Join us in Valparaiso, Indiana on June 13th for a joint ISHE/HESNI event.

Our Speakers will be:

• Thomas C. Sivak, Regional Administrator – FEMA Region 5 (IL | IN | MI | MN | OH | WI), will share the agency’s priorities and game-changing actions underway to build nationwide disaster resilience. Emphasizing a proactive approach to emergency management, he will discuss FEMA’s efforts to expand capacity at all levels and ways the agency is working to better position responders and our whole community partners in preparing for and meeting the evolving challenges of the future.
• John Wandolowski will be speaking on “Building Your Leadership Toolbox”

See the event presentation slides.

Date/Time: June 13th, 11:30 a.m. – 3:45 p.m. Central Time. This includes a networking lunch from 11:30 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. Central Time, and a networking happy hour from 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. Central Time at Journeyman

Location: Valparaiso, IN, Ivy Tech Community College – Valparaiso Campus (Commons Area and Auditorium), 3100 Ivy Tech Drive, Valparaiso, IN 46383

Thank you to our venue sponsor, Michuda Construction, and our networking happy hour sponsors, Ryan Fireprotection and Kleen Air!

Register now >>

Schedule (Note: Central Time)

11:30 am-12:45 pm: Doors open/check-in and a networking lunch sponsored by Michuda
12:45 pm: Announcements begin in the auditorium – ISHE/HESNI/ITCC
1:00 pm: Thomas C. Sivak
2:30 pm: John Wandolowski
3:30-3:45 pm: Conclusion of Meeting
4:30 – 6:30 pm: Networking Happy Hour at Journeyman sponsored by Ryan Fireprotection

Speakers:

1:00 pm – Thomas C. Sivak
Regional Administrator –FEMA Region 5

IL | IN | MI | MN | OH | WI

Mr. Thomas C. Sivak is the Federal Emergency Management Agency Region 5 Administrator.
Prior to joining FEMA, Mr. Sivak was the Deputy Director of Operations for Cook County, Illinois Department of Emergency Management and Regional Security, where his areas of focus included preparedness, planning, logistical response capabilities, information sharing, and operational coordination across 135 municipalities.

Mr. Sivak also served as the Deputy Director for Emergency Management at Chicago’s Office of Emergency Management and Communication for six years, managing the incident coordination of the city’s emergency operations center and directing the comprehensive emergency planning for the city of Chicago including response, recovery, mitigation and planning for emerging threats related to emergency management and homeland security.

Throughout his 15-year emergency management and public safety career, Mr. Sivak has proudly worked for private, urban area, and county public sector organizations and filled leadership roles for several major incident and event activations including the 2012 Super Bowl, 2018 Mercy Hospital active shooter situation, COVID-19 pandemic, civil unrest in May and August 2020, and presidential election consequence management.

Recognized as a subject matter expert in safety, security, emergency management, disaster relief, pandemic response, and coordination, Mr. Sivak is a Certified Emergency Manager through the International Association of Emergency Managers and a graduate of the Executive Leadership Program at the Naval Postgraduate School Center for Homeland Defense and Security. He holds a Master of Science in Public Service Leadership from DePaul University, a Bachelor of Arts degree from Marquette University, and is originally from East Cleveland, Ohio.

2:30 pm – John Wandolowski
Building Your Leadership Toolbox

John Wandolowski is a management professional with over thirty years of experience within the facilities maintenance and construction fields. His experiences are related to healthcare, higher education, and manufacturing industries. Throughout his career, he has held the positions of regional director of facilities, director of planning and development, and director of construction.

In his first professional position, John was sent to a training program on management skills. The program was a two-day seminar on the Management by Responsibility process, presented by Dr. Durst Ph.D. That seminar changed the course of his life.

John is the author of the book “Building Your Leadership Toolbox” which is meant to introduce the lessons he learned over the years implementing the MBR process. As Dr. Durst puts it: “MBR purpose is to allow you to become aware of your abilities to experience responsibility, satisfaction, and success in your life.”