The 11th Annual International Crisis Management Conference concluded on Wednesday, June 17, after three days of learning, networking, and hands-on training in Newport, Rhode Island. The conference brought together professionals from crisis management, business continuity, resilience, security, emergency preparedness, cyber, and leadership for timely conversations about the risks organizations are managing today.
The final day opened with a strong lineup of presentations focused on resilience strategy, data-informed decisions, emerging risk, organizational strain, and third-party dependencies. Speakers included Bruce McIndoe of McIndoe Risk Advisory LLC, Karrie Smith of Scotiabank, Adam Wehrenberg of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, Aaron Marks of One Thirty Nine Consulting LLC, and Leslie O’Connor of Labcorp.
Together, their sessions gave attendees practical ways to think about risk, readiness, and response. Topics ranged from connecting resilience investments to business value and using data during a crisis to applying all-hazards thinking to AI, identifying unresolved weaknesses after recovery, and mapping third-party risks for a more coordinated response.
The afternoon shifted into hands-on tabletop workshops, giving attendees a chance to put ideas into practice. “Digital Fault Line: A Cyber Exercise”, led by X Force team members Brenden Glynn and Matt Giacobbi, focused on the business response side of a cyber event and the importance of coordination across legal, HR, PR, operations, and leadership.
“Reality Check: Crisis Response Validation”, led by Bob Keller, challenged participants to test decision-making, escalation, information flow, and crisis leadership roles during the critical early stages of an unfolding event. Both workshops reinforced a key theme of the conference: preparedness must be tested, practiced, and understood across the organization.
Across the full conference, ICMC 2026 delivered a strong mix of strategy, practical insight, peer exchange, and real-world application. The opening Meet & Greet, sponsored by PreparedEx, helped set the tone for meaningful connection. Day 2 continued with sessions, exhibitor conversations, and the Newport Harbor Networking Cruise aboard the Coastal Queen, sponsored by Big Weather Gear. The final day brought the conference to a close with focused presentations and interactive workshops that helped turn insight into action.
ICMC 2026 also reinforced the value of community in the crisis management and resilience field. This work is complex, high-pressure, and always evolving. Bringing professionals together creates space to share lessons, compare approaches, and build relationships that continue after the conference ends.
Thank you to the speakers, workshop leaders, sponsors, exhibitors, attendees, and partners who helped make ICMC 2026 a strong and meaningful gathering. Special thanks to PreparedEx, Big Weather Gear, RockDove Solutions for their continued support.
For those who want to stay connected beyond the conference, ICMC membership offers a way to continue the conversation, access year-round opportunities, and stay engaged with peers across the crisis management and resilience profession.
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