Benj Korson

Senior Emergency Management Professional – IEM,

Denver, CO/Atlanta, GA/Nationwide ▪ (Dec 16-Current)

Led teams in support of FEMA Regional Response Division staff. Responsible for establishing and maintaining project work management plans, statements of work, project timeline, deliverables schedules, contract staff roles, responsibilities, tasking, and cost and budget tracking. Oversaw QA/QC products and deliverables and approved the final products. Identified threats and risks and developed and implemented strategies to mitigate them. Facilitated and maintained collaborative efforts, meetings, and workshops among partners and stakeholders. Incorporated Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment in the scenario modeling and impact analysis. Completed all projects and deliverables as within the period of performance and assigned budget. Managed the staff located on-site as well as remote locations.

Sample Project List:

• All-Hazards Plan and State Capability Analysis, FEMA Region VIII.

• Federal Response Planning (FRP) Staff Training, Nationwide.

• New Madrid Seismic Zone Earthquake Incident Annex to the All-Hazards Response Plan, FEMA Region X.

• Tribal Response & Coordination Incident Annex to All-Hazards Response Plan, FEMA Region VIII.

 

Emergency Management Consultant– IEM,

Bothell, WA/Denver, CO/ ▪ (May 15-Dec 16)

Sample Project List:

• Power Outage Appendix to Cascadian Subduction Zone Earthquake Incident Annex to the All-Hazards Response Plan, FEMA Region X.

• Power Outage Incident Annex to All-Hazards Response Plan, FEMARegion VIII.

• Tribal Response Incident Annex to All-Hazards Response Plan, FEMA Region X.

​

President/Chairman– Out of Rubble,

TX, CO, GA, FL, Nationwide ▪ (April 18-Current)

Leading the organization focused on equipping faith-based organizations to be better prepared to support their local community during crises. Guided the organization through the incorporation, 501(c)3 application process, and development of its operational framework and infrastructure. Currently, establishing programmatic services and building up and training additional staff.

Sample Program List:

• Overseeing the daily operations and coordination between divisions to developing program guidance and policies as the organization grows.

• Reviewing, developing, and publishing training and guidance for local faith-based organizations to implement in order to be better prepared for all types of crisis in their local community.

• Developing methodologies to network local faith-based organizations into a supporting partnership and connect them with their local emergency management agency.

• Providing subject matter expertise as an advisory role to local organization’s leadership during crisis response and recovery phases.

Emergency Management Consultant– Michael Baker International,

Orlando, FL/Denton, TX/Springfield, IL/Arlington, VA/Nationwide ▪ (Sept 08-May 15)

As a core member of the Emergency Management Projects team supported and, in some cases, supervised the development and delivery of various comprehensive emergency management services across all mission areas (prevention, protection, mitigation, response, and recovery) and products to clients across the country, including: local communities, counties, states, national, and federal. Utilized various engagement strategies to develop and foster public/private partnerships with all stakeholders to encourage a community wide approach to disaster preparedness, response and recovery.

• Improvised Nuclear Device Regional Operations Plan, FEMA Region V.

• Hazard Mitigation Plan Implementation Workshop, EMI & FEMA National.

• Local Mitigation Handbook, FEMA National.

• HMP Integration & Best Practices Task Order, Risk MAP, FEMA National.

• FMIX Technical Assistance and Training, FEMA National.

• Technical Assistance Supplemental Guidance, FEMA National.

• Climate Change Information Clearinghouse, FEMA National.

• Missouri Watershed Hazard Mapping, RiskMAP, FEMA Region VII.

• DFIRM Flood Map Production, MAPMOD, FEMA Region VI.

• Continuity of Operations Plan Update, US-Visit, Washington D.C.

• Disaster Preparedness Training Sessions, OBIM, Washington D.C.

• No Adverse Impact: Mitigation ‘How-to-Guide’, ASFPM, Nationwide.

• Airport Inundation Mitigation Strategies, Port Authority of NY & NJ.

• Emergency Operations Plan Update, Putnam County, OH.

• Higher Education Emergency Operations Plan Reviews, PASSHE, Throughout PA.

• Public Assistance for DR-4177, Jackson County, FL.

• State Hazard Mitigation Plan Updates, Missouri; Colorado; Arizona.

• Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Updates, Montgomery County, MD; Putnam County, OH; Ottawa Village, OH; Queen Ann’s County, MD; Belmont County, OH; Warren County, OH; Plumas County, CA.

• HMP Implementation Grant Application, Shasta Lake, CA.

• Coast Smart Grant Application, Prince George’s County, MD.

• Repetitive Loss Area Analysis & Flood Audit Survey, Prince George’s County, MD.

• Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan Inspections, St. Lucie Intl. Airport.

 

Pro-Bono Subject Matter Expert - TKOG Mission,

Denton, TX/Orlando, FL ▪ (June 2011-April 2015)

Provided pro-bono assistance to faith based non-profit and NGO’s regarding both stateside and international disaster and crisis management related challenges. Addressed issues such as non-profit preparedness, integrated response operations, improving program and project coordination, incident exercises and gap analysis.

• Facilitated preparedness assessments, training sessions, and associated tools that are simple to follow and affordable for organizations and families to implement.

• Supported response coordination planning to develop simple and easy to use template planning tool for organizations and families to build their own emergency plan.

• Conducted resource and capability surveys, then provided recommendations on how to improve preparedness and increase coordination with local response partners.

 

Lead Emergency Coordinator – Light Ministries Inc,

 

Carrefour, Haiti ▪ (Jan 2010-Feb 2010)

Tasked to lead the emergency response and initial recovery operations to the catastrophic earthquake. Responsible for: operational coordination, program planning, logistics, communications, cross-organizational coordination and networking, and multi-team volunteer training, management, and tracking. Managed 10+ staff and 50+ volunteers.

• Networked and coordinated with stakeholders, partners, and supporters.

• Planned for and implemented a shelter-to-housing program.

• Improved the reach and effectiveness of the commodity distribution to the local community.

• Oversaw two multi-national primary care clinics and mobile clinic operations.

• Coordinated support for over 50 water filtration system installations through community engagement.

 

Volunteer Site Director - Denton County Medical Reserve Corps,

Denton, TX ▪ (September 2007-May 2011)

If activated, responsible for operations and management of a mass treatment Point of Dispensing (P.O.D.) site in the event of Biological Terrorism in Denton County.  Responsibilities will include: Updating Incident Command System (ICS) forms, reporting to the Incident Command Center (ICC), initial site set up of P.O.D. and volunteers, ensuring general public safety as well as P.O.D. safety, logistic oversight and implementation, project planning and adjustments, and coordinating with outside agencies.

• Participation in routine disaster exercises and on-going training.

• Triage team leader for shelter operations that received 140 patients in two hours from Hurricane Gustav evacuation in September, 2008.

 

Public Outreach Coordinator – The Gathering,

Denton, TX ▪ (April 2005- August 2011)

Led faith based non-profit organization’s public outreach program. Coordinated community engagement, messaging, and events. Facilitated leadership training and cross-organizational partnerships.

• Planned an all-day event that had 30+ presentations and involved multiple organizations.

• Coordinated the weekly community engagement and planned social events.

• Fostered multi-organization partnerships and leadership training.

• Developed and executed the long term public messaging.

 

Emergency Medical Technician – Transport Care Services Corp,

Gainesville, TX ▪ (Sept 2007-Sept 2008)

• Provided pre-hospital patient care through life saving and life sustaining medical care. Utilized standing orders and SOP, medical equipment, patient reports, and medical history to identify and administer appropriate care. Ensured safe ambulance operations, accurate call dispatching, and vehicle navigation.

• Coordinated operations with multiple agency’s emergency personnel during response, using ICS. Addressed multi-facility requirements through coordination with resident staff and medical professionals. Assisted with company marketing, name branding, networking and public relations to improve company operations

 

Intern – Lake Cities FD: Emergency Management,

Corinth, TX ▪ (June 2007-August 2007)

Participated in day to day as well as crisis operations in Emergency Management. Primarily tasked with maintaining the Citizen Corps Council and coordination between community programs.

• Assisted in projects concerning: multi-organization coordination and networking, natural hazard mitigation, outdoor warning systems, shelter location, public and individual assistance, public information and education, damage assessments, and grant applications.

• Received training and certifications in: Incident Command Systems (ICS 100, 200, 300, 400; NIMS 700 & 800), Amateur Radio Operations and Microsoft Suite Products.