Looking for leadership in time of crisis

Editor's note: "Innovation Exchange" is written by Noah Garrett, former executive director of communications for the North Carolina Technology Association, who owns and operates NGC Communications. The focus of the Innovation Exchange is just that – creating a Web community through which people can exchange ideas and foster creativity.

Participate in the Exchange. Send ideas and feedback to: noah@thinkngc.com

CARY, N.C. – We all could use a little certainty in an uncertain world.

A Large audience packed Duke University's lower level of Page Auditorium on Wednesday to hear five faculty experts discuss the current financial crisis that has swept across Wall Street and world financial markets.

Duke officials organized the program in response to the rapidly changing economy as expert panelists analyzed the situation's causes, potential solutions and likely effects on the upcoming election.

One item that struck a chord in the news report was a statement by Cam Harvey of the Fuqua School of Business. He said a primary cause was "a gross failure of risk management at many different levels," adding that "it's no surprise to me that the American people are quite upset about this."

Along the lines of risk management, business continuity and surviving current economic softness, I totally agree with this assessment and feel that leadership is the key to solving our fiscal woes.

There will probably be more of these types of events popping up around the country. This convinces me that people really are concerned with the state of our nation, which also makes me see a huge value in attending a conference later this month that addresses security, threats and risk from both a defense and security perspective and an economic perspective.

The Partnership for Defense Innovation will put on the Global S.T.A.R. Conference: Security, Threats & Risk, on Tuesday, Oct. 21, at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Cary.

Hosted by the Fayetteville-based organization, the event features interactive panel discussions that focus on various critical areas including economic warfare, national intelligence, and security threats in the real world.

Among the alphabet soup of organizations participating are the Federal Bureau of Investigation, North Carolina Chamber of Commerce, North Carolina Military Foundation, North Carolina Military Business Center, North Carolina Technology Association, and the BRAC Regional Task Force.

The event has a pretty stellar lineup of expert speakers and should be informative for all who seek some clarity as to state of our nation and the world around us.

Keynote participants include Kenneth Marks, Chairman of the Board, Partnership for Defense Innovation/DSTA; Scott Perry, President, Partnership for Defense Innovation/DSTA; Nate Gray, Special Agent in Charge, FBI – N.C.; Kevin Mandia, President & CEO Mandiant; and Theresa Payton, Former CIO, Executive Office of The President at The White House. N.C. Senator Bob Etheridge and N.C. Senator David Price both have been invited to speak.

The event has several key sessions that appear worthwhile:

• Economic Warfare, National Intelligence & You, featuring Kevin Favreau, Assistant Director Intelligence, FBI.

• Security Threats Inside & Out, Around the Globe & Home: featuring Chris Swecker, Senior Vice President Global Security Bank of America.

• What Security Means in the Real World: featuring Lynn Mattice, Chairman of Emeritus Faculty, Security Executive Council, and includes a panel discussion with Gen. Mike Jones (Ret.), Senior VP, Government Solutions, Saffron Technology; Allen York, Southeast Division Manager, Applied Research Associates; Pete Hernandez, VP, EM-SEC Technologies; and Timothy Stranahan – Supervisory Special Agent, FBI – Charlotte Division

• Preventing the Insider Threat: Managing a Secure Workforce with Michael Gelles, Senior Manager, Deloitte & Touche, and David L. Brant, Director, Federal Practice Deloitte & Touche.

"Economic espionage and global threats are on the rise and increasingly sophisticated," said Joan Myers, Director of Special Projects, PDI. "Understanding these threats is paramount to economic and national security. This is a conference CEOs, CFOs and the public sector cannot afford to miss."

Based on the state of things right now, I am open to explore new ideas and perspectives on how to protect our society. This is a critical time, and we all need be engaged in the situation.