HVBF Monthly Meeting - Information Systems Roundtable
Thursday, November 8, 2001, 8:30 AM - 9:30 AM

Host:

Loyola College in Maryland

Attending:

Steve Antonsen, Colliers Pinkard
Clare Berrang, Mackenzie / ONCOR International
Joe Biglin, BreakAway Games
Drew Bonthron, Baltimore Gas & Electric Co
Susan Boresen, Systems Alliance
Kris Deardorff, Becton Dickinson
Donald Dripps, URS
Jan Albert-Elliott, Community College of Baltimore County
Gary Green, Becton Dickinson
Rick Heisey, PDP Group Inc
Rod Hemphill, Eastern Savings Bank
Dan Jagodzinski, Medical Mutual Liability Insurance Society of MD
John Kessler, Eastern Savings Bank
Meg Lehman, Merritt Properties
Yeong Liou, JMT Engineering
Alan Mlinarchik, KCI Technologies
Mary Louise Montague, O’Conor, Piper & Flynn ERA
Joe Onners, Jones Lang LaSalle Americas
David Powell, AAI Corp
Paul Richards, Systems Alliance
Randall Scott, State Highway Administration
Toni Siegle, Community College of Baltimore County 
Terri Sonntag, Advance Business Systems
Robert A. Truchon, Merritt Properties
Shirley Tyler, Right Management
Allen Wainger, EA Engineering
Rick Webb, Atlantic Financial Federal Credit Union
Lynn White, Colliers Pinkard
Dana Wiedefeld, Atlantic Financial Federal Credit Union

Drew Bonthron of Baltimore Gas & Electric Company introduced Bob Cornelius, Business Continuity Program Manager at the utility. Bob can be reached at 410-234-7938 or email robert.w.cornelius@bge.com. for questions relating to his presentation.

Disaster recovery is an all-encompassing activity that includes recovery of information systems as a key component. Bob pointed out that the book is being written on recovery from a disaster the magnitude of the September 11 attack. There has been no place to draw model recovery information based on historical experience. 

B G & E started by using the Strohl Systems software to build systems and plans. Site emergency teams were created. Risks were evaluated by type and recovery time was prioritized. Play Books were created to detail responses by department. The process was similar to Y2K preparations. 

Rick Heisey of PDP Group started out with the Strohl System but found it too limiting and cumbersome. They developed an in-house Lotus Notes database that is replicated during each day to managers’ laptops in the event the data is needed.

Bob Cornelius pointed out the need to keep the fire and police departments advised of plans. This must be tempered by the your security requirements. B G & E could not make public their plans for recovery in the event of a disaster. The nature of your business and the size of your company must determine who needs to know your detailed plans. 

Disaster recovery has become a critical activity. If you have developed a plan that works for you and would like to share it with other members of the Forum, please use this Roundtable as a means to do this.