FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information, contact:
Safeguard Iowa Partnership
sip@safeguardiowa.org
515.246.1707
Safeguard Iowa Partnership’s 9th Annual Meeting
Safeguard Iowa Partnership held its 9th Annual Meeting on Wednesday, October 12th at the Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center in Des Moines sponsored by Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management and Wells Fargo and Company. Safeguard Iowa Partnership was created in 2007 to help Iowa’s businesses, government agencies, higher learning institutions, non-profits and others be better equipped and trained to prevent, prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters through the collaboration of private businesses and government agencies at all levels.
The keynote speaker for the meeting was the president and CEO of MidAmerican Energy Company and BHE Renewables, William Fehrman. Mr. Fehrman stressed the importance of developing partnerships between government agencies and businesses prior to disasters, rather than trying to understand each other in the middle of an emergency situation. He also emphasized the importance of companies understanding potential vulnerabilities and dependencies on other organizations so that those gaps can be addressed.
During the annual meeting, companies were recognized for their contributions to helping communities either during disasters or following disasters through the recovery process. At this year’s meeting, Casey’s General Store, Dr. Pepper/Snapple Group, A King’s Throne, Kwik Star, PDI Distribution and Verizon Wireless were all recognized for their contributions to Iowans in crisis situations.
Also recognized were the board of directors for providing direction and leadership for 2016 to the full-time staff and volunteers of Safeguard Iowa Partnership. Board members serve a three-year term once elected. Each year, new board members are elected to fill vacancies left through attrition. This year, new board members chosen were David Hempen - MidAmerican Energy, Jeff McClaran – Wells Fargo and Company, Jim Saunders – Iowa Department of Public Safety, and Jeremy Sroka – Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management.
Safeguard Iowa Partnership is a voluntary coalition of the state’s business and government leaders, who share a commitment to strengthen the state to prevent, prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters through public-private collaboration.
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