Former President Bush Department of Homeland Security Consulting Expert Joins Advisory Board of Institute for Church Safety and Risk Management, LLC
The Institute for Church Safety and Risk Management (ICSARM) has announced that Dr. John Kim Cook has agreed to serve on the ICSARM Advisory Board. Dr. Cook is a government consultant with extensive experience as a senior-level government executive and contacts in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), other federal and state agencies, the private sector and non-profit organizations; recent experience in business development and program management
Tupelo, MS, December 24, 2009 --(PR.com)-- Dr. Cook is the founder and CEO of Cook Strategies, where he offers government relations, training and consulting services for businesses, non-profit and faith-based organizations, and government agencies in disaster-response, emergency preparedness, security, civil rights and civil liberties, disability and other issues. He also provides project management expertise on DHS-funded emergency management, emergency communications, engineering and information technology and regularly provides advice on DHS and FEMA-related proposal development efforts.
Under the administration of former President George W. Bush, John received a dual Presidential appointment as Director of DHS Center for Faith-Based Community Initiatives (CFBCI) and FEMA Small State and Rural Advocate. As Director of DHS CFBCI, Dr. Cook led DHS efforts to enhance outreach to faith-based and community organizations and to eliminate regulatory and programmatic obstacles to the participation of non-profit organizations in all DHS security and disaster-related activities. He planned, hosted and spoke at several White House Roundtables and Regional Conferences as well as DHS Emergency Preparedness Workshops for more than 1,500 non-profits and emergency managers. Previously, Dr. Cook served as Senior Advisor to the DHS Officer for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, where he developed and coordinated department-wide training programs for law enforcement officers and other DHS personnel on civil rights and civil liberties issues.
Earlier in the Administration, Dr. Cook also served as Chief of Staff to the Assistant Secretary for Disability Employment Policy and Senior Intergovernmental Officer at the Department of Labor as well as Special Assistant in the U.S. Department of Health of Human Services' Administration for Children and Families. Back in his native state of Texas, Dr. Cook was appointed by then-Governor George W. Bush in 2000 to be Austin Director of the Texas Office of State-Federal Relations. He also spent more than a decade in both public and private Texas higher education institutions, a number of years in radio broadcasting, and served two members of the Texas House of Representatives.
Dr. Cook received a B.A. in Communications and his Masters in Education from Baylor University. He went on to obtain his Ph.D. in Educational Administration with a specialization in Public Policy from Texas A&M University.
Dr. Cook has served on several boards and committees both professionally and in the non-profit sector. “John brings to the organization broad expertise in both federal and state government,” states ICSARM founder and Executive Director Michael Boutot. “His involvement with the Department of Homeland Security, the Center for Faith-Based Community Initiatives and with FEMA,” continues Boutot, “allows ICSARM to have someone who has first-hand knowledge of many of the political challenges that we may face as we deal with issues of church safety and risk management.”
“Houses of worship are facing unprecedented challenges of safety and security for their parishioners” states Dr. Cook. He goes on to add, “Michael Boutot and ICSARM are taking the initiative to conduct safety and security assessments of churches and provide useful advice and resources. Through ICSARM's leadership, churches can develop their own policies, procedures and expertise so that ultimately, many tragic incidents can be prevented.” Dr. Cook concludes, “I am honored to serve on the advisory board of ICSARM to assist ICSARM in making a positive impact on safety, and emergency preparedness in churches throughout America.”
Dr. Cook is a member in good standing at McLean Bible Church in McLean, VA, where he also serves in leadership with the Eye of the Storm Disaster Relief Ministry. He lives in Vienna, VA, with his wife, best-selling author Jane Hampton Cook, and two young sons.
About the Institute for Church Safety and Risk Management, LLC (ICSARM)
The mission of ICSARM is to promote the highest level of professional competence to churches and para-church organizations in the area of church risk management by providing programs of study, service, training, exchange of information and problem-solving discussions, leading to more effective and efficient utilization of church facilities and resources for the overall protection of the church building and her ministries, to include church staff, volunteers and members. General Membership for church leadership is free.
For more information, please visit www.churchriskmanagement.org.
Contact:
Michael Boutot
(662) 322.6713
michael@churchriskmanagement.org
About Cook Strategies
Cook Strategies, LLC, offers expertise, representation, training and consulting services for businesses, non-profit and faith-based organizations, and government agencies in the areas of disaster-response, emergency preparedness, security, civil rights and civil liberties, disability and other issues. For more information, please visit www.cookstrategies.com.
Contact:
Dr. John Kim Cook
(703) 992.5288
john@cookstrategies.com
###
Under the administration of former President George W. Bush, John received a dual Presidential appointment as Director of DHS Center for Faith-Based Community Initiatives (CFBCI) and FEMA Small State and Rural Advocate. As Director of DHS CFBCI, Dr. Cook led DHS efforts to enhance outreach to faith-based and community organizations and to eliminate regulatory and programmatic obstacles to the participation of non-profit organizations in all DHS security and disaster-related activities. He planned, hosted and spoke at several White House Roundtables and Regional Conferences as well as DHS Emergency Preparedness Workshops for more than 1,500 non-profits and emergency managers. Previously, Dr. Cook served as Senior Advisor to the DHS Officer for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, where he developed and coordinated department-wide training programs for law enforcement officers and other DHS personnel on civil rights and civil liberties issues.
Earlier in the Administration, Dr. Cook also served as Chief of Staff to the Assistant Secretary for Disability Employment Policy and Senior Intergovernmental Officer at the Department of Labor as well as Special Assistant in the U.S. Department of Health of Human Services' Administration for Children and Families. Back in his native state of Texas, Dr. Cook was appointed by then-Governor George W. Bush in 2000 to be Austin Director of the Texas Office of State-Federal Relations. He also spent more than a decade in both public and private Texas higher education institutions, a number of years in radio broadcasting, and served two members of the Texas House of Representatives.
Dr. Cook received a B.A. in Communications and his Masters in Education from Baylor University. He went on to obtain his Ph.D. in Educational Administration with a specialization in Public Policy from Texas A&M University.
Dr. Cook has served on several boards and committees both professionally and in the non-profit sector. “John brings to the organization broad expertise in both federal and state government,” states ICSARM founder and Executive Director Michael Boutot. “His involvement with the Department of Homeland Security, the Center for Faith-Based Community Initiatives and with FEMA,” continues Boutot, “allows ICSARM to have someone who has first-hand knowledge of many of the political challenges that we may face as we deal with issues of church safety and risk management.”
“Houses of worship are facing unprecedented challenges of safety and security for their parishioners” states Dr. Cook. He goes on to add, “Michael Boutot and ICSARM are taking the initiative to conduct safety and security assessments of churches and provide useful advice and resources. Through ICSARM's leadership, churches can develop their own policies, procedures and expertise so that ultimately, many tragic incidents can be prevented.” Dr. Cook concludes, “I am honored to serve on the advisory board of ICSARM to assist ICSARM in making a positive impact on safety, and emergency preparedness in churches throughout America.”
Dr. Cook is a member in good standing at McLean Bible Church in McLean, VA, where he also serves in leadership with the Eye of the Storm Disaster Relief Ministry. He lives in Vienna, VA, with his wife, best-selling author Jane Hampton Cook, and two young sons.
About the Institute for Church Safety and Risk Management, LLC (ICSARM)
The mission of ICSARM is to promote the highest level of professional competence to churches and para-church organizations in the area of church risk management by providing programs of study, service, training, exchange of information and problem-solving discussions, leading to more effective and efficient utilization of church facilities and resources for the overall protection of the church building and her ministries, to include church staff, volunteers and members. General Membership for church leadership is free.
For more information, please visit www.churchriskmanagement.org.
Contact:
Michael Boutot
(662) 322.6713
michael@churchriskmanagement.org
About Cook Strategies
Cook Strategies, LLC, offers expertise, representation, training and consulting services for businesses, non-profit and faith-based organizations, and government agencies in the areas of disaster-response, emergency preparedness, security, civil rights and civil liberties, disability and other issues. For more information, please visit www.cookstrategies.com.
Contact:
Dr. John Kim Cook
(703) 992.5288
john@cookstrategies.com
###
Contact
Institute for Church Safety and Risk Management, LLC
Michael Boutot
662.322.6713
www.churchriskmanagement.org
Michael Boutot
662.322.6713
www.churchriskmanagement.org
Contact
Categories