In Memory of Lisa Smallwood
December 20, 1961 – June 10, 2026

https://youtu.be/wU23bFp7-FE

It is with profound sadness that we share the passing of ACP member, chapter leader, and resilience professional Lisa Smallwood.

Lisa was a highly respected business continuity, disaster recovery, and resilience practitioner whose career spanned more than three decades. Throughout her remarkable journey, she helped organizations across numerous industries strengthen preparedness, recovery, and operational resilience.

A recognized leader in the profession, Lisa held multiple industry credentials, including MBCP, MBCI, CBCLA, IRCA, and ITIL. She was known as a trusted advisor, auditor, mentor, trainer, and advocate for advancing resilience practices. Her career included leadership roles with Ensono, Truist, HP, Savvis, Charter Communications, Ameren, and Bank of America.

Lisa joined the Association of Continuity Professionals and the Greater Tampa Bay ACP Chapter in January 2014. She most recently served as GTBACP Director of External Relations and represented her chapter nationally through her service on the ACP National Chapter Relations Committee. Her enthusiasm, ideas, and dedication to chapter growth made a lasting impact throughout the ACP community.

Tributes from Friends and Colleagues

Mike Gifford, ACP National Chair, shared:

"Lisa was such a strong leader and consistently demonstrated a willingness to help ACP succeed. She generously shared her time, expertise, and support with both her chapter and the national organization. Lisa will be greatly missed by the ACP community."

Lori Adamo, ACP National Chapter Relations Chair, shared:

"The ACP National Chapter Relations Committee really enjoyed working with Lisa. She was always quick to come up with fresh ideas for our Chapter Leaders' Roundtable meetings and was always there to help. Lisa was also very proud of her daughter, Courtney, and was thrilled when Courtney joined ACP and became part of the continuity profession."

Bob Arnold, President of Disaster Recovery Journal, reflected:

"Over the years, Lisa became not just a colleague in the industry, but a true friend. She was always willing to help, share ideas, and support others however she could. When I think of Lisa, I'll remember her kindness, generosity, sense of humor, and the genuine friendships she built throughout the years."

Polly James, President of the Greater Tampa Bay ACP Chapter, shared:

"Lisa was always ready with thoughtful ideas, constructive feedback, and a willingness to step in and help. She genuinely cared about helping others connect, grow professionally, and become involved in the continuity and resilience profession."

While Lisa's professional accomplishments were many, those who knew her will remember her most for her kindness, generosity, mentorship, and unwavering commitment to helping others. She built genuine friendships throughout the resilience community and touched countless lives along the way.

One of Lisa's final opportunities to serve the profession came at DRJ Spring 2026, where she volunteered at the ACP exhibit booth alongside fellow chapter members. Throughout the conference, professionals frequently arrived at the booth saying, "Lisa sent me." Her enthusiasm for ACP, belief in the value of professional community, and desire to help others connect and grow were evident to everyone she met.

The business continuity and resilience profession has lost a true leader, and ACP has lost a valued friend.

We extend our deepest condolences to her husband, Mike, her daughter, Courtney, and all of her family, friends, colleagues, and fellow resilience professionals who had the privilege of knowing and working with her.

Honoring Lisa's Memory

At the request of her husband, Mike, those wishing to honor Lisa's memory may consider making a donation to one of two organizations that were especially meaningful to her:

Missouri House Rabbit Society https://www.morabbit.org/ – A nonprofit rescue and adoption organization dedicated to providing care, education, and loving homes for rabbits.

Feeding Tampa Bay https://ftb.org/ – A leading hunger-relief organization serving individuals and families throughout the Tampa Bay region.

Rest in peace, Lisa. Your legacy will continue through the professionals you mentored, the programs you strengthened, and the countless lives you touched.

- Gail Moraton

ACP National Board Member

Chapter Development Chair

ACP Connects, Collaborates, and Leads at the Continuity Insights Management Conference

The Association of Continuity Professionals (ACP) recently joined resilience leaders, business continuity practitioners, emergency management professionals, and industry innovators at the Continuity Insights Management Conference — one of the premier events focused on operational resilience and continuity management.

Throughout the conference, ACP members and chapter leaders engaged in important discussions surrounding today’s evolving risk landscape, including cyber threats, severe weather events, workforce resilience, and organizational preparedness. Educational sessions and networking opportunities provided attendees with practical insights, real-world strategies, and valuable professional connections that continue to strengthen the continuity and resilience community.

ACP was proud to have strong representation at the conference, reinforcing the organization’s commitment to supporting professionals at every stage of their careers. Maintaining a presence at nationally recognized events like the Continuity Insights Management Conference helps ACP advocate for the profession while creating meaningful opportunities for members to connect, collaborate, and grow as leaders in the industry.

As organizations continue facing increasingly complex disruptions, the importance of professional collaboration and ongoing education remains critical. ACP’s participation in events like this highlights the value of membership for professionals seeking access to industry knowledge, networking opportunities, and a strong community dedicated to advancing resilience and continuity management.

The Association of Continuity Professionals extends its appreciation to the conference organizers, speakers, sponsors, and attendees who helped make this year’s event a success. We look forward to continuing the conversations and partnerships sparked throughout the conference.

The Association of Continuity Professionals (ACP) is a nonprofit, volunteer-driven organization dedicated to supporting professionals in business continuity, disaster recovery, emergency management, crisis communications, cybersecurity, and operational resilience through education, networking, and professional development.

Our pets are important members of our family, so they need to be included in your family’s emergency plan. At ACP, we have valuable resources and community connections within our chapters to support you. Check out our ACP Pet Photos here – they happily belong to owners who are committed to ACP for support in their careers and personal lives.  

Here are some helpful tips from www.ready.gov to get you started or serve as a reminder as you refresh your plans.  

Make a plan.  

• Have an evacuation plan for your pet. Many public shelters and hotels do not allow pets inside. Know a safe place where you can take your pets before disasters and emergencies happen. 

• Develop a buddy system. Plan with neighbors, friends or relatives to make sure that someone is available to care for or evacuate your pets if you are unable to do so. 

• Have your pet microchipped. Make sure to keep your address and phone number up-to-date and include contact information for an emergency contact outside of your immediate area. 

• Contact your local emergency management office, animal shelter or animal control office to get additional advice and information if you’re unsure how to care for your pet in case of an emergency. 

Build an emergency kit. 

• Food. Keep several days’ supply of food in an airtight, waterproof container. 

• Water. Store a water bowl and several days’ supply of water. 

• Medicine. Keep an extra supply of the medicine your pet takes on a regular basis in a waterproof container. 

• First aid kit. Talk to your veterinarian about what is most appropriate for your pet’s emergency medical needs. 

• Collar with ID tag and a harness or leash. Include a backup leash, collar and ID tag. Have copies of your pet’s registration information and other relevant documents in a waterproof container and available electronically.  

• Traveling bag, crate or sturdy carrier, ideally one for each pet. 

• Grooming items. Pet shampoo, conditioner and other items, in case your pet needs some cleaning up. 

• Sanitation needs. Include pet litter and litter box (if appropriate), newspapers, paper towels, plastic trash bags and household chlorine bleach to provide for your pet’s sanitation needs. 

• A picture of you and your pet together. If you become separated from your pet during an emergency, a picture of you and your pet together will help you document ownership and allow others to assist you in identifying your pet. 

• Familiar items. Put favorite toys, treats or bedding in your kit. Familiar items can help reduce stress for your pet. 

Stay informed. 

• Being prepared and staying informed of current conditions. Here are some ways you can stay informed: 

• Pay attention to wireless emergency alerts for local alerts and warnings sent by state and local public safety officials. 

• Listen to local officials when told to evacuate or shelter in place. 

• Download the FEMA app and get weather alerts from the National Weather Service, for up to five different locations anywhere in the United States. 

• Always bring pets indoors at the first sign or warning of a storm or disaster. 

Winter Ready, Are You? Ensuring Safety and Resilience During Winter Weather

For unlimited access to best practice resources and some of the most talented resiliency professionals in our industry, consider a membership with the Association for Continuity Professionals (ACP). We’ve seen tremendous growth in the risk and resiliency professions and ACP is the perfect partner to accelerate your career. Annual membership fees are highly competitive and provide access to initiatives at both the national and local levels, with 25 chapters (and growing!) throughout the country. Check out www.acp-international.com for more exciting benefits and member recognition opportunities, and contact us at staff@acp-international.com to join today!

As we navigate the tail end of winter, it's still important to keep our business, our employees and our homes safe and ready for any harsh weather that might come our way. From freezing temperatures to snowstorms, winter can throw a lot at us. Here are two handy checklists to help you stay safe and warm.

Winter Weather Checklist for Families Home Preparation: Inspect Heating System: Schedule a professional inspection for your furnace or heat pump. Replace or clean filters if it has been more than 6 months. Check Insulation: Ensure proper insulation around water pipes. Seal any gaps and cracks in windows and doors. Prepare Chimney and Fireplace: Have your chimney cleaned and inspected. Stock up on firewood or alternative heating supplies. Inspect Roof and Gutters: Clean gutters to prevent ice dams. Test Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors: Replace batteries and test all detectors. Stock Emergency Supplies: Flashlights and extra batteries. Non-perishable food and bottled water (enough for at least 3 days). First aid kit and necessary medications. Warm clothing, blankets, and sleeping bags. Battery-powered or hand-crank radio. Extra pet food and supplies, if applicable. Prepare a Winter Car Kit: Ice scraper and snow brush. Jumper cables and tire chains. Blankets, warm clothes, and snacks. Small shovel and kitty litter or sand for traction. Emergency flares or reflectors. Safety Measures: Create a Family Emergency Plan: Establish a meeting place and communication plan. Know How to Shut Off Utilities: Learn how to shut off water, gas, and electricity in case of an emergency. Protect Pipes from Freezing: Insulate exposed pipes. Allow faucets to drip during extreme cold. Open cabinet doors under sinks to allow warm air to circulate. Plan for Power Outages: Have a backup heating source like a generator or portable heater (ensure proper ventilation). Charge all electronic devices and have backup power banks. Winter Weather Checklist for Businesses Business Preparation: Inspect Heating System: Schedule a professional inspection for your HVAC system. Replace or clean filters. Check Insulation: Ensure proper insulation in the building, especially around pipes. Seal any gaps and cracks in windows and doors. Maintain Roof and Gutters: Inspect and repair any damage to the roof. Clean gutters to prevent ice dams. Test Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors: Replace batteries and test all detectors. Stock Emergency Supplies: Flashlights and extra batteries. Non-perishable food and bottled water. First aid kit and necessary medications. Warm clothing and blankets. Battery-powered or hand-crank radio. Snow and ice removal supplies (shovels, salt, sand). Business Continuity: Create an Emergency Response Plan: Develop and communicate a plan for employees in case of severe weather. Establish a communication tree for updates and instructions. Backup Important Data: Ensure all critical business data is backed up and accessible remotely. Test remote access systems for employees to work from home if needed. Review Insurance Coverage: Confirm that your business insurance covers winter weather-related damages. Prepare for Power Outages: Have a backup power source like a generator (ensure proper installation and ventilation). Keep electronic devices charged and have backup power banks.

2024 ACP Chairman's Report.pdf

Weddington joined the ACP in October 2023. Her career aspirations and passions are in the field of resilience and continuity planning. Weddington strongly believes resilience and continuity planning is necessary to strengthen communities and increase their ability to recover from hazards. Her home chapter is ACP DC. Weddington was appointed to the ACP Board of Directors in February 2024 as the Director of Leadership Engagement. In this position Weddington mentors emerging leaders, develops and encourages the implementation of programs and initiatives to attract new people to the field of resilience, as well as collaborate with board members to ensure the success of the ACP DC chapter.

Additionally, Weddington is also involved in the development team of a new ACP Special Interest Group (SIG) for young careerists. The goal of the new Young Careerist SIG is to mentor early career resilience professionals, connect them to resources within the organization, and provide opportunities for networking. Weddington’s membership in ACP has been extremely valuable. As an active member of ACP she has made strong industry connections within our field through the in person meeting at the DRJ Spring conference, joint chapter meetings, and through the online LinkedIn community. There are also many opportunities for continuous learning through webinars, workshops, and special chapter presentations. The ACP also offers scholarship opportunities for active members. Weddington was honored to be selected as one of the DRJ-ACP Spring 2024 scholarship winners.

Currently, Senorajoy “Joy” Weddington is a Resilience Planner for the Maryland Office of Resilience (MOR) within the Maryland Department of Emergency Management (MDEM). Weddington has a Bachelor’s of Science in Emergency Management with a minor in Sociology from Millersville University. She is also an Associate Business Continuity Professional (ABCP) certified by the DRII. 

Wait, It Gets Worse Early Lessons from the Crowdstrike Crisis.pdf

Our 11th Edition Crisis Management Study is Live!

Participate Today to Receive Your Complimentary Report (aggregate report on all study participants) & a Customized Crisis Management Dashboard - Both Coming in September 2024!

(Customized Dashboards are Available by Industry or Organizational Annual Revenues)

 

Participate in Study
       

Please share - a better response enhances our assessment for the profession.

 

Completely confidential. At a minimum, we will need an email address (may be personal) to send the complimentary report and customized dashboard. We do not need your company name.

 

Please ensure that 1 person from your organization who manages Resiliency planning (Business Continuity, Disaster Recovery, or Crisis Management) participates unless multiple individuals manage different programs by business units, processes, or program scope.

 

 

BC Management (powered by Witt O'Brien's) is pleased to announce that our 11th Edition Crisis Management Study is live for participation. This study is globally recognized and will be used to assess how organizations prepare for and respond to different crises in addition to program enhancements coming in the new year. The survey will take approximately 30 minutes to complete.

As a study participant you'll receive data findings on the following:

- Impacts to the business operations and personnel

- Downtime and financial loss by event

- Lessons learned - what was successful and not successful

- Executive involvement and oversight

- Program enhancements to advance resilience management

 

Who should participate?

- Participants must work in Resiliency planning (Business Continuity, Disaster Recovery, Crisis Management, or Crisis Communications).

- Contract/ Fixed term consultants are discouraged from participating unless they are responding exclusively on behalf of one client. If so, the entire study must be completed on behalf of one client.

 

Why participate?

- Study participants will receive a complimentary report of the study findings and a customized Crisis Management dashboard (a peer assessment based on industry or organizational revenues).

- BC Management has been conducting BCM data metrics research/ assessments since 2001.

- The response is immense, driven by the value the results provide.

- The scope is world-wide, due to our extensive contacts and partnerships.

- Completely confidential - We will not retain your email address unless you opt-in.  Your contact information is never shared with external parties.

 

Please direct any questions to info@bcmanagememt.com. If you participated in a previous study, but didn't receive your corresponding complimentary report, please contact info@bcmanagememt.com.

 

Thank you in advance for participating. We look forward to sharing the results.

 

Thank you,

~ Your BC Management & Witt O'Brien's Team

"Hello, fellow members of the ACP! I’m humbled and honored to be part of the ACP Member Spotlight! I serve on our national board as the chair of our newly created Special Interest Group (SIG) initiative. Our SIGs will focus on three industries during 2024: Early Careerists, Healthcare, and Finance/Banking. Forming SIGs facilitates focused collaboration and engagement around areas critical to our industry and the ACP. Please join me on this vital mission, and don’t hesitate to contact me directly if you want to learn more about this initiative and participate in some exciting work! I am also a card-carrying “pracademic” (academic, practitioner, and researcher), constantly diving into topics of interest, including emotional intelligence, business continuity metrics, and racial and ethnic disparities in emergency management. Reach out anytime, and let’s chat!

There is so much to say when asked what the ACP has meant to me over the years. No other professional organization devoted to business continuity demonstrates a true passion for networking, promotes professional development, and actively encourages member engagement. We have no rivals in these areas! For nearly 25 years, I have had the pleasure to serve as a member, chapter leader, and national board member, and I am just as excited today as I was when I joined in 2005. The ACP continues to promote a community of like-minded practitioners, educators, and researchers eager to share knowledge and push us forward as an industry. The ACP has significantly impacted my professional and personal life through all the evolved connections and friendships I have built and nurtured. I take pride in serving as a national board member and am excited about our trajectory as we continue to promote resilience and business continuity best practices in 2024 and beyond!"

The 22^nd Edition Global Compensation Report for Resiliency Professionals highlights how different factors may impact a professional’s earning potential in the Resiliency profession and related disciplines (Business Continuity, Disaster Recovery, Emergency Management, and Crisis Management). The annual study assesses not only years of experience, job titles, degree, and certifications, but also real-world experience and leadership skills. This complimentary report details key findings and trends for both permanently employed professionals as well as contract/temporary/self-employed consultants within the Resilience Management profession on a global basis. This year’s report highlights several trends and insights that remained consistent with 2023, albeit with a slight downturn in the market.  While the report unveils nuances in earning potential and career trajectories, it also serves as a compass navigating through the currents of the job market for Resiliency professionals.

TOP FINDINGS

• Wage Growth: -2.5% Globally (+2.4% USA, +8.1% UK, and +8.4% Canada)
• Global Distribution of Annual Base Compensations: $10,000 - $380,000 USD
• Professionals with an Advanced Degree: 84%
• Respondents who are Certified: 81%
• Changed Jobs in Last Year: 27% (12% New Company)
• Unemployment Rate for BCM Profession: 2%

 

A complimentary copy of this report is available at https://www.wittobriens.com/resources/22nd-edition-global-compensation-report.  Please feel free to download and share with others.

Seeking data tailored to your peer group (by job title or years of expertise)? Confidentially participate in this study (by November 30^th) to unlock your customized dataset.

 

 Tap into this data to benchmark your earning potential and elevate your marketability.