ACP Chapter of the Year 2024

Building Resiliency through Engagement in North Texas

Welcome to the North Texas Chapter of the Association of Continuity Professionals (ACP). ACP is a non-profit professional organization, which provides a forum for the exchange of experiences and information, for business continuity professionals, throughout a network of local chapters.

Founded in March of 1986, the North Texas Chapter is one of the oldest continuously meeting chapters, and among the largest by membership, serving the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex and surrounding region.

Events are generally held on the first Tuesday of every month but may vary due to holidays or speaker schedules. Events are for current members and invited guests only.  If you aren't a member but want to attend one of our events, please contact us or consider joining the chapter.  

Our Chapter President, Joel Navarro featured in the Employee Safety Podcast

          Podcast link  - A Collaborative Approach to Better Business Continuity

Member Call to Action - Join the Holiday Committee

Help plan the biggest chapter event of the year!  Click the link below to join the Holiday Committee.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E4AAFAC22A6FCC70-2023#/

If you aren't able to join the Holiday Committee, there is another way you can contribute to make the holiday luncheon a success.  We are always looking for gifts and donations for the Holiday Luncheon raffle.  Does your company have any swag or gift items, branded or not?  We would love to have them as a raffle gift!  All gifts are appreciated, no matter how big or small and we will recognize the donor/company during the event.

Upcoming Chapter Event 

October 21, 2025 (Special Date - Members-only event)

Topics:  Supply Chain Resilience - Challenges and Opportunities

Presenter:  Selma Coutinho

Location: Ericsson North America Headquarters

Address:  6300 Legacy Drive, Plano, TX 75024

Lunch:  Boxed lunch will be available

Chapter Event Information

Our events are 90-minutes.  Please join us for our next event!  Events (unless indicated) are also available to attend virtually.  However, we invite you to attend in person if possible.  Virtual event information will be provided with each event invitation.

Anyone interested in hosting an event or speaking at an upcoming event, please contact our Programs Director or President.

Note: Additional information for regular event locations can be found on the Events page.

President's Address

Hello ACP Members,

When the Unexpected Knocks

October reminds us that not all surprises come in fun spirited costumes. In business continuity, the “unknown visitor at the door” may be a cyberattack, a sudden storm, or a critical vendor failure. Much like Halloween when you run out of candy before the trick or treaters are all home again or mischievous ghouls and goblins decide they don’t link your jack o lantern display, resilience is about preparing for the unexpected—knowing that something disruptive may appear without warning, and being ready to respond.

This month is also Cybersecurity Awareness Month, and it’s an ideal time to strengthen defenses before threats creep in. Organizations should take the opportunity to rehearse their cyber incident response plans, validate backup and recovery processes, and refresh employee awareness training. A small effort now can prevent a truly frightening disruption later. 

And don’t forget that seasonal risks are also close at hand. Hurricanes and wildfires continue to challenge communities, and these natural hazards serve as reminders that outdated contact lists or untested communication systems can quickly turn a disruption into a nightmare. Proactive checks of vendor preparedness, succession plans, and alternate work arrangements ensure that no single failure becomes the ghost in the machine.

The upcoming holiday season also adds its own pressures, with higher customer demand and thinner staffing. Preparing for these dynamics requires foresight: cross-training staff, confirming remote work readiness, and making sure leadership transitions are seamless if key personnel are unavailable. Even training exercises can draw on the spooky season. A “trick or treat” simulation where teams face surprise “tricks” (disruptions) like a zombie apocalypse or ghosting third party vendors but also discover their “treats” (strengths) offers both fun engagement and invaluable insight. The lesson is clear: surprises will come, but preparedness can turn fear into resilience.

As the year winds down, October is the perfect moment to remember that continuity planning is not about eliminating uncertainty—it’s about ensuring that when disruption knocks, your organization is ready to open the door with confidence, not fear.

Remember that resiliency planning should never be spooky or scary!

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