January 6, 2020, St. Petersburg, FL — Summit Exercises and Training® (SummitET®), a Preparedness Solutions Company®, announces the addition of Scott Glick to the role of Vice President and General Counsel. Scott’s key focus will be to provide advice to customers regarding counterterrorism, weapons of mass destruction, law enforcement, intelligence, and consequence management related matters to ensure that preparedness planning is cohesive.
Before joining SummitET, Scott served in a number of high-ranking positions at the U.S. Department of Justice, including as the Director of Preparedness and Response, the Deputy Chief in the Counterterrorism Section, and the Deputy Counsel in the Office of Intelligence Policy and Review.
“I’m thrilled to be joining a company that emphasizes both a commitment to preparedness and its close-knit team,” comments Scott. “SummitET offered me an opportunity to work alongside a diverse cadre of subject matter experts to prepare customers for a variety of disasters.”
Scott brings more than thirty-five years of experience, including prosecution, critical incident response, management, policy, exercise and teaching to SummitET. He is a Summa Cum Laude graduate of the University of Maryland and received his law degree from the Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University, where he was a member of the law review. He is licensed to practice law in the State of New York and Washington, D.C. Scott will be based in SummitET’s new D.C. office.
“Scott has played a major role in the development and drafting of national preparedness policies, plans, and strategies. We are honored to have one the nation’s leading experts in his field join our team,” said John Duda, Chief Executive Officer of SummitET. “Bringing on Scott was a strategic decision to provide better value to our customers in their planning efforts.”
To learn more about Scott’s background, click here.
December 3, 2019 – St. Petersburg, FL. Summit Exercises and Training (SummitET), a preparedness solutions company, is proud to announce a new contract award to support the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) with their Workplace Violence Prevention Program (WVPP) at their field offices and sites.
NNSA is responsible for enhancing national security; enhancing safety, security, and effectiveness of the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile, reducing global danger from weapons of mass destruction; providing the U.S. Navy with safe and effective nuclear propulsion; and responding to nuclear and radiological emergencies in the United States and abroad. SummitET will provide training, consultation services, threat assessment, and intervention protocols training through WVPP.
“We look forward to collaborating with SummitET to further developing our Workplace Violence Prevention Program,” said Cliff Gordon, Assistant Manager for Safeguards & Security, NNSA Sandia Field Office. “The training to be developed as part of this program will help NNSA take a proactive approach toward safeguarding our employees.”
SummitET has supported DOE/NNSA and the DOE National Laboratories with other training and planning programs since 2014. In addition to NNSA’s Workplace Violence Prevention Program, SummitET is currently contracted to support the Office of Radiological Security, the Office of Nuclear Incident Policy and Cooperation, and the Office of Nuclear Response.
“It is increasingly important that all organizations have established programs in place to prevent and respond to workplace violence incidents,” comments John Duda, CEO of SummitET. “NNSA’s commitment to establishing and training a workplace violence prevention culture demonstrates a proactive approach to reduce risk and care for the safety of their employees.”
To learn more about SummitET’s workplace violence and active shooter prevention solutions, click here.
On-site training to be conducted at Kirtland Air Force Base/Sandia Field Office, Albuquerque, New Mexico; with optional other DOE/NNSA Sites as follows: DOE/NNSA Forrestal Building, Washington, DC; DOE/NNSA Germantown Building, Germantown, MD; Albuquerque Complex, KAFB, Albuquerque, NM; Kansas City Field Office, Kansas City, MO; Livermore Field Office, Livermore, CA; Los Alamos Field Office, Los Alamos, NM; Nevada Field Office, Las Vegas, NV; Production Office in Oak Ridge, TN with oversight to Pantex Plant, Amarillo, TX and Y-12 National Security Complex, Oak Ridge, TN; and Savannah River Field Office, Aiken, SC.
About SummitET Summit Exercises and Training is a U.S.-based, veteran-owned preparedness solutions company that provides proven full spectrum preparedness solutions through industry-leading experts and impeccable customer service. Our diverse and highly trained team supports our corporate and governmental partners in developing solutions that address issues of critical infrastructure, radiological and emergency preparedness, cybersecurity, workplace safety and active shooter programs, counterterrorism, and other disaster-related training.
Media Contact Ron Edmond Email: [email protected] Phone: 865-567-2248
August 28 2019 – ST, PETERSBURG, FL. Summit Exercises and Training (SummitET), announces the promotion of East Tennessee native and Knoxville resident Steve Sugarman to Vice President of Operations. In his new role, Steve will be responsible for SummitET’s internal departments including Human Resources, Business Development, Accounting, and Marketing. Steve also holds the position of SummitET’s Corporate Health Physicist where he provides radiological subject-matter expertise to meet corporate and client needs.
“Steve came to SummitET with a great deal of respect in his field. Since joining our organization, he immersed himself in our culture and our operations. He is passionate about our mission and our team members’ well-being” says John Duda, Chief Executive Officer. “This critical position demonstrates our continued commitment to outstanding employee development and providing impeccable customer service.”
Steve, a certified health physicist (CHP), holds an M.S. in Safety Education and Service from the University of Tennessee and a B.S. in Organizational Management from Tusculum University. Steve has served as a lecturer for organizations including the International Atomic Energy Agency, the World Health Organization, the U.S. Department of Energy, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Health Physics Society, the National Radiological Emergency Preparedness Conference, and many others. Before joining SummitET, Steve was the Health Physics Project Manager at the Radiation Emergency Assistance Center/Training Site (REAC/TS).
“I’m looking forward to helping guide SummitET’s operations and supporting the company’s continued growth” comments Steve. “I joined SummitET because of its commitment to emergency preparedness and unique approach to doing things. I’m eager to help promote continued team member development and work/life balance while supporting health physics needs across the emergency response community.”
As a recognized subject matter expert in his field, Steve has contributed to multiple domestic and international guidance documents as well as numerous publications on health physics topics. Read his most recent blog on ‘Communicating Technical Information to a Non-Technical Audience’ here.
SummitET News
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In my 30+ year career, I’ve been fortunate to be able contribute in some small way to some world class organizations. I’ve come to realize that my biggest challenges haven’t been the technical aspects, but the communication aspects of health physics and radiation safety. Here are some thoughts for those tasked with communicating technical information to a non-technical audience.
Energy deposition into soft tissue due to low energy photons may result in a biological insult with ramifications affecting… Wait a minute! What?!?! Does anyone really like sitting through a technical lecture about something they may not already be somewhat familiar with?
Okay, admittedly, some people probably do. However, I venture to say that most don’t…especially when all you’re really looking for is a little useful information. I’d rather not spend half my time simply trying to decipher the big words the intelligent person in front of me is using and missing the real message. I get it…you’re smart. Now, teach me something and help me to understand the topic. Health physicists (radiation safety professionals), medical physicists, or others knowledgeable about ionizing radiation and its effects oftentimes think they are doing a good job at communicating what they are trying to say, but are they?
I refer to a quote I’ve often seen attributed to Sidney J. Harris: “The two words ‘information’ and ‘communication’ are often used interchangeably, but they signify quite different things. Information is giving out; communication is getting through.”
My father used to tell me to speak with people, don’t talk at them.
I think this is pretty good advice from both men. And I think they’re saying the same thing. When trying to communicate complicated topics one must know the audience to whom they’re speaking, whether it’s an individual or a group of people, and what they expect or need. Is it an academic environment? Is it a stressful situation such as an emergency or an attempt to explain a medical procedure involving radioactive materials? Is it an individual who just wants to learn a little more about a topic? There are many things to take into account.
I come from a radiological background, but I think some things apply to most anyone trying to effectively communicate technical information.
Things to Consider
Here are some things I consider when delivering a presentation or simply answering a technical question with a non-technical audience.
Decide what it is you really want/need to convey.
Determine who it is that you are trying to reach and what they are wanting.
Are there analogies that can be used to simplify the message while still delivering the information? Having multiple analogies ready may be useful.
Is it necessary to be 100% correct (precise) when being 90% correct may simplify things and be a better way to get the true message across?
Be prepared for a “heckler” to point out what you missed if you go the 90% route. That said, is this “expert” really who you are trying to reach?
Watch audience response (body language, attentiveness, etc.) to help judge if your message is getting across.
Don’t open a can of worms you’re not willing/able to deal with, and stick to your area of expertise.
Be prepared for questions out of left field.
Be yourself.
Practice – try your message out on your neighbor, spouse, or another non-expert.
No need to cram every piece of information onto your presentation slides.
Use relatable visual aids
Solicit feedback and use it to improve for your next opportunity.
If you are a technical expert, your words have meaning. However, if nobody understands what you just said, why bother saying it? It takes effort, but becoming a good communicator of technical material has value…both to you and your audience.
Steve Sugarman, MS, CHP
Vice President and Corporate Health Physicist
Summit Exercises and Training LLC (SummitET®)
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Nuclear weapons are some of the most powerful tools of destruction on Earth, and the full scope of a nuclear detonation is almost unimaginable. However, there is a scientifically supported plan of action that could save thousands of lives. What is this plan, and what exactly would it protect us from? Brooke Buddemeier and Jessica S. Wieder explore the possibility of surviving nuclear detonation.
Resources
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