Dr. Sharon Davis, chief business continuity officer at Dallas College, said, “[This summit] is a unique opportunity to hear and speak with experts in both the public and private sectors about their actual experiences in preparedness, response and recovery.”
Media Contact: Debra Dennis;
DDennis@DallasCollege.edu
For immediate release — June 1, 2023
(DALLAS) — Schools are no longer immune to violent disruptions that can have an enduring negative impact on students, staff and leaders, as well as the communities they serve — a fact that requires comprehensive planning, emergency management and regular drills by institutions at risk of being struck by disaster, be it natural or human-made.
To share resources, spread awareness and build bridges among institutional partners, Dallas College is hosting “Be Aware and Prepare: Business Continuity and Safety Summit.” The event takes place from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Friday, June 9, in the Performance Hall at Dallas College Mountain View Campus, 4849 W. Illinois Ave., Dallas.
The event offers myriad resources and strategies that will give professional leaders from colleges, public schools, government entities, businesses and industries critical opportunities to better prepare for business interruptions like shootings or medical emergencies, said Dr. Sharon Davis, chief business continuity officer at Dallas College.
The event is free and will include sessions on the dangers associated with cybersecurity, active shooter warnings, layoffs and mental health challenges that often follow a catastrophic event.
“This is a unique opportunity to hear and speak with experts in both the public and private sectors about their actual experiences in preparedness, response and recovery — before, during and after a business interruption,” Dr. Davis said. “It’s our responsibility to ensure that we are better prepared, but we also want to make sure that others around us are also prepared. The summit is our way of helping ensure our community is trained and ready to make it through an interruption safely and in a way that doesn’t cause harm.”
Participants will learn how to create an emergency response team, recognize warning signs before a potential shooting and follow any interruption with mental health resources. Emotional and psychological damage can last a lifetime, and the sessions on mental health will help teams focus on managing their workers while going through a crisis.
George Brauchler, former district attorney for the 18th Judicial District in Colorado, will deliver the keynote address. He handled felony cases from three high-profile mass shootings: Columbine High School (1999), Aurora Theater (Batman) (2012) and STEM Academy School (2019). He has also served as an adjunct professor at the University of Colorado School of Law, University of Denver College of Law and the U.S. Army JAG School and has trained state, military and international prosecutors across the United States and worldwide.
A series of breakout sessions are scheduled, including one headed by Bob Mong, president of the University of North Texas at Dallas. He will facilitate a discussion on the importance of keeping students safe amid a crisis.
“Campus safety is top of mind for any leader,” Mong said. “Those leaders are best served by acquiring a command of best practice safety procedures and instilling those habits in the campus culture. The commitment can’t be just one and done. It must be built-in so that there exists an evolving devotion to safety and security for all campus constituencies.”
For more information, please visit
Business Continuity Summit – Dallas College.
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