Adam Montella Appointed as New President of ACP Mid-Florida Chapter

Adam Montella Appointed as New President of ACP Mid-Florida Chapter

by | Dec 8, 2025 | Emergency Management, SummitET News

Leadership Transition Marks New Era for Renowned Business Continuity Organization

The Mid-Florida Chapter of the Association of Contingency Planners (ACP) is pleased to announce the appointment of Adam Montella as its new Chapter President. Adam, who also serves as Chief Operations Officer at SummitET, steps into the role following the tenure of Eric Olson, who led the chapter for over two decades, guiding its growth and strengthening its reputation within the business continuity and disaster recovery community.

Founded in January 1993 and officially recognized by the Association of Contingency Planners in February of the same year, the ACP Mid-Florida Chapter has served as a cornerstone for professionals seeking to enhance their organization’s resiliency and contingency strategies. The chapter proudly serves members across a broad region, reaching as far west as Tampa and as far south as Miami, reflecting its commitment to supporting professionals throughout Central and South Florida.

The chapter regularly hosts monthly meetings, fostering a collaborative environment where industry experts and newcomers alike can exchange ideas and best practices. The first meeting is complimentary for guests, with ongoing membership required for continued participation in events and networking opportunities.

Adam Montella headshot

“I am honored to follow in the footsteps of Eric Olson, whose leadership has been instrumental in building this supportive community,” said Adam Montella. “I look forward to working with our members to continue advancing the field of business continuity and disaster recovery throughout the Mid-Florida region.”

Professionals interested in learning more about the ACP Mid-Florida Chapter or attending an upcoming meeting are encouraged to visit https://acp-international.com/midflorida for additional information.

SummitET News

Montgomery County Office of Public Health

Montgomery County Office of Public Health

by | Nov 23, 2025 | Client Success Story, Emergency Management, Health and Medical

Background

Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, is committed to safeguarding its residents through robust emergency management and public health strategies. Recognizing the growing complexity of emergencies—from natural disasters to public health crises—the Montgomery County Office of Public Health (OPH) and Department of Public Safety (DPS) sought to ensure their plans and operations were fully aligned and capable of addressing diverse threats. To achieve this, they partnered with SummitET, a leader in emergency preparedness and response, to enhance coordination, clarify roles, and strengthen operational alignment across public health and emergency management functions.

Mission Need

The central mission was to bridge gaps between OPH and DPS, ensuring both agencies could respond swiftly and effectively to emergencies. There was a critical need for comprehensive, integrated plans, clear role definitions, and training resources that would empower personnel to act decisively. The goal was to create unified strategies, tools, and exercises that would enable Montgomery County to protect its community under any circumstance.

Solution

SummitET delivered a multi-faceted initiative designed to transform Montgomery County’s emergency management and public health preparedness:

  • Comparative Plan Review: Conducted a detailed comparison between the OPH Incident Response Plan and the DPS Emergency Operations Plan to ensure seamless operational alignment and integration between public health and emergency management functions.
  • Gap Analysis & Stakeholder Engagement: Assessed existing plans against federal and state standards, while hosting virtual town halls to gather real-world insights and foster active stakeholder involvement.
  • Actionable Tools: Developed an Emergency Response Matrix that clearly defines agency roles, responsibilities, and unified command structures. Additionally, rapid-response “break-glass” playbooks were created for five high-risk incident and accident scenarios, enabling immediate, coordinated activation of relevant agencies for timely and effective response.
  • Training Roadmaps: Produced in-depth, role-specific onboarding guides for OPH and DPS personnel to accelerate readiness and ensure consistent emergency response capabilities across agencies.
  • Interactive Exercise: Facilitated an in-person, scenario-based workshop featuring six realistic scenarios to test and validate cross-agency collaboration and the newly developed emergency response matrix.

Result

Through this comprehensive partnership, Montgomery County now benefits from stronger, more integrated emergency response plans and tools. The collaborative efforts led to enhanced coordination between OPH and DPS, clarified roles and responsibilities, and streamlined operational alignment. Personnel are equipped with practical, actionable resources and training, improving their readiness for real-world incidents. The interactive workshop validated these improvements, ensuring agencies can work together seamlessly during emergencies.

Conclusion

SummitET’s partnership with Montgomery County OPH and DPS marks a significant advancement in public health and emergency management preparedness. Through detailed plan reviews, stakeholder engagement, actionable tools, targeted training, and realistic exercises, the county is now better positioned to protect its community during emergencies. This success story demonstrates the value of collaboration, innovation, and strategic planning in building resilient communities.

 

Department of Health and Human Services & GrantSolutions

Department of Health and Human Services & GrantSolutions

by | Nov 22, 2025 | Client Success Story, Federal & National Labs

Background

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and GrantSolutions faces a rapidly evolving cyber threat landscape that puts sensitive data and critical systems at risk. To address these challenges, HHS sought a strategic partner with the expertise and capabilities to enhance its cybersecurity posture, ensure regulatory compliance, and promote a culture of continuous improvement.

Mission

We are committed to fortifying HHS’s cybersecurity landscape. This requires regular testing and training focused on the prevention, protection, and response to emerging cyber threats.

Solution

  • Comprehensive Penetration Testing and Vulnerability Scans to identify and mitigate weaknesses
  • Ensuring compliance with NIST 800-171 standards to meet regulatory requirements
  • In-depth reviews of the existing cyber plan to align with best practices
  • Facilitating Tabletop Exercises with senior stakeholders, followed by after-action meetings to assess and strengthen incident response protocols

Result

Through a multiyear contract, SummitET continues to drive measurable improvements in cyber vulnerability management for HHS and its partners. This collaborative approach has resulted in enhanced security measures, stronger controls, and increased program sustainability.

Conclusion

By partnering with SummitET, HHS has significantly advanced its cybersecurity defenses, ensuring better protection for its assets and stakeholders. This ongoing commitment to proactive assessment and training ensures that HHS remains resilient in the face of ever-changing cyber risks.

State of California, Office of Emergency Services

State of California, Office of Emergency Services

by | Nov 22, 2025 | Client Success Story, Emergency Management

Background

The California WMD Summit was established to enhance the state’s readiness for Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) incidents through the Office of Emergency Services. This annual event aims to bring together key agencies and organizations to strengthen collaboration and improve multi-jurisdictional response capabilities.

Mission

The summit’s mission is to provide comprehensive WMD response training for the State of California and unite the four FBI offices through a complex, multi-city, multi-jurisdictional, all-hazard training exercise. By fostering interagency cooperation, the summit ensures that participants are well-prepared to address a range of potential threats and emergencies.

Solution

SummitET played a pivotal role in planning and executing the 2023 and 2024 WMD Summit. The team supported CalOES by developing and facilitating the Tabletop Exercise (TTX), coordinating closely with the FBI WMDD, and providing Observer/Controller and PIO/EOD SME support for the Full-Scale Exercise (FTX). This hands-on approach ensured that all participants received practical experience and expert guidance.

Result

The 2024 CalOES WMD Summit saw an impressive turnout, with 245 participants representing approximately 110 departments, agencies, organizations, and private companies.

SummitET has consistently supported the summit since 2022 and recently completed the 2025 event in Los Angeles, reflecting a strong ongoing partnership. The WMD Summit provides invaluable networking opportunities and fostered a deeper understanding among all stakeholders.

As one anonymous participant shared, “Overall, I thought this was an amazing exercise and experience. The networking and greater understanding of what others are doing to prepare for potential WMDs was invaluable!”

Conclusion

The California WMD Summit continues to set the standard for collaborative emergency preparedness. SummitET’s expertise and dedication have been integral to the event’s success, helping to ensure California’s agencies are equipped to respond effectively to WMD incidents. The sustained partnership and positive feedback demonstrate the lasting impact of this vital training initiative.

Department of Homeland Security Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office

Department of Homeland Security Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office

by | Nov 21, 2025 | Client Success Story, Federal & National Labs

Background

The growing complexity of radiological threats has demanded continual advancements in detection capabilities. Federal agencies face persistent challenges in ensuring their frontline operators are equipped to identify and mitigate sophisticated threats that could compromise national security. Recognizing these evolving risks, the government sought a comprehensive program that could rapidly deliver innovative detection solutions to the field.

Mission

The Mobile Detection Deployment Program (MDDP) was initiated to address the urgent need for frontline operators to detect and respond to radiological threats that pose a risk to national security. Operators lacked state-of-the-art equipment necessary for detecting advanced and evolving radiological threats. Meeting this challenge required accelerating the development and deployment of cutting-edge detection systems in a timely and efficient manner.

Solution

To tackle this critical mission, the CWMD office launched the MDDP, focusing on building strong, collaborative relationships with industry partners. These partnerships enabled the rapid development, testing, and deployment of state-of-the-art detection technologies. Emphasis was placed on swift procurement processes to ensure that frontline operators received the latest and most effective equipment, enhancing their ability to counter radiological threats efficiently and effectively.

Result

By prioritizing the rapid advancement and distribution of advanced detection technology, the CWMD office has substantially strengthened the nation’s capability to detect and mitigate radiological threats. The program’s ongoing evolution ensures that operators remain equipped with the most advanced tools available, maintaining a robust line of defense for national security.

Conclusion

The success of the MDDP demonstrates the impact of strategic industry partnerships and innovative procurement in addressing critical national security challenges. As the threat landscape continues to evolve, the program’s commitment to equipping frontline operators with cutting-edge technology ensures sustained protection for the nation and its citizens.