Education

Improve your preparedness with educational tools and resources.

Each month, Prepare My Business will host free, educational Webinars. Attend these live, interactive courses and learn more about how to plan your business continuity and disaster recovery strategy. The more you know, the more you can help reduce your business's risk and quickly recover in a disaster situation. Register for our upcoming Webinars by accessing the titles to the right. 

Remember, a good preparedness plan is a living document. Stay informed and update your own plan as you learn new challenges and best practices.

View 2012 Archived Webinars

View 2011 Archived Webinars

View 2010 Archived Webinars

January 15, 2013 at 2:00-3:00 p.m. EST

View the Archived Recording

Join the Small Business Administration and Agility Recovery as we take a look back on the dramatic events and disasters of 2012.  During this event we will highlight stories of survival from the news-making disaster as well as some common isolated events.  From these experiences we will draw out lessons learned with regard to business continuity and disaster recovery strategy.

Topics will include:

• A retrospective of 2012's major events causing business interruptions
• The latest trends in business continuity planning
• Steps and tools your organization needs in order to be prepared
• Actionable ideas that can be implemented today to increase your organization's preparedness

This is the first webinar of 2013 as part of the "Prepare My Business" series co-sponsored by Agility Recovery and the Small Business Administration. This is the 4th consecutive year Agility and the SBA have teamed up to help America's businesses prepare for and recovery from disaster. For more information visit www.preparemybusiness.org.

Crisis Communications: The Keystone of Disaster Recovery Response

February 12, 2013 from 2:00-3:00 p.m. EST

View the Archived Recording

During an emergency, it is imperative that those within your organization know how to communicate effectively.  This includes both internal and external communications.  Join Agility Recovery as we share the steps and best practices for developing your emergency communication strategy.

Topics will include:

• Needs assessment for crisis communication
• Ideal spokesperson characteristics
• Media communications strategies
• Establishing fact sheets and talking points

Preparing for Spring Severe Weather

March 12, 2013 from 2:00-3:00 p.m. EDT

View the Archived Recording

We have all witnessed the devastating effects Mother Nature can cause throughout the year. As we look ahead to Spring, now is the time to prepare for the threats posed by spring storms and floodwaters. Your organization is more than just a place of business to your customers, employees and stakeholders. Your organization is a key aspect of their lives, and one that must be protected. If your organization is affected by adverse weather conditions, how well will you be prepared to serve those who depend on you in their time of need?

Join the SBA and co-sponsor Agility Recovery as we welcome Agility CEO Bob Boyd who will share practical, applicable tips and best practices to mitigate the risks posed by spring weather conditions. These recommended steps and strategies are based on the thousands of successful business recoveries following weather disasters, including those related to flooding, tornadoes and severe storms.

Social Media and Disaster Recovery

April 9, 2013 from 2:00-3:00 p.m. EST

View the Archived Recording

During an emergency, it's imperative that those within your organization know how to communicate effectively.  This need to communicate has led to increasing use of Social Media platforms during recent disasters across the globe.  Join hosts Agility Recovery and the Small Business Administration during this webinar to learn the steps and best practices for developing your organization's strategy for Crisis Communications utilizing Social Media.

During this session, we will welcome noted experts who will address the evolution of Social Media and its use in crisis situations.  They will share best practices and simple steps any organization can take to bolster their Crisis Communications plan to include Social Media as a central element.

Protect Your Business this Hurricane Season

May 28, 2013 from 2:00-3:00 p.m. EDT

Register Here

Join the SBA and Co-Sponsor Agility Recovery as we share the official NOAA National Hurricane Center Forecast for the 2013 Atlantic Hurricane Season, as well as the best methods to prepare your organization for the season.

Noted Tropical Weather forecaster, Dr. Gerry Bell, from the NOAA Climate Prediction Center will share the long range 2013 forecast including details regarding the expected number and severity of storms. Additionally with the start of the 2013 season only days away, the time for preparation is now. Your organization is more than just a place of business to your customers, employees and stakeholders. Your organization is a key aspect of their lives, and one that must be protected. If your organization is affected by a storm, how well will you be prepared to serve those who depend on you in their time of need? Agility's CEO Bob Boyd will share the important steps and best practices for preparing your organization for the threats posed by tropical storm systems.

Leading with Resiliency During a Disaster

June 11, 2013 at 2:00-3:00 p.m. EST

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It has unfortunately become painfully evident in the wake of the disasters of 2011 that human ability to properly lead and direct becomes increasingly impaired during times of disaster.  Our limiting beliefs, and the fears that underlie them, often cloud our judgment and our engagement with reality – resulting in poor decisions and lower performance.  When it comes to leadership, the fear of Failure, Rejection and Betrayal negatively impact our ability to accurately perceive reality and as a result, to lead with resiliency.

Join the co-sponsors for this webinar, the US Small Business Administration Agility Recovery, as we host a discussion led by former FEMA Administrator, Chief David Paulison.  Chief Paulison will draw on his experience of taking over command of FEMA following one of the greatest disasters in American history, Hurricane Katrina, and share his take on the obstacles to proper leadership, and strategies for developing our own capacity to be more resilient as a leader.

Mr. David Paulison is a nationally and internationally recognized leader in emergency and disaster preparedness, response and recovery, having spent over 35 years in emergency management and emergency service.  Chief Paulison is a proven organizational leader who won widespread praise for his restoration of FEMA as a competent, credible agency in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. As Administrator, Paulison was responsible to the President of the United States, the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the American people for stewardship of FEMA's $9.6 billion annual budget, a 16,000 plus member workforce and a mission to prepare for, mitigate, respond to, and recover from domestic disasters and emergencies – whether natural, man-made or acts of terrorism.

The Top 5 Risks for Business Disasters in America

July 9, 2013 at 2:00-3:00 p.m. EST

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Every organization struggles with how to best prepare themselves for disasters.  How to start?  Where to begin?  What threats are the greatest?

Join the SBA and Co-Sponsor Agility Recovery as we explore the top risks to businesses in America.  Though 2011 was a record-breaking year for billion dollar disasters in the US, some of the greatest threats are posed by smaller incidents causing an interruption.  The statistics are overwhelming: according to the Red Cross, 40% percent of businesses do not reopen after a disaster.  And with small to medium-sized businesses being the lifeblood of the American economy, we must protect our operations.  Your organization is more than just a place of business to your customers, employees and stakeholders.  It is a key aspect of their lives, and one that must be protected.

Learn the Top 5 causes of business interruptions from the past year, best practices for mitigating these risks and lessons learned from those businesses that endured the worst case scenarios.

Start Building Your Disaster Recovery Plan TODAY!

August 13, 2013 at 2:00-3:00 p.m. EST

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With so much on the line, business leaders simply cannot afford to overlook the risk disaster pose to their business and your daily operations.  However, simply starting a Disaster Recovery plan can seem overwhelming at first.  But it doesn't have to be.  Join the SBA and co-sponsor Agility Recovery as we discuss simple, effective and efficient ways you can build your resilience as an organization today, with minimal commitment of time and resources. Just a few simple steps can make the difference between giving in to a crisis, and surviving one.  This is a can't miss webinar for any business leader or management team member.

National Preparedness Webinar #1 – Topic TBA

September 4, 2013 at 2:00-3:00 p.m. EST

National Preparedness Webinar #2 – Topic TBA

September 11, 2013 at 2:00-3:00 p.m. EST

National Preparedness Webinar #3 – Topic TBA

September 18, 2013 at 2:00-3:00 p.m. EST

National Preparedness Webinar #4 – Topic TBA

September 25, 2013 at 2:00-3:00 p.m. EST

Winter Weather Preparedness

Tuesday, October 22th, 2:00-3:00 p.m. EDT

Register Here

We have all witnessed the devastating effects Mother Nature can cause throughout the year. Hurricanes, floods, and tornadoes have all ravaged various parts of North America. As we look ahead to the Winter Weather Season, now is the time to prepare for the threats posed by colder temperatures and frozen precipitation. Your organization is more than just a place of business to your customers, employees and stakeholders. Your organization is a key aspect of their lives, and one that must be protected. If your organization is affected by adverse weather conditions, how well will you be prepared to serve those who depend on you in their time of need?

Join the SBA and co-sponsor Agility Recovery as we share the long range winter weather forecast for our nation, as well as practical, applicable tips and best practices to mitigate the risks posed by winter weather.

The Impact of Corporate Preparedness on the Bottom Line

Tuesday, November 12th, 2:00-3:00 p.m. EST

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Most business are operating on limited resources these days. Management may not feel that corporate disaster preparedness is a vital activity. This could be in part due to the physical location of the business or just an "it will never happen to me" attitude. Regardless, this Webinar presented by the SBA and co-sponsor Agility Recovery will review the far-reaching impact of disaster preparedness aside from the ability to recover following any interruption.

Join us to learn how corporate preparedness affects many key financial statements including:

• Balance Sheet
• Profit and Loss Statement
• Income Statement

The Top 10 Most Common Mistakes During a Crisis

Tuesday, December 10th, 2:00-3:00 p.m. EST

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It is one of the most frequently asked questions we receive throughout the entire year of educational presentations: What are the most common mistakes organizations make when confronted by a crisis?  We will share with you details emerging from literally hundreds of disaster events, both large and small, and point out the most common mistakes, and how to avoid them.

Join the Small Business Administration and Agility Recovery as we draw upon hundreds of recoveries throughout the past few years ranging from hurricanes and tornadoes, to building fires and plumbing leaks.  We will address the decisions made, the plans not followed, and the panic-induced mistakes to help you avoid those same situations and lead your organization through a crisis.