Presentation by Scott Cave, Atlantic Business Continuity Services, at NADO's 2015 Annual Training Conference on October 25, 2015

1. Ten Ways to Engage the Business
Community in Economic Resilience
Scott Cave
Atlantic Business Continuity Services
October 25, 2015

2. Engage Chambers of Commerce
and/or Economic Development
Organizations
#1
• Benefits Chamber/EDO
• Benefits Community
• Provides administrative support
• Portal to business community

3. Chamber of Commerce Examples
• Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce
• Formed a BCP Council with Chamber members
• Organized 14 workshops & seminars, 2006 – 2012
• Partnered with local agencies (County, State)
• Developed Speaker’s Bureau for presentations
• Engaged larger community (CARRI, NetGuard)
•Greater Summerville Chamber of Commerce
• Did not form a committee but focused on topic
• Held annual workshops & seminars past four years
• Completed internal Business Continuity Plan
• Partnered with local agencies (County)

4. Develop Professional Network#2
• Identify business continuity professionals
• Identify related professional associations
• Engage these individuals and groups
• Use their knowledge and experience

5. Find Storytellers#3
• Personal accounts or experiences
• Lessons learned
• Will inspire and motivate others to act
• More than just nameless statistics

6. Create Speaker’s Bureau#4
• Deliver the preparedness message
• Professional associations and groups
• Give them the reasons
• Lead into workshops and other resources

7. Hold Workshops#5
• Tell them how to prepare
• Use personal stories
• Advertise through professional groups
• Free resources available

8. Workshop Lessons Learned
• Both free and paid workshops have been well attended
• Shorter events (morning or half-day) are better
• Food = people in seats
• Overlap with other events when there is a larger audience for a broader
topic
• Qualify all speakers in advance to ensure they can deliver a message
with value that is interesting to audience
• Time events to leverage media coverage (e.g., June 1)
• Develop relationships to best advertise events
• Deliver value to the attendees so they will promote

9. Integrate with Emergency Mgmt.#6
• Connect Business Continuity with local emergency mgmt.
• Private-Public Partnership
• Businesses need to know local gov’t response
• Builds community-wide resilience

10. Publicize through Media#7
• Traditional newspapers, radio, TV
• Social media
• Utility bill inserts
• Become the source for business preparedness

11. Promote through Business Licenses#8
• Inserts in license renewals
• Information in new license applications
• Discounts for Business Continuity Plan???

12. Promote through Fire Inspections#9
• Item on Fire Chief’s checklist
• Hand out brochures, flyers, etc.
• Provide information on events

13. Track Your Progress#10
• Survey the business community
• Measure % of businesses with a plan
• Track over time for improvements

14. Questions?
Scott Cave, CBCP
Principal
Atlantic Business Continuity Services
(843) 879-5025
scave@atlanticprep.com
www.atlanticprep.com