In this keynote, Dr. C.J. Huff provides a boots-on-the-ground CEO perspective on the challenges of leading a large organization through the hours, days, weeks, months, and years following an unthinkable tragedy. With a “people-first” approach, C.J. provides leaders with a practical approach to engage internal and external stakeholders, communicate vision, and chart a path forward that inspires and encourages others to follow. Attendees frequently comment on his humility and the common-sense actions leaders can take to stabilize an organization during incredibly challenging times.

In 2011, Dr. C.J. Huff founded the national not-for-profit Bright Futures USA. The Bright Futures Framework was designed to engage the faith-based community, human service agencies, and businesses in partnership with schools to support children, youth, and families. Since its inception, the framework has been replicated in over 70 communities in 8 states serving over 250,000 students. The Bright Futures Framework, enhances communication between community agencies, creates partnerships allowing quick access to resources, effectively utilizes social media to engage community members at the grassroots level, builds community leadership capacity, and provides service learning activities for youth. Bright Futures has been nationally recognized as a “best practice” by the White House, Corporation for National and Community Service, U.S. Department of Education, and the National School Boards Association.

If I had a dime for every time I said, ‘You gotta take care of yourself before you can take care of others!’ I would have been able to rebuild our entire community after our disaster.” A central part of the presentation highlights the importance of “Career Sustaining Behaviors” (Self-Care) and the critical role educators play in the long-term recovery of students and their peers by becoming a model of self-care for others to follow. His “people first” message offers opportunities for self-reflection, practical strategies to improve staff morale and retention, tips on communication strategies, and thoughtful lessons learned the hard way balanced with empathy, humor, and inspiration to provide educators the clarity needed to overcome adversity.

As co-owner of HaloRRS, Dr. C.J. Huff and his team provide public and private entities a turn-key solution for disaster mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery. To learn more about these services, go to www.HaloRRS.com