Safeguard Your Business from Disaster

Crisis to Continuity: Safeguard Your Business from Disasters
Virtual education through nglccNY's partnership with Verizon Digital Ready


 

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Event Description

September is National Preparedness Month—a time to reflect on how ready we are for unexpected disasters where we live and work. For small business owners, preparedness is not just a precaution—it's a necessity. With an estimated 25% of small businesses never reopening after a disaster, the stakes are high.

Small businesses are the backbone of our communities and vital to our nation’s prosperity. This webinar will equip you with practical steps to protect your business, minimize disruption, and accelerate recovery in the face of disaster.

Learning Objectives

Learn how to assess your business’s disaster readiness

Discover tools and resources available to support preparedness and recovery

Hear from experts and peers about strategies that work

Whether you're just starting your preparedness journey or looking to strengthen your existing plans, this session will provide valuable insights to help your business stay resilient. Don’t miss this opportunity to safeguard your business and support community resilience.

During the event, you'll gain insights into the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s disaster resilience portfolio and its commitment to supporting small business owners. This includes access to valuable resources like the Readiness for Resiliency (R4R) program, which helps small businesses prepare for disasters and recover quickly. Through R4R, eligible businesses that have taken preparedness steps can receive rapid relief funding of $5,000 following a state emergency order or disaster declaration in their area.



In advance of the webinar, we encourage small business owners to visit the Readiness for Resiliency (R4R) website here to complete Step One of our registration process, the Emergency Preparedness Checklist, and review the program eligibility requirements.





Rob Glenn serves as the Vice President of Global Resilience at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s resilience initiatives, where he leads efforts to connect government and private sector capabilities to enhance national readiness and resilience. Prior to this role, Rob held key leadership positions at FEMA, where he pioneered cross-sector coordination strategies, including the creation of Emergency Support Function #14 in partnership with CISA following the historic 2017 disaster season. He also led the launch of FEMA’s Office of Business, Infrastructure and Integration during the COVID-19 pandemic, overseeing the longest activation of the National Business Emergency Operations Center.

James “Chris” Stallings is the Associate Administrator, Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience, Small Business Administration (SBA). In this role, he leads the agency’s efforts to assist small businesses, homeowners, renters, and communities in recovering from disasters. He improves disaster loan processing efficiency, enhances customer service, and strengthens coordination with federal, state, and local partners to ensure a swift and effective disaster response. Before joining SBA, Stallings served as Director of the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency (GEMA/HS), where he led the state’s response to emergencies, including coordination of nine mass vaccination sites during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jon Shear is the Founder and CEO of ReadyZoneHQ a veteran owned small business based in Hawaii. Over the past 30 years he has worked throughout the U.S. and with a dozen countries and territories on a broad range of planning, training, and exercise efforts to improve preparedness in each community. He has facilitated hundreds of events with emergency responders throughout the world to include a series of workshops for small businesses impacted by the Maui wildfires for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Mityne Lewis is a visionary leader and passionate advocate for early childhood education in North Austin, Chicago. With over 15 years of experience, she is the director and owner of a nationally accredited childcare program, Peas in a Pod Daycare, recognized for its 12-year accreditation and Excelerate Silver quality rating. Mityne holds a Child Development Associate (CDA) certification, Level 4 ECE qualification, and specialized training in Infant and Toddler care, supported by a degree in Child Development with a preschool concentration. She mentors aspiring childcare providers and serves as a field mentor, helping others launch and grow high-quality programs.

Daneese Carter is the CEO of Daneese Tax and Accounting Services LLC, where she leads a team of professionals committed to delivering high-quality financial services to individuals and businesses. With over a decade of experience as a tax accountant, financial analyst, and manager, she founded her firm in 2018 to offer reliable, efficient, and affordable solutions. Daneese holds three master’s degrees in management, information systems, and information technology, equipping her to manage complex financial projects with precision and innovation. Her core competencies include business strategy, financial analysis, budgeting, forecasting, auditing, compliance, and customer service—all grounded in a strong ethical foundation.

Shanique Streete is the Executive Director of Community Resilience at the U.S. Chamber Foundation, where she oversees the economic mobility portfolio and leads the annual International Women’s Day Forum. In her role, she works closely with corporate and public sector partners to advance strategic initiatives focused on economic empowerment and community resilience. Prior to this, Shanique managed the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Corporate Briefing Center and led special projects for the Member Relations team.