Surviving a Disaster III: Putting It All Together and Preparing for the Inevitable-Writing and Testing a Business Continuity Plan

Eric served at the Federal Emergency Management Agency leading two divisions from 2006 to 2017 in the National Continuity Programs Directorate. Eric was responsible for leading Continuity for Federal, State, territorial, tribal and local governments for the United States. Eric developed Federal policy and requirements, and integrated Federal and non-Federal government programs through joint training and exercises. Eric managed requirements, planning guidance, training, exercises, assessments and operational support to help ensure Federal, State, territorial, tribal, and local governments continue their essential functions under all conditions. Prior to assuming responsibility for division leadership, Eric served in various management positions within the National Continuity Programs Directorate beginning in 2002.

Since 2016, Eric serves as a U.S. Representative to the NATO Civil Preparedness Group providing alliance and bilateral resilience and civil preparedness improvements.

Eric served in FEMA’s recovery operations from 1998 to 2002. He held various management positions in providing federal individual disaster assistance, individual family grant disaster relief in coordination with State governments, cooperative disaster relief with the American Red Cross, and cooperative relief with international organizations worldwide.

Eric began his government service in the U.S. Coast Guard. He is a graduate of the United States Coast Guard Academy and also studied as an exchange student at the United States Military Academy at West Point. His active duty service included six years at sea aboard Coast Guard Cutters and three years on the staff of the First Coast Guard District Commander. Eric served as the Commanding Officer of the Coast Guard Cutter Red Oak from 1991 to 1993. Eric served as an Aide to the First Coast Guard District Commander as well as on his operations staff. After leaving active duty Eric continued to serve in the Coast Guard Reserves, recently retiring after 30 years combined service.

Eric worked in the manufacturing industry from 1993 to 1998. He held several management positions in plastic container manufacturing and quality control including responsibility for the production of over $60 million in annual sales.

Eric holds a Masters of Business Administration Degree from James Madison University and is a Project Management Professional (PMP). He is a Master Continuity Practitioner, Level II. He and his family reside in central Maryland where he is active in several volunteer organizations in his community.

Jim Williams is a Business Continuity Specialist at Sidley Austin, LLP.

George B. Huff, Jr., is the founder of The Continuity Project, LLC, which provides coaching, mentoring and consulting services on emergency preparedness and response, and business continuity management systems for organizations of all types and sizes.

Prior to founding The Continuity Project, George served as Attorney-Advisor for the Space and Facilities Division of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts (AO). George advised the U.S. Judicial Conference’s Committees on Space and Facilities and Judicial Security. In his work with the Judiciary, George also served as a law clerk in the Court of Federal Claims in Washington, D.C., in the Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit in Chicago, and in a variety of legal positions at the AO associated with court management, facilities and security. As a former Deputy Attorney General of Indiana, he is the attorney of record on a number of reported cases. George retired from the Army Reserve after service in various senior-level operational positions.

George’s primary additional duty with the Administrative Office of mthe U.S. Courts was advising the AO's Judiciary Emergency Preparedness Office during more than 35 disaster-related incidents affecting court operations throughout the U.S. He has published cover articles on business continuity and pandemic preparedness in journals of Federal and American Bar Associations. George is a Certified Business Continuity Professional. In addition, he served as the advisor to the Judiciary Emergency Preparedness Program providing guidance and assistance for operational continuity management programs. He participated in the activities of the Interagency Continuity Advisory Group. George conducted continuity exercises for the AO and U.S. courts, and continues to teach business continuity in continuing legal education programs and webinars. George is a graduate of the Park-Tudor School in Indianapolis. He holds an undergraduate degree from Hanover College, attended the Graduate school in Forensic Studies at Indiana University, and the College of Law of Northern Illinois University. As an U.S. Army Reserve officer, George qualified an an airborne-ranger and earned the green beret. He completed the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, the British Territorial Army Command and Staff College, and the Air War College's Associate Program. He was awarded the Legion of Merit and other military decorations. An active member of the bar of the Indiana Supreme Court and a number of federal courts , George serves as a Member of the American Bar Association’s Special Committee on Emergency Response and Preparedness.

Chauntis Jenkins-Floyd is Senior Counsel at Travelers. After following her heart and husband to Georgia in 2016, she founded the Jenkins-Floyd Law Firm. She is a former Partner of Porteous, Hainkel & Johnson Law Firm in New Orleans, Louisiana. Over the past 20 years, she has developed an extensive trial and litigation practice representing national and local corporations in litigation involving insurance coverage, insurance defense, premise liability, merchant/retail liability, product liability, labor and employment, procurement and intellectual property law in state and federal court. She is licensed to practice law in Louisiana and Georgia.

Mrs. Jenkins-Floyd is a native of New Orleans, LA. She is a 1998 graduate of Southern University Law Center and she was a member of Law Review, Vice President of SBA, and President of Women in Law. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Loyola University New Orleans in 1995. She was a Top Ten Honor graduate from Eleanor McMain Magnet Senior High School in 1991.

Mrs. Jenkins-Floyd has been ranked as a top rated Civil Litigation Attorney in New Orleans by Super Lawyers Magazine 2016-19 . In 2012, the Louisiana Supreme Court appointed Mrs. Jenkins-Floyd to serve as Judge Pro Tempore in Division K of Orleans Parish Civil District Court. Mrs. Jenkins-Floyd is a recipient of the SULC 2011 Distinguished Alumnus Award. In 2010, she received the Louisiana State Bar Association President’s Award for her exemplary work as Chair of the Annual Conclave on Diversity in the Profession.

Mrs. Jenkins-Floyd is a leader in the American Bar Association and continues to volunteer with many civic and local bar organizations. Mrs. Jenkins-Floyd remains a frequent speaker at ABA and local bar association conferences regarding substantive, professional development and diversity topics.