Madalena DeAndrea Survivor , Borderline Active Shooting Senior Manager of Strategic Projects , Recovery & Resiliency Jefferson Co . Public Schools
Madalena is the oldest daughter of Deputy Chief AJ DeAndrea ( retired ). The backdrop of her childhood were the events of her father ’ s historic career . A Colorado Native , Madalena received her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Strategy from the University of Colorado Boulder in 2018 . During her time at CU , she served as Student Body President for her 30,000 classmates which gave her the unique opportunity to directly manage a $ 24-Million budget , lead a 500-person organization , speak to crowds of 8,000 + people , and work with world leaders like His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Vice President Joe Biden .
Following her undergraduate studies , Madalena worked for a non-profit in Los Angeles , CA . While serving in this role she went out for a night of dancing with her friends at Borderline Bar and Grill and the unthinkable happened - a gunman came in and started shooting . Madalena was able to find safety in the attic above the bar where she stayed for the remainder of the tragedy as 12 people , including responding Police Officer , Sgt . Ron Helus , were killed .
After surviving the Borderline tragedy , Madalena had to make a decision about what her future would look like . Within a week , she made a choice to not let evil win and to be a force for good in the world .
After serving four years as an Emergency Management Specialist for Jeffco Public Schools , the School District she grew up in , Madalena now proudly serves as the Senior Manager of Strategic Projects , Recovery , & Resiliency for Jeffco . In this first of its kind position , Madalena supports the proactive implementation of strategic safety initiatives and recovery planning prior to crisis occurring . She is a certified Threat Liaison Officer for the state of Colorado and is trained in CPTED , CIT , FEMA ’ s Incident Command Series and Professional Development Series , and Single Officer Response to an Active Shooter .
In her spare time , Madalena travels the country telling her story and sharing her message of hope , resiliency , and post-traumatic growth with law enforcement agencies , school districts , businesses , and community organizations . Madalena is passionate about empowering individuals and communities with the mindsets and tools needed to build resiliency even in the face of life ’ s uncertainties !
Robert J . Darling President & CEO , Turning Point Crisis Management-USA
Bob Darling is the President and CEO of TPCM-USA . Bob served as a Marine Corps attack helicopter pilot and a presidential helicopter pilot supporting President Clinton with Marine Helicopter Squadron One ( HMX-1 ). He was subsequently selected to serve as an Airlift Operations officer for the White House Military Office ( WHMO ) under President George W . Bush where he stood shoulder to shoulder with our nation ’ s highest leaders during the 9 / 11 / 01 attack on our nation . Bob is a graduate of Harvard University ’ s seminar on Crisis Leadership , and an internationally recognized speaker on Crisis Leadership and Decision-Making . Bob is the author of 24 Hours Inside the President ’ s Bunker ; 9 / 11 / 01 : The White House , and a contributing author on crisis leadership to The Routledge Companion to Risk , Crisis , and Security in Business .
As a public speaker , Lt . Col . Bob Darling has addressed numerous academic , government , military , and civic organizations to include the CIA , FBI , U . S . Marshals Service , Navy Space Warfare Center , U . S . Marine Corps , U . S . Air Force , Washington D . C . chapter of the Program Management Institute , Harvard University ’ s John F . Kennedy School of Government , Iona College , Defense Language School , and the Military Officers ’ Association of America . He is regularly featured as a guest lecturer about Crisis Leadership and Counterterrorism at the FBI National Academy in Quantico , Virginia .
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