From Patton to the FDNY and from World War II to the attacks of September 11th, great leaders and great teams have been called to make and follow through on tough decisions.  In today’s world of economic tumult, what can CEOs learn from the military on crisis management?  Come hear Benjamin Patton and FDNY Commissioner Salvatore Cassano speak about experiences and lessons from the military frontlines – ranging from preparedness to implementation and recovery – and explore parallels with the corporate world.

SCHEDULE:

6-6:30pm - Mingling

6:30-7:30pm - Program

7:30-8 pm - Tour & optional mingling

HOST: Fire Department of New York

SPEAKERS:

Salvatore J. Cassano, 32nd Fire Commissioner, City of New York

Benjamin Patton, Documentary Filmmaker, Owner at Patton Productions LLC and Co-Founder & Director at Fred’s Experiential Media, Inc.

SPEAKER BIOS:

SALVATORE CASSANO, 32nd Fire Commissioner for the City of New York, has 40 years of experience in the FDNY and has held every uniformed rank within the department.  Commissioner Cassano heads the world’s largest fire department with more than 16,000 fire, EMS & civilian members and an annual budget of $1.6 billion.  Prior to his appointment, he served as the FDNY’s Chief of Department - the highest-ranking uniformed officer, overseeing the agency’s most important bureaus including Fire & EMS Operations, Training, Safety, Fire Prevention and Communications. Previously, he served as Chief of Operations - a position he was appointed to immediately after Sept. 11, 2001. Both as Chief of Operations and Department, Commissioner Cassano played a crucial role in rebuilding the Department in the wake of Sept. 11 and the loss of 343 Department members. Five times during his career Commissioner Cassano was cited for bravery after rescuing New Yorkers from burning buildings.  Prior to joining the FDNY, Commissioner Cassano served in the US Army and was deployed to Vietnam in Sept. 1966.

BENJAMIN PATTON, the youngest grandson of WWII's General George S. Patton Jr., is a seasoned documentary filmmaker.  His company, Patton Productions LL, specializes in biographies for individuals & families, as well as documentary-style promotional and marketing videos for businesses, schools, and other organizations.  A former development executive and producer at Manhattan's PBS affiliate WLIW21, Ben also teaches filmmaking through his Fred's Film workshops. Ben authored the memoir Growing Up Patton, a rare, intimate look at the legendary general and the remarkable legacy he passed down to his family.  Ben recently produced a short video for Smithsonian Magazine in connection with his featured article on the importance of recording your family's history.

DETAILED SCHEDULE:

- Pre-Program Reception (6-6:30pm) Come early to enjoy the perfect view of the Hudson and mingle with fellow Trustees over hors d’oeuvres. On a clear day, you can even see the Statue of Liberty.

- Post-Program Firehouse Tour (7:30-8:00pm) After the presentation, stay to enjoy an informal tour of the award-winning firehouse or for more mingling. The firehouse is the home of the Marine One team, which was involved in 9/11 as well as the “Miracle on the Hudson” / Sullenberger event.

Questions?  Contact Lisa Carnesi, lcarnesi@ceotrust.org