The leaders of the Surgitay Initiative have taken the lessons learned from studying previous health crises and are working to help companies maintain their economic vitality through this pandemic. Against a back-drop of rising cases of flu companies need to ensure continuity of operations, upgrade risk management, communicate with shareholders, Dr. Prior said. They must not depend on the mercy of a mild virus.

The Surgitay Initiative is modeled after the Latin concept of surgite, which means to be alert, to act and press on as conditions change. It is affiliated with R&B Associates and the Governance and Accountability Institute, drawing on the skills of a multi-disciplinary team, including:

Steve Prior, who is a scientist who is qualified in microbiology and biochemistry. He has been Project Manager for Department of Defense contracts that exceed USD$500 million and is the research director of the NCCIA and a Distinguished Research Professor at the National Defense University. Ford Rowan, a former National Security Affairs Correspondent for NBC News, who covered Three Mile Island and the War in Lebanon. He is an attorney and consultant who has advised corporations on the 9/11 air disasters, chemical safety, environmental crimes, mad cow disease, pharmaceutical safety, silicone breast implants, SUV rollovers as well as oil spills and explosions at refineries. He is the chairman of the NCCIA. Bert Brown, MD, MPH, a former director of the U.S. National Institutes of Mental Health and a former Assistant Surgeon General of the United States. Dr. Brown is a founding member of the NCCIA. Rich Blewitt has advised 30 of the Fortune 100 companies as a senior level crisis management consultant. He worked on the aftermath of the Valdez Alaskan oil spill, assisted Household Finance (NYSE:HFC) with the sub-prime lending controversy, and counseled Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F) during the Firestone tire issue. He earned an MBA from the University of Chicago and is on the board of the Josephson Institute of Ethics. Hank Boerner is an expert in corporate governance, social responsibility, accountability and ethics issues management. He has been a management consultant for major companies for more than 25 years and is the former head of communications for the New York Stock Exchange. He chairs the Governance & Accountability Institute, www.ga-institute (G&A), a knowledge management center and research-based advisory organization that provides a portfolio of services to organizations, institutions and individuals seeking to do the right thing for the right reasons.

The federal government has focused almost entirely on vaccine production, but widespread illness will pose economic, psychological and social disruptions that the private sector will have to cope with.

The Surgitay Initiative is designed to help business leaders ensure that their operations will be alert, will act to minimize disruptions and will be able to adapt to changing conditions.

Source: National Center for Critical Incident Analysis