element in each phase of your continuity of operations process will ensure that your organization's strategy for recovery is successful. Learn basic steps in building a continuity plan, the tools available to customize plans to meet specific organizational needs, and, most importantly, how to select, build and motivate the teams needed to ensure successful recovery.
Speaker: Victoria Kraeling, MA, is President of Knowledge Management Systems, Inc. As a responder to some of the worst disasters of our time including 9/11, the Asian Tsunami, and Hurricane Katrina, she brings real-world experience to the process of disaster management. She is a nationally recognized disaster-planning expert, whose areas of expertise range from disaster management to emergency operations planning to business continuity. She provides direct support to the City of New York for their Continuity of Operations Planning agency-wide, and is a lead consultant with IBM's International Crisis Response Team. She has focused on both technological and personal recovery including logistical management coordination with governments and relief agencies.
Developing an Organizational Model for Human Impact Preparedness
Human Impact Planning prepares for the inevitable impact of crises on an organization's number one asset: it's people. Its goal is to enable employees to return to full functioning as quickly as possible and to move the company forward following a crisis or critical event.
Session Goal: Get an overview of a comprehensive model of Human Impact Planning, including: Emergency Assistance, Psychological Support, Family Readiness, Organizational Preparedness, and Attention to other Stakeholders. Obtain practical insight, guidelines, and tools.
Speaker: Jeffrey Weir, MA, LCMHC, has over 15 years' experience in traumatic stress and disaster response. He has worked with corporate and governmental organizations after workplace violence incidents, mergers and acquisitions, acts of terrorism including New York after 9/11, and natural disasters including hurricanes Katrina and Rita. He is a senior partner of Organizational Resilience International and has been a supervisor at The Trauma Center in Boston, providing training and consultation throughout the U.S. and Europe. He has worked with numerous, diverse groups including police, fire, and other first responders, court personnel, school systems, federal law enforcement, corporate and manufacturing industries. His expertise in compassion fatigue and vicarious traumatization helps organizations prepare for and recover from serious disasters and critical events.
General Information & How to Register
Conference Location
Wentworth by the Sea Resort Hotel, Spa, & Conference Center is a 4-star resort on the NH seacoast in New Castle, just 10 minutes from Portsmouth. This historic grand hotel has been totally renovated and offers unparalleled views of the Atlantic Ocean and Little Harbor marina, elegant accommodations, & fine dining.
Conference Fee & Refunds
Cost is $285 ($310 if registered after February 26). Refunds, less a $25 processing fee, will be given if written cancellation is received at least 10 business days prior to the conference.
What the Cost Includes
Cost includes conference materials and handouts, continental breakfast, lunch, coffee breaks, and parking. Cost does not include overnight accommodations. You will receive .75 CEUs (continuing education units).
How to Register
• On the Web. Click here.
• By Phone. Call (603) 862-2015 or (800) 313-5327 with VISA, MC, Discover.
• By Fax. Fax the registration form with credit card info to (603) 862-0655. Click here for a pdf registration form. (use pdf link at top of page)
• By Mail. Mail the registration form with payment to UNH, Registration Office, 11 Garrison Avenue, Durham, NH 03824. Click here for a pdf registration form.
Forms of Payment
• Check or money order (payable to UNH)
• VISA, MasterCard, Discover, Debit Card
Overnight Accommodations
Overnight accommodations are not included in the conference fee. If you wish to reserve lodging, call (866) 240-6313.
For More Information
About the Conference: Call (603) 862-4234 or send an email to: professional.development@unh.edu
About Registration: Call (603) 862-2015 or 1 (800) 313-5327
Be an Exhibitor!
If your company would like to be an exhibitor call (603) 431-5674 or send an email to: lac@cisunix.unh.edu
About UNH Professional Development & Training
UNH Professional Development & Training is an office within the Graduate School dedicated to providing practical and state-of-the-art training to professionals and organizations in New Hampshire and the surrounding New England region. Programs are offered in Portsmouth, Manchester, and Durham, and include over 200 one-day seminars, short-term certificate programs, and special conferences and institutes. Topics include: management & supervision; HR, coaching & training; teaching & school administration; health & human services; surveying & soil science; engineering & manufacturing; office professionalism; and more. In addition to its public programs, it provides on-site customized training to corporations and organizations. For a listing of all our current offerings, go to: www.learn.unh.edu (click on Professional Development)
(Alicia: Put link in above where it reads www.learn.unh.edu)
About Organizational Resilience International
A global crisis consulting company, Organizational Resilience International, LLC, based in Concord, NH, provides Human Impact Preparedness consultation and training, Human Capital Development and Human Impact Response and Recovery services to organizations and communities of all sizes. ORI has pioneered the field of Human Impact Crisis and Disaster Preparedness and has developed several new and proprietary approaches to enhancing Human Capital as well as mitigating the impact of crises and disasters on people in organizations and communities.
Come away with practical tips and increased knowledge
that you can put to immediate use in your organization!
Click here to go to the Home Page for UNH Professional Development & Training
