The Global Eco-System At the Intersection of Technology, Equipment, Data Science, and Alternative Investment for Future Proofing America through Unleashing Innovation and Capital in Disaster Risk Mitigation with Citizens, Communities, Companies.
OUR MISSION
Pre-Disaster Risk Mitigation for Citizens, Communities, Companies
Persistent natural - and in certain cases man-made - disasters have introduced economic, financial, operational, and similar challenges for life-lines across the U.S. No region nor industry sector is immune to drought, flood, storm, spills, fires, earthquakes - and of course more recently health-related pandemics. As each threat and incident occurs, government and business alike face costly recovery and rebuild of their assets, facilities, infrastructure, and the lives of their citizens and employees.
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Our "Future Proofing America Collaborative and Campaign" (click to download public document) serves to strengthen our institutions and communities through more efficient and effective pathways to relevant ideas, practical solutions, proven technical and engineered products, and a wide range of data and intelligence to reduce the impacts from future risks across residential, commercial, industrial, public sectors.
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To learn more click the link and review our recent convening of the "Roundtable on Community Disaster Resilience Zones and Alternative Risk Mitigation Investments" with the a Federal 'Whole of Government' representation, Urban Land Institute, Reinsurance Association of America and 90 other senior executives.
OUR PROGRAMS & EVENTS
We focus on three programmatic objectives: accelerate connections, introduce best-in-class solutions, assure those technologies and solutions achieve their market goals AND returns-on-investment.
National Town Halls
Curated in-depth topic presentations by industry, public sector, academic, philanthropic subject matter experts
Strategic Partner Briefings
Connecting technologies, equipment and expertise to real-world challenges vis-a-vis customized and/or confidential insights.
Risk Mitigation Policy Sessions
Hosting insurance-reinsurance, finance, government, non--profit, and civic institutional leadership policy sessions
Resilience Venture Lab
Growing emerging companies & integrated technology firms into significant mitigation solutions.
Lightning Rounds
Monthly and quarterly pitch sessions from those with needs and those with solutions.
Investor Forums
National and regional two-day gatherings of 250 attendees and 40 speakers, panelists
ENGAGING WITH THE HUB
For Technologies and Integrated Solutions
We have established a proven process for assisting early- and growth-stage companies through myriad pathways to develop, demonstrate, and deploy their products, services, and integrated solutions. Based on the criteria driven by our insurance and non-insurance “communities of practice,” we onboard next-generation and relevant firms into our “portfolio” for strategic partnerships, investment, and market use.
We are accepting applications for our Portfolio Companies to participate in the Resilience Hub. Accepted companies will receive no-cost access to a community of like-minded entrepreneurs, advisors, investors, service providers and discounted office space.
Note: All activities are currently conducted remotely or with limited scheduled in-person meetings based on federal, state and local COVID-19 regulations.
For Investors and Procurement
Decision-Makers
As the insurance and reinsurance sector advances alternative products, policies, and financing for pre-disaster risk mitigation often called”Insuratech,” our objective is to hasten the process for identifying, vetting, and presenting THE most beneficial opportunities insurance and non-insurance companies, private equity, public finance, family offices, venture capital, and corporate venture interests.
In turn, we seek to support federal, state, and local government procurement decision-makers that seek similar technologies for enhancing citizen and community resilience. Through exclusive briefings and customized pitch-sessions, aligned with our partners,we have created a robust pipeline of products and projects for investment review.
Our Technology, Market, and Disaster-Resilience Areas of Focus Align with the Insurance Industry and Public Sector Mitigation Objectives.
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OUR FOUNDERS
By combining the capabilities and mutual objectives for accelerating scientific, technical, engineered, and market-ready solutions for reducing loss of life, property, operations, and community, we have come together to launch the national network of incubators, accelerators, resources, and investment for mitigating natural and man-made risks.
ROAR - Resilience Opportunity Advisors + Resources Partnership: Bridging public, private, philanthropic sector interests of technology, expertise, data science with alternative capital through investment advisory for impactful, resilient project development
Managing Director of The ROAR Partnership
Mr. Seline is currently the Managing Partner of The ROAR Partnership, and has been Executive Director and Senior Advisor for AccelerateH2O - a 501(c)(3) organization focused on addressing barriers to innovating in water across the Southwest and Gulf Coast US. Prior to launching AccelerateH2O, Mr. Seline possesses more than 30 years of management consulting services, advising a variety of business sectors across energy, water, biosciences, digital media, and from industrial production companies to emerging technology firms. Based on implementing 180 strategic projects across the US and around the World, Richard is a skilled business strategy expert helping companies optimize processes, innovate core drivers, and grow intelligently.
OUR NATIONAL LEADERSHIP TEAM
Innovators in Residence
SVP and CDO, Tidal Basin Group; Former FEMA Asst. Administrator
Carlos Castillo is Senior Vice President and Chief Development Officer (CDO) for Tidal Basin Group, internationally recognized leader in emergency and disaster management with more than 40 years’ experience, former Acting FEMA Deputy Administrator for Resilience and former Assistant Administrator for Disaster Assistance where he led the Individual and Public Assistance Programs after Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Ike among other major disasters.
Former State Insurance Commissioner for Texas and South Carolina
Eleanor Kitzman is the Founder and CEO of Resolute Underwriters, LLC, a Texas-based start-up that will leverage the homeowners insurance relationship to promote, incentivize and facilitate mitigation, particularly roof replacement to the IBHS FORTIFIED Home™ standards in coastal areas. She is also the only individual to have served as an insurance commissioner in two different states - both with unique and challenging disaster profiles including major storm events.
Executive Mentors
Chief Geospatial Scientist, Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology
Dr. Alexander assumed the role of the Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology (DHS-S&T) Chief Geospatial Scientist and lead for the National Flood APEX program within the First Responders Group in October 2016. In his current assignment at DHS S&T, he is leading innovative research on natural hazards including the Flood Apex program in support of FEMA. This program is applying new and emergency technologies to improve flood detection, monitoring, risk reduction, and flood protection across the US.
Founder and Managing Partner of The Resiliency Institute, LLC (TRI) and the Hub's National Director of the Resilient Citizens Corp Initiative
Bonnie Canal is a nationally recognized leader in community resilience innovations and strategies and is the founder and Managing Partner of The Resiliency Institute, LLC (TRI). TRI is a full-service consulting firm specializing in comprehensive solutions for small/medium size businesses (SMBs), understanding the role they play in community preparedness and resiliency. Bonnie is considered one of the Nation's leaders in Business-Community Continuity training, certification.
CEO of International Sustainable Resilience Center, Inc.; Strategic Partner for the Economic-Community Resilience Scorecard
David Dodd is a seasoned international thought leader in economic development, disaster recovery, and resilience. In 2017, David founded the International Sustainable Resilience Center, or ISRC, a Center of Excellence in New Orleans affiliated with the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe’s International PPP Centre of Excellence. Through his leadership role, David provides the Hub access to a global set of organizations, institutions, thought-leaders, and strategic partners.
Flood Planning Director - American Flood Coalition; former State of George
Resilience Hazard Mitigation Deputy Manager
Jack Krolikowski serves as the National Flood Planning Director of the American Flood Coalition (https://floodcoalition.org/), having recently served as the Deputy Manager for Hazard Mitigation in the State of Georgia's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, having previously served in the State Environmental Resources Department. In his current capacity, Jack coordinates natural hazard mitigation planning and risk reduction projects across Georgia's 159 counties and for State-owned property, with a particular focus on utilization of best available hazard, vulnerability, and exposure data. He is a graduate with a bachelors and master's degree in Civil Engineering from Georgia Tech.
Talent on Demand Partner
Ira Ziff is a twenty-five year recognized leader in the executive search arena for insurance and reinsurance companies across the US, and as such has created the most exhaustive data-base for engaging over 40,000 C-suite decision-makers as board of advisors, mentors, and/or future members of growth-stage resilience-focused tech companies. He is the Hub's Partner for the Talent on Demand Initiative
Executive Director, BuildStrong Coalition
Natalie Enclade joined the BuildStrong Coalition as its Executive Director in 2021. Prior to joining BuildStrong, Enclade served as the lead for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s Financial Well-Being Program.
In 2018, she was appointed as Director of Individual and Community Preparedness for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), where she worked to increase citizen and community preparedness, and encourage the development of disaster resilience across the Nation. She served
as a Chief Policy Advisor and Senior Program Analyst for the Federal government. Natalie was selected as a DHS Office of Inspector General Fellow and the subject matter expert in homeland security, cybersecurity, emergency management for the United States Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.
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Senior Executive for Resilience Impact
Landi Spearman is an award-winning data scientist, experienced executive coach, trusted change management expert, CEO and Founder of Organized SHIFT and the Millennial Collective. Leveraging data and diversity to pinpoint, dismantle, and eliminate systemic issues, Landi helps overwhelmed leaders to outsource a shift in their team or organization, or to internally adapt to avoid burnout. She has turned around operational issues, invented new revenue streams and transformed culture with aplomb, for Fortune 500s including Kraft, GE, Eaton, Victoria’s Secret, and Pottery Barn.
Center for Insurance Information and Research; Senior Advisor - Resilience Data Exchange
Dr. Lars Powell serves as the executive director of the Alabama Center for Insurance Information and Research located in UA’s Culverhouse College of Commerce and Business Administration. Dr. Powell’s research interests include insurance markets and regulations, insurance operations, insurer capitalization and predictive analytics. He has served as an expert to federal and state courts and legislatures. He has also participated in the creation of insurance companies and related entities. He is a founding board member of Arkansas Mutual Insurance Company and a recipient of the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies’ NAMIC Service Award. Dr. Powell is a Fellow of the Insurance Information Institute.
The National Transition Initiative for Sustainability and Climate Advisor
Professor Alan Tratner - as a college student led the conceptual planning and launch of America's first Earth Day - and ever since has driven the collaboration of industries, entrepreneurs, philanthropic organizations, and government towards recognizing the importance of sustainability and "green" as a direct form of resilience. Through his Green2Gold Accelerator and network of over 100K individuals throughout the world, Alan oversees the Hub's partnership with the National Transition Initiative and the Domino One Laboratory programs.
Emergency Response Planning and Preparedness Advisor
Private Sector Partnering
Advisor (PSEMA)
Young Leadership Advisor
Paul has served as a senior executive-level leader and government relations professional in the public sector for more than twenty-five years, including as the Regional Administrator for Region VII of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, overseeing all federal emergency management efforts in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska.
Prior to service with FEMA, Paul worked closely with the U.S. Congress in various roles as a legislative liaison. During Paul’s last assignment, he was the senior Legislative Liaison working for the Army Comptroller, securing congressional support for the Army's $127 billion budget.
Julie Kay Roberts is a strategic communications and emergency management veteran with two decades of experience in public and private sector. After a decade of serving in state and federal government positions, Roberts is President of JKR Consulting, LLC, specializing in strategic and crisis communication, emergency management, public relations and government affairs, and serves as Executive Director of the Private Sector Emergency Management Association (PSEMA).
Roberts most recently served as the Deputy Chief of Staff and Director of Communications for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) where she developed and implemented the agency’s strategic communication plans for on-going operational programs and coordinated the efforts and communication for NOAA’s nationwide emergency management partners during natural disasters.
Kirk Waltz is a registered Texas environmental engineer with a diverse background in municipal and industrial environmental engineering, risk management, environmental and social governance implementation, and strategic sourcing of novel environmental technology startups. Kirk graduated from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering and a Master of Science in Civil and Environmental Engineering, and received his MBA from The Jones School of Business - Rice University.
Climate Resiliency Senior Advisor to the Hub and Collaboratory Network
For more than 15 years, Patrick Marchman served in the environmental and regulatory fields, managing progressively more prominent projects and programs for various U.S. Federal agencies. Prior to his public sector roles, he was an information technology professional working with both large companies and small start-ups. Patrick is a highly regarded subject matter expert.
CEO of The Water Tower
Melissa Meeker is the CEO of The Water Tower in Buford, Georgia, a nonprofit focused on advancing water utilities through applied research, technology advancement, workforce development and public engagement. Melissa previously served as the CEO of the Water Environment and Reuse Foundation and was instrumental in the merger of three critical US water-related research foundations. She also served as Executive Director of the South Florida Water Management District and Deputy Secretary of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
CEO, Corvias Infrastructure Solutions; Founding Member - RISC
Dr. Sinha is a frequent presenter on topics related to climate resilience impacts and economic instruments within the infrastructure market, he is the CEO of Corvias Infrastructure Solutions, and advises a Great Lakes basin wide resilience initiative called Resilient Infrastructure Sustainability Communities (RISC, www.risc.solutions).His extensive knowledge of integrating nature-based infrastructure, engineering, and technology has supported regional engagement with public and private sector partners for next-generation watershed resilience, and informs entrepreneurs and investors in strategic alignment of mutual interests.
Chief Operating Officer (COO) and co-founder of Bent Ear Solutions LLC
Ron Prater is the Chief Operating Officer (COO) and co-founder of Bent Ear Solutions LLC. Bent Ear Solutions (BES) is focused on helping public safety organizations integrate legacy and emerging technologies. Strengths of Bent Ear Solutions include: strategic planning, governance, business process design, and GIS. Ron has more than 25 years’ experience helping Federal, state, and local branches of government and the private sector address some of their most challenging issues.
Executive Director of InnSure
Charlie Sidoti has spent 35+ years in a variety of executive roles within P&C commercial insurance providers, a board role at the Institute for Business and Home Safety, has run multiple technology startups and now finds himself running InnSure, the insurance focused innovation hub at Cambridge Innovation Center aligned with MIT.
Director of the Center for Health, Air, and Soil – University of Louisville and former Special Advisor for COVID Response to the Mayor of Louisville
Dr. Ted Smith is the former Chief of Civic Innovation for the City of Louisville where he led and delivered over $5 million in grants for advancing public infrastructure and health-related programs through unique smart-city acceleration. He is the new Director of the Center formed to address ongoing challenges from various disasters including his role as special advisor to the Mayor and community for COVID-19 response.
HUB NETWORK PARTNERS
We are honored to work shoulder to shoulder with peer organizations and institutions in creating a network partnership for delivering powerful programs and content in support of our mutual objectives for technology companies and investors. Each of these partners brings a unique and specific element to our overall agenda – Blue Sky to Blueprint Design Lab, Grand Challenges, Public Utility Resilience – and therefore access to end-user requirements, markets, and strategic alliances.
InnSure’s sole purpose is rooted in its members' passion for the insurance industry by confidently influencing positive change within the industry and providing a safe place for our members to Connect-Learn-Solve. InnSure's "Blue Sky to Blueprint" process is the Hub's ideation partner.
RISE accelerates innovation and business growth around solutions to coastal resilience challenges in the living laboratory of Virginia. RISE's successful execution of demonstrations based on Grand Challenges extends the potential for real-world piloting of resilience.
The Water Tower is a new breed of innovation center and the answer to a multitude of complex challenges facing the water industry. Through its extensive public water utility experience and networks, The Tower serves as the Hub's outreach to 1000s of systems and operators.
The ISRC is a UN-affiliated center of excellence connecting global best practices for "People-First" partnerships and investment to address common disaster-mitigation challenges.Based in New Orleans, and borne from the lessons-learned during Hurricane Katrina, ISRC serves as the Hub's international gateway.
InsurTechNY is the leading forum, accelerator, and events management organization in the Greater New York City region for engaging early-stage technology companies addressing insurance and reinsurance carriers, brokers demand for new solutions to operational, risk, and mitigation challenges.
The Delta Institute serves the Midwest US and Great Lakes Region is a convening and facilitating environmental and resilience risk mitigation solution provider, accelerator, and unique partner for public and private sector alliances.
There are any number of opportunities for partnering with the Resilience Innovation Hub and Collaboratory Eco-System as a sponsor or underwriter of content, events, and/or projects that align with your organization’s immediate and near-term goals. From co-branding to thought leadership, from sparking a new technology solution to unlocking alternative capital – we can deliver across our partners and programs a customized go-to-market approach for you and your interests.
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We are honored to have two of our newest sponsors support the Hub's work:
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YOUR INITIAL STEP: SIGN-UP, SIGN-ON
Interested in being a strategic partner? Looking to invest or procure pre-vetted technologies? Looking to stay up-to-date on what the Hub is doing? Fill out the form below! From there, you’ll be able to learn about our programs, event schedule, opportunities and specific scenarios for supporting your business goals.
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Want to apply to become a Hub Portfolio Company?
Go to our Onboarding Process for Assessment of Needs and Expectations.