October 21, 2009
Are You Ready?
Grady DeVilbiss

Course Description:
This lecture will be presented in three sections for discussing the following topics:

Section 1- An overview for how the Commonwealth of Virginia manages emergency preparedness planning, response and recovery for natural and man-made disasters (significant events)

Section 2 - Why and how you, your family, and your place of employment needs to be prepared for emergencies, after all, who can look out for you, better than yourself! As the owner, or manager, or an employee of a business.........do you have a COOP/BRP (Continuation of Operations Plan/Business Resumption Plan)?

Section 3 - What have you done to prepare for the approaching pandemic flu? The information in this section will explain the difference in seasonal flu versus the H1N1 (Swine Flu), and what public health has done to help prepare schools/colleges, day care, hospitals, nursing homes, and citizens for a pandemic event.

Biographical Sketch:
Grady DeVilbiss is an emergency planner with the Virginia Department of Health's New River Health District. He has 37 years experience in emergency planning, response, and recovery operations from working in the following career positions:

• Radford City Fire and Rescue Department - Former Assistant Chief and currently an active member there for over 37 years
• Virginia Department Emergency Management - Hazardous Materials Officer
• Virginia Department Environmental Quality - Pollution Response Coordinator/Health and Safety Officer

Mr. DeVilbiss served three terms on the Governors EMS Advisory Committee, former member and past president of the Western VA EMS Council, member of the Virginia Association of Hazardous Materials Response Specialists, and served on the Commonwealth's Preparedness Committee. He also services on the Board of Directors and is the Disaster Chairman for the Greater New River Valley Red Cross Chapter.

Mr. DeVilbiss holds the certifications of Hazardous Materials Specialist and Hazardous Materials Instructor through the Virginia Department of Emergency Management.

To ensure your FREE participation in this workshop, you may register on-line

November 18, 2009
Membrane System Use in Water Treatment
Mark A. Thompson

Course Description:
Membrane water treatment systems are no longer considered experimental or a new and novel technology. The use of membrane systems is global and is frequently considered as a potential component for any new or upgraded water treatment system. As such, it is important for water system managers, engineers and operators to understand the benefits, limitations and real costs associated with membrane systems for surface water, wastewater or groundwater treatment. This presentation will provide an overview of what the different membrane systems are, how they are used, their limitations, and some case studies that present their operational requirements and costs.

Biographical Sketch:
Mark A. Thompson currently serves as the Vice President - Engineering and Operations for AquaNano Technologies, LCC. He has over 29 years of experience in the operation, management, and design of both conventional and membrane water treatment facilities. He has a broad background in water utility operations and management including over 10 years as a senior public utility manager and 9 years as a water treatment expert with national environmental engineering firm prior to starting his own company, Advanced Membrane Systems, Inc. (AMS). AMS provided operations assistance, training, consulting, and custom design and construction of membrane filtration and desalination systems for water and wastewater applications. Thompson sold his company to Layne Christenson Company in 2005 and now works for a new start-up company, AquaNano Technologies that is developing an advanced water treatment technology developed at CalTech University in Pasadena, California. He is also active in several professional organizations including being a past President and Director of the American Membrane Technology Association, served on advances water treatment committees for the American Water Works Association and International Water Association and current serves on the Research Advisory Board of the National Water Research Institute. Thompson received a B.S. in Chemistry from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and holds a Class 1 Waterworks license from the Commonwealth of Virginia.

To ensure your FREE participation in this workshop, you may register on-line

The workshops will be broadcast simultaneously to:

Central Virginia Community College CAER Building (CVCC)
Eastern Shore Community College (ESCC)
Franklin Center (FC)
Halifax/South Boston Continuing Education Center (HSBCEC)
Hampton Roads Graduate Center (HRGC)
James Madison University (JMU)
Marion DuPont Scott Medical Equine Center (MDPSMEC)
Northern Virginia Graduate Center (NVGC)
Old Dominion University Peninsula Higher Education Center(ODUPHEC)
Richmond Higher Education Center (RichHEC)
Roanoke Higher Education Center (RoaHEC)
Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center (SWVAHEC)
University of Mary Washington (UMW)
University of Virginia (UVA)
Virginia Tech (VT)

Through the use of interactive technology you will have the opportunity to engage in discussions and to ask specific question of the presenters and participants around the Commonwealth. The workshops begin promptly at 12:00 p.m. and conclude at approximately 3:00 p.m.

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