NCS⁴ NEWS e-newsletter | March 24, 2022

Register to Attend, Exhibit, or Sponsor the National Conference

Draft agenda to be released next week!

The NCS⁴ invites you to attend the 13th Annual National Sports Safety and Security Conference & Exhibition. The conference will be held on June 28-30 at the Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate in Orlando in conjunction with Title Sponsor inOrbit. The 2022 conference theme is Game-Changers: Lead, Discover, Innovate.

The conference will offer dynamic programming, solution provider engagement, and opportunities to network with fellow game-changers in our industry. Experienced professionals will share ideas, tools, and proven strategies to help you stay informed of industry advancements.

In addition to keynote speakers, an awards luncheon, interactive panel discussions, and breakout sessions, attendees will have the opportunity to explore emerging technologies and network with peers during the conference. A social reception planned for the event’s first evening allows practitioners, industry partners, and exhibitors to gather and network with friends and colleagues in a relaxed atmosphere.

To unwind after the conference, attendees can relax and play at one of the nation’s premier golf, meeting and leisure destinations. The Four Diamond resort is surrounded by 36 holes of championship golf and 15 acres of recreation.

In addition to world-class golf, the resort offers a signature full-service spa, sparkling pools, and a lazy river, making it the perfect getaway hotel for adults and children alike. With easy access to area attractions like Walt Disney World® Resort, Universal Studios, and SeaWorld, enjoy all that Orlando has to offer.

Early-bird registration is available through April 15 with fees of $550 for NCS⁴ Connect members and $600 for non-members. Prices will increase by $50 after April 15.

A draft conference agenda will be announced next week. Click the button below to register or for more information.

THANK YOU TO OUR EXHIBITORS AND SPONSORS!

NCS⁴ is still accepting exhibitors and sponsors. Don't delay — spaces are filling up quickly with the Exhibit Hall almost full and a few sponsorships remaining. Visit the website to register as an exhibitor, or contact Sara Priebe, at 601-266-6858 or sara.priebe@usm.edu to request a sponsor packet.

Now Accepting Golden Eagle Award applications – deadline extended through march 31

Only registered exhibitors and sponsors of the 2022 Conference are eligible to apply.

Applicants from leading systems integration, architecture, design, engineering, and consulting firms are invited to submit case studies from successful projects, which had safety and security at the forefront of planning and execution.

The Golden Eagle Award which recognizes excellence in system integration, architecture, engineering and/or construction (A/E/C) specifically related to the safety and security of spectators, property, and infrastructure of spectator event facilities. The Golden Eagle Award considers critical design and functionality elements that enable and promote the safety and security of all stakeholders in an efficient and effective manner.

A panel of judges reviews all applications to determine the most compelling projects. Selected entries have the opportunity to submit case studies during the annual National Sports Safety and Security Conference on June 28-30, 2022. The winning submission will be selected as the 2022 Golden Eagle Award recipient at the awards luncheon, which also takes place during the National Conference.

For more information or to apply for the Golden Eagle Award, visit ncs4.usm.edu/conference. If you have any questions about the award or application process, please contact Sara Priebe, at 601-266-6858 or sara.priebe@usm.edu.

Are you ready to take your career to the next level? NCS⁴ offers applicants the opportunity to sit for the CSSP exam at the conference with no testing fee!

The CSSP examination will be offered to eligible candidates during the 13th Annual National Sports Safety and Security Conference & Exhibition. To be considered eligible to take the exam, individuals must complete and submit their CSSP Application, including the application fee, by April 29, 2022, to allow enough time for the NCS⁴ Certification Department to collect and process all supporting documentation. Approved candidates will receive a notification of test eligibility before arriving at the conference. Find out more about CSSP and how to register for the exam now.

Evolv Technology Operational Exercise Report Available

Congratulations to the Evolv Technology team for successfully completing an NCS⁴ Operational Exercise of the Evolv Express. Evolv Technology provides touchless security screening products to a wide range of venues. The Evolv Express aims to combine artificial intelligence (AI), security ecosystem integrations, and venue analytics to ensure safer, more accurate threat detection at an unprecedented speed and volume.

The technology was exercised and observed by a select group of industry experts representing sporting and special event safety, security, and operations. Please click the link below to request the report.

NCS⁴ Staff Appreciation Spotlight — March: Brooke Graves

Each month, the NCS⁴ recognizes a staff member for their contributions to the NCS⁴ mission. Center accomplishments require exploration, initiative, teamwork, and versatility — we celebrate their hard work and tireless efforts.

This month’s staff spotlight is Brooke Graves, Senior Training Manager.

In her role at the Center, Brooke provides oversight for the training courses offered through NCS⁴. These duties include course and instructor scheduling, ensuring all targets are met, and maintaining the quality of each delivery. She also manages the trainer certification process, serves as the liaison for the Entertainment, Intercollegiate, and Interscholastic Advisory Committees, and leads the coordination and execution of the NCS⁴ awards for the annual conference.

The NCS⁴ is Hiring!

Two positions are currently available: Training Manager and Instructional Design Specialist.

The Training Manager will be part of a dynamic team of individuals responsible for the day-to-day supervision of instructional and support staff, including evaluations, scheduling, and administrative oversight for the DHS/FEMA sport safety and security training program. For more information or to apply, click the link below.

The Instructional Design Specialist will be responsible for the training development process to meet changing course needs and objectives for NCS⁴ training programs and work collaboratively with subject matter experts and design team members to meet training needs, prepare learning objectives, and define and sequence course content. For more information or to apply, click the link below.

S2 University Two-Day Stadium/Venue Operator Certification Next Week

Now Scheduling Select DHS/FEMA-Funded Training Courses

The NCS⁴ is currently offering four safety and security courses in face-to-face format. Each course is designed to be interactive and allow individuals to become more confident in their ability to identify, prevent, and manage incidents. The key principles that individuals will learn range from risk management, evacuation messaging, threat prioritization, and communication. Each class is being presented in a face-to-face format that requires 8 hours each day for two consecutive days.

You can learn more about each of these courses by visiting the NCS⁴ website or by clicking on one of the following courses below:

• AWR-167: Sport Event Risk Management
• MGT-412: Sport Venue Evacuation and Protective Actions
• MGT-466: Sport and Special Event Enhanced Risk Management and Assessment
• MGT-467: Sport and Special Event Public Information and Emergency Notification

These courses represent a cooperative effort between The University of Southern Mississippi’s National Center for Spectator Sports Security and Safety (USM/NCS⁴) and the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service’s National Emergency Response and Recovery Training Center (TEEX/NERRTC), a member of The Texas A&M University System.

If you are interested in attending or hosting a training course, please email us at NCS4train@usm.edu.

Fundamentals of Crowd Safety Course Offered Online

NCS⁴ and GKStill International have partnered to jointly offer the Fundamentals of Crowd Safety online E-Learning course to address capability gaps in crowd behavior and sciences. Professor Dr. G. K. Still, Professor of Crowd Science at Manchester University, developed this certified, accredited course. The course offers an 8-hour online interactive experience designed to teach the essential elements of crowd safety and crowd risk analysis. The course is especially valuable to event organizers, as it ensures that those who complete it are compliant with the NFPA 101 - Life Safety Code — specifically, the areas of section 12 of the code that require a venue to provide a crowd manager trained in crowd management techniques for occupancies exceeding 1000.