ProfNet Experts Available on Paris Agreement, Hurricane Preparedness, More
NEW YORK, June 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Below are experts from the ProfNet network who are available to discuss timely issues in your coverage area.
You can also submit a query to the hundreds of thousands of experts in our network - it's easy and free! Just fill out the query form to get started: http://prn.to/queryform
EXPERT ALERTS
-- Implications of U.S. Withdrawal From Paris Agreement
-- Paris Climate Agreement
-- Paris Climate Accord
-- Facebook's Anti-Terrorism Pledge Invites a Slippery Slope
EXPERT ROUNDUP
-- Hurricane Preparedness (36 experts)
MEDIA JOBS
-- Reporter - Creditflux (London or NY)
-- Business News Reporter - Mergermarket (CA)
-- Funds & MA Correspondent - InfraAmericas (NY)
OTHER NEWS & RESOURCES
-- 11 Environmental News Sites to Watch Now
-- Blogger Events: Top Events to Attend in June
-- Blog Profiles: Summer Fun Blogs
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EXPERT ALERTS:
Implications of U.S. Withdrawal From Paris Agreement
Rachel Krause
Associate Professor, School of Public Affairs & Administration
University of Kansas
Krause is available to discuss implications of the withdrawal from the Paris Agreement and what it means for local governments: "It isn't going to make sub-national action any more difficult than it already would have been -- unless it emboldens conservative states to prohibit their cities from taking action. On the flip-side, committed cities and state governments now feel their efforts are more important than ever, so they might be spurred to additional action."
Krause has co-authored several journal articles on local governance and urban sustainability efforts, including how cities' council election process influenced sustainability initiatives and which factors influence long-term local climate policies.
Contact: George Diepenbrock, gdiepenbrock@ku.edu
Paris Climate Agreement
Ryan Ehrhart, Ph.D.
Lecturer, Environmental Studies Program
Adelphi University, Garden City, N.Y.
"President Trump's assertion that the United States will renegotiate the Paris climate agreement or help organize a new agreement is unrealistic. It would be unlikely that a majority of the countries in the agreement would see a need to renegotiate with the United States. It would be more likely that they would prefer to maintain a strong agreement and wait for a future U.S. presidential administration to re-enter the accord. The Trump administration's decision to pull out of the Paris climate agreement is going to have many negative ramifications. Obviously, slowing down America's transition to a low carbon economy will hasten the worldwide processes of ocean acidification and sea level rise, as well as increase the incidence of storm surge events and climate refugees. Domestically, the United States leaving the Paris climate agreement will have significant economic impacts; despite what President Trump says about job growth in the fossil fuel sector, the real possibility for job growth is in the renewable energy sector. Staying in the agreement would give an incentive for innovation and development of a clean energy grid. Diplomatically, the decision to pull out of the Paris agreement will have significant effects as well. Not only will the United States engender ill will from other countries for worsening environmental conditions, but the perception of the United States as an international leader will diminish."
Website: http://www.adelphi.edu
Contact: Kali Chan, chan@adelphi.edu
Paris Climate Accord
Tiffany Troxler, Ph.D.
Director, Sea Level Solutions Center
Florida International University
"Atmospheric carbon dioxide, a primary greenhouse gas, is at higher concentrations today than since the dawn of human civilization, and higher than in the last 500,000 years. Excessive carbon dioxide heats up our planet by increasing the blanketing effect of our upper atmosphere. This blanket gets thicker and thicker each year. It's essentially a one-way blanket too. Solar energy comes in, but more comes in than goes out of our atmosphere, as if you were filling up a bathtub and had no drain valve. This trapped heat impacts each and every fiber of our society: how long we can enjoy those dog days of summer, how much water our wetlands have to resupply our drinking water, what species can persist where, and the health of our coral reefs, to name a few. A greater reduction in greenhouse gas emissions will increase our chance of avoiding the worst impacts, and in South Florida a critical impact is sea level rise. Increased temperatures of today have already committed us to at least half a foot by 2030 and one-foot sea level rise by 2060. Continued emissions of greenhouse gases at current levels are projected to increase mean sea level by up to nearly three feet by 2060 - and that's if sea level increases in a constant way, without massive ice sheet loss. It is not too late to take action, and it is not too late to mitigate (reduce the impacts of) the most severe consequences of climate change."
Troxler is the director of FIU's Sea Level Solutions Center. She attended COP 21 (Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) meetings leading up to the signing of the agreement, and she served on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's (IPCC's) Task Force on National Greenhouse Gas Inventories as their wetlands expert. Troxler can speak to the approaches the U.S. uses to meet its commitments to the Paris Agreement, including wetlands. Troxler is a wetland ecologist whose research program includes projects in coastal wetland ecosystem and carbon dynamics. She currently leads research on the effects of salinity inundation associated with sea-level rise to assess the impact on the Everglades coastal wetlands.
Sea Level Solutions Center: https://news.fiu.edu/2015/08/sea-level-solutions-center-launches/91610
Contact: Evelyn Perez, esuperez@fiu.edu
Facebook's Anti-Terrorism Pledge Invites a Slippery Slope
Wendy Moe
Professor of Marketing
University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business
[In response to a Facebook executive saying, "We want Facebook to be a hostile environment for terrorists," following the June 3, 2017 London terrorist attacks] "Self-regulation puts social media platforms in a tricky ethical position. On the one hand, they are aiding in the fight against terrorism. On the other hand, they are censoring. When they censor content that promotes terrorism or other criminal activity, this contributes to public welfare. But where do they draw the line? This could easily lead to a slippery slope where these organizations start censoring content that tries to influence the political climate ... if they believe it is in the best interest of public welfare. The decision of what to censor and what not to is important and has far-reaching implications. It should not be made by a small number of executives at a given company."
Moe is director of the Smith School's Master of Science in Marketing Analytics program, co-director of the Smith Analytics Consortium, and author of "Social Media Intelligence."
Bio: https://www.rhsmith.umd.edu/directory/wendy-w-moe
Contact: Greg Muraski, gmuraski@rhsmith.umd.edu
EXPERT ROUNDUP: Hurricane Preparedness (36 experts)
With NOAA expecting a rough hurricane season this year, following are experts from the ProfNet network who are available for interviews on various topics related to hurricane preparedness:
ADA Obligations
Robert Fine
Shareholder; Chair, ADA, Accessibility, Building & Life Safety Codes Practice
Greenberg Traurig LLP
Fine can discuss ADA obligations when rebuilding, as well as how ADA codes affect rebuilding of historic properties. He authored a Greenberg Traurig alert, "Hurricane Matthew's Shift West May Impose Requirements on South Florida Property Owners and Construction Sites" (http://tinyurl.com/ycf2teg7).
Website: http://www.gtlaw.com/People/Robert-S-Fine-Esq-A-I-A
Contact: Elaine Walker, walkere@gtlaw.com
Building Preparation
Michael Thomas
Shareholder; Real Estate, Litigation Practice
Greenberg Traurig LLP
Thomas focuses his practice on construction law and litigation matters. He can discuss what builders can do post-hurricane and to prepare for the next storm.
Website: http://www.gtlaw.com/People/Michael-J-Thomas
Contact: Elaine Walker, walkere@gtlaw.com
Business Risks
Benjamin Collier, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Risk Management, Fox School of Business
Temple University
"Hurricanes and other natural disasters have often caught businesses unprepared. For example, in a recent study, my colleagues and I found that many New York-area businesses weren't insured for the losses created by Sandy. Small businesses and young businesses were especially unlikely to insure and had difficulty accessing credit to finance recovery afterward."
Collier's areas of expertise include hurricane preparedness, climate change risks, flood insurance, disaster risk management of businesses, disaster risk and household finances, Hurricane Sandy, and insurance economics.
Contact: Christopher A. Vito, cvito@temple.edu
Civil Infrastructure Changes and Natural Hazard Assessment/Mitigation
Tracy Kijewski-Correa
Leo E and Patti Ruth Linbeck Collegiate Chair and Associate Professor, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering & Earth Sciences
University of Notre Dame
Kijewski-Correa's research addresses 21st century civil infrastructure challenges. Her interdisciplinary scholarship emphasizes collaborative innovation, sensing, information technologies, and simulation frameworks to create scalable paradigms to enhance the resilience and sustainability of civil infrastructure. A hallmark of these projects and her wider body of scholarship has been the substantial engagement of municipalities, communities of practice and the public-at-large, working extensively in post-disaster planning and recovery following major hurricanes, earthquakes, and tsunamis in the US, Haiti and Southeast Asia.
Contact: Jessica Sieff, jsieff@nd.edu
Construction Defects
Robert Epstein
Shareholder; Co-Chair, National Construction Law Practice
Greenberg Traurig LLP
"All property owners should review their insurance programs to assure that they have the proper coverage in adequate amounts."
Epstein practices in the area of construction law and contracting. He wrote an article in the New Jersey Law Journal about rebuilding New Jersey's infrastructure after Hurricane Sandy, and can speak to similar topics.
Website: http://www.gtlaw.com/People/Robert-C-Epstein
Contact: Sarah Misailidis, misailidiss@gtlaw.com
Construction Litigation
Tim Kolaya
Shareholder; Litigation, Construction Law Practice
Greenberg Traurig LLP
Kolaya can speak to engineering-focused construction litigation issues.
Website: http://www.gtlaw.com/People/Timothy-A-Kolaya
Contact: Elaine Walker, walkere@gtlaw.com
Construction Litigation
Michael G. Murphy
Shareholder; Construction Law Practice
Greenberg Traurig LLP
Murphy can discuss construction litigation, with a focus on builders.
Website: http://www.gtlaw.com/People/Michael-G-Murphy-P-E
Contact: Elaine Walker, walkere@gtlaw.com
Construction Litigation
Chris Barnett
Shareholder; Real Estate, Real Estate Litigation Practice
Greenberg Traurig LLP
Barnett focuses his practice on real estate development and construction matters. He can discuss developer-focused construction litigation issues.
Website: http://www.gtlaw.com/People/Christopher-L-Barnett
Contact: Elaine Walker, walkere@gtlaw.com
Cyber Issues
Alan Sutin
Shareholder; Chair, Technology, Media & Telecommunications Practice; Senior Chair, Global IP-IT Practice
Greenberg Traurig LLP
"Companies sometimes fail to consider the impact of losing their key computer servers and other technology systems following a hurricane or other natural disaster. Reviewing the company's disaster recovery and business continuity plans and making sure they meet the company's current operational and cybersecurity standards will go a long way to avoiding significant business interruption or ongoing liability."
Sutin counsels companies on a wide-range of issues relating to privacy and cybersecurity. He co-authored the Law360 article "Top Tips for Data Breach Readiness and Response," and can discuss data protection issues during and after a hurricane.
Website: http://www.gtlaw.com/People/Alan-N-Sutin
Contact: Sarah Misailidis, misailidiss@gtlaw.com
Disaster Preparedness
Rob DeLeo
Assistant Professor of Global Public Policy
Bentley University
DeLeo is available to discuss elements of disaster preparedness including: the importance of preparedness -- not as a means to an end, but as a critical preventative, money-saving, ongoing process; why families, communities, and policy makers who think of preparedness as an ongoing process will be better positioned to deal with any disaster; the political and psychological barriers to preparedness; and why policy makers and political leaders need to approach disaster preparation with a long-term view, and the benefits this can have.
Bio: https://faculty.bentley.edu/details.asp?uname=rdeleo
Contact: Lauren Mucci, lmucci@inkhouse.com
Disaster-Proofing Your Telecommunications
Bob Ashley
Product Manager
FairPoint Communications
"The consequences of being unprepared for a disaster, especially a major hurricane, can cripple a business. To survive an unforeseen event, companies must include telecommunications when they develop disaster recovery plans. After all, phone communications are the lifeblood of most businesses. Replacing a traditional phone system with a cloud-based solution provides a way to ensure voice communication that will aid in disaster recovery readiness. If a disaster strikes this hurricane season, cloud-based phone systems offer a way to keep business phones ringing even when the unexpected happens."
Ashley, a senior product manager for FairPoint Communications, has held many technical and managerial positions over his 37-year communications career. He has worked for a wide variety of companies, ranging from small family-owned, independent telcos, to industry giants like Contel and GTE. He also possesses a strong background in network engineering, project management, budgeting and product development. Ashley holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Husson University and an Associate's degree in Electrical Technologies from Southern Maine Community College.
Website: http://www.fairpoint.com/home/residential.html
Contact: Matt Ormsbee, matt.ormsbee@porternovelli.com
Document Management
Chris Strammiello
Vice President of Global Alliances & Strategic Marketing
Nuance Communications
"Damage from hurricanes can impact businesses. They harm or destroy office and business records, and disrupt operations through the lost time while dealing with outages. According to the U.S. government, 40 percent of businesses do not reopen after a disaster strikes them, and another 25 percent fail within one year. Turning paper records into digital documents rids an organization of the paper that can be damaged or destroyed during a disaster, or that can become lost in day-to-day work operations."
Bio: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisstrammiello/
Website: https://www.nuance.com
Contact: Matt Ormsbee, matt.ormsbee@porternovelli.com
Document Security
Chris Wong
CEO
LifeSite
Flooding can threaten homes and businesses, but vital documents are also at risk, even if stored in "safe" deposit boxes. When flood prevention infrastructure is inadequate, the damage can be devastating. Most of the 7,000+ families who were forced to evacuate their homes in Louisiana last year due to flooding lost paper records that would have been saved by digital record keeping. Says Wong: "Nothing is more crucial in times of crisis than to have information ready, organized and accessible when you need to act."
A veteran entrepreneur, Wong is CEO of LifeSite, a Silicon Valley company providing secure digital storage solutions. Wong is available to discuss secure digital recordkeeping of medical information and important documents.
Website: http://www.lifesite.co
Contact: Sheri Wachenheim, Sheri.wachenheim@marcusgroup.com
Effect of Coastal Oceans
Andrew Kennedy
Associate Professor, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering & Earth Sciences
University of Notre Dame
Kennedy's research focuses on waves, surge, and currents in the coastal ocean and their effects on human activities. Parts of this work are observational, ranging from the rapid deployment of wave and surge gauges in advance of hurricane landfalls, to the analysis of very large-scale bathymetric lidar datasets to determine morphological changes during large storms. A recent focus correlates observed storm damage to observed and predicted hydrodynamics in coastal regions. Parts of Kennedy's research are theoretical and computational, and deal with water wave theory in shallow and deep water, and in the generation of near-shore circulation by breaking waves. This work has direct application to the prediction of storm waves and water levels, damage, and erosion. Undergraduate, master's, Ph.D. and postdoctoral researchers in the Coastal Hydraulics Lab are currently working on a range of topics. Projects have been funded by the National Science Foundation, Office of Naval Research, Joint Airborne Lidar Technical Center of Expertise, US Geological Survey, the US Army Corps of Engineers, and Florida Sea Grant, among others.
Contact: Jessica Sieff, jsieff@nd.edu
Emergency Communications
Joseph Brady
Director of Business Development
Federal Signal Corporation
"It's about finding that perfect blend of communications taking environment/climate, infrastructure and location all into account. Whether it's communicating through landlines, cellphones, text messaging, public address or intercom systems, to IP-based technologies ranging from email and instant messaging to social networks, emergency managers should define a layered approach with notifications. In fact, these new communications layers have clearly added to the complexity of developing effective, reliable emergency public warning and mass notification strategies. This is because each of these new layers of communication technology must be evaluated in context with a host of human factors relating to the behaviors, perceptions, needs, limitations and cultural differences and eccentricities of individuals, as well as the general population."
Based in North Carolina, Brady is NIMS and ICS-trained and has 10 years of field experience with Federal Signal, providing solutions for indoor and outdoor mass notification systems that have been deployed in cities, universities, commercial and coastline/sea port applications. Prior to Federal Signal, Brady was a 20-year law enforcement veteran, including working with Chicago's Office of Emergency Management and Communications while a member of the Chicago Police Department crime strategy and accountability unit.
Website: http://www.fedsig.com
Contact: Gabriella Churchill, gchurchill@fedsig.com
Emergency Preparedness Plans
Peter Duncanson
Director, Disaster Restoration Business Operations
ServiceMaster Restore
"Whether it's a hurricane or a severe thunderstorm approaching this season, the most important thing that all home and business owners can do to prepare is develop an emergency preparedness plan. This time-saving preparation ahead of inclement weather can help ease a potentially stressful hurricane season."
Duncanson share these simple steps to take ahead of a hurricane or severe storm: 1) Outdoor Precautions: Secure loose outdoor items, such as patio furniture, and put away garden tools and children's toys; board up windows; ensure rain gutters are clear to allow water to flow. 2) Indoor Preparation: Stock up on fresh batteries and emergency supplies, such as water, medication and non-perishable food, flashlights and radios; unplug electronics and elevate furniture and drapes inside the home; store valuables and important documents, like birth certificates and passports, in waterproof containers; create a call tree to provide notice of your safety with family living outside the area; create a photo and/or video inventory of essential possessions including serial numbers, make and model of item. 3) Plan for Post-Storm Repairs: Have information on-hand for professional restoration companies, so if damage occurs it can be minimized in a timely manner (within 24-48 hours of water damage); review your insurance policy to know what's covered and have your policy information easily accessible; restock your emergency supply kit if necessary.
Contact: Bristol Whitcher, bwhitcher@conecomm.com
Employment Issues
David L. Barron
Attorney
Cozen O'Connor
Barron is available to discuss HR-related issues employers need to know when hurricanes and other natural disasters take place, including laws that protect employees who are absent from work during or after a hurricane; paying employees when work sites are closed due to weather; and other wage and hour pitfalls that employers should be aware of following a hurricane or other natural disaster.
Barron focuses his litigation practice on labor and employment law. He assists his clients with all their labor and employment needs, including representing clients at trials involving wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, collective action overtime claims and whistle-blower suits before a variety of state and federal courts. He counsels clients on labor negotiations, elections, strikes, and corporate campaigns by unions; litigates disputes before the National Labor Relations Board, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and Department of Labor; and advises management on various employment issues, including wage and hour, federal contractor compliance, employee terminations, discrimination and harassment claims, drafting and enforcement of noncompete agreements, Sarbanes Oxley, and OSHA matters. He has been quoted on employment law topics by the Houston Business Journal, The Houston Chronicle, Texas Lawyer, MSNBC.com, ABC.com and numerous other newspapers and magazines. He also has appeared as an employment law professional on talk radio and the local CBS and Fox affiliates in Houston.
Bio: https://www.cozen.com/people/bios/barron-david
Contact: Josh Ginsburg, josh@gcomworks.com
Environmental and Water Issues
Kerri Barsh
Shareholder; Co-Chair, National Environmental Practice
Greenberg Traurig LLP
Barsh represents public and private clients on environmental regulatory, permitting and litigation matters. She can discuss environmental and water issues following a hurricane.
Website: http://www.gtlaw.com/People/Kerri-L-Barsh
Contact: Elaine Walker, walkere@gtlaw.com
Environmental Hazards, Insurance Tips
Robert Weitz, CMI
Certified Microbial Investigator and Principal
RTK Environmental Group
Weitz is an environmental inspector and principal of RTK Environmental Group, one of the largest and most trusted independent testing firms in the Northeast. They provide testing for mold, lead, water, soil, asbestos, radon, PCBs, VOCs, indoor air quality, and more. Since they only test and do not do remediation (which is a clear conflict of interest), their results are unbiased and accurate.
Weitz can offer tips on how to prepare for a hurricane, as well as what steps you need to take afterwards to prevent or contain environmental hazards, and protect yourself from dirty contractors and insurance companies after the hurricane. Some topics include: 1) Flooding: What do you do if there is water in the basement? What steps can we take now to minimize damage? If you do flood, what steps should you take right away to avoid a mold outbreak? 2) Leaks: Ceilings, windows, and more may leak during the storm. Place buckets and towels in areas you know tend to leak before it starts. Cleaning your gutters today can help ensure water flows properly during the storm and is directed away from your house. 3) Power Failure and Sump Pumps: If the power goes out, your sump pump will not function unless you have a generator. What can you do?
Website: www.rtkenvironmental.com
Twitter: @AskRTK
Facebook: RTKEnvironmental
Contact: Jennifer Newman Galluzzo, jgalluzzo@harrison-edwardspr.com
Facilities Operations
Chad Kennedy
Industry Standards Manager
Power Equipment for Schneider Electric
Kennedy is available to speak to hurricane preparedness from a facilities and operations perspective. He can offer insights around ways for operations managers to ensure their buildings are fully equipped to withstand flooding from hurricanes. Kennedy understands installations in healthcare, critical power, data center, and redundant control system design, and can offer discussions on protecting the electrical equipment in these facilities from the damage hurricanes may cause. He directly participates in the integration of these electrical system controls into the existing building and life safety control systems.
Contact: Patrick Abberton, patrick.abberton@text100.com
Family, Home and Business Safety
Carol Hanover
Risk Control Field Director
Travelers
"As hurricane season approaches, there are things homeowners can do ahead of time to help keep their families safe, such as preparing a survival kit and planning an evacuation route. When it comes to a survival kit, you'll want to include all the necessary basics: flashlight, first-aid kit, batteries, nonperishable food, medications, baby supplies and pet food, cash (in case ATMs are down) and electronic chargers, such as car chargers, for your phone or flashlight. If a storm is imminent, you'll want to secure all outdoor objects or move them inside, in case of high winds that could turn patio furniture into dangerous, flying debris. Close storm shutters and board up windows and glass doors as needed. If possible, bring in your gas or charcoal grill, but never store propane tanks inside the house or garage; instead, chain them in an upright position to a secure object away from your home."
Hanover is available to discuss: essential criteria for personal and professional hurricane preparedness plans; the best items to have on-hand during a hurricane-themed emergency; how to protect home and business properties during extreme weather disaster; evacuation guidelines and tips; personal and business insurance consideration; and best practices for evaluating property damage in the aftermath of a hurricane. She has been in the insurance industry for 30 years and in her current role since 2014. As regional field director, Hanover is responsible for the management of the commercial insurance risk control staff and service deliverables in the metro NYC, Long Island and Connecticut areas. She has the privilege to work with risk control industry experts to ensure that the highest quality of risk control services is delivered to Travelers customers.
Website: https://www.travelers.com
Contact: Bonnie Paresa, bparesa@prosek.com
Flood Insurance
John Dickson
President
NFS Edge Insurance Agency
"Everyone is at risk of flood -- you're more likely to flood than have a fire over a 30-year mortgage."
Flooding can happen every single day of the year and everywhere in the country -- whether due to weather events, such as hurricanes, heavy rains or snow melt, or due to burst pipes, backed-up sewers and more. In recent years, we had several major, even historic, flooding events, including Hurricane Matthew, that killed thousands of people and destroyed homes and businesses in Louisiana, Texas, Iowa and elsewhere. Dickson can explain what options homeowners have for flood insurance during hurricane season 2017, especially what private policies are available as an alternative to the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). He can lay out details of what the rates are for private policies and what they cover as opposed to the NFIP. Dickson can also explain what changes lie ahead for flood insurance policies in 2017 (rate changes, flood map changes, etc.).
Website: www.nfsedgeinsurance.com
Contact: Astrid Greve Spencer, astrid.greve-spencer@kemperlesnik.com
Flood Insurance
Cynthia DiVincenti
Vice President, Government Programs and Business Quality Assurance
Aon National Flood Services
"Historical flooding events drive reforms. The big focus for the flood insurance industry right now is to make sure Congress reauthorizes the National Flood Insurance Program."
Flooding can happen any day and anywhere. During hurricane season, flood insurance will be vital for millions of property owners. In 2017, the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is at a crossroads: it is set to expire in September and is thus currently up for reauthorization. There is a lot of debate surrounding the reauthorization, and several bills have already been introduced in Congress. DiVincenti can explain all aspects about the NFIP and what they mean to property owners. In addition, FEMA is remapping flood zones, which means some property owners are now no longer required to have flood insurance, while others have higher or even lower rates. DiVincenti can explain all the options property owners have.
Website: https://www.nationalfloodservices.com
Contact: Astrid Greve Spencer, astrid.greve-spencer@kemperlesnik.com
General Preparedness
Homer Bryson
Director
Georgia Emergency Management Agency and Homeland Security (GEMA/HS)
Bryson is available to discuss the preparations citizens should take both before, during and after a hurricane. He was appointed director of GEMA/HS by Governor Nathan Deal in December 2016. Prior to that, Bryson served as commissioner of the Georgia Department of Corrections. He began his career in state government in 1983 as a conservation ranger with the Department of Natural Resources. He continued his DNR career by serving as colonel of the Law Enforcement section and then deputy commissioner before moving to the Department of Corrections. Bryson served as the hurricane coordinator for the Department of Natural Resources while assigned as the DNR Law Enforcement coastal region supervisor. He participated in security planning for the 1996 Olympic Games and the 2004 Group of 8 Economic Summit on Sea Island. He was a supervisor on a 100-officer Georgia state law enforcement detail assigned to assist with recovery efforts in Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina. He has also previously taught Critical Incident Management as an adjunct professional for the Georgia Law Enforcement Command College at Columbus State University.
Website: http://ready.ga.gov/be-informed/hurricanes/
Bio: http://www.gema.ga.gov/Web%20Content/Director%20Bryson%20Bio.pdf
Contact: Kelsey Weiss, kelsey@cookerly.com
Government Preparedness
Joel Vetter
Chief Emergency Support Services
Suffolk County Department of Fire, Rescue and Emergency Services
Vetter can detail tips for hurricane preparedness. He can share best practices he's developed from dealing with past extreme weather like Super Storm Sandy and Snowstorm Nemo.
Website: http://www.suffolkcountyny.gov/Departments/FireRescueandEmergencyServices/FRESPersonnel.aspx
Contact: Emma Walter, ewalter@matternow.com
High-Wind and Flood Safety
Mike Rimoldi
Senior Vice President of Education and Technical Programs
Federal Alliance for Safe Homes
Rimoldi is a high-wind and flood construction expert for the nonprofit Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH), as well as a state certified building contractor, state licensed building plans examiner, International Code Council Certified Building Official, electrical plans examiner, fire inspector, and disaster response inspector with more than 30 years of experience in the construction industry. He has appeared numerous times as an expert on CNN, local television stations and in FLASH's consumer DIY videos.
Bio: http://newsroom.flash.org/company-info/executive-biographies/michael-rimoldi-senior-vice-president-education-and-technical-programs.htm
Contact: Zoe LaPointe, zoe@flash.org
Hurricane Research
Dr. Albert Owino
Director of Meteorological Studies, Weather Center
Western Connecticut State University
Dr. Owino did postdoctoral research on climate variability and change over the Caribbean region and is currently working on hurricane research with the University of the West Indies.
Contact: Paul Steinmetz, steinmetzp@wcsu.edu
Insurance Coverage
John A. Gibbons
Partner and Insurance Coverage Group Vice Practice Group Leader
Blank Rome LLP
"The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecasts an active Atlantic hurricane season. A key piece to any pre-storm preparation is reviewing the insurance that may respond to losses caused by a weather event. Property insurance frequently protects against more than just physical damage to and loss of property. Such insurance also often protects financial losses arising from an inability to conduct business at the same levels as before; the extra expenses incurred in dealing with the effects of a disaster, including money spent to minimize any damage and losses; and the costs incurred in establishing the extent of the losses. Other types of insurance that also may respond include policies for trade disruption, event cancellation, marine cargo and storage, and directors and officers."
Gibbons is a partner in Blank Rome's policyholder-only insurance coverage practice.
Website: www.blankrome.com
Contact: Kate Tavella, tavella@blankrome.com
Insurance Coverage
Jared Zola
Partner, Insurance Coverage Group
Blank Rome LLP
Zola is a partner in Blank Rome's policyholder-only insurance coverage practice. He is available to discuss insurance coverage that may respond to losses caused by a weather event, including policies for trade disruption, event cancellation, marine cargo and storage, and directors and officers.
Website: www.blankrome.com
Contact: Kate Tavella, tavella@blankrome.com
Insurance Issues
Fred Karlinsky
Shareholder; Co-Chair, Insurance Regulatory & Transactions Practice
Greenberg Traurig LLP
Karlinsky focuses his practice regulatory, governmental, and public policy issues relating to insurance, insurers, claims and insurance coverage. He authored the article "Florida Catastrophe Fund Sees Historic $400 Million Surplus," in FORC Quarterly Journal of Insurance Law and Regulation, and can speak to insurance issues in preparation for, during, and after a hurricane.
Website: http://www.gtlaw.com/People/Fred-E-Karlinsky
Contact: Elaine Walker, walkere@gtlaw.com
Landlord/Tenant Issues
Ilene Kobert
Shareholder; Real Estate Practice
Greenberg Traurig LLP
Kobert represents land owners and developers, tenants, buyers and sellers. She can speak to landlord/tenant issues with regard to property damages to a leased space, asking tenants to close for safety, etc.
Website: http://www.gtlaw.com/People/Ilene-K-Kobert
Contact: Elaine Walker, walkere@gtlaw.com
Litigation
William Clayton
Shareholder; Co-Chair, Real Estate Litigation Practice
Greenberg Traurig LLP
Clayton focuses on insurance defense. He won an award of $42.5 million for a developer after Hurricane Wilma, and he can speak to his experience.
Website: http://www.gtlaw.com/People/William-R-Clayton
Contact: Elaine Walker, walkere@gtlaw.com
Preparing Data Centers
Steve Carlini
Senior Director, Data Center Global Solutions
Schneider Electric
Carlini is responsible for developing integrated solutions for Schneider Electric's data center segment, including enterprise and cloud data centers. He is an expert on the foundation layer of data centers, and would be able to speak to preparing data centers from hurricane damage, as well as ways to ensure the Power & Power Distribution, Cooling & Technical Cooling, Rack systems, Physical Security, and DCIM Management solutions continue to operate in the event of a storm.
Contact: Patrick Abberton, patrick.abberton@text100.com
Protecting Electrical Equipment
Christopher Liguori
Global Product Marketing Manager
APC by Schneider Electric
Liguori is responsible for the home and small-office product launch strategy and implementation. He can speak to ways to protect electrical equipment from dangerous hurricane conditions from a home perspective, including safety plans that must be put into place as well as procedures to follow in anticipation of a major storm. He would be happy to speak about protecting backup power supplies, generators for small offices and smaller personal devices during hurricane season.
Contact: Patrick Abberton, patrick.abberton@text100.com
Ripple Effects of Storms
Gregory Hall
Associate Professor of Psychology
Bentley University
Bentley can discuss the ripple effects that storms like hurricanes can have on communities, such as: the mental health repercussions of natural disasters, including everything from intense anxiety and stress to irrational fear and PTSD; the need for a significant policy overhaul for better coordination of services so communities that need resources and training receive them.
Bio: https://faculty.bentley.edu/details.asp?uname=ghall
Contact: Lauren Mucci, lmucci@inkhouse.com
Workforce Management
Joe Fleming
Shareholder; Litigation Practice, Labor & Employment
Greenberg Traurig LLP
"While the hurricane season is approaching and it is of great importance to be prepared, the same concepts of preparation also apply to labor, employment, disability, safety, pandemic, workplace environmental, cybersecurity, climate change, asymmetry in 'technological advances' and other disaster concerns. We are increasingly vulnerable to increasing complexities as our society involves developments that create advantages, which may bring with them new issues. So, it is always 'in season' to be pro-active in programs that prepare us for such problems; and, adopting systems for possible risks may have the upside advantages of being of great value in diminishing exposure to risks."
Fleming is an experienced litigator and labor and employment lawyer who is also familiar with historic properties. He can speak to workforce management and payroll issues during and after a hurricane.
Website: http://www.gtlaw.com/People/Joseph-Z-Fleming
Contact: Elaine Walker, walkere@gtlaw.com
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SOURCE ProfNet
