John Tello has been working as the Assistant Director, Life Safety and Security for Boston Properties for the past 20 years. He relies on continual risk assessments and emergency preparedness plans to help ensure the safety of the occupants, shoppers, and diners in the buildings he manages. Tello with share with us some of those preparedness drills and his role during the Boston Marathon Bombing aftermath. Tello has much experience dealing with emergency situations in and around Boston, but the experience that stands out the most for him is the Marathon Bombings.
Tello reflected on his involvement in assisting people on April 15, 2013 the day of the bombings. Tello, like Donohue, mentioned that this was a day like many others, not anticipating any issues to arise; it was “another easy day”. Tello was able to narrate the day with videos and sound bites from the marathon, he was able to give the student-athletes a first hand account to what he experienced. The biggest lesson Tello spoke about was that more often than not, leadership opportunities just come to you. It isn’t enough to just show up, in situations like these [Bombings] you have to do things that inspire people to follow. Tello shared his personal experience during that day and mentions how inspiring it was that so many people stepped up to help.
