Newspaper headlines offer a plethora of examples on the need for a rigorous, responsive security plan for this country’s government, infrastructure and buildings. But terrorism — while a valid and serious concern for the facilities management marketplace — is only one risk to which facility managers must be prepared to respond.
Emergency preparedness has become an essential component within a facilities management department. At the National Facilities Management & Technology (NFM&T) conference, taking place March 20-22 in Baltimore, attendees will have the opportunity to learn how to develop an organizational response to a variety of emergency scenarios. Two highlights of the conference program follow. A list of all NFM&T sessions, which includes the Maintenance Solutions Expo and GreenTech, can be found at NFM&T's Web site.
Avian influenza has generated predictions of a pandemic flu outbreak causing millions of deaths, overburdening health care systems and disrupting the economy. But is such a flu outbreak a certainty, or an overblown threat? A timely general session, offered on the first morning of NFM&T, will address the science of avian flu and help facility executives weigh emergency planning options.
Developed in conjunction with Building Operating Management magazine, and facilitated by senior editor Brandon Lorenz, “Bird Flu: Risk and Response” will take place from 8:00 to 8:50 a.m. on Tuesday, March 20th. The panel will include representatives from both scientific and facility management communities, including Jim Rosenbluth, managing director of crisis management for Cushman & Wakefield. The discussion will help attendees understand the science of bird flu as well as steps for developing a facility’s response to a potential pandemic.
All too often, an unexpected disaster causes a facility executive stress and confusion. Are the facility’s leaders prepared to handle it? Will they be able to recover? Disasters of every shape, size, look and feel happen all the time, affecting businesses, people’s jobs, lives and families, and ultimately, the economy. Business continuity planning has never been more critical than today, regardless of an organization’s size, location or industry. But the creation of a business continuity plan (BCP) can often remain low on the priority of the facility leadership.
On Thursday, March 22, Bob Mellinger, president of Attainium Corp., will lead “The Disaster Experience for Facility Managers” from 8:00 a.m. - noon. This session — which is not for the faint-of-heart — has been designed to put participants in the throes of a real-life disaster situation as it unfolds. Attendees will be asked to make the critical decisions any organization will have to make in the event of a disaster and deal with the consequences of those decisions. Through this process, attendees will gain a better understanding of the importance of planning for a disaster or other business disruption.
Innovating EducationFor the seventh year in a row, thousands of facility professionals from 50 states will converge on Baltimore for the National Facilities Management & Technology Conference/Exposition. Held at the city’s convention center, NFM&T will run from March 20th to the 22nd. The largest show in the industry, NFM&T offers unparalleled educational and networking opportunities, including:
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