NCS⁴ NEWS eNewsletter | June 27, 2024

National Sports Safety and Security Conference & Exhibition

The 15th Annual National Sports Safety and Security Conference & Exhibition will be held on July 9–11 at the JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa in Phoenix, Arizona, in conjunction with Title Sponsor inOrbit. The 2024 conference theme is Make It Matter, providing our industry friends and partners an opportunity to explore how we can transform ideas into tangible, lasting change. In a rapidly evolving world where innovation and change are the norm, the true measure of progress lies in the ability to turn ideas into meaningful impact.

Nine Individuals Recognized as Professionals of the Year

A total of nine professionals will be recognized for their leadership in addressing safety and security issues during the Annual Conference. The Professional of the Year Award recognizes a member of management in the field who has, over the past year, demonstrated outstanding leadership in addressing safety and security issues. In addition to the enhanced safety of their venue/event, the recipient’s contributions have set an example for others to follow.

Each league or organization selects the criteria and determines who will be recognized. Individuals receiving the award include:

• Scott G. Bliek, Assistant General Manager, Stadium Management Company/Denver Broncos
• Randy Buhr, Director, Championships and Alliances, National Collegiate Athletic Association
• Stacy Embretson, Senior Director, Operations, The McCourt Foundation
• Tevin Kellum, Security Assistant, Detroit Lions
• J.T. Klingenmeier, Vice President, Prevent Advisors
• Roy Pippin, Director of Security, Houston Astros
• James E. Seagle, III, Director of Safety & Security, Nashville SC/GEODIS Park
• Dennis Walton, CMAA, Athletic Administrator, Biddeford High School
• Harry Wilson, Head of NBA Events Security, National Basketball Association

Six Sports Facilities to be Recognized as Facility of Merit

Six sports facilities will be recognized for their leadership in addressing safety and security issues at the Annual Conference. The Facility of Merit Award recognizes a sports facility that has demonstrated an innovative approach to enhancing safety and security beyond its normal operations or addressed a significant safety/security concern.

The award is sponsored by Prevent Advisors, a full-service security consulting company with extensive knowledge, expertise, and understanding of the operational aspects of sports and entertainment facilities and venues. They are the first and only company to receive the DHS SAFETY Act Designation for a Red Team Assessment Service.

Each league or organization selects the criteria and determines who will be recognized.

Facilities receiving the award include:

• Freedom Field – Alvin ISD
• GEODIS Park
• Gillette Stadium
• Petco Park
• Pinnacle Bank Arena
• Track Shack

Eight Professionals to be Recognized as Emerging Industry Leaders

Eight professionals will be recognized for their leadership in addressing safety and security issues during the Annual Conference. The Emerging Industry Leader Award recognizes a young professional who has demonstrated outstanding leadership in addressing safety and security issues. In addition to the enhanced safety and security of their venue/event, the recipient’s contributions have set an example for others to follow.

Each league or organization selects the criteria and determines who will be recognized. Individuals receiving the award include:

• Mariah Barber, Director, Safety & Security, Pacers Sports & Entertainment
• Brian Cordill, Associate Athletics Director for Event Operations, Kansas State University
• Michelle La Sala, President, Blistering Pace Race Management
• Zach Lemelin, Athletics Director, Sanford School District
• Kevin Mauldin, M.Ed., Athletics Trainer/Teacher, Oak Grove High School
• Malory Monson, Senior Director of Operations, America First Field
• Matt Van Norton, Director, Security & Transportation, Washington Commanders
• Jason Silva, Director, Security, Oakland Athletics

Four Professionals to be Recognized as Friends of NCS⁴

A total of four professionals will be recognized for their contributions to the NCS⁴ during the National Conference. The Friends of NCS⁴ Award recognizes professionals whose contributions have been invaluable to the advancement of the Center. The NCS⁴ staff nominate individuals who have been integral to the Center’s mission, playing an invaluable role in its training, research, and outreach programs.

Individuals receiving the award include:

• Walter E. Cooper, Program Coordinator, Interscholastic Athletic Administration, William Carey University
• Monica Martinez, Executive Director Emergency Management, Texas A&M University
• Ben Rolens, General Manager of Facilities, Katy Independent School District
• Michael J. Stewart, Commercial Facilities Sports Leagues Subsector Lead, DHS/CISA

Thank you to our exhibitors and sponsors

SAVE THE DATE

National Marathon and Endurance Events Safety and Security Forum

The NCS⁴ team is excited to announce the National Marathon and Endurance Events Safety and Security Forum will be held December 3-4, 2024, in Virginia Beach, Va. Mark your calendar and make plans to attend!

Check our Forums page for more updates as they are released.

National Intercollegiate Athletics Safety and Security Forum

The NCS⁴ team is excited to announce the National Intercollegiate Athletics Safety and Security Forum will be held January 28-29, 2025, at Duke University in Durham, NC. Mark your calendar and make plans to attend!

Check our Forums page for more updates as they are released.

New eLearning Course Released

The NCS⁴ is pleased to announce the release of the Frontline Staff Foundational Skills course. This video-based training introduces frontline staff members to the skills necessary for providing guests with a safe and enjoyable experience. For additional details or to enroll your team, contact our learning management team at NCS4Learn@usm.edu.

NCS⁴ eLearning Options

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

• NEW! Frontline Staff Foundational Skills
• 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.

The NCS⁴ is the only organization that offers a certification recognizing expertise in sport security management. Earning the Certified Sport Security Professional (CSSP) designation sets you apart from other professionals and highlights your dedication to remaining current with industry trends. Professionals in the sports security industry need to have a firm grasp of public safety measures and understand how to apply those measures in the unique environments created by sports venues and events. The CSSP certification validates expertise in the following domains:

• Business and Facility Management
• Emergency Planning
• Emergency Management
• Legal and Regulatory
• Crowd Management
• Security Principles and Practice

The CSSP certification is awarded to individuals who meet experience, education, and professional reference criteria and pass an exam relevant to sports safety and security management. It is maintained through ongoing continuing education and industry contribution requirements every three years.

TARGET AUDIENCE

• Venue/Event Security Directors/ManagersVenue/Event Operations Directors/Managers
• Law Enforcement
• Emergency Managers
• Private Security Practitioners
• Fire/HAZMAT
• EMS
• Other Sports Safety and Security Leaders

BENEFITS

• Expand security knowledge and experience
• Strengthen relationships with peers
• Broaden career opportunities
• Demonstrate a commitment to professional development

IMPORTANT LINKS

• CSSP Application Process
• Senior Leader Course: Sports and Entertainment Security
• See the CSSP Candidate Handbook for eligibility, application, exam preparation, and recertification details.

For more information, visit the website by clicking the button below or contact CertificationSupport@usm.edu.

Fundamentals of Crowd Safety Course

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 1,000.