Disaster Recovery International Institute’s 2026 Newcomer of the Year

The first 12 years of my professional career were in higher education student life before transferring to business continuity (BC). I have felt welcomed and valued in the BC professional community from the start.

“This award welcomes and encourages those who are new to the profession and bring with them fresh ideas and perspectives. The award recognizes up-and-coming leaders who display ingenuity and understand the wider impact of business continuity within their organizations.” - Disaster Recovery International Institute (DRII).

I’m proud to announce that I’ve been awarded the DRII 2026 Newcomer of the Year award. This award is a testament to my journey. Once I caught the business continuity bug and understood how valuable the work is to any and every organization, I knew I would center the rest of my career on strengthening organizational resilience.

In the wise words of my undergraduate Public Relations professor, the late Dr. John Witting, “Always get involved in your industry’s conference, even if you have to use your own money.”