Westward Consulting website and mobile site created by Webs by Wagner

Westward Consulting works with U.S. colleges and universities to develop crisis management plans for international travel. They strive for safe international travel by faculty, staff, and students. Check out the Westward Consulting website at http://westwardconsulting.com Continue reading →

Oct 08, 2014 /prREACH/ -- The founder of Westward Consulting, Andrea Wagner, is passionate about travel safety — particularly crisis management planning. She wishes to see all universities account for the unexpected, in order to avoid anxiety, frustration, miscommunication, and distress later. She believes that careful planning, foresight, and education are the keys to successful experiences abroad.

Andrea is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin La Crosse Master's program in Student Affairs Administration. Since 2009, she has devoted her education and professional experience to developing expertise in the field of international travel health and safety. Prior to founding Westward Consulting, she worked for the University of Texas at Austin, Yale University, and the University of Wisconsin La Crosse on projects relating to travel safety.

Speaking about Andrea's work at Yale University, Carolyn Marks from the Office of the Vice President and General Counsel at Yale said, "In the course of a summer internship, Andrea developed a series of international travel orientation tools for Yale, with a focus on health and safety content. We were extremely pleased with the outcome of her work and found it very easy to work with Andrea.  In eight weeks, she engaged key individuals on campus, explored options for presenting the materials, sought out feedback and critique, and produced a set of customized modules for our undergraduate, graduate and professional students, as well as a set for faculty and staff use.  Our international travel orientations are now one of the most frequently visited parts of our online website."

Westward Consulting, in partnership with Global Opportunities Group, recently conducted a survey of more than 100 U.S. institutions of higher education on topics related to risk management in international education. The goal of the survey was to gain an improved understanding of institutions’ risk management policies, practices, and preparedness. The survey results showed that certain areas of risk management — such as approving or denying university-sponsored travel to high-risk destinations — receive much attention, while other important topics, such as crisis management planning, receive considerably less attention and preparation from institutions. Survey results, analysis, and recommendations can be found on the website - westwardconsulting.com.

Scott Stine, of the University of Wisconsin La Crosse, spoke of Andrea’s work on a project prior to Westward Consulting: “One of Andrea’s main responsibilities included risk assessment and focused on the health and safety of our students while we were abroad. Without Andrea’s exceptional organizational skills and her ability to keep the larger picture in mind, the trip would not have been as successful as it was.”

Laura Wagner of Webs by Wagner creates custom designed and developed websites for any type business, organization or municipality. Wagner also creates mobile websites so business owners can accommodate their customers’ and potential customers’ browsing, searching, and buying preferences and habits.

Wagner also assists business owners with online marketing, including social media and search engine and Google support.