WALDORF, Md. -
The Charles County Technology Council (CCTC), along with the Charles County Homeland Security Alliance (CCHSA), the Maryland Small Business Development Center – Southern Region (SBDC-SR) and the Charles County Department of Economic Development (CCEDD) will welcome Mr. Dennis Schrader, Director of the Maryland Governor’s Office of Homeland Security (GOHS) on November 3, 2006, as he presents an update on key Maryland Homeland Security initiatives and strategic priorities. Mr. Schrader, Director of GOHS since 2003, is responsible for the direction and coordination of efforts at all levels of state government including providing services to citizens, finding solutions to ensure public safety, and working to strengthen the linkage between the homeland security activities of federal, state, regional, subdivision, metropolitan and local governments. He will be taking this opportunity to reinforce Maryland’s Homeland Security vision to protect the public through a continuous, cost effective and sustainable State of Readiness that is resistant to foreign and domestic terrorist threats, and to be well prepared for natural disasters.
Mr. Schrader will be joined by local Homeland Security affiliated parties, including the Charles County Homeland Security Alliance, the Charles County Sheriff’s Office and the county’s Department of Health’s Public Health Preparedness and Response Services Division. The Charles County Homeland Security Alliance (CCHSA), represented by Roger Kraus of Applied Techniques Corporation and Chairman of the CCHSA, will talk about the Maryland Virtual Response System (MVERS) program that CCHSA is helping the Sheriff’s Office implement. Captain Michael Wyant and Lieutenant Chris Becker, Commanders of the Sheriff’s Office Support Services Division and Homeland Security and Intelligence Division, respectively, will discuss local law enforcement and emergency management service initiatives. Faye Grillo, with the Charles County Department of Health’s Public Health Preparedness and Response Services, will provide an overview of Pandemic Influenza, its potential impact on the community and how you can take measures to minimize your risk of contracting it. She will also speak about preparing your business for natural disasters.
The event will be held November 3, 2006 from 8:00am – 10:30am at the College of Southern Maryland’s Center for Business and Industry, Room 113. A breakfast buffet will be provided by Chartwell's at the College of Southern Maryland. Registration begins at 8:00am, followed by presentations and discussion until 10:30am.
Reservations are $15.00 per person and can be obtained by calling 1-877-282-5734, or by visiting http://www.TheTechCouncil.net/homeland.asp, where you can pay by credit card.
Carlos M. Montague, CCTC’s Board Chairman, says “This is an excellent opportunity for our community to hear the progress of our State’s Homeland Security initiatives. Our citizens, as well as businesses, will benefit greatly by this experience. We hope to see our local initiatives gain prominence in Maryland as we work to make Charles County a center of excellence for Homeland Security.”
The CCTC is a cooperative alliance dedicated to encourage and promote the use, growth and development of Technology in Charles County and the Southern Maryland region. Some of the programs available for members are monthly lunch & learn forums, quarterly breakfast meetings, business tours, seminars, recognition banquets, technology symposiums, and networking events. To learn more about the CCTC, visit
www.TheTechCouncil.net.