ERCES plays a critical role in eliminating wireless “dead zones,” which hamper public safety communication and put first responders and the public they serve at risk. Chief Perdue and panelists from industry and public safety zeroed in on the current state of these systems and explored urgently needed changes to ERCES technology and policy.
- Moderator: Alan Perdue – Executive Director – Safer Buildings Coalition
- Todd Early – Director of Public Safety Business Development, FirstNet, Built with AT&T
- Manuel Ojeda – CTO, Morcom International, Inc.
- Ken Rehbehn – Principal Analyst, CritComm Insights / Firefighter/EMT/Comms Expert with Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services
- Bill Suthard – Superintendent, Charlotte Fire Department
Panel Discussion: A View from the Top: In-Building Wireless
Moderated by Urgent Communications Senior Editor Donny Jackson, a panel of executive thought leaders explored the current state and future outlook of the wireless sector, with special insights on In-Building Wireless Connectivity.
Speakers:
- Moderator: Donny Jackson – Senior Editor of Informa – Urgent Communications
- Preston Marshall – Director of Wireless Standards and Policy at Google – Chairman, OnGo (CBRS) Alliance
- Patrick Halley – President and Chief Executive Officer, Wireless Infrastructure Association (WIA)
- Jeff Johnson – President – Western Fire Chiefs, Former Vice Chair, FirstNet
- Steve Devine – Chief Technology Officer, APCO
Panel Discussion: 9-1-1 Inside: A Call to Action
The FCC estimates that a one-minute improvement in 9-1-1 response time would save 10,000 lives in the US. Time is Life. This session zeroed in on SBC’s new rallying cry: 9-1-1 Inside, which sets the expectation that calls and texts to emergency services initiated from inside buildings should always get through, with clarity and accurate location.
- Moderator: Seth Buechley – SBC Founder and Cathedral Consulting CEO
- Heather McGaffin – Director, DC Office of Unified Communications
- Mark Ryckman – City Manager, City of Corning, NY
- Ed Parkinson – President, Public Sector, RapidSOS
- Joel Lindholm – CEO / Co-Founder InfiniG
Fireside Chat: FCC Commissiona Anna M. Gomez
FCC Commissioner Anna M. Gomez joined SBC Managing Director John Foley on stage.
Panel Discussion: Building the Wireless Workforce
Ken Clark – Founder & CEO, Engineering Wireless Services hosted a discussion on the critical issue of building a competent workforce capable of fulfilling the objective of eliminating in-building wireless “Dead Zones.”
Speakers:
- Moderator: Ken Clark – Founder & CEO, Engineering Wireless Services
- Cesar Ruiz – President and CEO, Learning Alliance Corporation
- Nathan Leamer – CEO, Fixed Gear Strategies, NATE Government Relations Team
- Ted Norman – Former State Director of Apprenticeship (Florida), and current Business Implementation Manager at Public Consulting Group (PCG)
- Sasha Cooper-Morrison, MBA – Supervisory Program Analyst and Industry Engagement Team Lead, US Department of Labor
Expo Hall
More than 250 attendees took the opportunity to network and visit this year’s exhibitors at the National Housing Center.
Signing off in Style – Hanging & Socializing at the Closing Reception
We wrapped up the ’24 installment with a Closing Reception where the attendees, speakers, sponsors, et al kicked back, chatted, had a few drinks while digesting a full day’s educational program.