Bridging the Gap

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 matte...

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 exper...

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...

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 ...

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 advance...

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 G...

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,...

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 H...

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.  Epi...

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...

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...

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 m...

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...

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 Strategi...

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 Score TM; a rubric for ana...