Rick Rainer

Rick Rainer retired after 40 years in the education field, serving as an administrator for the past 27 years. Rainer was the principal at Enterprise High School in Enterprise, Alabama, on March 1st, 2007, when an EF4 tornado struck the city. More than five hundred homes and businesses were damaged or destroyed but the most tragic of all was the destruction of Enterprise High School. Eight students lost their lives on that tragic day.

Rainer brings insight, from a principal’s perspective, in dealing with a crisis, both at the time of the event and during the recovery period. He also offers a practitioner’s view of the importance of being prepared to deal with a crisis.

Rainer is a native of Elba, Alabama, the father of four children, and the proud grandfather of three granddaughters. He attended both Troy University and Auburn University and holds degrees in History, Administration, and Educational Leadership.

In his retirement Rainer spends time helping other school principals and safety officials prepare for the unexpected. He developed and leads the online Crisis Management program for the Office of Professional and Continuing Education at Auburn University. In the program, Rick offers step by step plans to develop a Crisis Management plan for a facility, institution or organization. His powerful message is designed to provoke thought and prompt action for leader’s to plan and prepare for unexpected disasters in schools and communities.

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Sheriff Jay Jones

Sheriff Jones began his law-enforcement career with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office in 1975 while a student at Auburn University.

His first work assignment was in the jail as a corrections officer/communications operator and was later appointed to a road position as a sworn deputy sheriff. He experienced all aspects of the operations of the Sheriff’s Office by moving up in the ranks through the years and was eventually appointed as the Sheriff’s Office Chief Investigator in command of the Investigations Division.

Sheriff Jones was first elected Lee County Sheriff in 1998 and is currently serving his fifth term. His educational background includes a BS degree from Auburn University in 1976 and a MS degree from Troy State University in 1980.

Sheriff Jones’ professional education and training includes the FBI National Academy (146th session), FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Seminar (58th session), National Sheriff’s Institute (Class 00-1), Southern Law Enforcement Executive Development Seminar (1999), and the United States Secret Service Dignitary Protection Seminar (2003). His professional affiliations include service as a governor’s appointee to the Advisory Committee on Women in Criminal Justice, the Alabama Crime Victim’s Compensation Commission, the Alabama Local Government Records Commission and the Alabama Peace Officers Annuity and Benefit Fund board.

He currently serves as a board member for the Lee County Youth Development Center, the Bennie Adkins Foundation, the Opelika Chamber of Commerce and the Lee County Emergency Communications District. Sheriff Jones’ professional memberships include the FBI National Academy Associates, the Police Futurists International, the National Sheriff’s Association, the Alabama Sheriff’s Association, the Law Enforcement Executive Development Association, the Alabama Jail Association, the Alabama Peace Officers’ Association and the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #21. Sheriff Jones’ civic involvement includes membership in the Auburn Rotary Club and the Bleecker Ruritan Club.

Along with his public safety duties Sheriff Jones has also served as an adjunct instructor of Criminal Justice at Auburn University and Southern Union Community College in Opelika, AL.

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Mike Clardy

Mike Clardy is Auburn’s Assistant Vice President for Communications & Marketing, a position he has held since 2017. Overall, he has served the university for 22 years, following eight years as television news journalist. He is a university spokesman, having trained with the Department of Homeland Security, FEMA and others in crisis communications. Mike is a two-time graduate of the University of Georgia.

Clardy will discuss preparation and response at Auburn University. While 99% of communications and marketing in higher education is positive PR, it’s that other 1% that keeps professionals up at night. Preparation and training are key when one lapse in judgement on social media, a natural disaster or a lawsuit can turn an ordinary day into a full-blown crisis response.

 

 

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Laura Eason

Laura Eason has served as Chaplain at East Alabama Medical Center in Opelika, Alabama, since 2014.

A native of Columbus, Georgia, Eason first came to Auburn in 1984 when she served as Co-Director of Christian Education at Auburn United Methodist Church. Eason served in churches across the Southeast, including Florida and Texas, for nearly 30 years before returning to the Auburn-Opelika area. Throughout her ministry, she has led over 85 mission trips; performed weddings, funerals, and hospital visitations; and led numerous local, district, conference and national workshops and seminars.

Eason will give an update on the Lee County Long Term Recovery Group following the tornadoes on March 3, 2019, and present the latest statistics of COVID- 19 in our community and what we can do to stop the spread.