William F. Lawson,
Director, Midwest Region
104 West 9th Street
Suite 10
Kansas City, MO 64105 Tel:
(816) 842-1778
Mobile: (913) 488-4549
wlawson@bens.org
Introduction
"On behalf of the members of Business Executives for National Security in Kansas City, we cordially invite you to consider joining us in support of the 'Business Voice' for national security.
"BENS Midwest represents and supports a bipartisan membership of over 60 business leaders and executives. Kansas City members are dedicated to expanding BENS' uniqueness by serving on "citizen oversight" for preservation and protection of our national security apparatus. We have become actively involved in Kansas City by integrating the BENS business component in Homeland Security coordination at the local, state, and federal levels."
Landon H. Rowland,
Chairman, Business Executives for National Security
Kansas City
If you have questions or would like additional information of any kind, contact William F. Lawson at 816-842-1778 or wlawson@bens.org.
back
to top
Regional Executive Committee
Mr. Landon H. Rowland *
Chairman, President & CEO, Everglades Financial
Mr. Thomas H. Holcom*
President & CEO, Pioneer Financial Services
Mr. David G. Beaham *
Prisident & CEO, Faultless Starch - Bon Ami Company
Mr. Stephen Dees
Attorney-at-Law, Shook, Hardy & Bacon LLP
Ms. Cathleen Dodson Macauley
Chairman, Dodson Holding Group
*Also a member of the BENS Board of Directors
back
to top
MidAmerica Business Force
Business Executives for National Security has established a MidAmerica Business Force to address business concerns for National Security. The Business Force harnesses the assets and expertise of private companies to fill deficiencies in state government preparedness for terrorist attacks and other catastrophic events. The MidAmerica Business Force works with the Governors of the states of Missouri, Kansas Iowa and Nebraska to bring “best business” practices to bear on their homeland security challenges. The BENS’ MidAmerica Business Force works with state governments to address the region’s vulnerability to disasters whether natural or terrorist related. The Business Force effort develops homeland security capabilities that are leveraged through a partnership between the public and private sectors. A primary focus is Agricultural Biosecurity threats as a critical infrastructure component to Homeland Security issues. The MidAmerica Business Force is a unique government/academia/private sector partnership to address agricultural terrorism, and natural agricultural disasters.
We believe there are four specific approaches to utilize the expertise and experience of potential Business Force members in regard to Agricultural BioSecurity:
- Provide opportunities to help shape legislation by working with Congress and the administration in developing policies, priorities and funding for homeland security programs.
- Develop an advisory relationship between Business Force members and Institutions of higher learning in the area of Agricultural Biosecurity.
- Increase public-private sector participation in the Business Response Network (BRN). The BRN connects emergency management personnel to needed private sector resources (goods, services, equipment, volunteers) quickly and effectively during a catastrophic event. The BRN system uses a secured database available to emergency management through the internet.
- The Business Response Network (BRN) is an actionable database of private sector companies that would provide goods and/or services upon declaration of the Governor that a State of Emergency exists in the State. Continually assess Homeland Security policies, including the Department of Homeland Security’s National Response Plan(NRP) from an Agricultural Biosecurity perspective. Propose appropriate solutions to address agricultural shortfalls and sustainment needs for the Nation.
For addition information, please visit the MidAmerica Business Force website.
back
to top
2008 Regional Events
January 9, 2008 - General William S. Wallace, Commanding General, United States Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC). General Wallace assumed the duties of Commander, TRADOC on October 13, 2005, after serving as the Commanding General, United States Army Combined Arms Center and Fort Leavenworth.
January 25, 2008 - General (ret) James L. Jones former Supreme Allied Commander, Europe; and current President and CEO, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Institute for 21st Century Energy. Recently, GEN Jones was appointed by Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice to serve as Special Envoy for Middle East Security.
February 6, 2008 – Business Preparedness Pandemic Tabletop Exercise. Have established a National Security Series called Operation Resilient Guard that is a framework for developing private sector/public sector partnerships, and promote business and government continuity through joint planning and collaboration. We executed this initiative on February 6, 2008 through a Business Preparedness Pandemic Tabletop Exercise with over 100 participants. The goal of this exercise was to increase the readiness of business leaders within the Kansas City region in preparation for a pandemic event, to mitigate their vulnerabilities during a pandemic influenza outbreak, and to identify gaps or weaknesses in pandemic planning in organization business continuity plans, policies, and procedures and to increase their appreciation of the need for reg
ion wide cooperation and communication before, during and after the event. BENS was supported in this exercise by a multiple cross section of partners including Shook, Hardy & Bacon LLP; MidAmerica Regional Council; The Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce; Fleishman Hillard; Bayer CropScience; Midwest Research Institute; Booz Allen Hamilton; Kansas City Health Department, and FEMA Region VII.
April 8, 2008 – National Security Award Dinner. To an enthusiastic gathering on April 8, 2008, BENS KC unveiled the Stanley A. Weiss National Security Award which was presented to BENS as an organization in recognition of its 25 years of supporting national security interests. At the gala 
black tie dinner over 200 guests were treated to inspirational audiovisual and spoken tributes to our Nation’s national security interests.
Former United States Attorney General John Ashcroft was the keynote speaker, and congratulated BENS as the leading private-sector organization working for a more secure America. Ashcroft said, “BENS is so important, because it defends our most important value - liberty. For me it is an honor to be here with those who believe business executives have an interest in national security, and should be welcomed at the table because their absence would leave a tremendous vacuum in those things that must be done.
”The focus of the evening was honoring BENS and its Founding Chairman, Stanley A. Weiss. Master of Ceremony for the evening, Mr. Landon H. Rowland said, “We are here tonight to celebrate public private partnerships in a national security endeavor which has brought us together as concerned citizens. BENS represents these partnerships at its best.”
October 18
Major General Tod Bunting, The Adjutant General of Kansas, and the Director of Homeland Security. As Adjutant General, Major
back
to top
2007 Regional Events
October 18
Major General Tod Bunting, The Adjutant General of Kansas, and the Director of Homeland Security. As Adjutant General, Major General Bunting oversees the activities of The Adjutant General’s Department. This includes providing personnel administration and training guidance for over 7,700 soldiers and airmen in the Kansas Army and Air National Guard.
August 27
In June of this year, our Guest this morning, Captain Herman Shelanski hosted a group of Kansas City BENS members – many here today – aboard the USS Harry S. Truman – stationed 200 miles off the coast of Virginia. For the next day and a half the group watched F/A – 18 Hornet carrier qualifications until after midnight, walked the length (1096 feet) and width (251 feet) of the flight deck numerous times while dodging aircraft – landing and taking off, and stair-stepped up and down the 20 stories of the ship. It certainly lived up to its description – as 97,000 Tons of Diplomacy.
July 31
Mr. Monte C. Strait, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Kansas City Field Office. Mr. Strait joined the Federal Bureau of Investigation in 1974, and on October 5, 2006, he was appointed as the Special Agent in Charge in the Kansas City Office.
May 29
Congressman Ike Skelton, Missouri. United States Representative Ike Skelton (D-MO) has represented Missouri’s Fourth Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives since 1977. A leader in the House on defense issues, Skelton is the Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee.
April 9
Dr. Mitchell (Mick) M. Zais. Dr. Zais has been president of Newberry College since August of 2000. Before becoming Newberry College’s 20th president, Dr. Zais served his country for over 30 years as an officer in United States Army, attaining the rank of brigadier general. A paratrooper and Ranger, Dr. Zais served in a wide variety of infantry units, in Vietnam, the United States, and Korea.
February 26
Kansas Senator Pat Roberts addressed a packed audience at a breakfast meeting of BENS members and guests. Senator Roberts covered several topics including his new committee assignments, but spent most of his time discussing the war in Iraq. He made a very strong pitch for continuing our support of the war and painted a drastic picture of the consequences of pulling out U.S. troops without having first achieved stability in that very fragile nation.
January 30
Don Hays, BENS Chief Operating Officer and former UN Ambassador for Management Reform, gave a talk to Kansas City BENS members and their guests. His talk centered on his experiences in various ambassadorial assignment around the globe and on his enthusiasm for the work being done by BENS, in particular the work of the BENS of the Business Force in fostering public sector/private sector partnerships.
back
to top
2006 Regional Events
November 19
BENS hosted a member appreciation day at Arrowhead Stadium. Members saw the Kansas City Chiefs defeat the Oakland Raiders from the comfort of the Faultless Starch/Bon Ami suite.
November 13
Several BENS members took a three and a half hour flight on a Kansas Air National Guard KC-135 refueling tanker. The trip was a training exercise for the Kansas Air Guard and members got to see up close and personal several refueling hook ups with an RC-135 reconnaissance aircraft.
September 27
Kansas City BENS members attended a reception and discussion given by former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright at the Dole Institute on the campus of the University of Kansas
July 19
Lieutenant Joseph Inge, Deputy Commander of USNORTHCOM gave a presentation at the River Club that reviewed the activities underway to defend North America.
April 20
Dinner with Army Secretary Francis Harvey at the recently restored National World War I museum, the Liberty Memorial was well attended by BENS members and their guests.
March 2
Reception for Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld at the Truman Library followed by a policy speech on the war in Iraq given by Secretary Rumsfeld in the Truman Library auditorium
February 22
Dinner with Gen. Richard Myers (Ret.), former Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff. He spoke to BENS members about the Pentagon's response to Hurricane Katrina.
January 5
What happened to Missouri Rep. Ike Skelton while traveling with U.S. forces in Iraq? Find out.
back
to top
News Articles and Editorials
Group Musters Business to Help Protect Our Nation
The Kansas City Business Journal
February 17, 2006
Newsletter - Homeland Security Review
November 2005
Newsletter – Homeland Security Review
June 2006
Newsletter – Homeland Security Review
December 2006
back
to top
2008 Policy Initiatives
Missouri Emergency Resource Registry
- 2008 Missouri Priority – Implement with the State of Missouri a Missouri Emergency Resource Registry (MERR) integrated into Missouri’s E-Team across the state. Estimate June 2008 as Missouri MERR Initial Operational Capability state-wide. The MERR connects emergency management personnel to needed private sector resources (goods, services, equipment, volunteers) quickly and effectively during a catastrophic event.
- 2008 Kansas Priority – Begin working with the TAG, Kansas on a similar approach for a Kansas Emergency Resource Registry. MG Bunting has specifically requested our assistance, and approved the basic concept.
Terrorism Early Warning Group / Intelligence Fusion.
- 2008 Priority – Inconjuction with the Kansas City Interagency Analysis Center develop a public-sector information network. The TEW is a multi-jurisdictional intelligence / information fusion group involving Law Enforcement, Fire, Public Health, and the Private Sector. BENS is a member of the TEW Executive Committee, and will be the Senior Private Sector Coordinator
Business Operations Centers (BOC)
- 2008 Priority - Approved to establish a Business Operations Center presence within FEMA Region VII Regional Response Coordination Center (RRCC), the Missouri Emergency Operations Center, and the Kansas Emergency Operations Centers. Expand private sector participation.
Missouri Public-Private Partnership (MOP3)
- 2008 Missouri Priority - Formed per request of Director, Missouri Homeland Security a Public-Private Partnership sub-committee under the Governor’s Homeland Security Advisory Committee. This subcommittee will serve to provide advice, information, and recommendations on issues associated with Missouri’s Homeland Security Strategy from a private-sector perspective. Develop an “Industry Situational Awareness” template for the State of Missouri. Execute Situational Awareness reports in exercises, and in support of Governor declared disaster response.
Model State Legislative Liability Statutes
- 2008 Missouri Priority – Currently a Liability Task Force composed of pro-bono work from Shook, Hardy & Bacon LLP, and Missouri University (UMKC) School of Law is drafting proposed recommendations to existing language for adoption by the Missouri Legislature of liability issues to recognize protection that should be afforded to not for profit and for profit organizations that provide “volunteers” that participate in the Missouri Emergency Resource Registry (MERR). Estimated submission to State of Missouri is mid-Feb 2008.
back
to top
Program Initiatives
The Business Response Network - BRN
The State of Missouri is moving closer to developing a statewide BRN operational capability. The Business Response Network (BRN) will electronically connect emergency management personnel to needed private sector resources (goods, services, equipment, volunteers) quickly and effectively during a catastrophic event. BENS Kansas City plays a leadership role in assisting the state to design an operational asset management tool to support emergency preparedness and response.
The state expects to have a demonstration capability in 2Q07, and rollout an operational system with the Governor’s support in 3Q07.
In parallel with Missouri’s development, we are beginning discussion with Kansas and Nebraska to develop a BRN capability that supports each state’s unique emergency management system.
Missouri Public Private Partnership – MOP3
BENS worked directly with the State of Missouri, Office of Homeland Security, to establish a Public Private Partnership (P3) subcommittee, under the Governor’s Homeland Security Advisory Committee. The Missouri Public Private Partnership (MOP3) effort seeks to foster direct involvement of the private-sector to augment and support Missouri’s prioritized homeland security issues and initiative. This partnership seeks to involve the private sector as part of the solution to improve Missouri’s homeland security. It will promote the application of best business practices; collaborating on planning, training and exercise development; fostering participation in intelligence/information fusion; and provide a private-sector communication platform to address issues and concerns for homeland security initiatives. This subcommittee will serve to provide advice, information, and recommendations to the Governor associated with Missouri’s Homeland Security Strategy from a private-sector perspective.
BENS was appointed to Chair this committee and we are currently developing a structure to support Critical Infrastructure representation across the state.
Kansas Homeland Security Working Group
BENS serves as the private sector representative to this group, which meets once a month in Topeka, Kansas to receive updates from each KS governmental organization assigned to emergency management. Real time discussions are held on any issues effecting the safety and security of Kansas citizens and their property.
Exercise Development
For Missouri and neighboring states, earthquakes epicentered in the New Madrid Fault Zone pose the greatest “single-hazard” natural disaster which Central Mississippi Valley residents are ever likely to experience. Scientists say that an 8.7 magnitude earthquake would have the explosive power of more than a half million tons of TNT. Earthquake scientists acknowledge the New Madrid Fault, which crosses through the Boot heel in Southeast Missouri, as the most active seismic zone east of the Rocky Mountains. Risk management officials caution that while some businesses at least recognize the earthquake threat, too many companies have considered only the potential for loss of life and property destruction. What many businesses tend to overlook is the threat to the viability of the business itself. Disaster recovery consultants fear that some companies may be so severely devastated by a major earthquake that they may be unable to resume full operations soon enough to maintain market share, or even stay in business at all.
In order to better address these issues, BENS was recently appointed to the Missouri Earthquake Planning Committee, to develop private-sector participation in a state conducted exercise, SONS ’07 , in June 2007.
Terrorist Early Warning – TEW
BENS serves as the private-sector lead to support a Kansas City Regional Interagency Analysis Center – which was formed earlier this year.
The Center will bring local, state and federal law enforcement officials together with public and private organizations to detect, deter, and respond to terrorist treats in the Greater Kansas City community. It will help reduce the threat to public safety and security through a heightened level of inter-agency communications, analysis, and information sharing designed to anticipate and deter terrorism and other criminal acts. Initially, we will develop a personnel database that will be part of a push-pull system of information and intelligence exchanges between the TEW and the private sector.
For 2007 - The intent is to develop a spider-web network within and between corporate sectors, which has visibility with the Kansas City Regional TEW. Private sector involvement is increasing daily, and is poised to support development of a nation-wide DHS situational awareness capability to greatly enhance federal, state, and local abilities to address natural disasters and terrorists incidents.
Midwest Consolidate Security Forum – MCSF
Over the past year and a half, BENS worked with a consortium of organizations that comprise the Midwest security community to put together the first Midwest Consolidated Security Forum that was held in Kansas City May 10-12, 2006. Participants included: The Greater Kansas City Chapter of the American Society for Industrial Security (ASIS) International, The Federal Bureau of Investigation, InfraGard, Information Systems and Control Association (ISACA), Information Systems Security Association (ISSA), The Kansas City Police Department, MidAmerica Regional Council (MARC), the Kansas City Security Council, High Technology Crime Investigation Association (HTCIA), and the Partnership for Emergency Planning (PEP). This effort was a hallmark regional event in that it integrated many independent security forums under a single, focused conference theme structure.
BENS serves on the MCSF Executive Committee and chairs the Site Selection subcommittee. The second MCSF conference is scheduled for April 19 and 20, 2007 in Kansas City, Kansas.
back to top
MidAmerica Regional Council - Homeland Security Coordinating Council
The Mid-America Regional Council (MARC) is an association of city and county governments and is the metropolitan planning organization for the bistate Kansas City region. Through MARC's leadership, area jurisdictions and diverse community interests address the region's problems and identify the opportunities for cooperative solutions. BENS is a partnership leader with MARC and is the only business organization that participates on the Homeland Security Coordinating Council to address regional solutions to terrorist threats. Within MARC, BENS has created a Business Preparedness and Response Committee to involve the private sector in addressing homeland security issues that are of interest to businesses
back
to top
Command and General Staff College Industry Partnership Program
A tremendous success story for BENS-Kansas City, has been the model program with the U.S. Amy Command and General Staff College (CGSC). This program continues our efforts of membership engagement between the civilian and military communities of Kansas City. Under the CGSC-Industry Partnership Program a student team consists of U.S. and Allied officers select an Independent Research Project under the direction of a college advisor and the sponsoring Business Leader. Each project has a real-world research focus defined by the company. The student team works within the company and learns about corporate operations while producing a scholarly paper or monograph. The companies provide an environment and the leadership to train and coach the young officers. Participating companies have included Kansas City Southern, TRW/Northrop Grumman, Armed Forces Bank, Faultless Starch, and The Dodson Group. This program benefits the students, participating companies, and most certainly BENS.
back
to top
Committees
Kansas City members are dedicated to expanding BENS uniqueness by serving as “citizen oversight” for preservation and protection of our national security apparatus. We have become actively involved in Kansas City by integrating the BENS business component in Homeland Security coordination at local, and state levels. We have continued to build a strong regional presence, and concentrated on strengthening our senior membership involvement. Specific committees that BENS actively participate in include:
- Infragard/FBI Infrastructure Security Committee
- United States Attorneys Anti-Terrorism Advisory Committee (ATAC) for Western District of Missouri and Eastern District of Kansas
- MARC Regional Homeland Security Coordinating Council
- Senator Roberts State Advisory Committee on Science and Technology. Chair, Homeland Security Task Force
- Partnership with State of Missouri on Homeland Security
- Partnership with State of Kansas on Homeland Security
- Federal Emergency Management Agency, Region VII, Regional Interagency Steering Committee
- Missouri State Citizen’s Corps Advisory Committee
- FBI – Kansas City Citizens Academy
Past Speakers
Missouri Governor Bob Holden
General Ralph Eberhart
General Richard Myers
For a recap, see "Generally Speaking" in the May 2004 BENS Update.
Congressman Ike Skelton
For a recap, see "Skelton: "We are wearing out Armed Forces!" in the February 2004 BENS Update.
General Charles Boyd (ret)
President and CEO of BENS
Lieutenant General Scott Wallace
Dr. Jamie Metzl
Kansas Homeland Security Conference, supported by BENS Kansas City
Congressman Dennis Moore
Senator Pat Roberts
VIP Visit To Fort Leavenworth
Ambassador David Lambertson
Rebecca Grant
2002
Events
back to top
