The Great Lakes Homeland Security Training Conference & Expo was held May 8-11 in Grand Rapids.  First responders, homeland security personnel, and public health officials gathered to learn, network and exchange ideas with colleagues. "Coming Together Under One Umbrella" to sponsor the conference were the Emergency Management & Homeland Security Division (EMHSD), the Michigan Emergency Management Association, and the Michigan Department of Community Health, Office of Public Health Preparedness.  The conference included several keynote speakers, including Gen. Colin Powell, informative workshops, and more than 100 vendor exhibits.  I want to express my appreciation to all participants and attendees.  Each of you are instrumental in helping EMHSD fulfill its mission to foster, promote, and maintain partnerships to protect our state and homeland from all hazards.

-- Capt. Eddie L. Washington Jr.

  Speaker - Gen. Colin Powell

 Gen. Colin Powell and Capt. Eddie Washington

 Main Conference Hall, DeVos Place

 Color Guard during Opening

 Vendor Hall

  Entrance to Conference Center

 CERT Preparednes Event

Protecting our state and homeland from all hazards requires the dedication and hard work of professionals from many disciplines - emergency management, medicine, education, public health, law enforcement, the fire services, and the FBI, to name a few. Each plays a crucial role in helping us prevent, prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergencies, disasters, and threats to our homeland. Learn about key contributors to the security of Michigan residents from the following opening remarks on this video clip from the 2007 Homeland Security Conference.

- Col. Peter C. Munoz, Director,

  Michigan Department of State Police

Opening Remarks Video

Total Time: 5.32

Size: 10 MB

File: .wmv

Col. (P) Michael C. McDaniel

Michigan Dept. of Military & Veterans Affairs

Col. Peter C. Munoz, Director,

Michigan Department of State Police

Trent Atkins, Division Chief

Office of Emergency Management

Lansing Fire Department

Teresa M. Takai, Director,

Michigan Dept. of Information Technology

Daniel R Batchelor, Special Agent

Federal Bureau of Investigation

James R. Smiley

University of Michigan

Department of Public Safety

Larry D. Johnson

Director of Public Safety & School Security

Grand Rapids Public Schools

Jacqueline S. Scott, D.V.M., Ph.D.

Director, Office of Public Health Preparedness

Michigan Department of Community Health

Robin L. Roach, MS, RN

Infection Control & Prevention

Sparrow Hospital

William Fales, MD

Michigan State University

Kalamazoo Center for Medical Studies

Jim VanBendegom

President

Michigan Emergency Management Association