Much has been reported and much more will be heard about the threat of the bird flu pandemic that may strike the world later this year and into 2007. Most communities are preparing themselves for this catastrophic event. Loudoun County, Virginia is no different. An active preparation program is underway using hundreds of volunteers as the triage and emergency response teams mobilize and train.

Cornerstone HR Consulting will provide expert information at our October 17 Executive Breakfast Presentation Series. This will be a much different session than in the past. The topic being presented will unveil some truths about the Bird Influenza and the Pandemic that can result. We are pleased to have as our speaker Benita Boyer, RN, MS, CIC, who is the district epidemiologist for the Loudoun County Health Department. For several months she and the staff at the Health Department have been making presentations to help the community prepare for this cataclysmic event. We are very pleased to have our group added to the list.

As district epidemiologist for the emergency preparedness, Benita’s responsibilities include the surveillance and detection of possible epidemic outbreaks and biological weapons attacks, as well as the formation of response teams and strategies. She has had an extensive career in the field of nursing, 26 of which have been devoted to hospital and public health epidemiology.

Benita will describe an influenza pandemic and the unique characteristics that set it apart from other public health disasters. She will explain how such an outbreak in our area could impact businesses for weeks to months following the onset of disease, and how human resource management will be impacted, and the potential for serious illness and even deaths. The efforts are about preparedness. The information pertains to both personal and organizational status. Please attend and become better informed.

Please see the box for contact information to make your reservation. We have limited space, so get in touch with us soon to book your spot.

The Glenfiddich Forum for Women will have a very special treat at its October 25, 2006 gathering. Our speaker for that day will be Dr. Kathleen Saylor, CEO – REHAU North America. Dr. Saylor becomes the first female CEO of the German-owned company, and the first CEO not a member of the company’s founding Wagner family. Prior to this significant promotion, Kitty was Vice President of Human Resources, having started with REHAU in 1994 as a training and organizational development specialist.

There are several sides to this story that make Kitty’s visit to the Women’s Forum very special. The most obvious may be that a human resources executive was elevated to the top spot. It is not often that an executive out of the revenue-producing stream is given such responsibility. And in parallel to that, Kitty’s career path has stayed well outside the usual track for such a journey.

Perhaps it is her style that sets her apart. In her words: “I’ve learned to listen and not assume that one way is the correct way. There are many different ways to manage and lead people. The key is taking the time to understand the different approaches. Once you understand them it’s actually not so difficult.

We can look forward to Kitty sharing her story with us.  We hope you will join us for this important presentation and discussion that follows.