NCS⁴ NEWS eNewsletter | April 27, 2023

National Conference Keynote Speakers and Agenda Announced

The NCS⁴ is pleased to announce Kimberly Cheatle, Director of the United States Secret Service, as the keynote speaker to kick off the conference’s opening general session with “Mitigating Threats and Safeguarding Large-Scale and National Special Security Events.” Cheatle is the 27th Director of the U.S. Secret Service and is responsible for successfully executing the agency’s integrated mission of protection and investigations by leading a diverse workforce composed of more than 7,800 special agents, uniformed division officers, technical law enforcement officers, and administrative, professional, and technical personnel.

David Atkins, keynote motivational speaker, will follow with “No Excuses, Breakthrough Fear and Adversity to Play a Bigger Game in Business and Life.” Atkins is a retired New York State Police Captain with 22 years of service, a first responder at Ground Zero on 9/11, and author of The Leveled Up Life.

Conference programming will include general sessions with panel discussions on topics relevant to today’s ever-changing security landscape, while breakout sessions allow participants to engage with panelists and attendees on key issues. Topics slated for the conference include:

• Trends in Stadium Design
• Command Center Best Practices
• Human Trafficking
• SAFETY Act
• Threat and Risk Assessment
• Building Resilient Teams
• Value of Table Top Exercises

“The NCS⁴ Annual Conference brings together practitioners, operators, technology partners, and leaders across the industry with diverse backgrounds and experiences to collaborate and discuss common challenges, lessons learned, and strategies to continue to improve the safety and security operations at our venues and events,” said Billy Langenstein MBA, CSSP, Director Security Services, National Football League. “The education gained, recognition of industry leaders, and relationships made make this conference a must-attend event.”

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.

“The National Sports Safety and Security Conference is the best in the business,” said J.P. Hayslip, Director of Facility Security for the Philadelphia Eagles. “The conference brings together the top professionals in security, facility and venue management, emergency management, and first responders from across the world. This year’s Level Up theme generates the opportunity for us as industry professionals to challenge ourselves to be the best we can be; to provide the highest qualified, trained staff at our venues worldwide.”

Conference participants are invited to relax and enjoy the resort nestled amid 600 acres of oak-covered hills in Texas Hill Country, featuring scenic views and unparalleled luxury. Play championship golf on the PGA TOUR-approved TPC courses, host of the Valero Texas Open. Explore San Antonio’s most popular attractions near the hotel, including wineries, SeaWorld, Shops at La Cantera, Natural Bridge Caverns, and Six Flags Fiesta Texas. Retreat to the hotel for a River Bluff Water Experience, a nine-acre water park featuring a 1,100-foot lazy river. Savor delectable fare at one of the six resort restaurants or rejuvenate in the luxury Lantana Spa.

Registering a Group?

Save $75 off each attendee registration when registering three or more people from the same organization. Discount will be automatically applied when applicable. *Cannot be combined with the member discount. *Does not apply to Private Sector Attendee registration or Exhibitors/Sponsors.

NCS⁴ Connect Member discount

NCS⁴ Connect Members receive a discount on conference attendee registration fees. If you are a current member, contact Sara Priebe for the conference discount code at sara.priebe@usm.edu. To become a member of NCS⁴ Connect, click here.

The deadline to register is June 8.

Congratulations to CrowdRx, Recipient of the Golden Eagle Award

The NCS⁴, along with SDM & Security Magazines, have announced Rampart Mobile Medical Unit, CrowdRx as the 2023 Golden Eagle Award winner. The Golden Eagle Award recognizes excellence in system integration, architecture, engineering, and/or construction (A/E/C) specifically related to the safety and security of spectators, property, and facility infrastructure. CrowdRx will present its winning case study and be recognized during the Conference.

Solution Partners – Attend, Exhibit, or Sponsor the National Conference

The deadline to be included in print and signage is April 28.

Registration for exhibitors and sponsors is being accepted. Hurry – spots are filling up! Exhibitors may register online using the link below. For those interested in sponsoring, please contact Sara Priebe at sara.priebe@usm.edu to request a sponsorship packet or for additional information. To attend, register as a Private Sector Attendee using the link below.

Thank you to our Exhibitors and Sponsors!

National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security Continues to Strengthen Foothold in Industry

Millions of spectators attend sports/entertainment events across the globe every year. And with that massive audience comes the ever-present threat of violence or terrorist acts. Since 2006, the NCS⁴ has established training and protocols to mitigate potential risks associated with high-attendance venues. Housed at The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) in Hattiesburg, Miss., NCS⁴ remains the nation’s only academic center devoted to the study and practice of spectator sports safety and security.

Watch the video or click the button below to view the full story from Southern Miss Now.

Sport and Special Event Public Information and Emergency Notification Course Pilot for Recertification Held

The NCS⁴ recently completed a pilot for recertification of the Sport and Special Event Public Information and Emergency Notification course at the University of Notre Dame. The pilot included 40 public safety, venue management, and event operations participants. The session allowed NCS⁴ to validate course content, gather participant feedback, and ensure the curriculum successfully addresses industry gaps. Thank you to the Notre Dame Police Department for hosting the session.

This course represents 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.

Sport and Special Event Enhanced Risk Management and Assessment Course Pilot for Recertification Held

The NCS⁴ staff joined instructors at the University of Florida to pilot the recertification of MGT 466 – Sport and Special Event Enhanced Risk Management and Assessment. A total of 25 participants from the athletic department, campus police, and public safety agencies completed the course successfully. Thank you to the University of Florida for hosting the session.

This course represents 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.

Help the NCS⁴ Identify Current Training Needs by Completing a Brief Survey

The NCS⁴ is conducting an assessment to identify current training needs. To assist our team in prioritizing topics for future curricula, please complete a short survey by clicking the button below..

Your feedback will help to identify training initiatives and assist the NCS⁴ in providing courses that address real-world problems and enhance safety and security at sports and special events. If you have any questions, concerns, or require technical support, please contact our training team at NCS4Train@usm.edu. Thank you for all you do!

ICYMI: CSSP Special Edition Newsletter

The NCS⁴ recently published a special edition newsletter recognizing those who received CSSP certification over the past year. In the newsletter, the NCS⁴ congratulates the latest CSSP recipients and recognizes current certificants and commission members. Click the link to view the newsletter.

ICYMI: Severe Weather Webinar

Weather is one of the most-likely disruptors to all planned events and operations. Each year severe and other inclement weather cause delays, postponements, cancellations, and in some cases serious injuries and even fatalities to athletes, event staff, and fans. Organizations managing events must have weather identified as a risk and adjust their planning based on the realistic assessment of historical and potential weather events and impacts. In this webinar, representatives from the Disaster Science Operations Center (DSOC), located at Western Kentucky University, discuss how we can plan for and monitor the weather to improve the level of safety and fan experience if severe weather does strike.

PANELISTS:

• Josh Durkee, Ph.D., Professor, University Meteorologist, Western Kentucky University Dr.
• David E. Oliver, Ed.D., CSP, CEM, Director, Environmental Health and Safety and Emergency Manager, Western Kentucky University

ICYMI: Dr. Stacey Hall Publishes Textbook

Dr. Stacey A. Hall, NCS⁴ Executive Director, recently announced the release of a new textbook in collaboration with longtime colleagues Dr. Walter Cooper and Dr. Jim McGee, Ph.D. “Security and Risk Assessment for Facility and Event Managers” is a new resource for practitioners in facility and event security, as well as for students taking courses in sport management, risk management, and security management. Dr. Hall thanks the Human Kinetics team for all their support and guidance (and patience).

Congratulations to Dr. Hall and her colleagues on publishing this valuable resource!

NCS⁴ eLearning Options

The NCS⁴ eLearning platform, NCS⁴ LEARN, provides opportunities for individuals and organizations to access asynchronous professional development opportunities. Current offerings include:

• Venue Staff Training
• Crowd Manager Fundamentals
• Senior Leader Course: Sports and Entertainment Security

Please visit the website or contact us at NCS4Learn@usm.edu if you have any questions or would like to inquire about bulk registration.

Click one of the links above or the button below for details or to register.

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. Keith Still, Visiting Professor of Crowd Science at the University of Suffolk, 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.