About the Guest(s): Mark Pohl is the founder of the Pohl Group, a violence prevention, response, and recovery organization. With a diverse professional background spanning military service and federal law enforcement, Mark brings a wealth of expertise from roles in the Ohio Army National Guard, as a probation officer in Montgomery County, and as a federal agent with the Department of Defense. During his tenure, he specialized in significant investigations related to national security and counterfeiting. Following the 9/11 attacks, Mark was attached full-time to the FBI, working on counterterrorism strategies. He collaborated on creating threat assessment processes, aiming to prevent targeted violence in communities and schools. Ken Wall and Mark Rogers, both retired FBI agents with 25 years of service, are key members of the Pohl Group. Ken is recognized for leading national crisis response teams, managing significant incidents from mass casualties to terrorist events. Mark Rogers is renowned for his training coordination expertise and crisis negotiation skills, contributing profoundly to de-escalation and training programs at the Pohl Group. Episode Summary: Join Amanda Hampton on the "School Wellness" podcast, this time featuring Mark Pohl from the Pohl Group. Together, they explore crucial insights into violence prevention and safety in schools and communities across Ohio. Amanda delves into Mark's rich experiences within military service and federal law enforcement, shedding light on how these roles shaped his current work in violence prevention and response. The discussion underscores the importance of effective threat assessment and community preparedness as pivotal components in combating targeted violence. Mark elaborates on their comprehensive training model, emphasizing its preventive, responsive, and recovery pillars. He delves into their methods, which are designed to enhance preparedness in various sectors, from schools to corporate settings. Noteworthy is their focus on behavioral threat assessment, a key requisite for Ohio's educational institutions under House Bill 123. The episode further touches on the significance of de-escalation training and the incorporation of modern issues, like AI and online safety, into their offerings. Through Ken and Mark Rogers' added expertise, the Pol Group delivers a program aimed at creating safer environments through practical, engaging, and scenario-based training methodologies. Key Takeaways: The Pohl Group champions a holistic prevention, response, and recovery training model to tackle targeted violence in communities and schools, emphasizing behavioral threat assessment under House Bill 123. Their trainings cater to various sectors, blending face-to-face sessions with scenario-based activities to reinforce the application of learned skills in real-life situations. Mark Pohl advocates for building resilient communities through strategic partnerships and actionable education in violence prevention. A growing area of focus for the organization includes equipping young people with personal safety skills relevant to today's digital threats, such as online dangers and sexting. Collaborations with a wide range of stakeholders, including schools, corporations, and healthcare facilities, underscore the Pohl Group's commitment to community safety. Notable Quotes: "We had to reinvent the wheel...to help us figure out how to identify those that were in our communities that posed a threat." "We've recently started a new program that we're very excited about to help give students in the state of Ohio personal safety training." "We provide resiliency training...our program was designed because Ken Wall was in charge of resiliency training for the FBI." "Through a behavioral threat assessment process, we could more accurately predict when somebody might be on what we call the 'pathway to violence.'" Resources: The Pohl Group: [For more information on their trainings and programs] Ohio School Based Center of Excellence at Miami University: [learn more about their support for school wellness] House Bill 123: State legislation mandating behavioral threat assessment teams in schools Stop the Bleed and Tac Med Programs: Resources for emergency and trauma response For a deeper understanding and more valuable insights from industry experts on how to safeguard your community effectively, don't miss the full episode. Stay tuned for more enlightening content from "School Wellness" with Amanda Hampton.
