I was extremely proud to join with my colleagues today from across the Department of Homeland Security, including the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), as we engage many of our friends in the 2014 Public Private Partnerships Conference. We are meeting with a wide range of public and private sector partners, such as the United States Northern Command and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, to discuss the significant ways we have worked together and how we plan on building on our successes to create a stronger, more resilient, Nation.
The 2014 “Building Resilience through Public-Private Partnerships” conference is a forum that allows for the sharing of ideas, best practices and lessons learned with our partners throughout academia, government, the private sector, and internationally. This year’s conference includes key speeches from Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson, FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate, U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation Executive Vice-President Al Martinez-Fonts Jr., and CEO of the Weather Channel David Kenny.
The discussions over the course of the day and a half, and the relationships that will be forged and strengthened, will go a long way toward ensuring safe, secure and resilient communities where our way of life can thrive.
Over the years, as we’ve faced many challenges from natural disaster or from others who look to harm our Nation, we have found that challenges are best met and handled through partnerships across Federal, state and local governments, the private sector, and non-profit and faith-based organizations.
The 2014 conference is highlighting successful partnerships across the homeland security enterprise and identifies ways to ensure a true unity of effort toward shared goals. Each year, the conference attracts over 450 participants who look to promote innovation in furthering ongoing partnerships across the enterprise. Just a few of the topics of discussion this year include: “The Evolving Threat Environment,” “Bridging the Cyber-Physical Connection,” “Public-Private Partnerships in Action,” and “Business Continuity and Corporate Philanthropy: Why Resilience is Good for the Corporate Will.”
For additional information, visit the 2014 Building Resilience through Public-Private Partnerships Conference page and remember to follow us on Twitter at: #PPPConf