PSPR2 Seminar: Post Incident Scams and Fraud

The Private Sector Preparedness Response and Recovery (PSPR2): Mass Casualty Impact and Recovery Seminar Series will share critical infrastructure best practices, valuable lessons, and planning resources and tools to assist with mass casualty impact and recovery. The 9-part series will bring together experts from the business community as well as Local, State, and the Federal government who have dealt with these events firsthand to deliver this ground-breaking seminar series and provide business the means to develop their own nuanced “playbook” for similar events.

Traumatic events are not immune to those who want to take advantage of the situation for their own personal gain. Session 8 will help participants navigate the avenues of exploitation and prepare managers and employees against potential scams and scammers who see tragedy as an opportunity.

By approaching this subject holistically, it is PSPR2’s hope that we can begin to prepare the private sector to navigate the layers of complexity that often can threaten the very existence of businesses, and the lives of both their employees and customers in the communities they serve.

Register for the Free Event

Chuck Balaj: Chuck Balaj is a Task Force Officer with the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force, where he has been assigned since 2016. Task Force Officers are local law enforcement officers assigned to federal task forces, and Chuck came to the FBI from the Oakwood Public Safety Department in Ohio where he is a lieutenant. Oakwood officers are cross trained as police officers, firefighters and paramedics. Chuck has over thirty-five years of public safety experience, including twenty-seven years with two SWAT teams, where he held positions as a tactical medic, medic commander, operator, team leader and most recently tactical commander of the Kettering Regional SWAT team. Chuck has been involved in multiple terrorism investigations as a Task Force Officer, including being the case agent on two international terrorism cases where the subjects were convicted and are currently serving sentences in federal prison. Chuck was also assigned to the team that conducted the investigation after the Dayton Oregon District mass shooting event in 2019. In 2022, Chuck was presented with the U.S. Attorney General Award for Excellence in Furthering the Interests of U.S. National Security
Dan Eder: Dan Eder is the Manager for the Lake County Emergency Management Agency and has been with the organization since 2016. Prior to his employment with Lake County, he was the Assistant Director of Community Health Resources with the Kane County Health Department. Dan has a Bachelor of Science in Public Health and Environmental Health degree from Northern Illinois University, a Master of Public Health degree from Benedictine University, is a Licensed Environmental Health Practitioner (LEHP), and is also an Illinois Professional Emergency Manager (IPEM). He is also currently the Vice President for Region 4 for the Illinois Emergency Services Management Association (IESMA). Dan has responded to numerous incidents prior to, and during his time, at Lake County. He is passionate about utilizing strategic planning methods and forming strong partnerships to help develop projects and initiatives to help better prepare Lake County before, during, and after an incident or event. He and his wife Melicia Eder, have two children, Logan and Liana. is the Manager for the Lake County Emergency Management Agency and has been with the organization since 2016. Prior to his employment with Lake County, he was the Assistant Director of Community Health Resources with the Kane County Health Department. Dan has a Bachelor of Science in Public Health and Environmental Health degree from Northern Illinois University, a Master of Public Health degree from Benedictine University, is a Licensed Environmental Health Practitioner (LEHP), and is also an Illinois Professional Emergency Manager (IPEM). He is also currently the Vice President for Region 4 for the Illinois Emergency Services Management Association (IESMA). Dan has responded to numerous incidents prior to, and during his time, at Lake County. He is passionate about utilizing strategic planning methods and forming strong partnerships to help develop projects and initiatives to help better prepare Lake County before, during, and after an incident or event. He and his wife Melicia Eder, have two children, Logan and Liana.
Ghida Neukirch: Ghida Neukirch is a municipal leader and community advocate with 30 years of experience in local government management. She is the first female City Manager for the City of Highland Park, IL. As a first-generation proud American, having moved to the United States from Beirut, Lebanon in 1976, she is dedicated to promoting inclusivity and fairness for all.
As City Manager for the City of Highland Park, IL, a progressive community located on the shore of Lake Michigan with more than 30,000 residents, Neukirch directs the operations for the City. She is responsible for the management of a $118 MM budget and 273 employees. Neukirch has balanced 11 consecutive budgets and has ensured that the City maintains a Aaa bond rating, the highest bond rating available and a testament to sound financial planning and management. In addition, she oversaw the reconstruction of the City’s $35 MM water plant; negotiated and coordinated the consolidation of fire and emergency medical services between the City of Highland Park and Highwood; and served as Incident Commander managing the community’s response to the 2022 Highland Park mass shooting, working in partnership with City departments, federal, state, county and local governments and community partners.
Neukirch serves on a broad range of professional, civic, and philanthropic boards and committees. She is a Board Member of the Illinois Law Enforcement Training & Standards Board, Board Member of the Illinois Local Government Hispanic Network, Board Member and Past-President of the Rotary Club of Highland Park/Highwood. She serves on the Board of the Northwest Municipal Conference representing Highland Park and more than forty municipalities in the region and is past-Treasurer of the organization. She is a Credentialed Manager by the International City/County Management Association and Past President of the Illinois City/County Management Association.
In 2012, Neukirch began her employment with the City of Highland Park as the Deputy City Manager and was promoted to City Manager in 2014. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Psychology from DePaul University and a Masters of Public Administration with an emphasis in Urban Management from Northern Illinois University. She and her husband Scot Neukirch, have two children, Jaclyn & Zachary.​