Program
Attendance for the full program provides 12 CDEs.
Tuesday, October 7 |
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| 8:00 - 8:30 a.m. | Breakfast & Registration |
| 8:30 - 8:45 a.m. | Welcome & Introductory Remarks Michael R. O'Connor, APCO First Vice President and Executive Director, Western Will County Communications Center |
| 8:45 - 9:15 a.m.
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Future of AI for Emergency Communications Scott MacDonald, CEO GovWorx We will delve into emerging technologies, potential advancements, and visionary strategies that promise to revolutionize crisis response and community safety.
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| 9:15 - 10:15 a.m.
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Culture Eats Strategy for Breakfast: Making Sure Your ECC is Ready for AI Kevin McNulty, President & CEO, NetWeave Social NetworkingExplore how the success of AI adoption hinges less on technology and more on organizational mindset. While strategies and roadmaps determine direction, culture determines whether innovation arrives or stalls. This session will highlight real-world lessons on aligning values, empowering teams, and breaking down resistance, ensuring that when AI arrives, your people are not just ready but eager to harness its potential. HighlightsThis keynote presentation from Kevin McNulty, president and CEO of NetWeave Social Networking, emphasized that the success of AI adoption depends less on technology and more on organizational mindset. Kevin discussed the range of AI technologies available and how ECC culture can influence successful implementation. His advice for agencies just getting started: begin small. “Trying to do everything all at once is going to be hard,” McNulty said. |
| 10:15 - 10:45 a.m. | Break |
| 10:45 - 11:45 a.m. | How AI is Alleviating ECC Challenges Moderator: Stephen Devine, Chief Technology Officer, APCO International Panelists: Josh Ball, Systems Administrator, Hawkins County, TN; Al Brisard, CEO & President, Exacom; Teresa Thompson, RPL, CPE, Deputy Executive Director, Orleans Parish Communication District; Katy Myers, CPE, Executive Director, NORCOM Learn from ECC leaders who have achieved success in AI implementation. This panel will explore how advanced technologies are addressing key challenges, enhancing operational efficiency, and improving overall response capabilities to better serve communities in times of crisis.
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| 11:45 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. | Lunch provided |
| 1:00 - 1:45 p.m.
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What AI Is…and Is Not Megan Bixler, RPL, CPE, Senior Technology Strategist, APCO International Unpacking the myths and realities of artificial intelligence, this panel will clarify what AI truly encompasses, its capabilities, and limitations, while dispelling common misconceptions to foster a deeper understanding of its role in modern technology.
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| 1:45 - 3:00 p.m. | AI Assistance in Training Moderator: Megan Bixler Panelists: Natalie Heneks, Division Manager, Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office; Desiree Arnold, Executive Director, Atlanta 9-1-1; Patrice Coleman, Assistant Director, Nashville DEC; Robin Moore, AI Program Coordinator, Eventide Communications
Exploring the transformative role of AI in enhancing emergency communications training, this panel will delve into innovative approaches, real-world applications, and future directions to improve response efficiency and effectiveness.
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| 3:00 – 3:30 p.m. | Break |
| 3:30 – 4:30 p.m.
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AI for Cybersecurity Megan Bixler; Sean Scott, CTO, SecuLore Explore the significant opportunities AI offers for enhancing threat detection, incident response, and overall cyber resilience, alongside the challenges it presents, such as bias, complexity, and the evolving tactics of cyber adversaries.
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| 4:30 - 5:00 p.m.
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APCO Staff Update Crystal Lawrence, CPE, RPL, APCO International Learn how APCO is at the forefront of AI integration in emergency communications, providing best practices, comprehensive guidance, and innovative leadership to enhance response capabilities and operational efficiency.
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Wednesday, October 8 |
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| 8:00 - 8:30 a.m. | Breakfast & Registration |
| 8:30 - 9:00 a.m.
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Ethical and Legal Considerations for Using AI in ECCs Howard W. Waltzman Delving into the ethical implications of using AI in emergency scenarios, including privacy concerns, bias, and decision-making transparency
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| 9:00 - 10:00 a.m. | Human in the Loop Moderator: Megan Bixler Panelists: Natalie Heneks, Division Manager, Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office; Josh Ball, Systems Administrator, Hawkins County, TN; Michael Bateman, Nashville DEC; Scott McDonald, CEO, GovWorx Understanding how AI can complement human decision-making in emergency scenarios to achieve better outcomes.
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| 10:00 - 10:30 a.m. | Break |
| 10:30 - 11:30 a.m. | AI for Mental Health Support in ECCs Moderator: Steve Devine Panelists: Patrice Coleman, Assistant Director, Nashville DEC; Teresa Thompson, RPL, CPE, Deputy Executive Director Orleans Parish Communication District; Anika McCready-Johnson, Operations Manager, City of Baltimore 9-1-1; Brad Flanagan, PSAP Ambassador, Prepared AI can provide mental health support tools for dispatchers, helping to manage stress and burnout.
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| 11:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
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Meeting National Standards in Emergency Communications Rosa Smith, APCO International Explore how AI technologies are helping emergency communication centers meet national standards and enhancing operational efficiency, and improving overall service quality. Additionally, APCO will discuss how the standardization of AI can benefit ECC’s and their operations.
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| 12:00 p.m. - 1:15 p.m. | Lunch on own - Dining Options |
| 1:15 – 2:30 p.m. | AI Implementation Lessons Learned Moderator: Paul McCallister Panelists: Katy Myers, Executive Director, NORCOM; Tenea Reddick, Director, City of Baltimore 9-1-1; Jeff Freeland, ENP, Product Manager, Assist for 911, Motorola Solutions; Desiree Arnold, Executive Director, Atlanta 9-1-1 This presentation will highlight key lessons learned, best practices, and common challenges faced during AI integration, offering practical guidance to enhance future implementations by identifying and overcoming barriers to AI implementation, including technical, financial, and organizational challenges.
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| 2:30 – 3:00 p.m.
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NTIA – ECC AI Research Jeremy Hill |
| 3:00 - 3:30 p.m. | Break |
| 3:30 - 4:45 p.m. | The Future of AI Technologies Moderator: Stephen Devine Panelists: Matthew Schwartz, Chief Technology Officer, Eventide Communications; Scott MacDonald, CEO, GovWorx; Al Brisard, CEO & President, Exacom; Brad Flanagan, PSAP Ambassador, Prepared; Jeff Freeland, ENP, Product Manager, Assist for 911, Motorola Solutions; Joe Berger, VP of Product, Carbyne; Dave Sehnert, ENP, VP Public Safety Partnerships, RapidSOS Explore the future of AI technologies in emergency communications, focusing on emerging advancements that promise to enhance crisis response, improve situational awareness, and optimize resource allocation. This presentation will delve into practical applications, potential innovations, and strategic developments that are set to transform how we manage emergencies and safeguard communities.
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| 4:45 - 5:00 p.m. | Closing Remarks Jennifer Reese, CPE, APCO 2nd Vice President and Assistant Director, Washington County Consolidated Communications Agency |