Join LGW and Verizon for Safe, Sound & Successful, an engaging – and timely – panel discussion on Disaster Resilience for Small Businesses, featuring leaders from Verizon, the American Red Cross of the National Capital & Greater Chesapeake Region, the DC Department of Small and Local Business Development, and the US Chamber of Commerce Foundation.
As small businesses face increasing disruptions from extreme weather events to economic and operational shocks, this session will explore innovative strategies, digital tools, and cross-sector partnerships that support resilience and continuity. Panelists will highlight practical solutions, including Verizon’s Disaster Resilience Initiative, that strengthen preparedness, improve decision-making, and support recovery before, during, and after a crisis.
Moderated by LGW members Verizon's Mario Acosta-Velez (’05) and Joe Askew ('05), the panel will include Dale Kunce (’25), CEO of the American Red Cross of the National Capital & Greater Chesapeake Region; Courtney Schoon, Senior Manager for Disaster Resilience at Verizon; Rob Glenn, Vice President of Global Resilience at US Chamber of Commerce Foundation; and Rosemary Suggs-Evans, Director for the DC Department of Small and Local Business Development. Together, they will share insights on how small businesses can better prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergencies.
Agenda:
9:30-10am: Registration & Networking
10-11am: Program
11-11:30am: Verizon Technology & Policy Center Tour (Optional)
Speaker Bios:
Dale Kunce ('25)
Dale Kunce serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the National Capital and Greater Chesapeake Region of the American Red Cross. He leads a team of over 10,000 volunteers and staff to execute mission delivery across all lines of service including responding to nearly 2,000 local disasters, support for the military and their families on the regions 26 military installations, and over 120,000 blood collections. Dale frequently deploys as a senior leader to national and international disasters on behalf of the Red Cross and is an active blood donor.
Courtney Schoon
Courtney Schoon is the Senior Manager for Disaster Resilience at Verizon, where she spearheads programs focused on technology innovation and community resilience. Her background spans corporate, government, academic, and non-profit sectors, where she has built programs at the nexus of impact and innovation. Before joining Verizon, Courtney held key roles at Echoing Green and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), leading initiatives to support high-potential social innovators and entrepreneurs. She earned a B.A. in Business Administration from Texas A&M University.
Rob Glenn
Rob coordinates the U.S Chamber of Commerce Foundation's efforts to connect government and private sector capabilities and expertise, enabling readiness for all hazards and advancing resilience. Before joining the U.S. Chamber Foundation, he spearheaded several initiatives at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to align the efforts of private and public sectors before, during, and after disasters. In consulting, he advised clients in the Department of Defense, the Department of Homeland Security, and FEMA at Booz Allen Hamilton. At the state level, Rob served as Homeland Security Advisor to Ohio’s Governor and Executive Director, Ohio Homeland Security initiating the state’s cybersecurity program, in addition to executive, operations, and public affairs roles at the Ohio Emergency Management Agency.
Rosemary Suggs-Evans
As Director for the DC Department of Small and Local Business Development (DSLBD), Rosemary Suggs-Evans is a passionate advocate for the small business community and stays true to the agency's mission to support the development, economic growth and retention of District-based businesses, and promote economic development throughout the District's commercial corridors. Prior to her tenure at DSLBD, she served as a senior advisor for the DC Deputy Mayor for Greater Economic Opportunity (DMGEO), where she spearheaded programs and initiatives aimed at expanding access to local procurement opportunities for District-based small businesses. As a program analyst at the DC Department of General Services, she initiated a groundbreaking small business program, ensuring equitable opportunities for local enterprises.