Meet Our Team
Nora O’Brien, MPA, CEM
Chief Executive Officer
+ Awards +
May 2018- Sacramento Woman-Owned Business of the Year
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT TRAINING EXPERT
Nora O’Brien is a CEO with extensive leadership experience in the emergency management sector. With a Master’s degree in Public Affairs specializing in Disaster and Emergency Management and a B.S. in Political Science with a focus on International Relations, Nora brings a strong educational background to her role. As the CEO and Owner of Connect Consulting Services, Inc., she has led a woman-owned national emergency management and business continuity planning firm, successfully completing hundreds of projects across 47 states. Nora’s demonstrated crisis management skills are shown by her leadership during emergencies such as the Cedar Fire, Hurricane Katrina, and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to her CEO role, Nora contributes to the field as a FEMA Adjunct Instructor, a contributing writer for Emergency Management Magazine, and an instructor for the Center for Domestic Preparedness. With her skills in strategic vision and planning, stakeholder management, and crisis management, Nora is well-equipped to drive organizational growth and success in the emergency management industry.
RESPONSE PLANS: HURRICANE KATRINA, CALIFORNIA WILDFIRES, H1N1 INFLUENZA VIRAL OUTBREAK
Prior to the launch of Connect Consulting Services in 2009, she spent nearly a decade serving as associate director for the California Primary Care Association (CPCA) where she led efforts in emergency management resources and training to enhance preparedness and response capacity. In addition to earning a master’s degree in public affairs with a concentration in disaster and emergency management, Nora led the widely successful emergency response plans for the CPCA including: Hurricane Katrina (2005), the California Wildfires (2007-2008) and the H1N1 influenza viral outbreak (Vice President, Program Planning).
CONTRIBUTING WRITER: EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT MAGAZINE
She serves as a Contributing Writer for Emergency Management Magazine and has served as an Instructor for FEMA’s Center for Domestic Preparedness. She has B.A. in Political Science and a Masters in Public Affairs with a concentration in Disaster and Emergency Management. Ms. O’Brien also received the Certified Emergency Manager (CEM) designation from the International Association of Emergency Managers.
PERSONAL EXPERIENCE
Her education and experience were put to the ultimate test through her own personal and professional experience of managing a disaster and getting through to recovery, offering an impactful insight into how she can better serve Connect Consulting Services clients.
PLAYS VOLLEYBALL BADLY
When she’s not traveling around the country meeting with clients and implementing client emergency management programs, you can find Nora hanging with lovely family and friends, playing volleyball badly and walking the cutest doggie ever, Missy. She resides in Sacramento, California.