Bridging the Gap

Episode 17: Empathy and Expertise: Communicating About Radiation Risk

Tue, 16 Sep 2025 16:00:00 -0400

In this "Bridging the Gap" episode, Health Physicist Steve Sugarman teams up with dynamic host Mark Amann—a seasoned pro in strategic communication. Enter the world of radiological risk, tackling tough questions about radiation and learning the fundamental tenets for clear communication when the stakes are high. Discover how we break through confusion to connect with people when it matters most.

Episode Host:

Mark Amann, Chief Products Officer, SummitET; Emergency Management SME

Special Guest:

Steve Sugarman, Vice President and Corporate Health Physicist, SummitET

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© 2025 Summit Exercises and Training LLC – All Rights Reserved

Episode 16: The Evolution and Capabilities of Previstar®: A Journey Through Time

Thu, 28 Aug 2025 13:00:00 -0400

In this episode of "Bridging the Gap," host Adam Montella speaks with Previstar® CPS™ developer and SummitET CTO Himadri Banerjee and SummitET’s CPO Mark Amann about the history and capabilities of Previstar, a software that has played a pivotal role in emergency and incident management for over two decades. Recently acquired by SummitET and backed by their extensive subject matter expertise, Previstar continues to advance with new technology and is poised to remain at the forefront of emergency management solutions.

Episode Host:

Adam Montella, Chief Operations Officer, SummitET; Disaster Management SME

Special Guests:

Himadri Banerjee, Chief Technology Officer, SummitET; Developer of Previstar CPS; Incident Management Tech SME

Mark Amann, Chief Products Officer, SummitET; Emergency Management SME

Episode 15: Japan and U.S. Experts Talk Disaster Management

Thu, 24 Apr 2025 18:00:00 -0400

In April of 2025, SummitET hosted a delegation of disaster management experts from Japan to exchange ideas and strengthen international collaboration in disaster preparedness.

The delegation included experts from the Center for Integrated Disaster Information Research (CIDIR) at the University of Tokyo, the Disaster Prevention Research Institute (DPRI) at Kyoto University, and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism (MLIT).

Ichiro Matsuo, Tomoo Inoue, Himeno Kazuki, Jiro Kakehashi, and Joel Challender discussed with SummitET's Adam Montella the shared disaster management challenges between Florida and Japan, particularly coastal evacuation and storm surge awareness.

The delegation showed interest in Florida’s response to the 2024 hurricanes Helene and Milton, especially in crisis management practices in welfare facilities and hospitals, with plans to implement similar practices in Japan.

Watch the local news story here: https://www.abcactionnews.com/news/local-news/i-team-investigates/i-team-report-seen-7-200-miles-away-sparks-international-visit-and-effort-to-save-lives

IAEM Series Episode 14: The Student Perspective on Emergency Management

Mon, 24 Feb 2025 17:00:00 -0500

In this special IAEM Conference Series episode of Bridging the Gap, SummitET podcast host and former emergency manager Ron Crane meets with Massachusetts Maritime Academy students about their experiences studying and interning in Emergency Management and their perceptions regarding challenges in the field.

Episode Host:

Ron Crane, Associate VP, SummitET; Former Emergency Manager; Firefighter and HAZMAT Technician

Massachusetts Maritime Academy Students and Special Guests:

Kinsley Trout, Logan Smith, Eli Jache, and Katie Dowling

IAEM Series Episode 13: Emergency Management Insights from Kenn Honig

Tue, 18 Feb 2025 13:00:00 -0500

In this special IAEM Conference Series episode of Bridging the Gap, SummitET host Adam Montella is joined by Kenn Honig, a seasoned emergency management consultant with a long career in law enforcement and emergency management at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Join this insightful discussion as they navigate the evolution of emergency management practices, the technological advancements over the decades, and the undeniable importance of personal contacts in the field.

Episode Host:

Adam Montella, Executive VP, SummitET; Former GM of Emergency Mgmt for the Port Authority of NY/NJ; Disaster Management SME

Special Guest:

Kenneth Honig, President of Critical Incident Management and Training, Inc; Senior Manager for Public Safety with the Port Authority of NY/NJ

IAEM Series Episode 12: D.C. Metro Area Emergency Management

Tue, 11 Feb 2025 14:00:00 -0500

Shannon McCrone, TT&E Program Manager with the U.S. House Seargent at Arms and Ron Benedict, Readiness, Response and Resiliency Program Manager with DC Department of Health, share their experiences, challenges, and ideas for improvement in emergency management in the DC metro area.

Episode Host:

Ron Crane, Associate VP, SummitET; Former Emergency Manager; Firefighter & HAZMAT Technician

Guests:

Shannon McCrone, TT&E (Testing, Training, and Exercise) Program Manager with U.S. House Sergeant at Arms

Ron Benedict, Readiness, Response and Resiliency Program Manager with DC Department of Health

IAEM Series Episode 11: Preston Wilson and Dam Safety

Fri, 31 Jan 2025 16:00:00 -0500

In this special IAEM Conference Series episode of Bridging the Gap, host Ron Crane with SummitET is joined by Preston Wilson, CEO of Resilience Solutions Consulting. Prior to this role, Preston was the training manager for FEMA’s National Dam Safety Program, where he was responsible for developing and delivering training on emergency management and dam safety nationwide.

Episode Host:

Ron Crane, Associate VP, SummitET; Former Emergency Manager; Firefighter & HAZMAT Technician

Special Guest:

Preston Wilson, CEO, Resilience Solutions Consulting; Dam Safety Subject Matter Expert

IAEM Series Episode 10: Kansas City Metro Area Emergency Management

Mon, 27 Jan 2025 11:00:00 -0500

In this special IAEM Conference episode of SummitET’s podcast Bridging the Gap, host and former emergency manager Ron Crane sits down with Claire Canaan and Morgan Hunter, emergency managers from the Kansas City metropolitan area. They discuss challenges in the EM field including staffing shortages and communication barriers, as well as the importance of embracing change and innovation.

Episode Host:
Ron Crane, Associate VP, SummitET; Former Emergency Manager; Firefighter & HAZMAT Technician

Special Guests:
Claire Canaan, Emergency Management Director with the City of Belton, MO Morgan Hunter, Emergency Management Planner with Johnson County, KS

IAEM Series Episode 9: Kevin Kupietz with Elizabeth City State University

Tue, 21 Jan 2025 15:00:00 -0500

In this special IAEM series of Bridging the Gap, SummitET host and former emergency manager Ron Crane discusses current challenges and opportunities in Emergency Management education with Elizabeth City State University Professor Kevin Kupietz, PhD. Join us as we learn how students are gaining experience in real time disaster response and how their education may shape the future of the field.

Episode Host: Ron Crane, Associate VP, SummitET; Firefighter; HAZMAT Technician; Emergency Management SME

Special Guest: Kevin Kupietz, PhD, EFO; Emergency Management Professor and Chair of the Department of Aviation and Emergency Management at Elizabeth City State University

IAEM Series Episode 8: Jeremy Urekew and Garner Environmental

Fri, 10 Jan 2025 16:00:00 -0500

In this special IAEM Conference Series episode of Bridging the Gap, SummitET former emergency manager and host, Ron Crane, meets with Jeremy Urekew of Garner Environmental, a disaster response company specializing in flood control and incident management. Jeremy, with over 25 years in the public sector, highlights the importance of public-private collaboration for disaster response and advises new emergency managers on solutions to gaining practical experience and qualifications in the field.

Episode Host: Ron Crane, Associate VP, SummitET; Firefighter; HAZMAT Technician; Emergency Management SME

Special Guest: Jeremy Urekew, Senior Project Manager, Garner Environmental Services, Inc; HAZMAT Technician, Former Emergency Manager, CBRNE SME

IAEM Series Episode 7: The DHS Community Lifeline Status System with Hal Grieb

Mon, 06 Jan 2025 11:00:00 -0500

In this special IAEM Conference Series episode of Bridging the Gap, SummitET experts discuss the Community Lifeline Status System Project with Hal Grieb of G&H International Services. This software reporting tool is developed for the DHS to operationalize FEMA’s Community Lifelines construct and provides a data-driven framework to help emergency managers assess and report on critical services during disasters, ensuring effective resource allocation. It has been developed with input from over 220 agencies to cater to the specific needs of different communities, and it is set to be released for free to all state, local tribes, and territories in April 2025.

Listen and learn more about how to gain access to the Community Lifelines Status System tool.

Episode Host:

Adam Montella: Executive VP, SummitET; Former GM of Emergency Mgmt for the NY & NJ Port Authority; Disaster Management SME

Special Guests:

Hal Grieb: Director of Delivery & Project Management, G&H International; Former Emergency Management Director, Jefferson County, CO

Ron Crane: Associate VP, SummitET; Firefighter; HAZMAT Technician; Emergency Management SME

Episode 6: Preparing Organizations for Natural Disasters

Tue, 18 Jun 2024 15:00:00 -0400

In this episode of “Bridging the Gap,” disaster preparedness experts discuss business continuity planning for natural disasters, emphasizing the importance of including all stakeholders, from employees to the CEO, as well as local and federal government.

Business continuity helps businesses maintain operations during disruptions like natural disasters, cyber attacks, or power outages. It ensures minimal downtime and continued service delivery. Business continuity planning (BCP) is crucial and should cover all processes, assets, and personnel, with plans developed in advance involving key stakeholders.

Episode Host:
Kevin Quigley, CBRNE Subject Matter Expert and Retired Marine Corps CBRNE Defense Officer

Special Guests:
Dan Noah, Former Chief Meteorologist for the National Weather Service, retired after 35 years of service; Florida Professional Emergency Manager; Member of the Florida Governor’s Hurricane Conference Program Committee

Adam Montella – Disaster Management Subject Matter Expert; 38 years in Disaster Preparedness, including Red Cross State Disaster Director of Florida, ESF 6 Lead for FEMA, and Former GM of Emergency Management for the NY & NJ Port Authority

Episode 5: Crises Create Crises: the IDEA Model and Higher Education

Fri, 17 May 2024 11:00:00 -0400

This is the second part of a series focused on strategic communication for higher education: sensitive and controversial issues.

In this episode, special guests and internationally recognized scholars of risk and crisis communication Deanna Sellnow, Ph.D. and Tim Sellnow, Ph.D. discuss how effective and simple strategic communication is central to reducing harm and saving lives in the face of a crisis. They also address how communicators and decision-makers at higher education institutions can apply the IDEA Model for Effective Instructional Risk and Crisis Communication to their communication strategy to ensure the plan is easy to understand, remember, and employ, particularly in advance of, during, and after a crisis.

Episode Hosts:
Holly Hardin, Former Comms Analyst for DOE/ NNSA Enterprise & Emergency Management Lead at ORISE

Ron Edmond, Ed.D., Former Acting Director of ORISE Emergency Management Lab & Crisis Communication Subject Matter Expert

Special Guests:

Dr. Deanna Sellnow and Dr. Tim Sellnow are internationally recognized scholars of risk and crisis communication. They have worked with agencies including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, World Health Organization, United States Department of Agriculture, United States Department of Homeland Security, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and others to build theory and best practices for effective crisis and crisis planning, response, and recovery. They have published many articles and books that contribute to theory building and instruction for effective risk and crisis communication.

Episode 4: Strategic Communications for Higher Education: Sensitive and Controversial Issues

Wed, 06 Mar 2024 14:00:00 -0500

In Episode 4 of Bridging the Gap, Host Adam Montella speaks with SummitET's team of Strategic Communications experts about crisis communications fundamentals that higher education institutions can incorporate when addressing controversial and sensitive issues with their stakeholders.

This episode features the following SummitET subject matter experts:

Mark Basnight, Vice President of Strategic Communications and Incident Response
Mark is Former Co-Director and Communications Analyst for the Public Affairs Science and Technology (PAST) Fusion Cell at Argonne National Laboratory. He is also a retired Master Public Information Officer (MPIO) for the Charlotte Fire Department and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Emergency Management Office.

Holly Hardin, Director of Strategic Communications
Holly holds an M.S. in Adult Education and served as a former Communications Analyst for the DOE/NNSA Enterprise, Emergency Management Team Lead for Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE), and former Co-Director of the Public Affairs Science and Technology (PAST) Fusion Cell at Argonne National Laboratory.

Ron Edmond, Ed.D., Crisis Communication SME
Ron is former Acting Director for the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) Emergency Management Laboratory and is a former guest lecturer at Rutgers University Leadership Academy and Crisis Communication instructor at Lee University.

Adam Montella, Senior Vice President
Adam is the Former General Manager of Emergency Management for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and ESF-6 Lead for the FEMA Emergency Support Team - National. He was also the On-Camera Disaster and Crisis Management SME on the Discovery Channel series, THE COLONY. Adam is on the Public Safety Curriculum Review Board for the American Public University System and the Program Advisory Panel for Embry Riddle Aeronautical University.

Ep. 3 - PART 1: Improving Exercise Design and Evaluation; the XF Score (TM)

Thu, 25 Jan 2024 14:00:00 -0500

Is your organization better prepared today after completing a tabletop exercise or training? How did the experience better position you to face a threat or hazard?

If it is difficult to answer these questions, how do you know the exercise was an effective use of time and resources?

In Part 1 of Episode 3 of Bridging the Gap, preparedness experts introduce you to the XF ScoreTM; a rubric for analyzing the effectiveness of tabletop exercises and trainings for crises.

The creators of the XF ScoreTM speak with Pete Gaynor, former DHS Acting Secretary and former FEMA Administrator, about how this new evaluation tool allows for a better outcome than the Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program, or HSEEP. Created by FEMA, HSEEP provides a set of principles for evaluating exercise programs. The XF ScoreTM helps to prove whether your agency is more prepared because of the training and allows you to address weaknesses in a revised training plan.

Stay tuned for Part 2 of this podcast episode: once you’ve collected data from your training or exercise evaluation, how do you interpret and utilize it to strengthen future plans?