My Red Cross Story: Doug VanDyke

Meet Doug VanDyke, American Red Cross
Board Member, Chief Executive Officer of
Enquizit, Lifelong Volunteer, and Blood Donor

Written by: Clarice Nassif Ransom, Communications Volunteer

Doug VanDyke,
American Red Cross Board Member (since 2014)

Profession: Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Enquizit, an application development and cloud migration company headquartered in McLean, Virginia; other highlights include Amazon and Microsoft

Home: Ashburn, Virginia

Family: Wife, three children

Role models who inspired VanDyke’s volunteer leadership: LaRhea VanDyke, mother; Linda Mathes, American Red Cross Chief Executive Officer for the National Capital Region; and Teresa Carlson, former boss and former American Red Cross Board chair for the National Capital Region.

Volunteering is a lifelong pursuit for Doug VanDyke. “Growing up, my mother was involved in every local volunteer activity and Board in the community, and she would bring me with her, so I was exposed to volunteering at an early age,” said VanDyke. “I watched my mother volunteer and assumed volunteering is something you do as an adult—you give back to the community.”

Now, VanDyke is continuing his journey of volunteering by sharing his leadership skills as an American Red Cross Board member. VanDyke is proud of how the American Red Cross responds to disasters to help those most in need, including collecting and delivering blood donations; provides food, shelter, and safety after natural disasters such as hurricanes, floods, or wildfires; and proactively installs smoke alarms in homes to help prevent home fires.
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“When others are running away from a disaster, 

the American Red Cross is running straight at it - 

and they stay until it is resolved,” 

says VanDyke.

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Since 2014, VanDyke has served as the chair for several American Red Cross events, from Salute to Service Gala fundraisers (which honor active duty service members and veterans) to the 2nd Annual Disaster Preparedness Summit in Washington, D.C., which was held on January 28, 2020.

“The Disaster Preparedness Summit addresses the disaster risks we face in the Washington, D.C. area and explores the impacts a significant disaster would have on our region,” said VanDyke.

“Our goals were for attendees to hear from experts who have real-life experience dealing with complex disaster coordination challenges and for attendees to leave with a better understanding of the hazards we face and how to prepare for and respond to disasters in their communities, organizations and households.”

In preparation for the 2nd Annual Disaster Summit, VanDyke had to rally fellow American Red Cross Board members to support it at a meeting last fall.

“It was a meeting with a lively discussion about speakers, topics, format, and location,” said VanDyke, who then agreed to chair the Summit.

“We were in the office of the American Red Cross in Fairfax; a blood donation center had just been added to the 3rd floor of the building. I was in a good mood, so I walked upstairs and the blood donation center staff were able to take me right away. I have O- blood type and am a universal donor. I have been told O- blood can even be used by premature babies. That is inspiring. Also, both my wife and my father have had open-heart surgeries that required donated blood. Someone before me was there to donate for them. I'm glad I can be part of the virtuous cycle and give to someone else who will need it.”

In the Fall of 2019, Doug VanDyke attended a meeting to plan the 2nd Annual Disaster Preparedness Summit in the American Red Cross office in Fairfax, VA; immediately after the meeting, VanDyke donates blood on the 3rd floor in the building's new blood donation center. 

Another American Red Cross leadership effort VanDyke was involved with was in 2018 when he was employed with Amazon Web Services.

“The American Red Cross, Voice Foundry, and our team at Amazon Web Services set up an emergency call center to help those impacted by Hurricane Florence,” said VanDyke.

“We had more than 100 Amazon Web Services’ employees who volunteered to staff the call center. We serviced more than 1,000 calls. Employees volunteered from around the world, even as far away as Singapore, to staff the call center and help those in need. Many of these calls were very emotional, helping reconnect loved ones.”

VanDyke’s leadership experience with the American Red Cross has helped him both personally and professionally.

“Personally, it provides me a channel to give back,” said VanDyke.

“I see direct results, and I can contribute through multiple channels. Professionally, it has helped me build a support network outside my company—people I like and trust.”
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"Volunteering is one of the best ways people can feel connected to each
other and to their communities," according to VanDyke.

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“There is more to life than making money,” said VanDyke.

“Volunteering is a great way to improve the overall quality of life in our communities. It is personally rewarding, by helping us learn skills and develop friendships. It is also valuable to the community by providing for needs that aren't being covered by government or businesses.”

As Chair of the 2nd Annual Disaster Preparedness Summit, Doug takes preparedness seriously and encourages everyone to have an emergency plan. If you don't have one yet, here's what you can do to prepare yourself and your family for a disaster:

Create Your Emergency Plan in Just 3 Steps

1. With your family or household members, discuss how to prepare and respond to the types of emergencies that are most likely to happen where you live, learn, work and play.

2. Identify responsibilities for each member of your household and how you will work together as a team.

3. Practice as many elements of your plan as possible.

For more information about creating a family emergency plan, including templates to help you be organized, go to: https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/make-a-plan.html

Make a difference in your community. Click here to become a Red Cross volunteer.

Click here to learn more about donating blood with the American Red Cross near you.

My Red Cross Story: Josh Carin

Written by: Emily Goff, volunteer

Meet Josh Carin, a Red Cross supporter who’s helping to make his neighborhood a more resilient place. Josh was first introduced to the American Red Cross in the National Capital Region through local networking events. A while back, he attended another nonprofit’s gala and purchased a home emergency kit for his family. Since that day, Josh has been constantly striving to maintain safety and preparedness for his family and his community.

Josh’s devotion to the Red Cross mission was reinforced after the September 11 attacks. As a business owner, he felt obligated to prepare his entire team for natural and man-made disasters. Josh created an emergency plan that addresses both preparedness as well as business continuity. His team carries the Department of Homeland Security’s, “SeeSomething, Say Something” protocol in both English and Spanish wherever they travel to in the DC, MD, and VA areas. Drivers are also instructed to first call the office in the event of an emergency, then, if possible, head back to the main headquarters. Each driver is given an emergency backpack purchased from the American Red Cross, and each of his office executives has an emergency backpack in his/her personal car.  

If Josh could give any advice regarding disaster preparation it would be for “businesses to do everything in their power to ensure the safety of their teams and teach them how to handle any possible disaster.” There is no such thing as too much safety! To learn more about how you can commit your workplace or organization to preparedness, join the Red Cross Ready Rating Program.

6 Steps for Preparing Your Business for a Disaster

By Michelle Fordice, Volunteer Contributor

Is your business ready to respond to - and recover from - a natural disaster? According to the Insurance Information Institute, 40% of businesses fail after a natural or man-made disaster. Moreover, Americans spend about 20% of their time at work and we all want to be safe while we 're there. Here are six steps to help your business prepare for a disaster.

Commit to preparedness

Think about who you need to get involved to prepare your business for a potential disaster. Is your senior leadership committed? Who on staff needs to be a part of developing how the organization responds to emergencies? What resources are available? 

Conduct a hazard vulnerability assessment

Know your area. Consider what situations are most likely to arise. For example, when it comes to extreme weather, D.C. is most likely to suffer from tornadoes, snow, and floods. Are you ready for those situations?

Know your business. Are there any unique factors to your industry or the area that your office is located that make you more susceptible to a particular kind of emergency? 

Asses your staff and resources. Know the physical capacity, supplies, equipment and human resources of your organization. Have you spoken to your insurance carrier to see what situations are included in your coverage? Who on your staff has a cool head in tense situations? Who has been trained in basic first aid and CPR? 

Develop an emergency response plan

Create a team that develops and maintains an emergency response plan for the business. Prepare a written emergency response plan that addresses the hazards you have identified. Are staff members assigned to particular tasks within that plan?  What are escape routes? Do you need to make any considerations for the special needs of employees with disabilities and medical conditions?

Prepare a Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP). Are you prepared to perform essential business functions under a broad range of circumstances? What would happen if you lost access to your records or your facility? Are your suppliers prepared for an emergency? After you know your staff is safe, how will you inform your customers that the service you provide may be interrupted?

Implement an emergency response plan

Train your employees on the new plan. Consider sponsoring a training session for employees in topics like first aid and CPR. (The Red Cross offers training programs for businesses.)  

Acquire safety equipment and supplies.

Provide employees with resources to be ready at home, on their commute, and at work. Make sure you have emergency contact information for each employee in a place where you could access it during an emergency. 

Test and improve your emergency response plan

Conduct drills. People are more likely to respond appropriately when they have had practice. Remember that you should repeat drills at least annually and that new hires will need to be trained.

Consider how everyone performed on the drill. What didn’t work and what items were you missing?

Make improvements. 

Help your community prepare

No business survives without the community it serves. Once you have prepared your business, help prepare your community. Consider hosting a blood drive or donating supplies or services to a local emergency effort. 

Think you’re ready? Try taking The Red Cross Ready Rating assessment. This is a free program that measures your organization‘s level of preparedness and provides tools for making improvements.

Additional Resources:

American Red Cross Ready Rating 123 Assessment

American Red Cross Ready Rating Resource Center

Small Business Association Emergency Preparedness Resources

Ready.gov for business

University of Florida Disaster Handbook