Posted by Todd Ellebruch on Mon, Jul 27, 2009 @ 03:47 PM
Carrara Companies free Disaster Planning and Disaster Recovery Seminar, will be held on Wednesday, September 2, 2009 from 9am - 4pm at Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens, 714 North Portage Path, Akron, Ohio.
Co-sponsored by Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens and presented by Steamatic by Carrara Companies, this seminar is for the professional archivist and records manager, librarian, and/or caretakers of special collections. In addition to disaster recovery specialists and professionals whose focus is business continuity. Program leaders will teach the proper steps to prepare for all types of disasters. The disaster recovery portion of this seminar will help your institution assess damages, and facilitate recovery. Information from the seminar will be helpful at all stages of disaster recovery planning, whether your institution is just beginning to formulate a plan or if your in the process of refining your existing plan.
Discussions will consist of the importance of any business having a disaster recovery plan. Planning for the things we never want to think about, let alone happen. Having a plan will drastically improve your recovery time and business interruption. The last thing you want to be doing is surfing through the yellow pages at 11pm after a disaster happens. We will also be discussing the different things to plan for. Recovery tips on different situations. This seminar will allow some to start the process on having a disaster plan and will allow others to fine tune or update their plan.
To register online, please visit us here, or contact Eric Schlaubach at 330.575.3477 or via eschlaubach@carraracompanies.com.
Posted by Todd Ellebruch on Mon, May 18, 2009 @ 07:24 AM
When a disaster occurs, it usually happens when you are least prepared, and damaging materials and equipment, you cannot afford to lose. When you know what needs to be done before, during, and after an incident, you can prevent the initial panic and overwhelming feeling of loss. A disaster recovery plan will reduce the extent of the damage, and assist you in carrying out an organized recovery effort.
Disaster plans differ from one organization to the next, but they all contain the basic principles addressing pre-loss preventative measures, emergency procedures, and post-loss recovery efforts. Here are the six starting points you need when drafting your Disaster Recovery Plan.
- Goals: Determine and prioritize the goals for your organization. They must have support and validity from the senior-most personnel.
- Simplicity: Simply put make it simple. A complex plan full of fluff will cause more of a disaster when it becomes time to execute. Keep the goals and priorities clear and simple, and the plan will be successful.
- Maintenance: Periodically schedule a review of the plan, which is usually about every six months. This is necessary as administrative information changes, along with job responsibilities, and business goals and priorities.
- Practice: Setup disaster drills to ensure the plan actually works as intended. Separate out the weak links, and make changes as necessary.
- Business Impact Analysis (BIA): Quantify the hard cost of the business or portion of the business being inoperable. This loss is cumulative dollars verses time. This will define the window of time available to renew business operations, and define the restoration project timeline.
- Risk Analysis: Vital documentation should be defined, as 5% - 7% of total documentation exists in original copy form. The location of this documentation must be written into the plan to ensure recovery. Consider either safe storage options or maintaining backups offsite. Critical assets and equipment, along with critical business partners, must be written into the plan and addressed as well.
Contact Eric Schlaubach or Jim Dunphy for more information about establishing your own Disaster Recovery Plan.
Posted by Todd Ellebruch on Wed, Apr 15, 2009 @ 10:12 AM
In this tough economy, it is hard to remember there are times throughout the year, which normally bring fun and enjoyment. This past Easter, sales team members Eric Schlaubach and Jim Dunphy, decided to help spread the excitement of the season by dressing up as bunnies and visiting customers in claim centers and insurance agencies. 
“Our goal was not only to create a memorable experience, but to bring a smile to the faces of everyone we visited,” says Eric Schlaubach, as he passed out ceramic mugs filled with nuts and jellybeans. “Imagine sitting at your desk, and two full-size rabbits come walking through your door bearing gifts. Everyone wanted their picture taken with the Easter Bunny, and every reception was the same,” says Eric.
Both Jim and Eric visited clients and customers throughout Northeast and Central Ohio, and look forward to continuing the spread of cheer the rest of the year. Says Jim Dunphy, “This is the one aspect of my job I love … and I think I’m going to look for a turkey outfit for Thanksgiving."
"And, I’ll be the pilgrim looking to score a big bird,” followed Eric.
Bunny costumes provided by Mr. Funs Costumes & Magic Emporium.