Presentation:

Level: Experienced    Topic Area: Emerging Trends, Innovative Ideas

"Managing and Communicating Change During Extreme Events: The Challenges and Opportunities"

In today's world, unexpected natural and technological disasters and the ongoing threat of terrorism have become commonplace. Understanding how change management principles and practices can be applied in the first hours, even minutes, of such extreme events could mean the very real difference between lives saved or lives lost.

For our presentation, we will discuss the emerging trend of how change management principles and practices can (or cannot) be applied before, during, and after extreme events. We will base the presentation on a recent study conducted by Booz Allen Hamilton, which included interviews of experts from government, academic, and commercial sectors. We will share with conference attendees innovative insights from our study on how change management best practices can be applied to a range of issues, including defining change during extreme events; optimizing change and communications; leveraging extreme events for change initiatives; engaging stakeholders; extreme events, change, and social media; building organizational capacity; correlating behaviors and actions; measuring success and ultimate outcomes; and learning from change. National thought leaders for the study included: Dan Hanfling, M.D., Special Advisor, Emergency Preparedness and Response, Inova Health System and clinical professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, George Washington University; Brooks Holtom, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Management, McDonough School of Business, Georgetown University; Estrella Gonzales, Deputy Program Manager; Change Management and Implementation Lead, Federal Aviation Administration; Michael Gresalfi, Ph.D., Senior Advisor, Planning Division-Response Directorate, Federal Emergency Management Agency, U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security, Terence Mandable, Principal, Strategic Communications, Booz Allen Hamilton, and Certified Change Management Practitioner; and Katherine Rowan, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Communication, George Mason University.

Key Takeaways:

1. How organizations can use and adapt change management principles before, during and after crisis

2. How organizations can leverage crises to increase the immediacy and relevancy for change initiatives

3. What internal and external communication methods can leaders use to engage affected audiences

4. How change management principles can be used to influence decisions, behaviors and actions

Terence Mandable: Terry Mandable is a Principal with Booz Allen Hamilton on the Strategy and Organization team where he manages the firm's strategic communications work across civil government agencies. In this role, he works as a Change Management professional with more than 15 years of experience in addressing the unique challenges associated with the implementation of large-scale information technology solutions.

Terry has created strategic change management, communication, and training approaches to assist organizations and programs in reaching their objectives and led numerous change management programs that integrate organizational focuses on communication, training, workforce planning and business process reengineering to achieve buy-in and ownership for change. Additionally, he has led programs focusing on stakeholder relationship management and outreach, helping clients market key initiatives through stakeholder analysis, partnerships and targeted outreach programs.

Amie Hornbaker: Amie Hornbaker is accredited in public relations (APR) and an associate with Booz Allen Hamilton. She specializes in health-focused strategic communications planning and media relations. Prior to joining Booz Allen, she led the communications efforts at the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA). During her time there, she introduced several firsts, including a strategic approach to communications planning, in-house media training, a long-term partnership with Prevention magazine and a social media presence. As a result of taking a strategic approach, she has won numerous awards for integrated marketing initiatives, such as diabetes awareness and walking campaigns. Prior to entering the healthcare arena, she practiced integrated marketing at several boutique advertising and public relations agencies in Florida and D.C. After graduating from the University of Florida's School of Journalism, she wore several hats as a television reporter, producer and anchor in Dothan, Ala. and Tampa, Fla. Today, she resides in Virginia with her husband and two young children.