|
Andrew Sachs is Vice President of Crisis and Consequence Management at James Lee Witt Associates. Mr. Sachs is currently one of two senior management staff leading the JLWA recovery team in Louisiana. In this role, Mr. Sachs helped design and implement the Louisiana Recovery Authority (LRA), an entity established to coordinate overall recovery efforts, establish priorities, receive and distribute appropriated relief funds, and provide a single voice for the State on recovery issues. Mr. Sachs has since served as a senior advisor to both the Governor and Executive Director of the LRA on matters related to disaster response and recovery, including how to maximize Federal assistance to the State and local governments and how best to work with FEMA to achieve results. While in Louisiana, Mr. Sachs led the State's long-term community recovery planning effort with the 26 most impacted parishes, and developed and implemented regional and statewide planning activities designed to address issues that cross jurisdictional boundaries. Additionally, Mr. Sachs provided technical assistance and support for the State's initial implementation of the Public Assistance Program, to include resolution of critical issues and disagreements with FEMA, representation of applicant and State needs, and communications with applicants.
Previously, Mr. Sachs served as the Chief of Program Outreach at FEMA. In this role he developed partnerships with private sector organizations, non-profit groups, and other agencies to influence policy design and program delivery. He regularly represented the Agency before the Congress, constituent groups, the media, and senior governmental officials to influence policy and redirect resources.
As the Special Assistant to the Associate Director of the Response and Recovery Directorate at FEMA, Mr. Sachs co-managed a staff of 40 and closed out over $750 million in disputed disaster claims by the State of Florida after Hurricane Andrew. He successfully researched claims, developed resolution strategies, and negotiated settlements for all projects in less than five months.
Mr. Sachs holds a Masters in Public Administration with a concentration in business and government relations from George Washington University and a Bachelors of Arts in Political Science from Bates College. He graduated from both programs with Honors. | 