Broward County Presentation Emergency Management Contingency - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Broward County Presentation

Emergency Management Contingency Consulting Services – A2113624P1

March 13, 2018

E-mail: info@plexosgroup.com www.plexosgroup.com

BATON ROUGE

1800 City Farm Dr.

• Bldg. Four

Baton Rouge, LA70806 Phone: 225.757.5344

NEW ORLEANS

400 Poydras St. Suite 1165 New Orleans, LA 70130

NEWYORK

One Penn Plaza Suite 3655 New York, NY10119

SOUTH CAROLINA

1136 Washington St. Columbia, SC 29201

BOSTON

90 Canal Street Suite 445 Boston, MA 02114

STAFF QUALIFICATIONS

EXPERIENCE AND BACKGROUNDS

OUR LEADERSHIPTEAM

AREAS of EXPERTISE

2

Eric Kuntz, MBA, Senior Director Principal in Charge of Project

Eric Kuntz has 24 years of public and private experience, including 20 years of honorable military experience and 18 years

• f emergency management, previously

serving as the State Coordinator of Recovery for the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM). Mr. Kuntz managed $5.2 billion in federal disaster funds for 17 federally declared disasters, closing 8 open disasters and 55 Fire Management Assistance Grants. Prior to TDEM, Mr. Kuntz’s experience included Planning Chief for FEMA’s Louisiana Recovery Office, Louisiana Army National Guard; assigned to the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP) as the Critical Infrastructure Coordinator and Battle Captain during state and federally declared disasters. Major disasters included Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Gustav, Ike and Isaac as well as numerous flooding and severe weather events. Other assignments included the space shuttle disaster, 9/11 response, Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, dignitary and significant sporting events

• coordination. Mr. Kuntz is a Subject

Matter Expert on federal policy and procedure for all FEMA related projects.

Brigadier General Pete Schneider, Senior Vice President

Brigadier General Pete Schneider is Senior Vice President of Business Development and oversees the Government Services Division of Plexos Group, L.L.C. He has served a long and distinguished military career in the Louisiana National Guard for

• ver 30 years before becoming a consultant

with the Plexos Group. He has handled mission readiness, operations, and administrative coordination of over 1500

• personnel. He has planned, budgeted,

designed and executed communication strategies to inform and educate the community on public affairs, and commanded wing sections on daily functions, including coordinating all travel activities, implementing and monitoring command procedures, policies and

• programs. His experience in problem

solving, managing large complex projects, assistance in disaster recovery, and compliance with federal requirements and regulations has made him a valuable subject matter expert on a number of engagements.

Paul Rainwater, Chief Strategy Officer

Paul Rainwater has served in numerous government roles over the past 20 years distinguishing him in the political arena as

• ne of the most experienced professionals in

disaster recovery funding. Through successful congressional testimony, he was responsible for the appropriation of over $14 billion in FEMA and HUD programs approved for the State of LA after Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Gustav, and Ike. He is continually sought after on a national basis to lecture on this topic. He has addressed audiences at Louisiana State University, Tulane University, New York University, and the National Academy of Sciences for Engineering. He has led successful initiatives in emergency management for the City of New Orleans’ Sewerage & Water Board and the Restore Louisiana Program. Paul is a certified Local Government Manager and a veteran who served U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu’s office and the Jindal Administration. During his tenure as the Executive Director of the LA Recovery Authority (LRA), he developed substantial relationships with the Federal Executive Branch, federal agency leads, and many others which are maintained to this day. Program Management Disaster Response & Recovery FEMA Public Assistance FEMA Individual Assistance 404 & 406 Hazard Mitigation Fire Management Assistance HUD CDBG Analytics & Reporting Policies & Procedures Financial Management IT Solutions Quality Assurance & Control Internal Audit Procurement Change Management Class-Action Settlement Claims Intake & Processing Process Optimization Business Strategy Appeals Alternative Funding Sources Fraud Detection

STAFF QUALIFICATIONS

EXPERIENCE AND BACKGROUNDS AREAS of EXPERTISE

3

Quez Jones Public Assistance Specialist

• Mr. Jones has extensive experience in the

disaster recovery and Public Assistance industry, working to assist applicants of all sizes with incident-related financial and

• perational matters. His areas of expertise

include Project Closeout, PA Policy, Cost Estimation, Grant Management, Debris Management, Procurement, Improved and Alternate Projects as well as Appeals and

• Arbitration. Mr. Jones has over 13 years of

relevant experience.

Craig Westerman, MPA Public Assistance Specialist

Craig Westerman has a bachelor’s degree in Disaster Science & Management in addition to over 10 years of relevant experience with 5 years in disaster recovery. He has served the State of Louisiana’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program as well as FEMA’s Public Assistance Program. He is experienced in business analyses such as scheduling deliverables and performing trend analyses, preparing damage assessments for Category A-G Project Worksheets, and providing technical guidance on project closeouts in accordance with local, state, and federal compliance.

Fenton Dean Project Team Lead

Fenton Dean has more than 12 years of relevant experience working in emergency response specializing in FEMA Public Assistance and FEMA HMGP projects, disaster recovery, grant management, and aviation management leading teams to deliver exceptional performance in

• perations and project management roles.

He has overseen emergency management and federal compliance initiatives for 12 hurricanes, flood events, and the 2015 Avian Influenza outbreak. His areas of expertise include public assistance, governmental compliance, project management, PA policy, safety, security and environmental audits, operations management, contract review and negotiation, dispute resolution, damage assessments, quality assurance and controls, public procurement as well as Project Worksheet writing and review. Additionally,

• Mr. Dean is experienced in aviation

transportation and planning and technical writing of masterplans for regional and international airports. Program Management Disaster Response & Recovery FEMA Public Assistance FEMA Individual Assistance 404 & 406 Hazard Mitigation Fire Management Assistance HUD CDBG Analytics & Reporting Policies & Procedures Financial Management IT Solutions Quality Assurance & Control Internal Audit Procurement Change Management Class-Action Settlement Claims Intake & Processing Process Optimization Business Strategy Appeals Alternative Funding Sources Fraud Detection

Tim Desmarais Public Assistance Specialist

Timothy Desmarais has over 8 years of disaster recovery experience, 18 years of computer experience, and 11 years of combined management experience which includes closing out nearly $113 million in FEMA PA projects across Louisiana, some of which are considered legacy

• disasters. Mr. Desmarais has provided

technical assistance to clients for the implementation of disaster recovery projects in accordance with the Stafford Act, EPA, NEPA, and other Federal and State guidelines.

PROPOSED PROJECT TEAM

STAFF QUALIFICATIONS

EXPERIENCE AND BACKGROUNDS

4

William Gould, MBA, Disaster Recovery Specialist PROJECT CONTROLS / AUDIT

William Gould performs grant management consultation and disaster recovery services for Public Assistance applicants on projects more than $57 million and implements quality assurance and control functions for internal financial reviews and operational feasibility analysis, drafts, reconciles and reviews reports used for submission and reimbursement of eligible expenses. He analyzes inherent and likely risks to projects and suggests internal controls to mitigate risks to an acceptable level. William is responsible for formulation of financial risk and feasibility analysis used in the client’s decision- making.

Wendell Allen Disaster Recovery Specialist APPEALS / CLOSEOUT

Wendell Allen has 12 years of experience in large program management, emergency management preparedness, FEMA Public Assistance (PA), FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP), and FEMA Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) Program projects. Mr. Allen currently provides FEMA PA and HMGP services as part of the response and recovery team for various projects including the 2015 flooding in South Carolina. Mr. Allen previously served as the Section Administrator of Recovery for the Texas Division of Emergency Management in which he managed a staff of 30 recovery officers and 3 grant administrators on 14 presidentially- declared disasters. Mr. Allen is a veteran who served twenty-four years in the United States Air Force on multiple assignments and positions as Security Forces (military police) assigned to bases in Texas, Wyoming, New Mexico, and overseas in Turkey and Italy.

Lara Robertson, AICP Senior Director HUD CDBG-DR

Lara Robertson has over 20 years of experience managing CDBG community recovery and redevelopment initiatives from concept to completion. Ms. Robertson’s expertise includes planning and implementation of disaster response and recovery initiatives, and executive management of diverse, legacy-scale programs in conformance with federal, state, and local laws. As a result of Hurricanes Katrina/Rita, Ms. Robertson was responsible for designing and managing the largest elevation program in U.S. history jointly funded by HUD and

• FEMA. This effort resulted in the elevation
• f over 11,000 homes in Louisiana. In

addition, Ms. Robertson has been directly responsible for the management and compliance of over $11 billion in federally funded programs while working with HUD and FEMA officials to obtain the flexibility needed to effectively address recovery needs, streamline recovery processes, and achieve closeout. Prior to serving as Senior Director of Plexos, Ms. Robertson served as the Director for the State of LA, Office of Community Development (OCD-DRU), the state agency responsible for the administration of $13.4 billion in CDBG funding allocated to the state for Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and $1 billion for Hurricanes Gustav and Ike.

Alydia Washington, Disaster Recovery Specialist INSURANCE

Alydia Washington is a professional disaster recovery expert with over 7 years of experience in the industry working for Louisiana’s state emergency management agency (GOHSEP) as well as in the private sector. Her experience in the FEMA Public Assistance field spans various areas including, but not limited to: hazard mitigation, insurance regulatory compliance, interpretation of Stafford Act and 44 CFR laws and regulations, invoice, accounting and payroll administration as well as closeout and audit.

Sharon Mack, Disaster Recovery Specialist MITIGATION

Sharon Mack is a professional disaster recovery expert with 12+ years in the industry having worked on behalf of Federal and private entities. She has gained expertise during tenure as a disaster recovery consultant including, but not limited to: FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, policy advisory, temporary infrastructure and facility installation, historic and environmental preservation, programmatic regulatory compliance, applicant consultation regarding all aspects of the FEMA Public Assistance program as well as audit and closeout procedures.

ADDITIONAL BENCH STRENGTH

EXPERIENCE

PROJECT TIMELINE

5

Plexos Group brings the most experienced and seasoned experts in the industry to advise and assist our clients throughout the entire disaster recovery

• process. Select projects are outlined in the table below:

A BUSINESS APPROACH TO DISASTER RECOVERY

DISASTER RECOVERY SERVICES

Disaster Recovery Hazard Mitigation Damage Assessment HUD CDBG Close-Out Appeals QA/QC InternalAudit Plexosoft Reporting Engine Reporting & Analytics

With over 100 years of combined experience and over 20,000 Project Worksheets (PWs) under our belt, our team of experienced FEMA disaster recovery experts are specialized in program management of small- to legacy-scale disaster recovery initiatives, including project formulation, project management, and closeout. We have worked together with various local, state, and federal partners during natural and man-made emergencies. Our goals include: The use of our sound recovery model and best practices have resulted in no findings by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG). Plexos is currently providing innovative housing solutions to the U.S. Virgin Islands Housing Finance Authority under FEMA Category B funding. Plexos has subject matter expertise in 404 and 406 Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA). Our team focuses on actively identifying and educating clients regarding hazard mitigation opportunities. We will work with our clients to take advantage of this additional funding to strengthen and improve infrastructure, seizing every opportunity to protect against future damage, including

• pportunities to build Section 406 HM projects into project worksheets, as well as opportunities for

404 HMGP funding through the State. Our knowledge of mitigation projects, all-hazards planning, floodplain mapping, risk assessment, PA, the Stafford Act, and the NFIP provides our clients with new approaches in maximizing mitigation funding and resilient community recovery.

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Planning Planning for an integrated approach to recovery should begin before a disaster occurs Response Assistance with response efforts to accelerate reimbursement funding for damages incurred Recovery Implementation of recovery initiatives from project inception to close-

• ut

Mitigation Hazard Mitigation funding is often

• verlooked and

underutilized

• Collaborating with clients to ensure complete and thorough documentation is acquired and

maintained from inception to close-out, thereby reducing the risk of de-obligation

• Providing staff augmentation allowing personnel to return to pre-disaster operations more

quickly

• Consulting with insurance providers to minimize insurance proceeds and maximize total

federal assistance obligations and expedite closeout and removal of disaster-related projects from books

A BUSINESS APPROACH TO DISASTER RECOVERY

DISASTER RECOVERY SERVICES

Disaster Recovery Hazard Mitigation Damage Assessment HUD CDBG Close-Out Appeals QA/QC Internal Audit Plexosoft Reporting Engine Reporting &Analytics

Plexos Group has developed cutting edge damage assessment software specifically designed to accurately capture all required information needed to populate the project worksheet. Our information is safely stored on internal servers and readily available to populate the project file. Additionally, the data collected from these assessments is used to establish accurate project budgets and complete projects within funding allocations. We have the capability to secure extensive surveying assets including a GIS team, environmental staff, and drones for aerial damage assessments, if needed. We have proven that we can rapidly mobilize to collect perishable data and perform damage assessments. Plexos also invests internally in ongoing outreach and training to provide bench strength for our response initiatives and to leverage our national expertise of disaster recovery programs.

7

DISASTER RECOVERY SERVICES

A BUSINESS APPROACH TO DISASTER RECOVERY

Disaster Recovery Hazard Mitigation Damage Assessment HUD CDBG Close-Out Appeals QA/QC InternalAudit Plexosoft Reporting Engine Reporting &Analytics

Plexos staff is nationally recognized as experts in HUD Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) program design, management, policy development, regulatory assistance, and compliance with federal regulations. Our experts have designed and managed the largest HUD CDBG-DR program in U.S. history – with over $13 billion in funds

• dispersed. Plexos is currently providing subject matter expertise and advisory

support for CDBG-DR in New York’s Build it Back and New York Rising programs; for the City of Columbia, SC; and the State of Louisiana’s Restore Louisiana housing program. Plexos uses risk management tools to assess and prioritize project risks and implement mitigation measures developed to uphold compliance with federal and state regulations, maximize use of federal dollars, and deliver a final audit-quality closeout file. Our staff work with clients to establish a paper and electronic filing system based on project worksheets. Our document retention and management system reduces the risk of de-obligation of federal funding and can decrease closeout time and increase reimbursement of costs incurred. Our team of specialists will review all associated project worksheet versions following 44 CFR Part 13, Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-87, and 2 CFR Part 200 and will apply industry-accepted sampling standards to evaluate the adequacy of documentation. When documentation is not available, we support our clients to justify eligible costs in accordance with federal regulations. The Plexos Team makes every effort to proactively identify contentious issues and work towards swift resolution before a time-consuming appeals process begins. When appeals do become necessary, our team has the experience, knowledge, and expertise to articulate the problem, provide presence and continuously monitor the situation until a decision is provided. Plexos has assisted with a number of appeals and key staff is significantly experienced with the FEMA appeals process. We can assist our clients with preparing the necessary request and supporting information for both first and second appeals, if necessary.

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A BUSINESS APPROACH TO DISASTER RECOVERY

DISASTER RECOVERY SERVICES

Disaster Recovery Hazard Mitigation Damage Assessment HUD CDBG Close-Out Appeals QA/QC InternalAudit Plexosoft Reporting Engine Reporting & Analytics

Our team implements stand-alone internal audit programs for all complex projects. This independent body is responsible for:

• Evaluation of the effectiveness of funding controls
• Verification of adherence to program policies
• Comparison of processes to established SOPs
• Mitigation of non-compliance, improper payment and

funding de-obligation risk

• Ensure risks are appropriately defined and managed
• Communication of findings and recommendations to

stakeholders The Plexosoft Reporting Engine (PRE) is a real-time dashboard for reporting and analytics. The PRE seamlessly integrates existing data from a variety of data sources to provide customized dashboard reports which are accessed online and tailored specifically to individual functional groups and management teams. The PRE also easily integrates with commercial Business Intelligence tools to produce visually appealing reports. The PRE is currently providing detailed dashboard reporting on FEMA PA, FEMA HMGP, and CDBG-DR projects for various disasters across the country. This system is also used extensively to aggregate data from various databases and data sources for risk management and is currently integrating Access Database, Excel, and other data sets. Plexos Group’s overall approach to quality is to thoroughly assess and understand requirements and needs, and to subsequently plan and perform work in a manner that meets those needs with a focus on employing industry best practices. Plexos Group developed a well-defined QA/QC program for the Deepwater Horizon Economic and Property Damage Settlement Program that proved to be extremely responsive and effective. Plexos Group’s 360-degree approach to QA/QC ensured that documentation remained consistent, accurate and performed in accordance with program requirements. Our proven ability to implement best practices, identify issues and make recommendations regarding compliance allows our clients to maintain integrity and public confidence from project inception to closeout.

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A BUSINESS APPROACH TO DISASTER RECOVERY

DISASTER RECOVERY SERVICES

Disaster Recovery Hazard Mitigation Damage Assessment HUD CDBG Close-Out Appeals QA/QC InternalAudit Plexosoft Reporting Engine Reporting &Analytics

Our data analytics team produces daily, weekly, monthly, and quarterly dashboards and detailed reports to assess the current status of each program and to forecast resolutions. This reporting enables continuous

• improvement. Many of our standard reports and metrics include:
• Operational throughput and velocity
• Cost and time per unit
• Production pipelines
• Utilization and efficiency rates
• Backlog and aging
• Vendor and KPI scorecards
• Historical and forecasted trends
• Payments and disbursements

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A UNIQUELY QUALIFIED TEAM

UNMATCHED EXPERTISE AND CAPABILITIES

The founding partners of Plexos Group are business-minded individuals with extensive knowledge in the principles of finance and management. As they refined their processes and the firm began to grow, these principles have remained at our core. The Disaster Recovery Division of Plexos was developed with a business model approach. Our services for providing technical knowledge and experience, proven business processes, and policy strategies in Grant Management are modeled after the recurring audit findings found in the annual Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General Capping Report. The 2017 Capping Report specifically states the OIG will “audit Accountability, Monetary Values, Grant Management, 406 Hazard Mitigation, Unsupported Costs, and Administrative Issues”. Consequently, our business process and analytics account for these six areas along with several other areas most favored by the Inspector General. As a result, our clients have received favorable audits where all federal funding was accounted for and no recommendation for de-obligations. Our team of experts brings a long, rich history of disaster recovery experience, and coupled with our more recent projects, has served opportunities in eight states and four separate FEMA Regions. Our experience will afford Broward County the precedence we’ve encountered around the country and the approval of funding and project trends. The decades of rapport building with federal and state agencies allow for smooth working relationships and straightforward solutions to complex issues.

Q & A

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