DRJ Fall 2025: Building Resiliency Through Innovation PDF Free Download
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DRJ Fall 2025 – Building Resiliency Through Innovation – is the world’s largest and most respected
conference dedicated to business continuity, disaster recovery, and operational resilience. For over 30
years, DRJ has set the standard for in-depth education, industry leadership, and practical solutions that help
organizations prepare for, respond to, and recover from disruptions of all kinds.
As the most established and trusted resource in the eld, DRJ attracts the most diverse audience in the
industry—from senior executives and longtime practitioners to those just beginning their careers. Whether
you’re looking to advance professionally, build stronger programs, or better engage with leadership on what
matters most, DRJ delivers unmatched insight and access.
You’ll gain actionable tools to:
• Build stronger, more adaptable resilience programs.
• Strengthen workplace safety and cyber resilience.
• Support compliance and strategic goals.
• Build credibility with executives and stakeholders.
• Advance your career and professional network in a meaningful way.
• Learn from peers across industries and discover real-world solutions you can implement immediately.
Join us at the Gaylord Texan in Dallas and experience the event that helps you not only build resilience—but
lead it with condence and clarity.
DRJ Fall 2025 - Attendee Conference Guide | Page 2 of 47
#DRJFall
BUILDING RESILIENCY
THROUGH INNOVATION
DRJ Fall 2025
The Premier Global Event
for Operational Resilience
DRJ Fall 2025 - Attendee Conference Guide | Page 3 of 47
#DRJFall
We invite you to be part of DRJ Fall 2025:
Building Resiliency Through Innovation,
our 73rd conference dedicated to equipping
resilience professionals with the tools,
knowledge, and connections needed to
navigate today’s challenges and prepare for
tomorrow’s risks.
Taking place at the beautiful Gaylord Texan
Resort & Convention Center in Dallas,
this four-day in-person event brings together
industry leaders, expert speakers, innovative
solution providers, and a global community of
practitioners. You’ll gain access to an agenda
packed with keynotes, workshops, breakout
sessions, panel discussions, live demos,
and extensive networking opportunities.
This is more than just a conference — it’s
a strategic investment in your professional
development. You’ll return with fresh ideas,
practical insights, and stronger connections to
help your organization strengthen its resilience
posture. Whether you’re looking to explore the
latest in operational resilience, cybersecurity,
enterprise risk, or continuity planning, DRJ Fall
2025 is built to deliver value at every level.
We hope to see you in Dallas and look
forward to welcoming you to a one-of-a-kind
experience.
Sincerely,
Bob Arnold
President, Disaster Recovery Journal
WELCOME
LETTER
Gaylord Texan Resort &
Convention Center
1501 Gaylord Trail
Grapevine, Texas 76051 USA
Dan Bailey, Certied Risk Partners, LLC
Jeff Dato, VolCorp
John Jackson
Peter Laz, Centene
Ann Pickren, Crisis24
Steve Piggott, Perpetuuiti Technosoft
Tracey Rice, Fusion Risk Management
Randall Till, Till Continuity Group
Damian Walch, James Hardie
Belinda Wilson, Gartner
Erick Anez, Bridgestone West
Robbie Atabaigi, U.S. Senate Sergeant at Arms
Richard Cocchiara, CxO Expertise, LLC
Renuka Darbha, Adobe
Sherri Flynn, GuidePoint Security
Corey Hahn, Sub Zero Group
Colleen Huber, Nelnet
Lisa Jones, Control Risks, Resilience Think Tank
Melanie Lucht, Fusion Risk Management
Melissa Muñiz, Zion Resiliency
Melissa Owings, Early Warning
Bogdana Sardak, Walmart
S. Nicole Scott, Devine Direction, LLC
Paul Striedl, Sherwin-Williams
Joy Weddington, Control Risks
Executive Council
Editorial Advisory Board
#DRJFall
Richard L. Arnold, MBCI ............................. Founder
Bob Arnold, MBCI (Honorary) ..................... President
bob@drj.com
Rose Chotrow .............................................. Registration Manager
rose@drj.com
Amy Faulkner ............................................... Senior Web Designer
amy@drj.com
Sonal Patel ................................................... Marketing Director
sonal@drj.com
Jon Seals ..................................................... Editor in Chief
jon@drj.com
Lesley Vinyard ............................................. Director of Events
lesley@drj.com
Melissa Muñiz
Zion Resiliency
Melissa Muñiz is a dedicated, forward-thinking professional with
a proven track record of excellence in disaster recovery and
business continuity. She possesses an extensive background in
various industries, excelling in both independent consultancy
and corporate roles, consistently demonstrating strong
leadership and adaptability in the face of evolving priorities.
Like many other tenured BC/DR professionals, Muñiz’s career
in the industry began with the assignment, “Here is a job
we need done, and no one else wants to do it.” She quickly
realized she could leverage her data center background and
public speaking skills not only to enhance the program but
also to advocate for and implement training and awareness
initiatives.
Muñiz has collaborated with various organizations, delivering essential documentation,
conducting testing, evaluating, and mitigating risks, and performing impact assessments
to ensure robust recovery plans. Utilizing her experience and knowledge, she has played a
pivotal role in enhancing recovery protocols, implementing incident management strategies,
and developing critical recovery documentation. Muñiz’s commitment to making organizations
and communities more resilient is unwavering.
Recognized for creating and presenting unique content in the continuity eld, her public
speaking and presentation skills have made her an articulate advocate for resilience. Muñiz
shares valuable insights and remains active in industry thought leadership projects. Her
dedication to advocating the value of resiliency professionals is a testament to her passion for
the eld.
Meet our Emcee
DRJ Fall 2025- Attendee Conference Guide | Page 4 of 45
DRJ
STAFF
DRJ Fall 2025 - Attendee Conference Guide | Page 5 of 47
#DRJFall
Dear [Decision Maker]:
I would like your approval to attend DRJ Fall 2025 on September 7-10 in Dallas, TX.
DRJ conferences are the world’s largest conferences dedicated to building resiliency, and attending is crucial for me to stay
on top of the latest technologies, solutions, and processes to manage risk and build resiliency for our company. Now more
than ever, it is imperative that our organization is well-prepared for any risk (known or unknown) we might face in the coming
years.
A few key benefits which make this a worthwhile investment include the following:
Peer networking to help solve BC challenges and review our current approaches.
The conference is known for the collaborative nature of attendees and speakers in providing feedback and advice. The event
builds in formal and informal networking times to facilitate this. It is invaluable to have discussions and gain knowledge from
others who are facing the same challenges as us.
Immersive educational opportunities with experts.
The conference includes nearly 60 sessions and workshops, with more than 100 speakers and 60 exhibitors. This allows me
to focus on the areas essential for our company – all in one place – instead of trying to organize various separate training
sessions.
I will be able to:
- Learn from industry experts and seasoned practitioners.
- Gain valuable strategies to apply immediately to our company.
- Acquire first-hand information from professionals who share real-life scenarios.
- Learn the latest in business continuity, technology, trends, and business-related products.
- Share all of these great resources, information, strategies, and more with our employees.
- A full virtual experience will be added as bonus with access to sessions for up to 90 days after
the event.
An efficient way to demo and review the newest technologies and solutions.
The event hosts a comprehensive exhibition floor which will allow me to meet and review the most current technologies and
solution providers we need in one place. Arranging individual meetings would be cumbersome and inefficient.
This is an estimate of expenses for me to attend DRJ Fall 2025:
- Round trip airfare: $XXXX
- Hotel: $XXXX per night (before taxes and fees). This is a specially negotiated conference rate,
for attendees, is the lowest in the industry, and represents an excellent value for this area.
- Meals: $XXXX
- Conference fee: $XXXX
The ROI Toolkit on drj.com shows just how much our company will benefit.
It is essential for us to be on top of the latest tools, knowledge, and education when it comes to managing risk and building
resiliency. I believe this conference will empower me to bring enormous benefits to our company.
Thank you,
Your Name
JUSTIFICATION
LETTER
Fusion Risk Management is a leading industry provider of cloud-based software solutions for business
continuity, integrated risk management, IT disaster recovery, and crisis and incident management. Its
products and services take organizations beyond legacy solutions and empowers them to make data-
driven decisions with a comprehensive and exible approach through one system. Fusion and its team
of experts are dedicated to helping companies achieve greater organizational resilience and mitigate
risks within their businesses. www.fusionrm.com.
Crisis24 offers advanced critical event management capabilities to help organizations achieve
successful outcomes during a crisis. By combining articial intelligence (AI), unmatched expertise and
a modern platform, we do what no one else can: We provide actionable intelligence and get the right
information to the right people at the right time – so you can mitigate risk, strengthen organizational
resilience and better protect your people, places and property. More information can be found at
www.crisis24.com.
Everbridge, Inc., the world’s leading provider of Critical Event Management software solutions, ensures
business, government and healthcare organizations are prepared to rapidly respond to – and even
avoid – sudden, unexpected disruptions. The Everbridge Critical Event Management Platform delivers
organizational resilience on an unprecedented scale – combining real-time monitoring, situational
awareness, and integrated response and collaboration solutions across from a single, enterprise-wide
view. Keeping people safeguarded, assets and reputations protected, and continuity maintained and
restored quickly is the Everbridge measure of success in an uncertain world. www.everbridge.com.
GOLD
4C Strategies is the leading provider of training readiness and organisational resilience solutions. With
over 20 years of expertise, we support high-prole international institutions, global enterprises and
armed forces across 100 countries. We help you to train effectively and be ready for the resilience
challenges ahead. Our innovative Exonaut® platform empowers capability development, building on
key insights for when it matters the most. Our experts work alongside you to prepare your operations
for the future, allowing you to transform training, rethink risk, manage crises, and uphold continuity.
With ofces around the world, we are never far away. www.4cstrategies.com.
Recovery Point is a pure play provider of true end-to-end recovery and continuity solutions. As an
award-winning nationwide leader in data protection and business resilience services, we serve
organizations ranging from the Fortune 500 to SMBs, as well as federal, state, and local governments.
We have the experts, the technology, and the platform to ensure resiliency and recovery across
changing cyber threats and technology environments. With a client footprint across the Americas,
Recovery Point has been recognized by Gartner in its Magic Quadrant for DRaaS and its Market Guide
for DRaaS for nine consecutive years. www.recoverypoint.com.
DRJ Fall 2025 - Attendee Conference Guide | Page 6 of 47
#DRJFall
PLATINUM
SPONSOR
SPOTLIGHTS
SPONSOR
SPOTLIGHTS
DRJ Fall 2025 - Attendee Conference Guide | Page 7 of 47
#DRJFall
SILVER
As the fastest-growing mass communication and emergency notication software provider in the world, AlertMedia helps organizations securely
and effectively monitor threats, streamline notications, and recover from incidents. The company’s fully integrated, cloud-based platform delivers
innovative communication tools that can be accessed from anywhere, at any time, using any device. For more information, please call (800) 826-
0777 or visit our website at www.alertmedia.com.
BlackBerry provides enterprises and governments the intelligent software and services that power the world around us. The company’s high-
performance foundational software enables major automakers and industrial giants alike to unlock transformative applications, drive new
revenue streams and launch innovative business models, all without sacricing safety, security, and reliability. With a deep heritage in Secure
Communications, BlackBerry delivers operational resiliency with a comprehensive, highly secure, and extensively certied portfolio for mobile
fortication, mission-critical communications, and critical events management. The BlackBerry Secure Communications division delivers
communication resilience and integrity at every level—on devices, across networks, and throughout operations—through a platform designed
to meet the highest standards for classied and mission-critical communications. Trusted by governments worldwide, it ensures complete digital
sovereignty, giving organizations full control over communications data, infrastructure, and operations—free from foreign interference or third-
party dependencies. Whether on the front lines, in the eld, or at command centers, teams can rely on a platform built to withstand threats,
disruptions, and the most demanding operational environments. www.blackberry.com/us/en/products/critical-event-management.
• 7 of 7 G7 nations
• 18 of 20 G20 nations
• 8 of 10 global banks
At the Satellite Phone Store, we specialize in providing reliable satellite communication solutions for businesses that go beyond the limits of
traditional connectivity. Our expertise lies in enabling Machine-to-Machine (M2M) and Internet of Things (IoT) communications through a range
of satellite networks, including Iridium, Starlink, Inmarsat, OneWeb, Globalstar, and many more. Our mission is to ensure uninterrupted business
communications, no matter how remote or challenging the location. We understand the critical nature of your operations and are dedicated to
delivering robust and secure satellite communication services that meet your unique needs. Whether you’re in the transportation, maritime,
energy, or government sector, our satellite communication solutions will keep you connected and informed, even when terrestrial networks fail.
Satellite Phone Store provides the reliable and uninterrupted communication services you need to succeed in today’s interconnected world.
www.satellitephonestore.com.
eBRP Solutions has been at the forefront of BCM Software innovation, incorporating Process Modeling and “What if?” analysis into eBRP Suite
in 2002. eBRP Suite is deployed by many leading fortune enterprises, nancial institutions, federal agencies, healthcare and utility companies
to support their enterprise resiliency programs. Our newest product is eZPlanner - a packaged solution with tools to support the complete BCM
lifecycle. Included are all utilities for planning, simulation & test validation and tools for overall program management. eZP is optimized for the
occasional business user while fortied for management decision-making with all new graphical dashboards. Packaged with a ‘no surprise’ all-
inclusive cost that includes AWS Cloud-hosted access, product support and assistance to migrate from you a legacy system. Learn more about
eZPlanner at www.ezplanner.net.
Expedient is a full-stack cloud service provider, helping companies transform their IT operations through award-winning multi-cloud solutions and
managed services that simplify their infrastructure needs. Expedient offers a full array of DR solutions and expertise to protect organizations from
an ever-shifting threat environment and, in case of a breach - a rapid recovery from disasters and catastrophic events. www.expedient.com.
MEO is a SaaS platform that simplies and streamlines risk impact quantication and business continuity plan development through an intuitive
interface and straightforward process. MEO’s unique algorithm helps companies clearly identify and quantify their risks, leading to targeted BCPs
that protect their business. This empowers businesses to manage their operational risks with quantied certainty. www.meocontinuity.com.
MorganFranklin Cyber is a leading professional services rm specializing in comprehensive solutions for cybersecurity and adjacent services.
MorganFranklin Cyber is Private Equity backed, and we are dedicated to protecting clients’ critical assets and enhancing their resilience in an
ever-evolving threat landscape. We understand the critical importance and challenges organizations face in maintaining robust security and
adjacent programs. Our tailored approach addresses specic needs, ensuring cost-effective and results-driven delivery. Our expertise spans: •
Cyber Fusion Center (CFC) • Identity and Access Management (IAM) • Cyber Strategy and GRC • Architecture, Engineering, and Infrastructure/
OT (AEGIS) • Cyber and Operational Resilience (CORe) Our services include: • Advisory & Management Consulting: Executive-level consulting
to improve performance and guide program execution. • Cybersecurity Innovation Center (CIC): A cloud-based lab for developing and innovating
cybersecurity solutions. • Project Resourcing: Rapidly scaling project resources and providing contract-to-hire services. • Managed Services:
Outsourcing functions to efciently execute and operate programs. www.mfcyber.com.
RockDove Solutions is a trusted software provider serving a fast-growing community of professionals responsible for operational resilience, duty
of care, and their organization’s reputation. In Case of Crisis (developed by RockDove Solutions), is a critical event management platform that
combines essential preparedness and response tools into one powerful workow automation engine. The platform unites cross-functional teams
and stakeholders, accelerating condent response times to emerging threats. www.rockdovesolutions.com.
eBRP
SOLUTIONS
RESILIENCY REDEFINED
SPONSOR
SPOTLIGHTS
DRJ Fall 2025 - Attendee Conference Guide | Page 8 of 47
#DRJFall
BRONZE
CLDigital transforms business across all industries by putting risk, continuity, and operations data to work for everyone. With CLDigital’s fully cloud-native no-
code platform, we help clients create cutting-edge data-driven apps to modernize antiquated risk processes and deliver powerful business decision analytics and
performance insights in days instead of months or more. To learn more about how you can go beyond traditional risk management and business continuity solutions,
visit www.cldigital.com. You can also follow CLDigital on Twitter and LinkedIn.
Noggin is an industry-leader in safety, security, and critical event management technology with its next-generation, cloud-based software platform. The award-
winning Noggin Platform provides an all-hazards approach to safety and security management, housing all of the tools needed to help make informed decisions and
respond effectively to any incident, large or small. Noggin’s software platform includes solutions for: crisis management, business continuity, environmental health
and safety, emergency management, and security management. For more, visit: www.noggin.io.
QS Consulting leverages decades of Project Management and Advisory Services experience in the areas of Human Capital Management and Business Continuity.
We are committed to industry best practices and delivering customized solutions for your specic needs. We focus our efforts on getting to know your business
and understanding how your systems are used on a day-to-day basis. Our services and solutions are thoughtfully structured to t the individual requirements of our
clients. We embrace solutions embedded in the newest cloud-based technologies and seamlessly integrate them into your existing processes. www.qshcc.com.
Founded in 2006, Regroup Mass Notication® is dedicated to providing rst-in-class mass communication solutions to organizations and institutions across a wide
variety of industries. Our entire team prides itself on delivering an easy-to-use system that is supported by a highly-trained team of professionals, focused on your
success. Regroup’s mission is to help our clients communicate, easily and effectively, by providing unparalleled usability, innovation, integration, client support, and
communication channels. We strongly believe that easy and effective communication, within an organization, is the cornerstone of efciency, productivity, safety,
and resilience within any organization. We believe our core values of innovation and client satisfaction differentiate us from our competitors. Regroup was born
out of a real need that we, as users, saw for an effective and user-friendly communication platform, a history that drives us to continually innovate and improve
our technology for our clients. By choosing Regroup, you are choosing to partner with a company that strives to unify multiple forms of communication in one
comprehensive, easy-to-use system. Regroup allows clients to manage day-to-day communication, and business continuity plans and to proactively complement all
stages of the emergency management cycle: preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation. We are proud to have earned several industry awards for overall
excellence in the disaster recovery and business continuity elds. www.regroup.com.
Riskonnect is the leading integrated risk management software solution provider. Our technology empowers organizations with the ability to anticipate, manage, and
respond in real-time to strategic and operational risks across the extended enterprise. Riskonnect’s integrated risk management platform consolidates data, connects
risks, and illustrates their relationships. Powering our growing suite of risk management applications is our unique risk-correlation engine that helps our customers
understand risk at a level they can’t get anywhere else. It’s no wonder that more organizations choose Riskonnect than any other vendor as their preferred risk
management technology provider. Riskonnect’s integrated risk management platform includes: • Risk Management Information System • Claims Administration •
Third-Party Risk Management • Enterprise Risk Management • Environmental, Social, Governance • Internal Audit • Compliance • Policy Management • Project Risk
• Health & Safety • Healthcare To learn more, visit www.riskonnect.com.
Teleira has helped mission-critical organizations maintain and restore communications when disaster strikes for over two decades. Whether it’s a power outage,
cyberattack, natural disaster, or network congestion, we deliver resilient, real-time connectivity when conventional systems fail. Our solution's heart is advanced
satellite technology, paired with a hosted backup controller that replicates essential call features and emergency functions. This combination enables organizations
to maintain seamless operations even in extreme circumstances. Teleira delivers comprehensive communication continuity solutions to restore voice, data, cellular,
and internet access, often within seconds of disruption. Phone lines can go down for countless reasons, including physical damage, equipment failure, cyberattacks,
or infrastructure issues. Teleira restores your inbound and outbound call trafc immediately and reliably, regardless of the cause. Mobile networks rely on fragile
terrestrial infrastructure that can easily be disrupted. Teleira bypasses these vulnerabilities, restoring full mobile access for voice, SMS, and data, without requiring
new devices or apps. www.teleira.com.
Veoci is a no-code platform for business continuity management, emergency operations, incident response, mass notication, and customizable system solutions.
It is comprised of fully integrated, intuitive, and interconnected tools such as Dashboards for reporting and analysis, Alerts and Notications, automated Workows,
virtual meeting Rooms for collaboration and document sharing, and mobile-device enablement—all with a focus on optimizing User experience, improving
productivity, and facilitating effective business continuity and resilience. The Software as a Service (SaaS) platform is ideally designed for incident management
and business continuity process automation and transformation, allowing organizations to overhaul existing manual-based processes. Veoci can be applied across
all areas and departments in an organization, as well as across multiple organizations; the system can easily accommodate the need for additional functionality
as projects and partnerships grow. Veoci is a Leader on Gartner’s Magic Quadrant for BCMP Solutions, Worldwide; included in their Market Guides for Crisis and
Emergency Management, and Business Continuity Management Program Solutions, as well as being included in multiple Hype Cycles. We were also recognized as
having the highest customer satisfaction. www.veoci.com.
Wolf & Company, P.C. is a national CPA and business consulting rm with a regional feel that offers clients a wide range of services tailored to suit their industry’s
unique needs. Since 1911, we’ve provided clients with industry-leading assurance, tax, risk management, business consulting, and WolfPAC Integrated Risk
Management® services. We pride ourselves on delivering customized solutions with deep involvement from our team of dedicated professionals and leaders.
www.wolfandco.com.
More training, more networking, and more business continuity and disaster recovery planning. We’re
elated that you decided to join us for our 73rd conference September 7-10, 2025, in Dallas, TX.
We’re looking forward to connecting with you for four amazing days at DRJ Fall 2025! This exclusive
opportunity allows you to sharpen your skills and learn from industry experts. You’ll work with like-
minded professionals, share strategies, and gain knowledge and condence in your organization’s risk
and resilience programs. You’ll receive ample opportunities to learn, network, and relax at the beautiful
Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center, our new venue for DRJ Fall 2025.
Our goal at DRJ Fall 2025 - Building Resiliency Through Innovation is to provide you with the best
preparation and improvements for your response to today’s disruptions and tomorrow’s emerging threats.
WELCOME
DRJ Fall 2025 - Attendee Conference Guide | Page 9 of 47
#DRJFall
Learn, grow,
relax, and allow
us to inspire you
at DRJ Fall 2025!
NETWORKING
DRJ Fall 2025 is created to provide unlimited opportunities for you
to meet and discuss essential topics with industry experts! This
conference also gives you the opportunity to create connections
with other thought leaders and colleagues who understand and
experience the same industry-related challenges as you!
EXHIBIT HALL
It’s the hub of it all … the exhibit hall has everything you need in one
location. From meeting with representatives from top companies to
acquiring information from industry consultants to seeing software
demos and the latest in technology, this is the ideal place to be when
you have some downtime. Don’t forget complimentary snacks and
more time for networking!
RECEPTIONS
Be sure to make time to attend our networking meals and hospitality
events. These are the perfect opportunities to relax, refuel and to
make the most of the conference experience. Don’t miss out on
the excitement at the lively DRJ Networking Reception where we
celebrate our 73rd conference!
More than 100 speakers and 60 exhibitors. Nearly 60 sessions and
workshops. More networking opportunities than you can count!
How can you aord not to attend DRJ Fall 2025? It’s the best
of the disaster recovery and business continuity world all wrapped
into one amazing conference!
From increasing workplace safety to reducing downtime to securing
data, you’ll gain new skills, learn about the newest technology,
participate in lively discussions, and interact with industry experts
at DRJ Fall 2025.
The return on investment which you’ll receive for yourself and your
business after attending our four-day conference will be invaluable.
You’ll build connections, learn strategies, and gain condence
needed to strengthen your business. Our conference will help you
be prepared for any situation!
DRJ Fall 2025…the knowledge and rst-hand experience you’ll
gain at our conference is much more comprehensive than reading
an article or watching a video.
Our conference will make all the dierence in your business! You
might realize it’s life changing!
WHY SHOULD YOU
ATTEND?
DRJ Fall 2025 - Attendee Conference Guide | Page 10 of 47
#DRJFall
RESERVATIONS:
The Gaylord Texan is now accepting hotel reservations
for DRJ Fall 2025.
Take advantage of our conference rate of $269 (inclusive
of resort fee) plus tax (currently 13%) per night through
Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025. You can make a reservation
online at https://book.passkey.com/go/DRJattendee.
Please remember you are responsible for making your
hotel reservations and be sure to book early as the hotel
does ll up in the fall.
Note there is a limited number of U.S. Government-rate
rooms available. You can make a reservation online
at https://book.passkey.com/go/DRJgovt. If you
qualify, please be sure to request a government room
rate when making your reservation and be prepared at
time of check-in to show a government ID to verify your
qualication.
DRJ’s contracted rate and room block
expires on Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025
or when the block is full, whichever
comes rst.
HOTEL PARKING:
Self-parking will be $15 plus tax per day over conference
dates for overnight and drive-in guests.
Pull a ticket to enter the parking garage. For overnight
guests, the Resort Garage is closer to check-in. For
daily drive-ins, the Convention Center Garage is closer.
Take your ticket to the registration desk for a validation
sticker, indicating a discounted parking rate. You can pay
for parking at the kiosk or gate (both near the garage
entrance) by feeding your ticket with the validation sticker
into the machine. Daily drive-ins need a validation sticker
each time they exit. Overnight guests can use their room
key to enter and exit.
Located on the shores of beautiful Lake Grapevine centrally located between Dallas/Fort Worth, Gaylord Texan features four-
and-a-half acres of lush indoor gardens. Experience the winding waterways of the Rio Grande, the Palo Duro Canyons and the
majestic beauty of Texas Hill Country, all under one spectacular roof. Our architectural reproduction of the San Antonio River Walk
boasts a Koi-stocked river surrounding our festive Riverwalk Cantina restaurant, while our Zeppole restaurant invites guests to dine
underneath the lights in its charming courtyard setting. The property is six minutes from DFW International Airport and in the heart
of Texas wine country. It is close to other area attractions such as: Six Flags Over Texas, Lone Star Park, Texas Motor Speedway,
Globe Life Park in Arlington, AT&T Stadium and the Fort Worth Stockyards.
Car Rental:
DRJ is pleased to partner with Enterprise Rent-A-Car and National Car Rental to oer a special
discount to conference attendees.
Visit Enterprise Rent-A-Car or National Car Rental to make your reservation using the
conference code: OSMBAQT
Transportation:
Delta Air Lines is pleased to oer special discounts for Disaster
Recovery Journal.
Please click here to book your ights.
You may also call Delta Meeting Network® at (800) 328-1111* Monday
– Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. (EST) and refer to Meeting Event Code
NM3ZG.
*Please note there is not a service fee for reservations booked and ticketed via our reservation 800 number.
Transportation to/from Airport:
The Gaylord Texan is please to oer their airport VIP transfer services to any guest of the
property. If you’d like to arrange a private transfer, please call or text the Gaylord Texan
Transportation department at 940.205.0056, or email your request to txtransportation@
gaylordhotels.com. Currently, a roundtrip transfer to/from Dallas Fort Worth is $88 and to/from
Dallas Love Field is $124.
In addition, for transportation from Dallas Love Field and from Dallas Fort Worth, there is Uber,
Lyft, Alto and Wingz - you can nd links to their sites here at Dallas Love Field.
Local Taxi services:
REGISTER AND SAVE BY THESE DATES
ONLY $1,595.00 Through July 10, 2025
ONLY $1,695.00 Through Aug. 7, 2025
ONLY $1,795.00 Through Sept. 7, 2025
Airport Express Taxi - 214-578-1177
Al Tahir Inc. - 214-701-0304
Alamo Cab Company - 214-688-1999
Ambassador Cab - 214-905-1111
Cowboy Cab Company - 214-428-0202
Dalunya Limousine & Taxi Service
Transporters - 817-716-7232
DFW Taxi - 214-636-3902
Executive (Taxi) - 214-426-6262
Interstate Cab Company - 817-333-9797
Jet Taxi - 214-426-6262
Multicolor Taxi - 972-514-1155
Skycab - 972-505-2727
Star Cab - 214-252-0055
Taxi Dallas - 214-426-6262
United Cab Services - 817-460-6800
Yellow Cab - 214-426-6262
THE GAYLORD TEXAN HAS GONE CASHLESS:
The Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center is now cashless throughout your experience. The resort accepts credit card and mobile payments only,
including front desk, food and beverage locations, retail, special events, parking, etc. Guests can convert their cash into $20 - $500 gift cards at Cash-To-
Card kiosks located next to the lobby, Market Place and Glass Cactus ATMs.
MOBILITY SCOOTERS:
Due to the size of the Gaylord Texan complex, guests with mobility issues may nd it challenging to maneuver the space. To assist you, the Gaylord Texan is
pleased to manage the rental of power wheelchairs, manual wheelchairs or mobility scooters through their partnership with Ace Mobility of Dallas, Texas.
The hotel will have the selected item available for pick up at the front desk during your check-in process. The item will then be returned to the front desk upon
the guest’s departure. The cost of this item is the direct responsibility of the individual renting the equipment.
Please complete this order form and return to Lesley Vinyard at lesley@drj.com to pre-order your wheelchair or scooter. The deadline to place your
order is Sept. 4, 2025.
HOTEL INFORMATION
DRJ Fall 2025 - Attendee Conference Guide | Page 11 of 47
#DRJFall
REGISTRATION
DISCOUNTS
Registration rates for the conference are as follows:
Only $1,595.00 through July 10, 2025
Only $1,695.00 through Aug. 7, 2025
Only $1,795.00 through Sept. 7, 2025
Register online at www.drj.com/fall2025
For information call: 636.282.5800
(8 a.m. - 4 p.m. CDT)
Email: rose@drj.com
DRJ offers a $100 discount on registration fees if you meet
certain criteria. Review the restrictions. If you are eligible,
mark the appropriate place on the registration form.
• Three or more employees from the same company.
• All certied individuals. Must be certied at the time of
registration.
• Contingency group members with proof of membership.
These discounts must be requested at the time of
registration. No refunds of the discount will be issued, and
only one discount per registrant will apply.
POLICY INFORMATION
Cancellation Policy: Conference enrollment may be canceled
through Aug. 7, 2025 without penalty. No refunds or credits will
be given for cancellations received after Aug. 7, 2025. All no
shows will be charged the full amount.
Promotional Policy: DRJ retains the right to use attendee
images and comments for promotional purposes.
SAVE $200
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DRJ Fall 2025 - Attendee Conference Guide | Page 12 of 47
#DRJFall
DRJ Fall 2025 - Attendee Conference Guide | Page 13 of 47
#DRJFall
10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. ......................................................................Conference Registration Desk
12:00 p.m. – 12:45 p.m. .................................................................... Sunday Breakout
SUN-1 ........Bojarski, Neisen, Wazbinski, Waken .........................Pathways to Power: IT Data Mapping, Resiliency, and Networking in Texas
SUN-2 ........Halford, Jones, Sardak ............................................. Welcome to DRJ: Maximizing Your First Conference Experience and
` Workshop for Early Careerists
SUN-3 ........Scott, Jasgur ............................................................To Certify or Not To Certify ... That Is The Question
1:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. ....................................................................... Sunday Workshops
SWS-1 ........Hoss ....................................................................... Choose Your Own Adventure: Exercise Design with Augmented Intelligence
SWS-2 ........Goldman ..................................................................Successful Drills and Exercises: Your Practical Guide for Today’s
Technology and Challenges
SWS-3 ........White ........................................................................ Rethinking the BIA: From Legacy Document to Living Strategy
SWS-4 ........Layman, Zielan .........................................................Building Resiliency into Your Response
3:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. ........................................................................ Refreshment Break
4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. ....................................................................... Solutions Track
ST-1 ............Goodloe .................................................................. The Legislative, Economic, and Geopolitical Forces Shaping Resilience
ST-2 ............DeLuca ....................................................................Improving Risk Postures with Technology and Intelligence
ST-3 ............Wul ......................................................................... Leveraging AI for Business Continuity Management: Tips for Practitioners
ST-4 ............Smith .......................................................................Let’s Build This BCP Together!
ST-5 ............Robbins................................................................... Blind Spots in Resilience: Gaining Control Over Your Supply Chain Risk
ST-6 ............Van Dyke, Alberts .....................................................Rethinking Communication Continuity
ST-7 ............Talman .................................................................... Seamless Connectivity Solutions: Empowering Enterprises in Remote and
Critical Environments
ST-8 ............Poucher ...................................................................There is No Substitute for Preparedness
5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. ........................................................................ Exhibit Hall Opens
5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. ........................................................................ Welcome Reception
5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. ......................................................................Product Demos
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2025
DAY 1
AGENDA
12:00 p.m. – 12:45 p.m.
SUNDAY BREAKOUT 1
Chet
Bojarski
North Texas
ACP
Karen
Wazbinski
Insperity
Michelle
Neisen
Gainwell
Technologies
Steve
Waken
Waken
Resources
Pathways to Power: IT Data Mapping, Resiliency, and Networking in Texas
Welcome to the DRJ Fall 2025 opening panel with the Texas chapters of the Association of Continuity Professionals
(ACP)! As we kick off our journey toward organizational resiliency, we’ll explore why IT data mapping is your organization’s
ultimate roadmap to success. Data mapping connects the dots between people, processes, technology, and information,
helping you identify risks, uncover critical dependencies, streamline operations, and recover faster when disruptions
strike. While data mapping can be challenging—due to complex systems, massive data volumes, and ever-changing
environments—each step forward strengthens your resiliency. Whether you’re a seasoned mapping expert or just beginning
to chart your company’s data, there’s always a new connection to make and a fresh insight to discover. Treat DRJ FALL
2025 as your own resiliency adventure, grab your metaphorical compass, connect with fellow professionals, and let’s map
the path to resiliency success together!
Chet Bojarski is an executive strategic leader, consultant and speaker with a rich background in major corporations across
nance, food and beverage, healthcare performance, and retail, giving him a unique perspective on resilience advocacy,
program and risk management, rened through years of experience. As a current board member and past president of the
Association of Continuity Professionals North Texas (#NorthTXACP), he is dedicated to empowering teams and safeguarding
both businesses and communities against unforeseen events.
Michelle Neisen, CBCP, CCRP, has more than 25 years of experience in the elds of risk and has worked in both public and private industries. She
has managed large business continuity management programs with expertise in all levels of maturity. Neisen serves on the board of directors for
Capital of Texas Chapter, Association of Continuity Professionals, coaches and mentors others, and leads with honesty, integrity, and fun!
Karen Wazbinski is a seasoned business resiliency professional with expertise in business continuity, disaster recovery, and risk management.
Currently at Insperity, she manages the organization's business continuity program. Wazbinski previously spent more than 20 years at KeyBank in
various roles, including managing the organization's hot site.
Steve Waken has more than 20 years in the industry, including 10 years as VP of AT&T’s business continuity and global crisis management program.
He is currently the principal for Waken Resources, where he works with companies to establish industry standard, best of class resiliency programs.
SUNDAY BREAKOUT 2
Dr. Bernard
Jones
St. John’s
University
Bogdana
Sardak
Walmart
David
Halford
Fusion Risk
Management
Welcome to DRJ: Maximizing Your First Conference Experience and
Workshop for Early Careerists
Are you new to DRJ or the resilience industry? Join us for a welcoming, interactive session perfect for rst-time
attendees! We’ll cover everything you need to condently navigate your rst DRJ conference, from using the app and
navigating the schedule to getting the most out of the expo hall. Discover networking tips and join a fun networking game
to help you make lasting connections with fellow attendees. This session will also introduce DRJ’s Mentorship Program,
where you can connect with experienced industry professionals for guidance and support.
Additionally, we’ll highlight the Association of Continuity Professionals (ACP) Special Interest Group (SIG) for Early
Careerists. This community offers targeted support and resources for professionals starting their journey in resilience.
Finally, meet our partners, including leading universities and key vendors/sponsors dedicated to fostering resilience and
supporting your career growth. This session is your gateway to making the most of your DRJ experience and connecting
with the resources you need to succeed.
DRJ Fall 2025 - Attendee Conference Guide | Page 14 of 47
#DRJFall
AGENDA
DAY 1
Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025
10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
CONFERENCE REGISTRATION DESK
Stop by the Registration Desk to pick up your conference materials, name badge, and get answers to any questions.
DAY 1
Sunday, September 7, 2025
SUNDAY WORKSHOP 1
Jason Hoss
Whirlybird
Labs, Ltd.
Choose Your Own Adventure: Exercise Design with Augmented Intelligence
While navigating unexpected career transitions and organizational disruptions, many have discovered “ah-ha” moments occur at
the intersection of lived experiences and innovative tools. This workshop invites participants to explore that intersection by designing a
collaborative tabletop exercise which utilizes articial intelligence and human wisdom.
Attendees will collectively create a 30-minute micro-exercise addressing real-world scenarios. Through interactive polling, we
will select our focus—workforce disruption, cyber event, natural disaster, or another critical challenge—and dene objectives to test
response capabilities without overwhelming participants. You may also bring your laptop and preferred AI assistant (Claude, ChatGPT,
Gemini, etc.) to follow along, though there will be no technical support or guarantee of internet access.
Together, attendees will leverage AI to quickly develop organizational proles, stakeholder relationships, and progressive scenario elements while
preserving the authenticity that only human experience can provide. This approach reects my journey, where technological tools enhanced rather
than substituted the hard-won insights of lived experiences.
Instead of concentrating on solving problems directly, our exercise will highlight the creation of collaborative problem-solving methods, strategic
communication, and decision-making under pressure. You will depart with a transformative approach to integrating human creativity with AI
capabilities while honoring constraints.
1:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
David Halford has more than 30 years of experience in the client services industry and product management, covering a variety of organizational
management, product management, professional services, and sales support areas. Halford regularly works with business executives to help provide
creative solutions. As a continuity professional, Halford often has the opportunity to provide strategic business leadership and risk and resilience
guidance across a wide spectrum of industries. He is a regular industry speaker and contributes to industry thought leadership and publications. Halford
enjoys the outdoors, horseback riding, and spending time with family and pets.
Dr. Bernard A. Jones, MBCP, is a certied business continuity, disaster recovery, and emergency management consultant with more than 20 years
of experience reviewing and implementing enterprise business continuity, disaster recovery, and emergency management programs. Jones earned
his doctorate from New Jersey City University in civil security leadership, management, and policy. He serves as an associate professor at St. John's
University teaching courses in homeland security, BC, and EM.
Bogdana Sardak, AMBCI, CIPP/US, is the director of enterprise resilience at Walmart. She is a passionate resilience professional working in the
business continuity and risk management eld for several years, ultimately gaining experience in business continuity, crisis management, disaster
recovery, emergency response, and third-party risk management as a consultant.
SUNDAY BREAKOUT 3
S. Nicole
Scott
Devine
Direction,
LLC
Cary Jasgur
Solventum
To Certify or Not To Certify ... That Is The Question
This session explores the real value of certication in today’s resilience-driven world. We’ll examine whether certications are a
strategic career investment or simply a status symbol. We’ll discuss the justication behind earning credentials, how they impact
professional credibility, and how they can support your long-term growth and community engagement.
We’ll also share personal stories and industry insights on how certications have helped us expand our careers, speak the language
of industry standards, and gain the condence to lead through disruption.
Key takeaways:
1. Understand the role of BCI certications and formal training in the business continuity lifecycle.
2. Learn how to treat certications as a strategic career investment, not just a resume booster.
3. Explore the ROI: Certications are for your growth, not just for your employer’s benet.
4. Hear real-world examples of how certications open professional doors and connect you to a global community.
5. Identify complementary certications to enhance your BC/CM skillset.
S. Nicole Scott is a global business strategist with more than 20 years of experience in governance, risk management, program
management, business continuity, and crisis management. She bridges government, military and private sector strategy—turning
disruption into direction with certied expertise (MBCI, PMP, CSSGB) and human-centered leadership. Scott has worked with major government sector
organizations such as NASA, the U.S. Department of Defense, and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, as well as private sector titans like Microsoft
and NTT Comms. She is the CEO of Devine Direction, LLC—a consulting company she founded to help empower organizations and individuals to lead
with clarity and purpose in today’s uncertain business environment.
Cary Jasgur, FBCI, MBCP, PMP, serves as the global governance and resilience lead for Solventum. He has more than 30 years of experience in
enterprise resilience, business continuity, disaster recovery, crisis management and communications, emergency management, incident management,
and pandemic planning. Jasgur holds dual master's degrees in organizational leadership, and project leadership and management, as well as a
bachelor's degree in technical management. He is a current member of The BCI USA Chapter and a former two-term member and chair of the DRJ
Editorial Advisory Board.
DRJ Fall 2025 - Attendee Conference Guide | Page 15 of 47
#DRJFall
DAY 1
Sunday, September 7, 2025
The workshop embodies the belief that resilience is not merely about springing forward from challenges but embracing adversity as an agent of
change and integrating each experience into a more adaptive, nimble, and creative approach to future uncertainties. Explore how the collaboration
between human wisdom and articial intelligence can transform our preparation for and response to our most pressing challenges.
Jason Hoss brings more than a decade of transformative experience to business resilience. He evolved from a photography business owner to an
enterprise resilience expert and is now pioneering human-AI integration at Whirlybird Labs. He combines emotional intelligence with technical expertise
to translate complex concepts into accessible strategies while championing the critical balance between articial intelligence and human wisdom in
organizational resilience.
SUNDAY WORKSHOP 2
Dr. Steve
Goldman
MIT
Successful Drills and Exercises: Your Practical Guide for Today’s Technology and
Challenges
DRJ attendees’ favorite workshop, updated with AI scenario development/conduct, and lessons learned from recent crises!
Successful business resilience, crisis management, and cyber-event recovery takes more than a plan: it requires realistic testing and
validation. This is the workshop where you learn how! Do your exercises provide as close-to-real situations as possible? Are all your
response teams challenged properly? What do others do? How can you improve? During this hands-on workshop, you will learn how to
successfully develop, conduct, and evaluate your drills and exercises.
Students will master:
• Dr. Steve’s Exercise Planning Checklist.
• The company politics of drills and exercises.
• Why drills and exercises are important.
• Types of training, drills, and exercises.
• Elements of a successful exercise.
• Scope, objectives, participants, facilitators, and resources.
• 101 scenario ideas you can use.
• Effectively conduct, critique, and keep your job!
• Cyber event drills/exercises; some amazing lessons learned.
• Leveraging the exercise for future gain for your organization – and for your career!
This session includes interactive discussion of successful exercise development with visuals and videos of actual exercise strategies. Don’t miss
this valuable and informative workshop!.
Dr. Steven Goldman is the director of crisis courses at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He is an internationally recognized expert,
practitioner, responder, lecturer, author, and senior consultant in business resilience, crisis management, crisis leadership, and crisis communications
– a rare but dynamic combination of expertise. A former BC program manager, he also provides expert consulting services to organizations and
government agencies worldwide.
SUNDAY WORKSHOP 3
Benjamin
White
4C
Strategies
Rethinking the BIA: From Legacy Document to Living Strategy
The business impact analysis (BIA) has been a staple of business continuity practice for decades — but have we underestimated
its true potential? In this highly interactive and thought-provoking workshop, a traditional view of the BIA is challenged as a static
requirement and repositioned as one of the most powerful and underused tools in your resilience toolkit. Drawing on ISO 22301, the
BCI Good Practice Guidelines, and real-world case examples, this session explores how the BIA is evolving to meet the demands
of operational resilience, supply chain transparency, and real-time crisis response. You’ll roll up your sleeves and get hands-on with
modern BIA applications — from using BIA data to support live decision-making during incidents, to building dynamic scenarios for
exercising and testing. You’ll also explore how digital and visual approaches can transform BIA engagement across the business.
Whether you’re new to resilience or ready to challenge your current approach, this session will show you how to transform the BIA from a legacy
document into a strategic engine of innovation.
Why attend?
• Discover the untapped potential of the BIA as a real-time decision tool.
• Learn how to use BIA outputs to design “severe but plausible” test scenarios.
• Explore modern approaches to digitalize and visualize BIA data.
• Leave with practical tools and templates to rethink your own BIA.
• Engage in hands-on activities, peer discussions, and fresh thinking that will re-energize your resilience planning.
Join us to move beyond compliance—and towards innovation, insight, and impact.
Benjamin White, MBCI, is a principal consultant at 4C Strategies with more than 18 years of experience in operational resilience, business
continuity, and crisis management. He has worked across public, private, and military sectors on projects including public health, emergency
management, and telecom resilience. Formerly the deputy head of emergency planning at London Fire Brigade, White holds a master’s degree in
risk, crisis, and disaster management.
DRJ Fall 2025 - Attendee Conference Guide | Page 16 of 47
#DRJFall
DAY 1
Sunday, September 7, 2025
SOLUTIONS TRACK 1
Jamie
Goodloe
Riskonnect,
Inc.
The Legislative, Economic, and Geopolitical Forces Shaping Resilience
This session offers an interactive, non-partisan deep dive into the complex legislative, economic, and geopolitical changes redening
the resilience landscape. Join to explore how these forces – ranging from new trade policies and labor regulations to DEI restrictions,
immigration enforcement, and AI oversight – are impacting core business operations, supply chains, and stafng models.
Drawing from current data and eld insights, this session will examine the effects of these changes and offer actionable strategies.
Attendees will have the opportunity to gain and share practical insights on how to adapt and monitor these shifts within an evolving
landscape.
Key takeaways:
• Understand the business impacts of key legislative and policy shifts related to tariffs, labor laws, immigration, DEI, and more.
• Identify potential effects across supply chain, workforce, and compliance landscapes.
• Learn strategic response frameworks to strengthen resilience planning and execution.
• Hear real-world examples of how organizations across industries are adapting resilience programs in a rapidly evolving environment.
Jamie Goodloe, MBCP, MBCI, is a lead business continuity consultant in the business continuity and resilience division of Riskonnect. She has worked
in the BC eld for more than 15 years at companies such as Capital One, USAA, and OnSolve. Goodloe has consulted with organizations of varying
size and complexity, hailing from different industries around the world to support the implementation and improvement of business continuity programs,
technical disaster recovery programs, and executive level crisis response programs. Prior to her consulting career, Goodloe was also a program
manager and managed each of these programs herself as well. Her unique background working and consulting in each of these spaces has given her
a great understanding of the interconnectivities of the profession and how the overall programs can further embed into companies to achieve greater
success and adoption.
4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
REFRESHMENT BREAK
3:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
SUNDAY WORKSHOP 4
Joe Layman
Bright
Horizons
Family
Solutions
Susan
Zielan
UC Irvine
Building Resiliency into Your Response
You can’t expect a disaster to follow your plan. Do your plans compensate for an alternative response? Are they exible enough to
adjust in the moment?
Do you have an existing process to “size up” incidents? Have you dened the resources needed to respond and return to normal
operations?
How will your business lines and responders pivot when the situation on the ground requires a change in strategy or response, or
both? Does your decision-making response align with your C-suite?
Join us for this interactive session focusing on the steps to analyze and consider an incident response, identify appropriate
procedures, pivot where needed, and dene post incident lessons learned for continuous improvement.
Joe Layman is the BC and DR director for Bright Horizons Family Solutions. His background spans across business continuity, disaster
recovery, emergency management, crisis and incident management. Layman serves as president on the board of directors for the
Association of Contingency Planners, Orange County Chapter (ACP-OC). He is a member of the CERT and Red Cross teams for his city.
Susan Zielan has more than 20 years of experience developing and managing BCMS programs including business continuity,
disaster recovery, emergency management, and crisis management for Fortune 500 companies. She teaches business continuity and
emergency management at the University of California, Irvine. She is currently the ACP-OC Chapter program director. She is also a
member of the DRJ glossary and rules and regulations committees.
DRJ Fall 2025 - Attendee Conference Guide | Page 17 of 47
#DRJFall
DAY 1
Sunday, September 7, 2025
SOLUTIONS TRACK 2
Adam
DeLuca
Everbridge
Improving Risk Postures with Technology and Intelligence
Today's risk landscape is evolving at an exponential rate and having actionable risk intelligence is no longer optional – but is
essential. This interactive session will explore how to bridge the gap between risk intelligence and business continuity and transform the
way intelligence teams detect vulnerabilities, improve response times, and support stronger business continuity outcomes.
Join us as we explore:
• How to leverage intelligence to limit risk exposure.
• How BCIC can help you streamline detection and assessment of critical events.
• How to future proof your assets against critical disruptions.
Adam DeLuca is the director of risk intelligence and strategy at Everbridge, bringing more than two decades of expertise in intelligence operations and
risk management. He has built a career spanning roles with the U.S. Department of Defense, the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department, and
leadership positions in cyber and physical security within the electricity sector.
SOLUTIONS TRACK 3
Cynthia
Wulff
Noggin,
a Motorola
Solutions
Company
Leveraging AI for Business Continuity Management: Tips for Practitioners
Articial intelligence is no longer a future concept, it’s a present-day catalyst for transforming how organizations prepare, respond,
and recover from disruption. In this session, we’ll explore how business continuity practitioners can apply AI to enhance their resilience
strategies.
Attendees will walk away with:
• An overview of how AI is being applied in BCM today.
• Criteria to consider when selecting and deploying AI-powered BC tools.
• Tips to balance automation with human judgment during critical events.
• Considerations for a well-rounded approach to AI.
Cynthia Wulff is an area manager, North America for Noggin, a Motorola Solutions Company. With a rich history in the enterprise software space,
Wulff is passionate about helping organizations deploy innovative solutions to strengthen business resilience and improve crisis and business continuity
management.
SOLUTIONS TRACK 4
Richard
Smith
Veoci
Let’s Build This BCP Together!
Veoci is a highly adaptable platform, to showcase its conguration capabilities this session will provide a brief overview of the various
data objects used to gather information for a BIA/BCP and then solicit adjustments from the attendees. We will then adapt the solution
together in real time to demonstrate how the Veoci platform can adapt to individual needs in an easy-to-use interface.
Richard Smith’s experience started with FEMA, where he worked on recovery operations in the State of Louisiana for three years
assisting with Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. He later worked with Yale New Haven Health, as well as external entities including the New York
City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Smith is also a certied re marshal and serves as deputy re marshal for Deep River, Conn. He is a
volunteer reghter with the Old Lyme Volunteer Fire Department and has been a member of the department since 1997.
In his current role, Smith manages business continuity product offerings for Veoci. This includes ongoing renement of the business continuity product,
the Veoci interface, and assisting customers and prospects in successful Veoci platform day-to-day operations.
SOLUTIONS TRACK 5
Chad
Robbins
CLDigital
Blind Spots in Resilience: Gaining Control Over Your Supply Chain Risk
Most business continuity and operational resilience programs were never designed to manage third-party risk. Yet today, your
vendors, suppliers, and partners are often the single largest source of disruption risk you face. As critical services increasingly depend
on external relationships, resilience teams can no longer afford to be blind to supply chain vulnerabilities.
This session will explore why traditional continuity models often exclude third-party risk, the gaps this creates, and how resilience
leaders can expand their inuence without needing to formally own vendor management. We’ll discuss practical strategies for gaining
better visibility into your supplier ecosystem, collaborating with procurement and risk teams, identifying hidden dependencies, and building
contingency plans that assume your partners may fail when you need them most.
Attendees will walk away with actionable ideas to better protect their critical services, even without direct control over third-party programs.
Chad Robbins, SVP platform strategy, has been an innovator within resiliency and mission-critical applications for close to a decade. He currently
drives CLDigital’s strategic roadmap for customers and the market to widely adopt continuity, risk, and resilience solutions.
DRJ Fall 2025 - Attendee Conference Guide | Page 18 of 47
#DRJFall
DAY 1
Sunday, September 7, 2025
SOLUTIONS TRACK 6
Mark
Van Dyke
TranscendX
Eric Alberts
Orlando
Health
Rethinking Communication Continuity
When communication fails, everything else begins to break down. Yet too often, organizations equate redundant systems with resilient
ones—leaving critical communication channels vulnerable when it matters most. This session will unpack the real denition of resiliency
and challenges participants to rethink their approach.
Drawing on more than two decades of experience in emergency management and business continuity, speakers explore why systems
like copper POTS lines and single-path digital backups give a false sense of security. Participants will gain an in-depth understanding of
how to future-proof communications using a blend of route diversity, satellite technology, and restorative processes.
The session will also feature a mini tabletop exercise, placing attendees in the middle of a communication failure scenario and giving
them the opportunity to assess their organization’s ability to stay connected under pressure. At the conclusion of the presentation
participants will receive a copy of the table-top exercise they can use at their home organization.
Learning objectives:
1. Differentiate between redundancy and true communications resiliency, using the DHS three-part framework: route diversity,
redundancy, and protective/restorative capabilities.
2. Evaluate common communication gaps in organizational continuity plans, particularly the over-reliance on terrestrial systems and
outdated backup technologies.
3. Apply best practices through a 20-minute interactive communications failure scenario, helping participants identify actionable
improvements to ensure uninterrupted voice and data ow during emergencies.
Mark Van Dyke is a seasoned emergency management professional with nearly two decades of leadership experience in healthcare preparedness,
business continuity, and disaster response. He has served on the front lines of major health system operations, designing and implementing strategies to
ensure critical services continue during crises—from IT downtimes to full-scale emergencies. Van Dyke leads a global consulting business at TranscendX
to help healthcare systems, private business, healthcare coalitions, and government agencies rethink resilience. His approach integrates modern
tools, gamied training, and real-world planning that focuses on operational continuity—not just compliance. He has led more than 100 exercises and
workshops across the country and has authored numerous preparedness tools, downtime recovery strategies, and situational management frameworks.
Van Dyke is a trusted speaker known for his engaging delivery, pragmatic insights, and ability to translate complex emergency management challenges
into real-world solutions.
Eric Alberts is the assistant vice president of emergency management for Orlando Health, Inc., a healthcare system in Central Florida. He began his
career in 2002 and has since responded to a wide range of emergencies and disasters, including terrorist attacks, hurricanes, tropical storms, infectious
disease outbreaks, the COVID-19 pandemic, hospital shootings, severe weather, wildres, multi-vehicle accidents, mass casualty incidents, hazardous
materials incidents, and various threats. Alberts is a dedicated emergency manager with a strong passion for protecting others, identifying lessons
learned, and continuously improving emergency response systems.
SOLUTIONS TRACK 7
Eric Talman
Satellite
Phone Store
Seamless Connectivity Solutions: Empowering Enterprises in Remote and Critical
Environments
In an era where uninterrupted communication is essential, this session explores how satellite, cellular, IoT, VoIP, and WiFi
technologies converge to provide seamless connectivity solutions. This session will highlight crafting reliable networks to empower
businesses, individuals, and systems, even in the most challenging environments. Attendees will learn about the latest innovations in
communications and practical strategies for ensuring connectivity when it matters most.
Eric Talman is the director of enterprise sales at Satellite Phone Store with more than 20 years of experience in communications, specializing
in satellite, cellular, IoT, VoIP, and WiFi technologies. His expertise lies in designing seamless connectivity solutions for remote and challenging
environments, driving innovation, and operational excellence for enterprise clients.
SOLUTIONS TRACK 8
Dan
Poucher
Wolf &
Company,
P.C.
There is No Substitute for Preparedness
This session will cover the following topics:
• What is business continuity and why is it important?
• How is a program created and what does it do?
• Case studies.
• The role of an incident response plan (IRP).
• Fortifying your cybersecurity defense.
• Benets of both a BCP & IRP.
• BCP & IRP strategies.
• The cost of inaction.
• There is no substitute for preparedness.
DRJ Fall 2025 - Attendee Conference Guide | Page 19 of 47
#DRJFall
DAY 1
Sunday, September 7, 2025
Dan Poucher, CBCP, is a business continuity practice lead in Wolf’s Strategic Management Services group where he is responsible for executing
business continuity planning and incident response consulting services for clients across all industry niches.
DRJ Fall 2025 - Attendee Conference Guide | Page 20 of 47
#DRJFall
WELCOME RECEPTION
5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
EXHIBIT HALL OPENS
5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
PRODUCT DEMOS
DRJ Fall 2025 - Attendee Conference Guide | Page 21 of 47
#DRJFall
6:30 a.m. – 8:00 a.m. ........................................................... Networking Breakfast
7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. ........................................................... Conference Registration Desk
8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. ........................................................... General Session 1
GS-1 .......... Reinke ....................................................... Leading with Grit: How to Stay Resilient and Focused in Crisis
9:15 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. ......................................................... General Session 2
GS-2 .......... Campbell ................................................... The Resilience Imperative: Becoming the Strategic Voice Your Business Needs
10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. ....................................................... General Session 3
GS-3 .......... Hurst, Judy, DeRodes, Altin ....................... The Role of Emerging Technologies in Building Operational Resilience
11:30 a.m. ............................................................................ Exhibit Hall Opens
11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. ......................................................... Lunch
11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. ............................................................ Product Demos
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. ........................................................... Breakout Track 1
BT1-01 ...... Fernandes, Bolander, Cowart, Bojoukha .... How Cyber Preparedness is Evolving the Role of Business Continuity
BT1-02 ...... Harrell ........................................................ Between Operational Resilience, DORA, and the Deep Blue Sea
BT1-03 ...... Pratley ....................................................... Tools and Technologies to Navigate Economic Risks
BT1-05 ...... Dunn.......................................................... Panic-Proof Leadership: Beyond the Continuity Plan
BT1-06 ...... Henske ...................................................... Workplace Violence Awareness and Safety
2:15 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. ........................................................... Breakout Track 2
BT2-01 .... Judy ........................................................... Control Over Chaos: Cleanrooms, Cyber Resilience, and the Future of Recovery
BT2-02 .... Britton, Hileman .......................................... Crisis Communications that Work: Strategies and Tools for Condent, Coordinated
Response
BT2-03 .... Young ......................................................... Enhancing Vendor Resilience with AI: A Smarter Approach to Business Continuity
BT2-04 .... Cocchiara, Quinn ........................................ Risk & Resilience - Creating a Reporting Dashboard Executives Will Understand
(Advanced)
BT2-05 .... Pace ........................................................... Regulatory Compliance - Continuity and Resilience
BT2-06 .... Henderson, Long ........................................ Connecting the Dots - Leveraging Value Chains in BCM & ERM for Enhanced
Operational Resilience
3:15 p.m. – 3:45 p.m. ........................................................... Refreshment Break
3:45 p.m. – 4:45 p.m. ............................................................ Breakout Track 3
BT3-01 .....Bailey, Laz ...................................................What Every Executive Needs to Know About Operational Risk
BT3-02 .....Mills ............................................................. Building a Culture of Readiness: Tech is Only Half the Story
BT3-03 .....Renner, Daghigh, Bond................................Buy-In Beyond The Boardroom
BT3-04 .....Patel ............................................................ Leadership in Crisis: Navigating Uncertainty and Building Resilience
BT3-05 .....Tazewell, Jones ...........................................The ABCs and 123s of BIAs and TIAs
BT3-06 .....Greene-Ciuro ...............................................Building a Resilient Organization: An Exercise-Based Approach to Business
Resilience
4:00 p.m. .............................................................................. Exhibit Hall Closes
5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. ...............................................................Product Demos
6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. ............................................................ DRJ Networking Reception
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2025
DAY 2
AGENDA
DRJ Fall 2025 - Attendee Conference Guide | Page 22 of 47
#DRJFall
DAY 2
Monday, Sept. 8, 2025
AGENDA
6:30 a.m. - 8:00 a.m.
NETWORKING BREAKFAST
6:30 a.m. - 8:00 a.m.
Stop by the Registration Desk to pick up your conference materials, name badge, and get answers to any questions.
7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
CONFERENCE REGISTRATION DESK
7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
8:00 a.m. – 9:15 a.m.
GENERAL SESSION 1
Darren
Reinke
The Savage
Leader
Leading with Grit: How to Stay Resilient and Focused in Crisis
Crisis leaders don’t just manage disruptions—they lead through them with grit. They bring calm to chaos, clarity to confusion, and
momentum when the path ahead is uncertain. What sets these leaders apart isn’t just experience—it’s their ability to persevere, adapt,
and inspire.
Grit requires purpose, focus, resilience, and the drive to overcome obstacles. It’s not something you’re born with—it’s something you
build. It starts with purpose. When leaders are grounded in a strong sense of purpose, they can sustain energy, create alignment, and
guide their teams through high-stakes situations—minimizing downtime, increasing adaptability, and protecting what matters most.
In this high-impact keynote, participants learn to strengthen their ability to stay calm under pressure, maintain long-term focus, and build the kind
of authentic leadership that earns trust and drives performance—even during a crisis.
Darren Reinke is the founder of The Savage Leader, a leadership development company that helps organizations build purpose-driven leaders and
teams from the inside out. He’s the author of “The Savage Leader,” host of The Savage Leader Podcast, and a keynote speaker and coach to high-
growth and Fortune 500 companies.
8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
GENERAL SESSION 2
Mike
Campbell
Fusion Risk
Management
The Resilience Imperative: Becoming the Strategic Voice Your Business Needs
In a world dened by disruption, resilience has become more than a safety net- it’s a strategic necessity. But for many practitioners,
the path to inuence isn’t always clear. How do you move from managing risk in the margins to shaping the conversations that dene
your company’s future?
In this keynote, an expert from Fusion Risk Management will help you reimagine your program as a catalyst for strategic resilience.
Drawing on decades of experience guiding organizations through transformation, Fusion will share three essential actions that elevate
resilience to the highest levels of business strategy and show how you can lead that charge.
This session is all about purpose. You’ll discover how to connect what you do every day to what matters most to your organization: protecting
people, enabling growth, and earning trust when the stakes are highest.
In this session, you will be inspired to:
• View resilience as a path to leadership, not just operations.
• Speak the language of the business to gain visibility and impact.
• Ask smarter questions that uncover risk, reveal opportunity, and drive change.
• Lead with purpose, credibility, and vision.
Resilience is your platform for leadership. With the right mindset and approach, you can inuence decisions that matter, shape strategic priorities,
and help your organization move forward with condence—no matter what lies ahead.
9:15 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
DAY 2
Monday, September 8, 2025
GENERAL SESSION 3
Davis
DeRodes
Fusion Risk
Management
Chris Hurst
Crisis24
Jeff Judy
Recovery
Point
Mattias Altin
4C Strategies
The Role of Emerging Technologies in Building Operational Resilience
Innovation in technology is rapidly changing the way organizations approach operational and cyber resiliency. From AI-
driven risk intelligence to cloud-based recovery solutions and automated resiliency strategies, emerging technologies are
creating new opportunities—and new risks.
This panel will explore how organizations are:
• Leveraging AI for predictive analytics, early warning systems, and resiliency planning.
• Using cloud infrastructure to strengthen both operational continuity and cyber resilience.
• Automating dependency mapping and impact assessments to speed up recovery and reduce downtime.
• Navigating risks tied to innovation, including cybersecurity threats, regulatory compliance, and system dependencies.
• Integrating new technologies to enhance resilience without introducing new vulnerabilities.
Attendees will leave with actionable insights on how to evaluate, implement, and govern innovation to strengthen both
operational and cyber resiliency in today’s evolving risk landscape.
Chris Hurst is vice president, AI & innovation for Crisis24, where he ensures Crisis24’s technology and services anticipate
and mitigate dynamic risks and helps customers strengthen resilience, with a focus on AI. Hurst is a former director of
enterprise risk management with Mercy Corps, Army diver, and project manager for large infrastructure projects with experience in Iraq and Afghanistan.
He holds a B.S. from West Point, MBA from Harvard and MPA/ID from Harvard Kennedy School of Government.
Jeff Judy has more than two decades of experience in system architecture and administration, with a particular focus on virtualized solutions. He
designed, built, and deployed Recovery Point’s cloud environments and has extensive experience with a broad range of storage replication and back-up
technologies. He also has experience deploying new data centers and leading systems engineering teams. He is a VMware certied professional.
Davis DeRodes is the lead data scientist at Fusion Risk Management. He leads the product research and development of applications of data
science and articial intelligence to solve business continuity and operational resilience problems, such as scenario testing. DeRodes currently
resides in Durham, N.C., and is an alumnus of Columbia’s Data Science Institute.
Mattias Altin is chief technology ofcer at 4C Strategies. He leads the evolution of Exonaut and the resilience suite of risk, incident, continuity, and
exercise manager product, keeping organizations mission-ready come rain or ransomware. A mentor and adviser on Stockholm’s start-up scene,
Altin previously grew Volvo's Stockholm tech hub and headed Spotify’s SDK Tribe. Drawing on additional senior roles in ntech and consumer-tech
rms, he brings a pragmatic, cross-sector lens to harnessing emerging technologies without adding fragility.
10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
EXHIBIT HALL OPENS
11:30 a.m.
11:45 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
LUNCH
11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
DRJ Fall 2025 - Attendee Conference Guide | Page 23 of 47
#DRJFall
11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
PRODUCT DEMOS
Mike Campbell brings more than 35 years of software development and technology experience to Fusion. His exceptional executive management
background includes several executive leadership roles and board membership positions, as he spent the beginning of his professional career co-
founding and developing several successful start-ups. With a unique global perspective and strategic insights, Campbell’s vision is to lead the company
for growth and scale.
Previously, Campbell had extraordinary success as an entrepreneur, founding Campbell Software in 1989, the company being recognized twice by
Inc. magazine for company growth. He led the organization through its acquisition by SAP in 1999. He then assumed senior and executive roles within
SAP through 2001. He has served as executive vice president and chief operating ofcer at FICO and CEO at International Decision Systems.
Campbell received a bachelor's degree from Purdue University and was recognized as a Distinguished Engineering Alumni and Outstanding
Aerospace Engineer in 2009. He is a proud father to three beautiful and intelligent daughters.
DAY 2
Monday, September 8, 2025
BREAKOUT TRACK 1 - SESSION 1
Dustin
Bolander
Beltex
Insurance
Robert
Fernandes
Salted Hash
Security
Stas
Bojoukha
Comply
Matthew
Cowart
Rubrik
How Cyber Preparedness is Evolving the Role of Business Continuity
Cyber resilience isn’t just an IT problem.
As ransomware, insider threats, and cloud breaches dominate headlines, disaster recovery and business continuity
leaders are nding themselves on the front lines of cybersecurity. But many feel unprepared for what comes next.
This session brings together cybersecurity, insurance, and infrastructure experts to demystify cyber resilience—and to
show how DR/BC professionals can lead the charge. You’ll walk away with strategies to assess gaps, build cross-functional
plans, align with insurance requirements, and test your organization’s readiness—without needing to become a security
expert.
Panel topics:
• What is cyber resilience—and why DR/BC must own it?
◦ Where DR/BC and cybersecurity intersect.
◦ From backups to zero trust.
◦ Building a culture of resilience.
• Ransomware recovery: real-world lessons from the eld.
◦ What happens in the rst 24-48 hours?
◦ Recovery metrics and strategies.
◦ How resilient orgs are bouncing back faster.
• Cyber insurance & resiliency: what your policy assumes you already have.
◦ Key coverage criteria: backups, MFA, IR planning.
◦ How DR/BC functions inuence claims and payouts.
◦ The cost of not aligning with policy expectations.
• From reactive to proactive: building a cyber resilience roadmap.
◦ Starting with assessments and gap identication.
◦ Role of tabletop exercises and attack simulations.
◦ Driving executive buy-in and interdepartmental alignment.
Robert Fernandes is a seasoned cybersecurity executive, vCISO, and founder of Cyberchance, a nonprot training underserved communities in cyber.
With more than 20 years of experience, he helps businesses align security with strategy through Salted Hash Security. He is a keynote speaker, OSINT
investigator, and former CISO of a $12B rm, known for simplifying complex security challenges and driving real-world business results.
Dustin Bolander is the founder of Beltex Insurance. He brings his cybersecurity background to the cyber insurance industry, building policies that
recognize strong security foundations, especially involving MSPs and the clients they serve.
Matt Cowart currently leads the Sales Engineering team for Rubrik's Core Enterprise segment in the US. Based out of Dallas, TX, he has over 20
years in IT sales and tech leadership experience, and has spent 8 years with Rubrik helping customers achieve cyber resiliency.
Stas Bojoukha is the CEO and founder of Compyl, a company that offers information security software and advisory services to assist businesses to
mature information security posture, mitigate security risks, surpass regulatory compliance, and audit requirements. Bojoukha has more than 20 years of
experience as an information security expert, focusing on delivering compliance and security solutions to organizations in heavily regulated ntech and
nancial services sectors. Having worked with regulators all over the world, he has helped companies build secure, robust information security programs
and implement strategies to remain compliant as they scale.
BREAKOUT TRACK 1 - SESSION 2
Jason
Harrell
JAH Secure
Solutions,
LLC
Between Operational Resilience, DORA, and the Deep Blue Sea
In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, operational resilience has become a critical focus for organizations striving to maintain
continuity and stability. This presentation will delve into the concept of operational resilience, exploring its importance in ensuring that
businesses can withstand and recover from disruptions. We will examine the key components of operational resilience, including risk
management, business continuity planning, and incident response.
The presentation will introduce the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA), a groundbreaking regulatory framework designed to
enhance the resilience of nancial entities within the European Union. DORA aims to establish robust standards for digital operational
resilience, addressing the challenges posed by cyber threats, technological failures, third party and supply chain, and other disruptions.
Attendees will gain insights into the core provisions of DORA, its implications for nancial institutions and the organizations that support
them, and the steps organizations can take to either drive or support compliance.
By the end of this presentation, participants will have a comprehensive understanding of operational resilience and DORA, empowering them to
implement effective strategies to safeguard their organizations in the face of digital disruptions.
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
DRJ Fall 2025 - Attendee Conference Guide | Page 24 of 47
#DRJFall
DAY 2
Monday, September 8, 2025
Jason Harrell is the owner of JAH Secure Solutions, LLC, which provides advisory and consultancy services for cyber and operational resilience,
third-party risk management, and emerging technology. As a distinguished executive in cyber and operational resilience, Harrell has partnered with global
nancial authorities, standards bodies, government agencies and trade associations to develop policy solutions to these challenges within the nancial
sector. Harrell is widely recognized for his expertise in developing and executing cyber and resilience strategies across the nancial services sector
including ABN AMRO, BNY, DTCC, and RBS.
As a thought leader in cyber and resilience, Harrell authors position papers, articles, comment letters and other collateral used to advance public policy
in these risk areas. Harrell has held positions on several industry association boards and committees including CRI, FSSCC, and Sheltered Harbor and
is currently on the board for Pencil, NYC, a non-prot dedicated to preparing students for college and the workforce.
Beyond his corporate roles, Harrell is known for his commitment to talent development and mentorship and promoting fairness, opportunity, and
diversity within the workplace.
BREAKOUT TRACK 1 - SESSION 3
Sara Pratley
AlertMedia
Tools and Technologies to Navigate Economic Risks
In today’s rapidly shifting threat landscape, economic uncertainty is no longer a periodic challenge—it’s a constant reality. From
devastating natural disasters and persistent global ination to rising geopolitical tensions and challenging technological disruptions,
organizations face various economic threats that test the limits of crisis management and business continuity.
This session equips leaders with forward-looking strategies to assess, mitigate, and prepare for evolving economic risks that could
impact their people, facilities, and businesses. Using recent real-world examples, attendees will explore how economic risks directly
impact organizational stability and learn actionable tactics for successful risk management and continuity planning.
Key takeaways include how to:
• Conduct operational risk assessments tailored to economic volatility.
• Proactively position your organization to withstand economic shocks.
• Leverage technology and AI for predictive risk analysis.
• Emerge stronger from future business disruptions.
Sara Pratley is senior vice president of global intelligence at AlertMedia, where she leads a team of experienced analysts to monitor emerging
threats and incidents worldwide. Prior to joining AlertMedia, Pratley was vice president of national news for CNN’s domestic news gathering unit,
where she led the network’s coverage of major events. During her decade at the network, Pratley gained an incredible ability to easily assess,
analyze, and decipher information, a skill set she now applies to her role at AlertMedia to help her team of analysts distill need-to-know breaking
news on a global and local scale into actionable intelligence AlertMedia’s customers can use to keep their people safe and informed. Pratley has
also held roles at WFTS-TV in Tampa, Florida, and News 10 Now in Syracuse, New York. Pratley holds a bachelor’s degree in both sociology and
broadcast journalism from Syracuse University. She was also a Sulzberger Executive Leadership Program fellow at Columbia University.
BREAKOUT TRACK 1 - SESSION 5
Kelly Dunn
GFT
Panic-Proof Leadership: Beyond the Continuity Plan
When the pressure’s on – whether from a workplace emergency, business disruption, or a slow-building disruption like a merger
or reorganization – leaders don’t get the luxury of waiting for perfect information. People are looking for direction, trust is shaky, and
indecision can create chaos. The best leaders don’t just react – they stabilize, simplify, and lead with condence.
This session dives into the human side of leadership under pressure. You’ll learn how to stay steady in high-stakes moments, whether
they arrive suddenly or drag out over months. We’ll explore mental models like the OODA Loop to help you organize your thinking,
communicate clearly, and lead decisively – even when the path forward is foggy.
However, this session goes deeper than emergency playbooks. It’s about how to turn pressure-tested leadership into a habit, not just a continuity
plan. We’ll look at why some teams freeze while others rise; and how trust, culture, and clarity make the difference. You’ll also explore what happens
when the crisis isn’t obvious, but the impact is real – like in long, painful transitions where leadership voids and trust breakdowns quietly derail
progress.
Key takeaways:
• How to train your team using scenario-based drills and table-top simulations.
• Why decision checklists and role clarity reduce panic and paralysis.
• How to create communication rhythms that hold up under stress.
• How to lead when trust is fractured – and earn it back through consistency.
• How to embed steady leadership into your team’s muscle memory, not just manuals.
Kelly Dunn is the director of safety at Gannett Fleming TranSystems and a U.S. Army veteran. With a background in chemical engineering,
emergency management, and environmental health, she has led safety programs across military, healthcare, and federal sectors. Dunn holds a
master’s degree in homeland security from the Naval Postgraduate School and is known for building practical, people-focused safety and crisis
response programs.
DRJ Fall 2025 - Attendee Conference Guide | Page 25 of 47
#DRJFall
DAY 2
Monday, September 8, 2025
BREAKOUT TRACK 2 - SESSION 1
Jeff Judy
Recovery
Point
Control Over Chaos: Cleanrooms, Cyber Resilience, and the Future of Recovery
In an era where ransomware doesn’t just encrypt data—it compromises your entire recovery path—organizations need more than
backups. Successful recovery requires control: over the environment, over the process, and over the outcomes.
During this session, Recovery Point experts will explore how leading organizations are gaining that control through cleanrooms—also
known as isolated recovery environments—paired with deep automation and orchestration to ensure recovery is not only secure, but
repeatable, rapid, and measurable.
In this session, we’ll cover:
• Traditional DR vs. ransomware recovery: Why legacy recovery models can’t meet modern threats and why RTO/RPO expectations are
fundamentally different.
• Cleanrooms explained: What they are, how they work, and why they’re critical.
• The power of orchestration: Automating complex recovery workows to reduce time, risk, and manual effort.
• Recovery metrics that matter: How to meet aggressive RTO/RPO targets aligned to business risk tolerance.
Whether you’re an executive rethinking recovery plans or a DR leader tasked with ransomware readiness, you’ll leave with a clear understanding of
how cleanrooms and automation are redening the recovery landscape—and what steps you can take to get ahead.
Jeff Judy has more than two decades of experience in system architecture and administration, with a particular focus on virtualized solutions. He
designed, built, and deployed Recovery Point’s cloud environments and has extensive experience with a broad range of storage replication and back-up
technologies. He also has experience deploying new data centers and leading systems engineering teams. He is a VMware certied professional.
2:15 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.
BREAKOUT TRACK 1 - SESSION 6
Brad
Henske
Carilion
Clinic
Workplace Violence Awareness and Safety
There is no substitute for safety measures, awareness, and training when it comes to preventing and preparing for incidents of
workplace violence.
The healthcare industry is particularly vulnerable and targeted when it comes to the potential for acts of violence against clinicians
and patients. This presentation explores the rising threat of workplace violence in a medical setting, including home health visits.
At Carilion Clinic, the workplace safety committee focuses on efforts to:
• Prepare.
• Plan.
• Practice.
Session attendees will learn details of a workplace violence program (WPV) in healthcare, how to implement vital safety initiatives, and building
executive support through committee participation and advocacy.
Key takeaways:
• Types of workplace violence.
• WPV statistics in healthcare and medical treatment.
• Weapons detection and staff duress technology.
• Implementing strategies for prevention and preparedness.
• Planning for potential WPV events.
• Practicing for response and recovery.
• Trauma response and staff well-being.
• Resources to use in developing your WPV program.
Brad Henske, MBCI, CBCP, CHPCP, CIPR, has more than 25 years of experience as a business continuity and resilience leader, with the past
ve years spent directing the program for Carilion Clinic. He has published several thought leadership articles on BC&R topics and served as a
conference speaker for DRJ and BCI. Henske is also workshop certied in FEMA-NIMS, ICS, ERP, ASE, active aggressor, and pandemic planning.
DRJ Fall 2025 - Attendee Conference Guide | Page 26 of 47
#DRJFall
DAY 2
Monday, September 8, 2025
BREAKOUT TRACK 2 - SESSION 2
Chris Britton
RockDove
Solutions,
Inc.
Deborah
Hileman
Institute
for Crisis
Management
Crisis Communications that Work: Strategies and Tools for Condent, Coordinated
Response
Effective crisis communication is essential to business continuity and disaster recovery. In this session, we’ll explore how strategic
planning, stakeholder alignment, and real-time readiness can signicantly reduce impact, safeguard reputation, and speed up recovery.
Drawing on real-world examples from multiple industries, we’ll share best practices for building communication strategies, mapping key
stakeholders, and activating rapid response protocols.
You’ll also discover how modern technologies—such as environmental scanning, risk monitoring, and crisis management platforms—
can streamline workows, enable secure information sharing, and turn static plans into operational tools. Attendees will leave with
actionable insights and practical tools to strengthen their crisis response and lead with clarity and condence when it matters most.
Christopher Britton is a founding executive of RockDove Solutions, the developer of In Case of Crisis, an award-winning critical event
management platform serving hundreds of institutions globally. He oversees the strategy, revenue, client services, and operations of
the business. Britton has decades of executive leadership management experience developing and supporting SaaS and mobile app
technology companies serving risk, crisis management, business continuity, public relations, and public affairs. He was a founding executive
with Vocus, acquired by Cision and held leadership positions with AT&T, Rosetta Stone and Interfolio. Britton is a graduate of the University
of Dayton, School of Business Administration.
Deborah Hileman, SCMP, FCSCE, CCMC, is president and CEO of the Institute for Crisis Management (ICM), a boutique rm specializing in
crisis management and communications planning, training and consulting services. A globally certied corporate crisis management and strategic
communication management professional, business leader, trainer, coach and consultant with more than 35 years’ experience in public and private
companies and non-prot organizations, Hileman has led high-performing teams in numerous industries.
BREAKOUT TRACK 2 - SESSION 3
David Young
Panasonic
Energy
Corporation
of North
America
Enhancing Vendor Resilience with AI: A Smarter Approach to Business Continuity
In today’s volatile business landscape, third-party resilience is no longer optional—it’s a critical factor in ensuring operational stability.
Yet, traditional vendor risk assessments often fall short, relying on static surveys and outdated compliance checklists that fail to capture
real-world resilience. How can organizations move beyond checkbox compliance to a more dynamic, data-driven approach?
This session will explore how articial intelligence (AI) is transforming vendor resilience assessments, making them more
comprehensive, adaptive, and actionable. This cutting-edge, AI-driven approach evaluates vendor business continuity programs against
industry standards such as ISO 22301. By leveraging AI to analyze business continuity plans, test exercises, after-action reports, and
vendor resilience surveys, organizations can gain deeper insights into vendor preparedness—identifying gaps, assessing true recovery
capabilities, aligning RTOs with SLAs and driving targeted improvements.
Attendees will learn how AI can:
• Automate and standardize resilience scoring across vendors.
• Detect outdated or insufcient continuity measures in real time.
• Provide data-driven gap analyses and corrective action plans.
• Improve decision-making with predictive analytics and benchmarking.
Whether you’re a risk management professional, procurement leader, or business continuity expert, this session will provide practical strategies
for integrating AI into your vendor resilience program. Discover how AI-powered assessments can strengthen your supply chain, mitigate third-party
risks, and ensure your critical vendors are truly prepared for disruption.
Don’t miss this opportunity to learn how AI is revolutionizing vendor resilience—before your next crisis puts it to the test!
David Young is an internationally recognized business continuity and resilience leader with more than 26 years of experience in crisis management,
risk mitigation, and disaster recovery. As a senior business continuity lead at Panasonic Energy, he drives innovative resilience strategies, leveraging AI,
AR, and advanced technology to safeguard operations. A compelling communicator, Young excels at engaging senior leaders, ensuring seamless crisis
response, and transforming risk into competitive advantage.
DRJ Fall 2025 - Attendee Conference Guide | Page 27 of 47
#DRJFall
DAY 2
Monday, September 8, 2025
BREAKOUT TRACK 2 - SESSION 4
Richard
Cocchiara
CxO
Expertise,
LLC
Peter Quinn
CxO
Expertise,
LLC
Risk & Resilience - Creating a Reporting Dashboard Executives Will Understand
(Advanced)
Struggling with how to explain the risks and resilience to senior executives? Trying to "tie it all" together so management see's the
bigger picture? Are the risks your company face being fragmented across multiple departments? Many practitioners nd it very difcult
to explain how BC/DR ts into the overall risk and resilience strategy of a company and get the attention of senior management. If you
want to get management to see the value of what you do, you have to put it in terms they understand. Move from talking risk to talking
about resilience. This session will focus on helping you create dashboard or "placemat" that links disaster recovery, business continuity,
cybersecurity, IT availability, governance and compliance in a way executives can consume.
This session will:
• Help uncover what senior management is focused on.
• Show you how to move beyond talking about risks to talking about impact to management goals.
• Demonstrate how to link disaster recovery, business continuity, cybersecurity, IT availability, governance and compliance into a
something senior management will want to read.
• Help you learn how to work across departments.
• Move you from just talking about negative risk to talking the value of resilience in growing the business.
• Demonstrate how to begin talking about real business resilience.
• Help you to become part of the senior management report to the board.
This presentation is designed to take you from DR planner to resilience strategist. This is not a product presentation but one designed to show you
what you need to do to create an effective risk and resilience report that gets you noticed by senior management.
Rich Cocchiara is the managing partner for CxO Expertise, LLC., a company specializing in helping C-level executives and companies create
innovative risk and resilience strategies, plans, and solutions. He is the former chief information security ofcer for the New York City Department of
Education and is the former chief technology ofcer for IBM’s business continuity and resiliency services division. He has more than 35 years of IT
consulting, service and support experience, specializing in IT risk and resilience.
Peter Quinn is a former six-time CIO. He was CIO for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, New York City Department of Education, National
Commerical Bank of Jamaica, CITI, BISYS ,and Boston Financial Data Services. In these various positions, Quinn has initiated IT steering committees
and other similar forums to inform risk management, audit committees, and boards of directors. He has created comprehensive, easily understood risk
and resilience dash boards to articulate the challenges and solutions required to mitigate enterprise-wide threats.
BREAKOUT TRACK 2 - SESSION 5
Linda Pace
City National
Bank of
Florida
Regulatory Compliance - Continuity and Resilience
Regulatory compliance and business continuity requirements are often extensive, competing and sometimes overwhelming. In this
session, participants will engage with a facilitator and peers to identify best practices in responding to regulatory requests, tracking
responses and dealing with competing priorities. Gain a better understanding of FFIEC, FINRA, OSHA, ISO 45001, 22301, legal, and
other requirements. Learn what to do when you don’t understand the requirements or lack to resources to respond. Participants gain
a better understanding on the audit process; how to respond to written and verbal requests and how to prepare and maintain reliable
documentation. Bring your questions and challenges and get actionable steps to use immediately in validating your program. This
engaging, interactive session is suitable for new and experience professionals.
Linda Pace is a business continuity and resilience professional with two decades of business experience across multiple industries, including insurance,
nancial services, banking, telecom, and military operations. Expertise in business continuity program development, issues management, regulatory
compliance, training development and developing tabletop exercises.
BREAKOUT TRACK 2 - SESSION 6
Joshua
Henderson
Morgan
Franklin
Cyber
Joe Long
Morgan
Franklin
Cyber
Connecting the Dots - Leveraging Value Chains in BCM & ERM for Enhanced
Operational Resilience
In this presentation, we’ll explore how organizations can enhance operational resilience by strategically leveraging its value chains.
In an era marked by unprecedented disruptions—ranging from global pandemics to geopolitical instability, the importance of
operational resilience has become a top priority for CEOs. This presentation explores how the value chain serves as a foundational
framework for driving focus and enabling the efcient allocation of resources to improve resilience.
We’ll examine:
• How we identify the value drivers through our ValueCORe approach.
• The importance of a value-chain/value stream focus beyond business continuity.
• Strategies to bridge the gap between operational resilience functions and enterprise risk management.
• Real-world case studies from sectors like nance and healthcare to compare/contrast traditional program designs vs. value
chain-oriented programs.
DRJ Fall 2025 - Attendee Conference Guide | Page 28 of 47
#DRJFall
DAY 2
Monday, September 8, 2025
BREAKOUT TRACK 3 - SESSION 1
Dan Bailey
Certied
Risk
Partners,
LLC
Peter Laz
Centene
What Every Executive Needs to Know About Operational Risk
Quick! You only have ve minutes to communicate the status of your operational risk program to the executive board. What do you tell
them? What must you leave out? What helps you get the support your program deserves?
Too often programs have well intentions of providing information to senior leaders, executives and boards about all the good the
program is doing or how much it has evolved. However, executives require a laser focus on the most meaningful data for their needs.
This session will provide you with tangible ways you can improve your reporting to your senior leaders and executives.
Join two DRJ Executive Council members as they share their experiential insight to enable you to quickly and succinctly report
metrics and program status in the most impactful way possible.
Dan Bailey is the managing director of Certied Risk Partners, an advisory, consulting, implementation rm based in Texas. He has
been involved in global risk management, resilience, BC, and DR since 1991 and IT since 1985. Bailey maintains four primary industry
certications – CERP, GRCP, FBCI, and MBCP. He serves on the DRJ Executive Council and on advisory boards with UT Dallas and
360Factors.
Peter Laz is resilience lead with Centene Corporation, responsible for driving the evolution of their operational resilience program and capabilities.
He has a hybrid background. As a practitioner, he has managed operational risk and resiliency programs in a variety of industries. He has also led
consulting practices. Laz has been in the eld of operational risk and resiliency since 1987 and is a member of the DRJ Executive Council.
BREAKOUT TRACK 3 - SESSION 2
Jamie Mills
BlackBerry
Secure
Communications
Building a Culture of Readiness: Tech is Only Half the Story
In the world of business continuity and resilience, technology often steals the spotlight—but it’s only half the story. True resilience is built
on a foundation of people, process, and practice. In this session, we’ll explore how to create a culture of readiness that supports sustainable
continuity programs—before layering on the right technology. You'll hear real-world examples of how organizations have aligned their teams,
rened their processes, and embedded resilience into day-to-day operations. Whether you're starting from scratch or evolving a mature
program, this session will help you shift focus from tools to transformation—and build a stronger, more adaptable organization from the
inside out.
Key takeaways:
• Why technology should follow—not lead—your resilience strategy.
• How to embed business continuity into culture through people and process.
• Practical steps to assess and strengthen your non-technical readiness.
• Common pitfalls to avoid when building or maturing a continuity program.
Jamie Mills is senior director for state and local government and higher education at BlackBerry, where he leads strategic initiatives to support
secure communications across public sector and education clients. With more than 20 years of experience in secure messaging and 2.5 years
focused on crisis communications, Mills helps organizations strengthen their resilience using platforms like BlackBerry AtHoc for critical event
management and SecuSUITE for secure voice and messaging. His work bridges technology and policy, enabling trusted communication during high-
risk, high-stakes scenarios. Mills is passionate about helping organizations build people-centered, secure communication ecosystems that perform
under pressure.
3:45 p.m. – 4:45 p.m.
REFRESHMENT BREAK
3:15 p.m. - 3:45 p.m.
Expected outcomes/learning objectives:
• Better understanding of value drivers and how to identify them within your organization.
• Importance of linking BC and ERM for operational resilience – it’s not just about speed/efciency.
• Enhanced understanding of BC’s strategic importance to your organization.
Joshua Henderson, CPA, CIA, is a senior manager of cyber resilience and business continuity for MorganFranklin Cyber. He specializes in
operational resilience, risk management, and audit, having served private and publicly traded clients more than 15 years in the banking, technology
and data security, manufacturing, pharmaceutical, retail, and health insurance industries. Henderson has also performed regulatory and compliance
framework assessments for IASB, AICPA, COSO, SOX, CASB, NIST, HIPAA, PCI DSS, ISO and has further supported organizations in their
response and remediation to regulatory audit ndings for those same standards.
An industry leader in operational resilience and risk management, Joe Long brings nearly 30 years of industry and management consulting
experience where he has led numerous organizations through the process of planning, developing and embedding risk management and resilience
programs. Currently, he oversees the delivery of global engagements with a focus on the integration of risk disciplines. Long specializes in business
continuity, operational resilience, risk management and crisis management.
DRJ Fall 2025 - Attendee Conference Guide | Page 29 of 47
#DRJFall
DAY 2
Monday, September 8, 2025
BREAKOUT TRACK 3 - SESSION 3
Casey
Daghigh
Everbridge
Shayla
Bond
Everbridge
April Renner
Burns &
McDonnell
Buy-In Beyond The Boardroom
You've secured executive buy-in for your resiliency program, but now engaging subject matter experts (SMEs) is crucial
for program success. This session provides real-world examples and actionable strategies to conquer SME buy-in for
assessments and plan building. Learn to speak their language, demonstrate benets, and build collaborative partnerships to
transform SMEs into active champions of your resiliency program.
April Renner, MBCP, CCRP, is a business continuity manager at Burns & McDonnell in Kansas City, Mo., where she is building
an enterprise resilience program and team consisting of business continuity, crisis management, and disaster recovery. Renner has
worked in the resilience eld for nearly 15 years.
With more than 13 years in the business resiliency vendor space, Casey Daghigh specializes in enablement, product
management, and learning and development. She currently leads customer enablement for Everbridge. Daghigh has assisted
hundreds of resiliency professionals in launching their programs at organizations including Sungard Availability Services, Assurance
Software, Fairchild Resiliency Systems, and now Everbridge. She excels in crafting impactful enablement, managing cross-
functional programs, and aligning educational strategies with business goals to drive customer and team success.
Shayla Bond has spent most of her career in the business resiliency vendor space working alongside business continuity, disaster recovery and resilience
professionals and programs for organizations ranging from Fortune 1 to small businesses, academic institutions, and governmental bodies has made her
invaluable in her current role leading the teams that support customers resilience on a daily basis.
BREAKOUT TRACK 3 - SESSION 4
Sweta Patel
Lowe’s
Companies,
Inc.
Leadership in Crisis: Navigating Uncertainty and Building Resilience
Crisis leadership is about leading without all the answers. It’s a high-stakes, time-sensitive event where how you respond denes the
outcome. During crises, understanding the situation quickly and shaping the narrative is key to turning challenges into opportunities.
• Leadership traps: Even seasoned leaders fall into traps under pressure—trying to control too much, waiting too long to
act, or miscommunicating. Recognizing these pitfalls is essential.
• Building trust: Trust and credibility must be built every day, not just in crisis. When leadership is trusted, decisions
make sense, even in chaos.
Leading through crisis:
• Emotional intelligence: Acknowledge emotions, self-regulate, and lead with humanity—these soft skills are essential for crisis
management.
• Communication: Simple, transparent messages help make sense of the situation and manage immediate perceptions.
In this session, we’ll explore how leaders can navigate uncertainty, embrace imperfections, and build resilience through trust and effective
communication.
“In a crisis, people don’t follow titles; they follow trust. So, the real question isn’t just “what will you do in a crisis?” It’s “who will you be?”
Sweta Patel is serving as senior director of business continuity of Lowe’s Companies Inc. Patel and her team built Lowe’s rst GSOC and threat
intelligence department since 2020. She has more than 14 years of experience in intel, GSOC, and four years of business continuity experience.
Patel has a bachelor’s degree in accounting and nance, possesses executive leadership certication from Cornell University, crisis management for
leaders from Stanford University and CBCP.
BREAKOUT TRACK 3 - SESSION 5
Jordan
Tazewell
Consultant
Lisa Jones
Control
Risks
The ABCs and 123s of BIAs and TIAs
This breakout will explore how to effectively integrate business impact analysis (BIA) and technical impact analysis (TIA) to create
a truly holistic continuity framework. Business resilience professionals will learn how to bridge the gap between operational needs and
IT capabilities, ensuring continuity strategies are not only aligned but also actionable under stress. Through practical guidance, real-
world examples, and collaborative insights, participants will leave equipped to lead cross-functional analyses that drive risk-informed
continuity planning and resilient recovery strategies.
Jordan Tazewell is a technology consultant and thought leader with 10 years of experience in IT, cyber security, and engineering. For the
past ve years, he has specialized in business resiliency, supporting SLED, private, and public sector initiatives. He holds a B.S. in computer
science from North Carolina A&T and multiple certications, including CCNA, CompTIA, VMware, Zerto, AWS, and Azure.
Lisa Jones is an embedded consultant with more than 17 years promoting resiliency and elevating contingency planning visibility. She is
a gifted communicator who readily shares insight on planning awareness, recovery strategies and industry trends, through presentations,
articles and thought leadership projects.
DRJ Fall 2025 - Attendee Conference Guide | Page 30 of 47
#DRJFall
DAY 2
Monday, September 8, 2025
BREAKOUT TRACK 3 - SESSION 6
Shannon
Greene-
Ciuro
Regeneron
Building a Resilient Organization: An Exercise-Based Approach to Business Resilience
In an era marked by rapid change and uncertainty, organizations must adopt a comprehensive approach to resilience that extends beyond
traditional business continuity planning. This session introduces an exercise-based framework for a holistic business resilience program,
encompassing business continuity, crisis management, and incident/emergency response. By prioritizing exercises over conventional
workshops, this approach swiftly identies organizational priorities and potential vulnerabilities, enabling a more agile and effective response to
emerging threats such as climate change and geopolitical challenges.
Participants will discover how leadership-level exercises can enhance focus on critical areas, ensuring that resilience efforts are aligned with
the most signicant organizational impacts. The session will highlight the importance of quick wins in building resilience and addressing larger
gaps that require more resources. This method not only streamlines the resilience planning process but also secures leadership buy-in by demonstrating the
value of a robust program through exercises to directly address organizational risks and concerns.
Attendees will gain practical insights into developing an exercise-based business resilience program, covering essential elements. Real-world examples
from our program will illustrate the effectiveness of this approach in fostering a resilient organization. By the end of the session, participants will be equipped
with strategies to implement an exercise-based resilience program tailored to their organization’s unique needs and priorities.
Shannon Greene-Ciuro, MBCI, is a dedicated professional specializing in business resilience and crisis management, with extensive experience in
developing and leading resilience programs. She has successfully collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to enhance organizational preparedness and
response capabilities. Her expertise includes designing comprehensive test, training, and exercise programs to empower business partners to maintain
operations during disruptions. Greene-Ciuro holds a Bachelor of Science in Occupational Health & Safety and is a Member of the Business Continuity
Institute, recognized for her strategic contributions to advancing organizational resilience.
DRJ Fall 2025 - Attendee Conference Guide | Page 31 of 47
#DRJFall
DRJ NETWORKING RECEPTION
Tonight’s Networking Reception is in the Yellow Rose Ballroom and Pavilion from 6:00p – 8:00p.
Light appetizers and drinks to be served.
You are encouraged to make a dinner reservation at one of the dining options at the Gaylord Texan.
6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
PRODUCT DEMOS
4:45 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
EXHIBIT HALL CLOSES
4:00 p.m.
DRJ Fall 2025 - Attendee Conference Guide | Page 32 of 47
#DRJFall
6:30 a.m. – 8:00 a.m. .............................................................. Networking Breakfast
7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. .............................................................. Conference Information Desk
8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. .............................................................. General Session 4
GS-4.........Alavi, Burrell, Roberts ............................................... Decisions Under Fire: Crisis Response Lessons from Kidnappings, Cyber
Attacks, and Global Emergencies
9:15 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. ............................................................. General Session 5
GS-5.........Crane, Witts ............................................................. Bridging Strategy and Action: Real-World Applications in Planning and
Response
10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. .......................................................... Breakout Track 4
BT4-01......Enault ...................................................................... Operational Resilience – Zero to 100 in 60 Minutes
BT4-02......Glodde, Kuftic .......................................................... Bridging Silos: Connecting IT DR and BCP Through Business Impact Mapping
BT4-03......Jones ...................................................................... From Metrics to Momentum: A Forward-Looking Approach to Traditional
Maturity Models
BT4-04......Hendrix .................................................................... Building a World-Class Crisis Management Program
BT4-05......McKoy ..................................................................... Risk and Resilience Exchange: A Challenge, An Opportunity and a Current Event
BT4-06......Chaisson ................................................................. Collaborative Cyber Resiliency: Bridging IT, Cybersecurity, and Business Continuity
11:30 a.m. ................................................................................Exhibit Hall Opens
11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. ............................................................ Lunch
11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. ............................................................ Product Demos
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. .............................................................. Breakout Track 5
BT5-01......Christian, Garrett ...................................................... Beyond RTO and RPO: Introducing the Recovery Operability Objective
BT5-02......Andrews, Livingston, Armour, Atolagbe .................... From Fax to Slack: Bridging the Generational & Cultural Divide
BT5-03......Bungton ................................................................ Five Lessons in Organizational Resilience from the DRJ Community
BT5-04......Lapierre ................................................................... We’re Critical - What Do We Do?
BT5-05......Speckhard, Williams ................................................ Digital Dependency: How India’s Digital Disappearance Would Paralyze Global
Technology
BT5-06......Ayala ........................................................................ Bridging Cybersecurity Compliance and Disaster Recovery: Lessons from
Framework Adoption
2:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. .............................................................. Refreshment Break
2:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. .............................................................. Tuesday Workshops
TWS-1.......Hurst ....................................................................... The One-Person Resilience Team, Supercharged by GenAI: LA Fires, Tari
Shocks & the 2025 Disaster Season
TWS-2.......Goodloe, Muniz ....................................................... Resilience Roundtable: Peer Insights on Strategy, Operations, and Industry
Growth
TWS-3.......Ostrovsky, Lambert .................................................. Experience Resilience in Action: A Live Scenario-Based Tabletop Session
TWS-4.......Phelps, Allison ......................................................... Cyber Exercises – How to Prepare for the Worst, Plan for the Best
3:00 p.m. ................................................................................. Exhibit Hall Closes
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2025
DAY 3
AGENDA
DRJ Fall 2025 - Attendee Conference Guide | Page 33 of 47
#DRJFall
DAY 3
Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025
AGENDA
NETWORKING BREAKFAST
6:30 a.m. - 8:00 a.m.
CONFERENCE INFORMATION DESK
Stop by the Information Desk for answers to questions you may have.
7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
GENERAL SESSION 4
Ghonche
Alavi
Crisis24
Alison
Burrell
Crisis24
Michael
Roberts
Crisis24
Decisions Under Fire: Crisis Response Lessons from Kidnappings, Cyber Attacks, and
Global Emergencies
In today’s unpredictable world, crisis management expertise has never been more valuable. This session features seasoned
professionals from Crisis24’s Crisis & Security Consulting team who have led responses to high-stakes emergencies — from complex
kidnapping negotiations and cyber extortion incidents to large-scale evacuations during political upheaval and rapid-response operations
following devastating natural disasters.
Experts from Crisis24’s All Hazards Response and Cyber teams will share valuable insights into the decision-making, cross-
organizational collaboration, and adaptive leadership required when facing both physical and digital threats, especially when lives,
reputations, and critical operations are on the line.
Join us to learn the hard-earned lessons of those on the frontlines of crisis response and discover how these lessons can strengthen
organizational resilience against both traditional and emerging cyber threats.
As director of cyber practice, Crisis24, Ghonche Alavi brings certied expertise as an ISO 27001 Professional, Digital Forensics
Examiner, and ICSI Ethical Hacker. She assesses vulnerabilities and implements security frameworks to strengthen cyber resilience across
sectors. During incidents, she coordinates response to contain breaches and maintain continuity.
As director - Africa, all hazards response at Crisis24, Alison Burrell brings 18 years of security risk management expertise. A CIPR-
qualied crisis communications consultant, she leads the organization's global communications practice for high-stakes situations
threatening organizational reputation and continuity. She emphasizes proactive crisis preparation through planning and simulation
exercises and provides remote support and on-site deployment during crises, delivering strategic guidance.
As senior managing consultant on the all hazards response team, Crisis24, Michael Roberts specializes in managing complex
operational challenges that pose signicant risks to organizational personnel, assets, operations, and reputation. His expertise
encompasses a range of critical incident management capabilities, including extortion mitigation, kidnap-for-ransom resolution,
emergency evacuation coordination, natural disaster response, medical emergency management, and security incident response.
8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
DAY 3
Tuesday, September 9, 2025
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#DRJFall
GENERAL SESSION 5
Thomas
Crane
Everbridge
Andrew
Witts
Everbridge
Bridging Strategy and Action: Real-World Applications in Planning and Response
Events can escalate rapidly, and timely decision-making is critical—especially when lives and operational continuity are at stake. How
can we shorten the time between incident and action by equipping leadership with the right information at the right moment? Where do
the biggest delays and communication gaps occur that hinder decision-making? How can we address those barriers to deliver a clear,
concise picture to leadership—anticipating the questions they’ll ask and enabling faster, more informed responses?
Thomas Crane oversees the Everbridge Best in Resilience™ program. In this capacity he has worked with more than 50 companies and
government agencies to perform resilience assessments, design and conduct exercises, and provide expert advice. Crane and the Everbridge
team apply a systematic approach that empowers organizational resilience with expertise, solutions, and best practices.
Andy Witts is the vice president of business continuity solutions at Everbridge. He has been the BC/DR Program director for various
companies. Witts has successfully deployed BC/DR programs on different platforms globally as a vendor and as a program owner, and has
advised, consulted, and implemented programs for ve Fortune 10 companies. He has been in the industry for 20 years and has a CBCP and
CBCI. Prior to his time in BCP/DR, Witts was an ofcer in the Royal Navy and a pilot.
9:15 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
BREAKOUT TRACK 4 - SESSION 1
Jennifer
Enault
American
Express
Technology
Operational Resilience – Zero to 100 in 60 Minutes
In today’s interconnected, always-on digital world, organizations face a growing array of threats such as system failures, supply chain
disruptions, cyberattacks, natural disasters, and geopolitical risks. These threats can halt operations, impact customer experience and
damage reputations. This session will explore operational resilience as a strategic imperative instead of a compliance requirement.
Dened as the ability of an organization to anticipate, withstand, adapt to, respond, recover and learn from disruptions disruption while
continuing to deliver critical business services, operational resilience bridges the gap between risk management, business continuity,
and technology resilience.
This breakout session will delve into the benets of a resilient enterprise, including increased stakeholder trust, improved customer
experience, reduced downtime, and long-term sustainability. The session will address the urgent need for resilience in today’s volatile
environment, where operational failure can have instant, far-reaching consequences. The session will also walk through a maturity journey from
“zero to 100” in operational resilience, beginning with identifying critical business services to leveraging technology and data to monitor and adapt in
real-time.
We’ll outline key steps to enhance operational resilience, including:
• Mapping critical services and dependencies.
• Establishing impact tolerances.
• Conducting scenario-based testing.
• Embedding resilience into organizational culture.
• Leveraging automation, monitoring tools, and cloud-based infrastructure.
Key takeaways:
• A clear understanding of what operational resilience is and why it matters now more than ever.
• A strategic framework for assessing and advancing any organization’s resilience posture.
• Practical, actionable steps to build and sustain resilience across business, technology, and third-party relationships.
• How to align operational resilience.
Jenn Enault is a vice president of governance providing strategic leadership of policy and audit compliance across infrastructure, managing
processes and procedures across the SRE organization. She has more than 20 years of experience supporting nancial institutions and
implementing complex programs within risk management functions, driving increased levels of focus on technology resilience and business
continuity management. Enault has experience providing guidance on regulatory compliance and enabled best practice-adoption maximizing the
effectiveness of the resiliency framework. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in communication arts from California State Polytechnic University
and is a graduate of the Pacic Coast Banking School.
10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
DAY 3
Tuesday, September 9, 2025
DRJ Fall 2025 - Attendee Conference Guide | Page 35 of 47
#DRJFall
BREAKOUT TRACK 4 - SESSION 2
Max Glodde
MEO
Continuity
AJ Kuftic
Expedient
Bridging Silos: Connecting IT DR and BCP Through Business Impact Mapping
IT disaster recovery (IT DR) and business continuity planning (BCP) are often handled separately, leading to misaligned priorities
and inefciencies during disruptions. This session explores how business impact mapping can connect these disciplines, ensuring IT
recovery efforts align directly with business goals.
By mapping dependencies between applications, processes, and key functions, organizations can prioritize recovery efforts and
quantify both nancial and operational impacts. This data-driven approach helps leaders make more informed decisions and allocate
resources effectively.
Many teams struggle to apply these best practices due to limited IT and BC capacity. This session examines how business impact
mapping supports practical decision-making that reects real-world constraints, turning insight into action.
Reframing the traditional concept of recovery time objectives (RTOs) into a more intuitive “criticality” model, enables IT and business
teams to share a common understanding and streamline priorities.
This session offers practical strategies to transform fragmented recovery efforts into a cohesive, scalable framework. With a repeatable process
and quantiable insights, organizations can shift the conversation from abstract risk to actionable outcomes—reducing exposure and driving
resilience.
Key takeaways:
• How to use business impact mapping to align IT DR and BCP with business priorities, even in resource-constrained environments.
• The power of quantifying operational and nancial impacts to strengthen the risk narrative and secure executive buy-in.
• Practical steps to build a repeatable and scalable framework that ensures long-term alignment and resilience.
• How converting RTO into a criticality-based model improves communication between IT, business, and operational teams.
• Why a proactive approach to business impact mapping enables pre-emptive risk management and minimizes future disruptions.
Max Glodde, a chartered nancial analyst and co-founder of MEO Continuity, has more than a decade of experience in risk management and
business continuity. He previously held roles at Accenture, working with Tier 1 investment banks, and at FM Global as a senior business risk
consultant specializing in business impact analysis and continuity planning.
AJ Kuftic is an accomplished technology leader with expertise in product management, digital strategy, and VMware architecture. Currently serving
as eld CTO at Expedient, Kuftic plays a pivotal role in guiding enterprise clients through their IT transformations, leveraging cloud, data center, and
virtualization technologies to enhance operational efciency and business agility.
BREAKOUT TRACK 4 - SESSION 3
Dr. Tara
Jones
Quodammodo
Solutions
From Metrics to Momentum: A Forward-Looking Approach to Traditional Maturity
Models
For years, maturity models have helped organizations take stock of where they stand—and where they’re headed—with their risk,
resilience, and business continuity programs. They’ve served as valuable roadmaps for building and optimizing capabilities over time. In
today’s fast-moving world, those models—while still essential—don’t always keep pace with real-time risk signals or operational shifts.
This session introduces a powerful complement: the predictability dashboard. Think of it as your resilience GPS—a real-time, insight-
driven tool that pulls in early warning indicators, operational data, and readiness metrics to help you sense and respond as conditions
evolve. Rather than offering a static snapshot, it creates a dynamic, living view of your program.
Used alongside your maturity model, a predictability dashboard can:
• Shift your program from compliance-driven to insight-led.
• Bridge the gap between qualitative assessments and measurable performance.
• Enable real-time adaptation through continuous feedback loops.
• Help leaders navigate where resilience is going—not just where it’s been.
Attendees will leave with practical resources, including example dashboard layout, real-world use cases, and a toolkit for integrating this model into
their existing resilience strategy.
Dr. Tara Jones, MBCP, has nearly 20 years of experience in the risk and resilience industry, supporting programs across verticals in improving
their business continuity programs and organizational risk posture. Jones is co-founder and CEO of Quodammodo Solutions. She holds a PhD from
Cornell University.
DAY 3
Tuesday, September 9, 2025
DRJ Fall 2025 - Attendee Conference Guide | Page 36 of 47
#DRJFall
BREAKOUT TRACK 4 - SESSION 4
Brady
Hendrix
Amazon
Building a World-Class Crisis Management Program
Why does a company want a crisis management program? What would that program look like? How would it operate? Building a world-
class crisis management program, regardless of the company, is dependent on the ability to deliver in ve critical capabilities: operational,
planning, training, mission assurance, and leadership.
Join this session to hear about crisis management at Amazon. Learn about the state of the program and how it transformed into a
structured, centralized global program.
Understand why your customers need a crisis management program in the rst place—and how it should shape the kind of people you hire. Learn
about how investing early in the right processes and policies is critical before building out your team and tools.
You’ll also review how to identify and implement the right mechanisms to ensure your team is making effective decisions both during crisis events
and in day-to-day operations. Attendees will see how the training and exercise component of his program evolved over time, and why it’s essential to
continuously re-evaluate what’s most effective for your stakeholders.
Finally, attendees will take home practical insights on how to allocate resources—including headcount, technology, and third-party partners—in a way
that aligns with your program’s goals and customer needs.
Amazon’s leadership principles serve as the foundation of its corporate crisis management program. While there’s no universal model for crisis
management, these principles provide a consistent framework that empowers leaders to make timely, informed decisions. This session highlights how
aligning your program with your organization’s core values can help you build a model that ts your company’s unique needs.
As Amazon’s global lead for crisis management, Brady Hendrix manages a program built from the ground up, consisting of 17 crisis managers
across the globe that support more than 1.5 million employees across more than 50 countries. He previously spent six years as a U.S. Marine Corps
infantry ofcer with two combat deployments, followed by four years as a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt at the oileld service company Schlumberger, in
Houston. He holds a BS from LSU, an MS from the University of Phoenix, and an ABCP certication.
BREAKOUT TRACK 4 - SESSION 5
Doniella
McKoy
Syneos
Health
Risk and Resilience Exchange: A Challenge, An Opportunity and a Current Event
A Challenge - Third-Party Risk & Supply Chain Resilience:
As organizations increasingly rely on external vendors and cloud-based solutions, disruptions in third-party services can have cascading
effects. The goal of this discussion is to explore strategies to mitigate vendor dependencies, strengthen operational resilience, and
ensure continuity even when external partners face disruptions.
An Opportunity - AI & Automation for Crisis Management:
AI-driven solutions are revolutionizing crisis response—from predictive analytics to automated incident management. This topic gives
attendees the change to highlight how organizations can leverage AI and automation to enhance decision-making, streamline crisis
communication, and improve business continuity planning.
A Current Event - Cyber Threats Targeting Critical Infrastructure:
Recent reports indicate a surge in cyberattacks on essential services such as energy grids, water treatment facilities, and nancial systems. This
discussion will examine real-world incidents, lessons learned, and proactive measures organizations can take to safeguard critical infrastructure.
Doniella McKoy is a certied practitioner with global experience spanning over a decade. She has accumulated her experience in both the public
and private sectors, demonstrating her expertise and commitment to the eld. In addition to her current position as business continuity manager -
Americas and academic roles, McKoy runs a monthly global chat online for resilience professionals. This platform fosters a community of practice,
encouraging knowledge exchange and networking among professionals.
BREAKOUT TRACK 4 - SESSION 6
Chris
Chaisson
Applied
Materials
Collaborative Cyber Resiliency: Bridging IT, Cybersecurity, and Business Continuity
In today’s digital landscape, businesses are increasingly vulnerable due to their reliance on a limited number of digital service providers,
creating single points of failure. Conducting cyber-focused business impact analyses help prioritize recovery efforts and ensure swift
response to disruptions. However, achieving effective cyber resiliency requires collaboration between IT, cybersecurity, and business
continuity teams. Join this session to learn practical steps and best practices for safeguarding your digital infrastructure and maintaining
business continuity in the face of cyber threats.
Chris Chaisson is an experienced global business continuity and emergency response professional. He began his career at KPMG
as business continuity consultant, then moved to a supply chain risk management software company which specialized in strengthening
supply chains. For the past seven years, Chaisson has focused on business continuity planning at Applied Materials, where he leads the
push for cyber resiliency, driving initiatives to protect against cyber threats of all types.
11:30 a.m.
EXHIBIT HALL OPENS
DAY 3
Tuesday, September 9, 2025
DRJ Fall 2025 - Attendee Conference Guide | Page 37 of 47
#DRJFall
BREAKOUT TRACK 5 - SESSION 1
Greg
Christian
The Ohio
State
University
Vella Garrett
The Ohio
State
University
Beyond RTO and RPO: Introducing the Recovery Operability Objective
Disaster recovery management is no stranger to change, and DR practices have a noticeable evolution history. We are all familiar
with recovery time objective (RTO) and recovery point objective (RPO) as controls and targets designed to restore application
functionality and data availability within periods of time aligned with business users’ requirements. Both objectives include the
restoration of historical data as a component of the recovery process, with an associated time cost for completion. However, RTO and
RPO miss the opportunity to better serve users relying on an application where the availability of historical data is secondary to the
primary advantage of having the tool available to capture and record current transaction information in real time.
This is where recovery operability objective (ROO) provides value. The ROO is dened as the period of time between the occurrence
of a technology application disruption and the functional return to service of that technology without associated historical data.
Advantages of the ROO include; returning the functional application to use for real time data capture sooner than waiting for backup
data restoration, reducing the volume of data generated by contingency strategies that ultimately requires upload to the primary tool
upon its return to service, and nally, having the opportunity to extend RTO times without impacting the user’s business requirements.
The session will explore the ne points associated with this concept including strategies for integrating the practice into the business
continuity and disaster recovery regimens.
Greg Christian is business continuity program manager at The Ohio State University. Earning his CBCP certication in 2009, he
spent the next 15 years managing and leading business continuity programming in high tech manufacturing and software development
companies in Silicon Valley. He joined OSU in 2024 and is responsible for maturing the BC program across the enterprise, including the main
Columbus campus, ve regional campuses, and the Wexner Medical Center.
Vella Garrett is a proven leader with more than 35 years of experience in telecommunications, medical manufacturing and higher education. She
is currently the business continuity management and enterprise risk management associate director for The Ohio State University. She supports
six campuses and works directly with the chief risk ofcer to verify and validate risk tolerances and ensure mitigation efforts are consistent with the
university’s direction through executive leadership.
BREAKOUT TRACK 5 - SESSION 2
Debbie
Livingston
HelloFresh
Leah
Andrews
HelloFresh
Mark
Armour
Brinks, Inc.
Adewunmi
Atolagbe
Brinks, Inc.
From Fax to Slack: Bridging the Generational & Cultural Divide
In an era where unwritten rules and assumptions shape how we work, today’s teams aren’t just cross-functional, they’re
cross-cultural. Generational and professional subcultures bring distinct values, tools, and communication styles that can either
strengthen or strain your crisis response.
This session unpacks the invisible norms and unspoken tensions that inuence how business continuity, IT, and
cybersecurity teams plan, communicate, and recover. Through real-world insights and honest dialogue, we’ll explore the
cultural dynamics that drive or derail alignment when it matters most.
Come for the stories. Stay for the strategies to bridge the gaps, break down silos, and build a more resilient, connected
organization.
Leah Andrews, MBCP, brings more than 20 years of energy and experience designing holistic people-rst resilience
programs across many industries. From emergency response to cyber, business resilience to crisis management, she
specializes in building scalable strategies that evolve with organizational risk. Andrews has served on the editorial board
of the Journal of Business Continuity & Emergency Management since 2007 and is always open to talk continuity shop,
coffee, or gardening.
Debora Livingston is associate director of corporate security at HelloFresh with responsibility for the 24x7 special operations center, business
resilience, and corporate investigations. With more than 25 years of leadership in federal law enforcement and corporate security. A former ATF
special agent in charge, she specializes in crisis management, investigations, and strategic security planning. Known for fostering public-private
partnerships and leading high-impact teams, Livingston brings a dynamic, mission-focused approach to resilience and risk mitigation.
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
LUNCH
11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
PRODUCT DEMOS
11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
DAY 3
Tuesday, September 9, 2025
DRJ Fall 2025 - Attendee Conference Guide | Page 38 of 47
#DRJFall
Mark Armour is a resilience industry leader with more than 20 years of experience in the eld. He has been instrumental in the implementation
and leadership of several global business continuity and crisis management programs. More importantly, Armour has been directly involved in
corporate response and recovery for hundreds of events, from IT outages and natural disasters to pandemics. Armour is the co-author, with David
Lindstedt, PhD, of the “Adaptive Business Continuity Manifesto” and the “Adaptive Business Continuity: A New Approach.” He has written articles
for several publications, guested on podcasts, and spoken at industry conferences. He is currently the senior director of global resilience at Brink’s,
Incorporated, the worldwide leader in secure logistics and cash management solutions.
Adewunmi Atolagbe is a business resilience analyst with more than three years of experience in the eld. She adheres to the principles of
Adaptive Business Continuity and has played a key role in advancing the business resilience program at Brink’s Incorporated, a global leader in cash
management solutions and secure logistics. In addition to her strategic contributions, Atolagbe provides critical support to her team in managing the
response and recovery efforts for a wide range of operational disruptions and emergency events, including IT and utility outages as well as natural
disasters.
BREAKOUT TRACK 5 - SESSION 3
Jason
Bufngton
Data
Protection
Matters
Five Lessons in Organizational Resilience from the DRJ Community
Earlier in 2025, a survey of 250 business continuity, disaster recovery, and crisis management professionals from the DRJ community
was elded to quantify how resilience initiatives are being adopted across myriad organizations. This session will unpack ve key
learnings related to organizational hierarchy, alignment to business imperatives, how culture and operational values affect IT-DR, BC,
CM initiatives, and more.
This session is from and for the DRJ community, with research data and usable insights not available outside of DRJ.
Jason Bufngton has spent 36 years in the IT disaster recovery space, has been a CBCP since 2003, spoken at multiple DRJ and IT
events over the years, and published in DRJournal and other periodicals. He is the founder of Data Protection Matters (an independent
BC-DR analyst and consulting rm) and his blogs can be found on http://ITDRblog.com. Outside of BC/DR, Bufngton is an active
volunteer leader in Scouting BSA, where “Be Prepared” is their motto too.
BREAKOUT TRACK 5 - SESSION 4
Andy
Lapierre
Frost Bank
We’re Critical - What Do We Do?
Whether you’re in the nancial sector, healthcare, energy, or any other area of critical infrastructure, this session is designed to help you:
• Prepare for disasters by equipping you with the knowledge and tools needed to handle unexpected crises.
• Establish best practices for managing the phases before, during, and after a disaster strikes, ensuring minimal disruption and a
faster recovery.
• Disasters are unpredictable—are you ready for the unexpected?
• Disasters don’t announce themselves, and the impact can be devastating if you’re unprepared.
• This session challenges you to evaluate your current preparedness and asks, “What do you have in place right now?”
We will examine past events, explore strategies, cover testing, review BCP effectiveness, identify weaknesses through audit reviews, identify any
gaps, share proven best practices.
The outcome of the session:
• Leave with a clearer understanding of how to strengthen your organization’s disaster preparedness.
• Gain actionable insights that can be immediately applied to enhance your business continuity plans.
• Build condence in your ability to respond to unforeseen disasters and ensure the resilience of your critical infrastructure.
Andy Lapierre is the senior vice-president and manager of enterprise business resiliency at Frost Bank. In this capacity, he leads initiatives in
business continuity, crisis management, disaster recovery, and life safety. With more than 30 years of experience, Lapierre has played a pivotal role
in emergency and disaster preparedness, response, and recovery. Over the course of his career, he has tackled numerous challenges, including
regional oods, cyber threats, and pandemics.
DAY 3
Tuesday, September 9, 2025
2:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
REFRESHMENT BREAK
DRJ Fall 2025 - Attendee Conference Guide | Page 39 of 47
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BREAKOUT TRACK 5 - SESSION 5
Donna
Speckhard
USAA
Vernon
Williams
Rational
Risk
Digital Dependency: How India’s Digital Disappearance Would Paralyze Global
Technology
In a hyperconnected world, the digital supply chain has become the invisible backbone of global business operations—stretching
across cloud services, code repositories, third-party APIs, and data infrastructure. But what happens when a critical node like India, a
top global provider of IT services and digital labor, goes ofine? This session plunges participants into an interactive scenario where
geopolitical tensions, AI-generated misinformation, and targeted cyberattacks lead to a sudden digital blackout across India. Attendees
will explore cascading impacts to business continuity, including cloud disruptions, software patch delays, remote workforce failures,
and contractual third-party breakdowns. Participants will assess response strategies, test crisis decision-making, and walk away with a
refreshed framework for digital supply chain resilience.
Donna Speckhard is a risk and resilience strategist with a track record of helping organizations navigate disruption, build operational
strength, and foster cultures of adaptivity. With more than 15 years of experience across government, private sector, and nonprot
organizations, Speckhard brings a rare blend of policy uency and on-the-ground execution at USAA.
Vernon Williams is a seasoned leader in corporate crisis management and enterprise risk, with a proven track record of building and
leading robust resilience programs in the nancial and telecom industries. Drawing from a unique background that includes high-pressure strategic
roles and extensive experience managing global operations, Williams has successfully navigated some of the most complex challenges across
corporate, military, and government sectors.
BREAKOUT TRACK 5 - SESSION 6
Lauren
Ayala
LLNL
Bridging Cybersecurity Compliance and Disaster Recovery: Lessons from Framework
Adoption
As organizations implement new cybersecurity frameworks, they often uncover gaps and dependencies that directly impact their
disaster recovery and business continuity strategies. This workshop explores how compliance efforts reveal critical insights into
resilience planning, including overlooked risks, infrastructure vulnerabilities, and operational dependencies.
Through real-world examples and interactive discussions, attendees will learn how to translate compliance ndings into actionable
improvements for DR and BC plans. Key takeaways will include aligning security controls with recovery objectives, integrating
cybersecurity incident response with DR strategies, and leveraging compliance-driven insights to enhance organizational resilience.
This session is ideal for IT leaders, cybersecurity professionals, and business continuity planners looking to optimize their recovery posture while
meeting regulatory and framework requirements.
Key takeaways:
• Identifying gaps and overlaps: Recognize how cybersecurity compliance efforts highlight weaknesses in disaster recovery and business
continuity plans.
• Aligning compliance with DR/BC objectives: Understand how security controls and compliance measures can support, rather than hinder,
effective recovery strategies.
• Integrating incident response with recovery planning: Learn to connect cybersecurity incidents with DR processes for a more seamless
response.
• Building a resilient organization beyond compliance: Explore methods to go beyond regulatory checkboxes and create a truly resilient IT
infrastructure.
• Practical framework for continuous improvement: Develop an approach for iteratively improving DR and BC strategies using compliance
insights.
Lauren Ayala, PMP, CISSP, CCSP, is an IT leader whose work sits at the intersection of usable cybersecurity, disaster recovery, and organizational
psychology. With a master’s degree from UC Berkeley and as a current Ed.D. candidate in organizational change and leadership at USC,
Ayala approaches resilience planning through both a technical and human-centered lens. Her expertise lies in translating complex compliance
requirements into actionable strategies that support continuity, security, and organizational adaptability. Ayala is passionate about using compliance
as a diagnostic tool – revealing hidden infrastructure vulnerabilities, operational dependencies, and behavioral patterns that impact recovery
readiness.
DAY 3
Tuesday, September 9, 2025
2:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
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TUESDAY WORKSHOP 1
Chris Hurst
Crisis24
The One-Person Resilience Team, Supercharged by GenAI: LA Fires, Tari Shocks &
the 2025 Disaster Season
Just three months into 2025, BCM programs have faced Southern California wildres, deadly inland ooding, and an overnight 145%
tariff that scrambled supply chains. These events demonstrate how crises cascade across physical safety, corporate operations, and
COGS. Yet many resilience “teams” are effectively led and operated by a single director of BC or resilience. With the rise of dynamic
risk, what’s the solution for small teams? During this workshop, we’ll explore practical ways to use AI, step-by-step, together.
Focusing on the LA res, ooding, and tariffs, this session will cover what made these events so difcult to manage and a discussion on how
participants used AI during these events.
During the interactive portion, participants will:
• Map the LA wildre perimeter in real time; craft an auto-generated evacuation notice; track personnel check-ins.
• Parse NWS ood warnings and USGS gauge data; predict street-level inundation via LLM reasoning; triage a multi-channel rumor feed;
escalate veried life-safety intel.
• Query a large-language model to re-route components; query bills-of-materials; LLM tags SKUs>10 % China content; calculate landed-cost
deltas; draft an executive brief.
Small teams will ll out a “minimal-viable resilience plan” template, embedding GenAI prompts for risk assessment, situational reporting, and
stakeholder comms. Finally, participants will debrief on how to prove value as a small team, covering speed-to-alert, reduction in noise, and business
impact. Attendees will walk away with:
• Ready-to-reuse GenAI prompt library for BC/DR tasks.
• A playbook for integrating AI outputs into ICS without losing the ability to audit.
• Metrics that translate AI-enabled resilience into board-level ROI amid regulatory, climate, and trade shocks.
This format transforms our spring breakout into a deep-dive workshop, giving attendees the resources to return home as a one-person resilience
powerhouse.
Chris Hurst is vice president, AI & innovation for Crisis24, where he ensures Crisis24’s technology and services anticipate and mitigate dynamic risks
and helps customers strengthen resilience, with a focus on AI. Hurst is a former director of enterprise risk management with Mercy Corps, Army diver,
and project manager for large infrastructure projects with experience in Iraq and Afghanistan. He holds a B.S. from West Point, MBA from Harvard and
MPA/ID from Harvard Kennedy School of Government.
TUESDAY WORKSHOP 2
Melissa
Muniz
Zion
Resiliency
Jamie
Goodloe
Riskonnect,
Inc.
Resilience Roundtable: Peer Insights on Strategy, Operations, and Industry Growth
One of the greatest values of this world-class conference lies in the conversations and learning from one another, but on our own we
may struggle with how to engage and begin those conversations This interactive 2.5-hour workshop is designed for business continuity,
disaster recovery, and crisis management professionals to share their experiences, challenges, and solutions in a dynamic, facilitated
setting.
Attendees will work in small groups to explore real-world strategic and operational challenges such as:
• Gaining executive buy-in and building an executive council.
• Lessons learned from new software implementations and BIAs.
• Recovery strategy documentation and dependency management.
• Crisis communication tools and cyber response integration.
• Measuring success in DR exercises and notication drills.
The session facilitator will provide conversations, the groups will not be left to have awkward staring contents, the facilitators are
experienced in guiding active engagement and knowledge-sharing. Each group will share key takeaways in a quick debrief, allowing
other attendees to gain insights from multiple discussions.
The session will include two full-room debriefs: one at the midpoint, to allow teams to share emerging insights and give the room a chance to
react, challenge, and build on those ideas—and a second at the end, focused on summarizing and highlighting the most powerful takeaways from
the workshop:
• Learn proven strategies from industry peers.
• Discover common pitfalls and innovative solutions.
• Connect with professionals facing similar challenges.
• Candid insights that are easier in the small, honest conversations and interactions.
Jamie Goodloe, MBCP, MBCI, is a lead business continuity consultant in the business continuity and resilience division of Riskonnect. She has worked
in the BC eld for more than 15 years at companies such as Capital One, USAA, and OnSolve. Goodloe has consulted with organizations of varying
DAY 3
Tuesday, September 9, 2025
3:00 p.m.
EXHIBIT HALL CLOSES
DRJ Fall 2025 - Attendee Conference Guide | Page 41 of 47
#DRJFall
size and complexity, hailing from different industries around the world to support the implementation and improvement of business continuity programs,
technical disaster recovery programs, and executive level crisis response programs. Prior to her consulting career, Goodloe was also a program
manager and managed each of these programs herself as well. Her unique background working and consulting in each of these spaces has given her
a great understanding of the interconnectivities of the profession and how the overall programs can further embed into companies to achieve greater
success and adoption.
Melissa Muniz is a dedicated and forward-thinking professional with a proven track record of excellence in disaster recovery and business continuity.
With an extensive background in various industries and tenure in the eld she has excelled in both independent consultancy and corporate roles,
consistently demonstrating strong leadership and adaptability in the face of evolving priorities.
TUESDAY WORKSHOP 3
Alex
Ostrovsky
Fusion Risk
Management
Paul
Lambert
Ripcord
Solutions
Experience Resilience in Action: A Live Scenario-Based Tabletop Session
This unique, interactive tabletop exercise invites conference attendees to step into the heart of a crisis scenario, where decisions
must be made quickly, roles shift unexpectedly, and collaboration is essential. Participants will work together in cross-functional teams
to navigate an evolving disaster situation, explore response strategies, and adapt in real time to emerging developments.
Unlike traditional sessions, this format places you in the action. Rather than observing or leading, you will actively engage with
your peers, test your thinking, and contribute to a shared outcome. It’s an opportunity to experience how others approach challenges,
broaden your perspective, and sharpen your response capabilities in a structured, risk-free environment. This session also serves as a
valuable networking opportunity, fostering dialogue and connection among professionals from across industries.
As the only session of its kind at DRJ Fall 2025, it offers a dynamic and energizing way to network with your peers and colleagues,
blending hands-on learning with peer engagement and insight sharing. No advance preparation is required. Bring your experience, your
perspective, and your willingness to engage.
Alex Ostrovsky has 17 years of experience on the Salesforce platform, with eight focused on operational resilience. He began his career
by launching and selling an e-commerce startup, later consulting in SEO and growth strategy. In 2011, he led Salesforce implementation for
the nation’s largest precious metals buyer. He then joined Discovery Communications to optimize CRM operations. Since 2014, Ostrovsky
has been with Fusion, helping scale the company from 15 to more than 250 employees. He now leads the solutions engineering team. Born
in Kiev and uent in Russian, Ostrovsky is also a proud husband and father.
Paul Lambert leads the training design professionals at Ripcord Solutions, has partnered with hundreds of organizations over the years to develop
thousands of customized training videos specializing in resiliency (such as BC, DR, CM, safety, and security), and obviously loves training!
TUESDAY WORKSHOP 4
Regina
Phelps
EMS
Solutions,
Inc.
Ashleigh
Allison
Noridian
Healthcare
Solutions
Cyber Exercises – How to Prepare for the Worst, Plan for the Best
Ransomware and cyberattacks continue to grow in signicance and scope each year. They affect thousands of organizations, their
customers, and communities worldwide. Many have detailed plans to prevent an attack, but very few have serious plans for how they
will respond to the consequences of a ransomware attack—and even fewer stress-test those plans. After all, it is all about the impact on
the business! How can you prepare for the effects of a ransomware attack? Conduct a cyber exercise! Such exercises force real-time
situation analysis and decision-making, demonstrating what you need in place to cope with the loss of technology.
Learn about an organization whose critical third-party vendor suffered a signicant cyberattack, from which it is still recovering
over a year later! The Change Healthcare hack was a major cyber event that impacted healthcare providers, insurance companies,
pharmacies, and other third-party healthcare services. What should you do if a crucial vendor is down for more than 14 months?
Join this session to discover how to create a realistic cyber exercise that will challenge your entire organization: executives, the crisis
management team, technology staff, and the business. Experts agree on one thing: it is simply a matter of when, not if, it will happen.
Regina Phelps is an internationally recognized thought leader in crisis management, exercise design and pandemic planning. Since
1982, she has provided clients with consultation, exercises and speaking services on ve continents. Phelps founded Emergency
Management & Safety Solutions, a consulting rm. Her areas of expertise include crisis management team development, pandemic
planning and the development of exercises for large global companies. Phelps is the author of four books.
Ashleigh Allison, CBCP, brings over a decade of comprehensive experience across various aspects of resilience. Her expertise
encompasses crisis management, incident management, emergency management, business continuity, and third-party resilience. Allison
holds a master’s degree in emergency management. She also completed the MIT Crisis Management and Business Resilience Short Program. Allison
currently focuses on managing crisis and incident response, business continuity, third-party resilience, and emergency management. As a co-founder
of the Vendor Resilience Networking Group, Allison fosters collaboration among professionals in third-party resilience, promoting the exchange of
best practices. In February 2024, she co-authored the article “Is It Time for A Chief Resilience Ofcer?” with Dr. Steve Goldman and Dianne Stephens,
published by Forbes contributor Mark Nevins.
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6:30 a.m. – 8:00 a.m. .....................................................................Networking Breakfast
7:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. ...................................................................Conference Information Desk
8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. ......................................................................General Session 6
GS-6...................Flowers, Scott .............................................Leading With Resilience – Navigating Crisis, Change, and Uncertainty
with Condence
9:15 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. ...................................................................General Session 7
GS-7 .................Walch, Mathew, Goosman, Lee ....................The ROI of Resilience Investments: Making the Business Case (Advanced)
10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. .................................................................General Session 8
GS-8 .................Carroll, Goldman, Jones, Marling ..................Moving Beyond Our Jobs and Moving Up in Our Careers: What’s Out There?
11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. ...................................................................Grab and Go Boxed Lunch
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2025
DAY 4
AGENDA
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DAY 4
Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2025
AGENDA
NETWORKING BREAKFAST
6:30 a.m. - 8:00 a.m.
CONFERENCE INFORMATION DESK
The Information Desk will be open until 12:00 noon. Stop by for any assistance or with any questions.
7:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
GENERAL SESSION 6
Alfred K.
Flowers, Sr.
US Air Force
(Ret)
S. Nicole
Scott
Devine
Direction,
LLC
Leading With Resilience – Navigating Crisis, Change, and Uncertainty with Condence
In today’s volatile world, business resilience and disaster recovery professionals face increasing disruptions—from cyber threats
and economic uncertainty to natural disasters and global crises. Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Alfred K. Flowers, Sr., provides actionable insights
on leadership under pressure, strategic decision-making, and building a resilient organizational culture that withstands and adapts
to unforeseen challenges. His inspiring stories and practical strategies will empower professionals to cultivate resilience in their
organizations and lead with condence during times of crisis.
Key takeaway points for the audience:
• Lessons from military strategy apply to business: Mission clarity, decentralized decision-making, and strategic redundancy are just
as vital in business as in the military.
• Resilience is built, not bought: Success comes from daily habits, a strong mindset, and the ability to adapt to challenges.
• Resilience is a leadership skill, not just a response plan: Effective resilience is driven by leadership at all levels, not just policies
and procedures.
• Preparedness is power: The best crisis response comes from preparation-organizations must develop and test their resilience
strategies continuously.
• Decisiveness in uncertainty is critical: Leaders must be able to make condent decisions even when faced with incomplete
information.
Major General Alfred K. Flowers, Sr., is the longest-serving airman in U.S. Air Force history, with more than 46 years of service. Enlisting in 1965,
he rose from enlisted ranks to become an ofcer in 1978. He held key roles including deputy assistant secretary for budget and commander of
Second Air Force. He is also the longest-serving African American in U.S. Department of Defense history, retiring on Jan. 1, 2012.
S. Nicole Scott is a global business strategist with more than 20 years of experience in governance, risk management, program management,
business continuity, and crisis management. She bridges government, military and private sector strategy—turning disruption into direction with certied
expertise (MBCI, PMP, CSSGB) and human-centered leadership. Scott has worked with major government sector organizations such as NASA, the U.S.
Department of Defense, and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, as well as private sector titans like Microsoft and NTT Comms. She is the CEO
of Devine Direction, LLC—a consulting company she founded to help empower organizations and individuals to lead with clarity and purpose in today’s
uncertain business environment.
8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
DAY 4
Wednesday, September 10, 2025
GENERAL SESSION 7
Damian
Walch
James
Hardie
Ashley
Goosman
Allstate
Insurance
Shane
Mathew
Stone Risk
Consulting
Terence Lee
Protecht
The ROI of Resilience Investments: Making the Business Case (Advanced)
Building operational resilience is more important than ever — but gaining executive buy-in requires clearly tying resilience
efforts to business outcomes. This panel will explore how to move beyond tactical discussions and frame resilience as a
strategic investment that protects revenue, enhances reputation, reduces risk, and supports long-term growth.
Panelists will share practical strategies for:
• Quantifying the nancial impact of resilience initiatives.
• Aligning resilience programs with broader business and risk goals.
• Communicating resilience ROI in terms that resonate with executives and boards.
• Using regulatory drivers like DORA and SEC rules to strengthen the case.
• Overcoming common objections when seeking funding and support.
Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of how to connect operational resilience to bottom-line value and
position resilience as a competitive advantage.
Damian Walch is a senior director, enterprise risk management and compliance with James Hardie. He has practiced the
discipline of resilience and cyber security for 30 years previously with IBM, Comdisco, T-Systems, and Deloitte.
Shane Mathew is the chief executive ofcer and founder of Stone Risk Consulting (SRC), based in Dallas/Fort Worth. With more than two decades
of experience in business continuity and emergency management, he has developed and led resilience programs for organizations such as UT
Southwestern Medical Center, Baylor Scott & White Health System, Zoom Video Communications, Netix, and Gulfstream. Mathew holds a master’s
degree in public health from the University of North Texas Health Science Center.
With two decades of experience managing crises from natural disasters to terrorism, business continuity and resilience programs, Ashley
Goosman serves as Allstate’s senior enterprise crisis manager and is the founder of DisasterEmpire.com, a blog for resilience professionals.
Terence Lee is Protecht's vice president, North America. He joined Protecht in 2022 to facilitate growth in North America, bringing extensive
experience in governance, risk, compliance, and incident management. Lee has led sales, product, and marketing teams at risk and compliance
software vendors, and is a recognized expert in ERM, vendor risk, business continuity, regulatory change management, and resilience. His passion
for helping organizations evolve their risk practices and demonstrate resilience is a perfect t for the Protecht ERM suite. Lee has spoken at
conferences on risk and resilience topics for more than 12 years, and led sales, pre-sales, and inside sales globally for SaaS vendors. His extensive
knowledge of the risk and compliance market, competitors, and buyer personas have enabled Protecht to rapidly build an NA customer base.
9:15 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
DRJ Fall 2025 - Attendee Conference Guide | Page 44 of 47
#DRJFall
10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
GENERAL SESSION 8
Dr. Steve
Goldman
MIT
Mark Carroll
Boston
University
Cheyene
Marling
Resilience360
Advisory
Dr. Bernard
Jones
St. John’s
University
Moving Beyond Our Jobs and Moving Up in Our Careers: What’s Out There?
In today’s fast-changing business landscape, the demand for skilled business resiliency professionals is rising.
Organizations increasingly recognize the importance of navigating crises, from natural disasters to cyber threats. The
potential for meaningful impact makes business resiliency a compelling career choice. Resiliency provides a holistic view
of operations and insights into how different parts of a business interconnect. For big-picture thinkers who enjoy strategic
planning and cross-functional collaboration, a career in resiliency is both challenging and rewarding.
We can’t be complacent! Lifelong learning ensures alignment with expanding and shifting business priorities, enhances
communication with leadership, and promotes proactive change. More importantly, lifelong learning promotes your job
growth, your career progress, and your personal development. What’s out there for the business resilience professional?
In this dynamic session, a distinguished group of industry and academic professionals discusses the many choices available
to you. They start with a review of industry data and trends. Then they follow up with options: from the accessibility and many
advantages of higher education and advanced degrees to volunteering time to emergency services agencies, teaching at local
universities, taking professional education courses, etc. It’s your career and life; this session will equip resilience professionals
for greater organizational impact and sustained career growth in an increasingly complex world.
Mark Carroll is founder of the graduate ERM program at Boston University. He is a risk, crisis, and recovery professional with more than 25 years
of experience in the eld of business resilience. Carroll launched the rst business continuity program for BIOGEN, built the global Gillette crisis
and continuity program to 150 locations worldwide, and led business continuity globally for Fidelity enterprise operations. He also introduced risk,
emergency management, and recovery management at Income Research and Management.
DAY 4
Wednesday, September 10, 2025
11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
GRAB AND GO BOXED LUNCH
DRJ Fall 2025 - Attendee Conference Guide | Page 45 of 47
#DRJFall
Dr. Steven Goldman is the director of crisis courses at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He is an internationally recognized expert,
practitioner, responder, lecturer, author, and senior consultant in business resilience, crisis management, crisis leadership, and crisis communications
– a rare but dynamic combination of expertise. A former BC program manager, he also provides expert consulting services to organizations and
government agencies worldwide.
Dr. Bernard A. Jones, MBCP, is a certied business continuity, disaster recovery, and emergency management consultant with more than 20 years
of experience reviewing and implementing enterprise business continuity, disaster recovery, and emergency management programs. Jones earned
his doctorate from New Jersey City University in civil security leadership, management, and policy. He serves as an associate professor at St. John’s
University teaching courses in homeland security, BC, and EM.
Cheyene Marling brings more than 25 years of trusted expertise in career coaching, program advisory, and strategic stafng across the full
spectrum of resilience disciplines. Globally, she has empowered professionals to achieve their career goals and partnered with organizations to build
and strengthen resilience programs through peer-driven data, elite consulting referrals, and smart hiring strategies.
The DRJ Academy mission is to unleash your
potential by helping you refine and establish your
strong foundation, using a world-class methodology
like no other. The Academy's BC Primer Course
covers key skills and processes that professionals
need to execute well in order to build the correct
foundation and establish an outcome-focused
business continuity program.
9 Chapters, 32 Sessions, 8+ Hours of learning
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Added Networking Opportunities
Our complimentary Mentor Program
connects seasoned professionals with those
newer to their industry who wish to develop
their careers. While most mentoring
programs provide an introduction and then
leave the rest to you, our structured program
provides milestones that keep you engaged
throughout your mentoring relationship.
DRJ.com/Academy
$449
FURTHER YOUR EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE AT DRJ
BC PRIMER COURSE
Completely free! DRJ.com/Mentor-Program
THE EXTRAORDINARY PRACTITIONER
10-MONTH ACCELERATED LEARNING PATH
BUILDING
RESILIENCY
THROUGH
INNOVATION
DRJ Fall 2025 agenda is packed with engaging, interactive, and
purposeful sessions to give you the skills and tools you need to
put business continuity into practice.
1501 Gaylord Trail
Grapevine, Texas 76051
SAVE $200 REGISTER BY JULY 10, 2025
Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center Register now at
www.drj.com/fall2025
#DRJFall
The largest event
dedicated to managing
risk and resiliency in 2025
100+
Expert
Speakers
Nearly
60
Sessions
&
Workshops
60+
Booths
