SummitET Receives the 2025 Hire Vets Medallion Award from the U.S. Department of Labor

SummitET Receives the 2025 Hire Vets Medallion Award from the U.S. Department of Labor

by | Dec 16, 2025 | Awards, Defense Industry, SummitET News

St. Petersburg, FL

The U.S. Department of Labor has recognized SummitET as one of the record-breaking 887 recipients of the 2025 HIRE Vets Medallion Award. SummitET earned the gold award after applying earlier this year. The Honoring Investments in Recruiting and Employing American Military Veterans Act (HIRE Vets Act) Medallion Award Program is the only federal award program that recognizes employers who successfully recruit, hire, and retain veterans.

a gold and a platinum colored medallion on an American flag background
man in suit jacket smiling

John Duda, CEO

“Receiving our fifth HIRE Vets Medallion Award is a true honor,” said John Duda, CEO of SummitET. “This recognition highlights our ongoing commitment to recruiting, supporting, and advancing veterans within our team. The exceptional experience and skills of our Veterans not only enhance our organization but also distinguish us as leaders in the preparedness industry.”

SummitET joins 886 other companies from 48 states, plus the District of Columbia, Guam and Puerto Rico, who have shown a commitment to hiring veterans, but also ensuring that they have a long-term career and growth plan that uses the diverse skills they acquired through their military service.

Recipients of the 2025 HIRE Vets Medallion Award meet rigorous employment and veteran integration assistance criteria, including veteran hiring and retention percentages; availability of veteran-specific resources; leadership programming for veterans; dedicated human resource efforts; pay compensation and tuition assistance programs for veterans. Over 2,200 employers have earned a total of 5,371 HIRE Vets Medallion Awards since 2019.

SummitET previously received the HIRE Vets Medallion Award in 2024, 2023, 2021, and 2020.

About SummitET  

SummitET® is a veteran-owned, Florida-based preparedness solutions company that provides proven, full-spectrum solutions to threats facing government, non-government, and private organizations through industry-leading experts. In addition to expert-led custom trainings, exercises, consulting, and plan and policy development, SummitET also offers its software solution, Previstar®, which delivers the same high-quality preparedness and response capabilities. Both SummitET’s expert services and Previstar software equip organizations and their people to effectively manage and respond to crisis situations.

​About the HIRE Vets Medallion Program 

The HIRE Vets Medallion Award is earned by businesses that demonstrate unparalleled commitment to attracting, hiring and retaining veterans. The 2026 HIRE Vets Medallion Award application period will open to employers on Jan. 31, 2026. For more information about the program and the application process, visit HIREVets.gov.

SummitET News

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

“By strengthening emergency preparedness collaboration across departments, we’re building more resilient communities and ensuring every resident benefits from a stronger, more connected system,” said Christina Miller, Administrator, Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services Office of Public Health.

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.

Read the Press Release. 

 

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.