PA APCO 2012 Spring Conference Program Timeline

Sunday, March 25, 2012 1930

Welcome Reception

Embassy room

Monday, March 26, 2012 0730- 0900

Continental Breakfast

Grande Ballroom area

Dispatcher/Supervisor Training 0900-1200 CRITICAL THINKING IN 911 – Sue Pivetta – Professional Pride Training This course will explore creating independent thinkers - as call takers 'think' their way through every 9-1-1 call. Teams review actual high profile calls and use our different colored hats in assessing the calls. Supervisors and Managers will learn the importance of using critical thinking in your processes to ensure that IS being done is what is SUPPOSED to be done. This is a must have tool for all leaders.  Trainers can model call taking - however training isn't just about 'showing' someone how to do something but 'provoking' the learner to 'think' like a call taker. Trainers will learn how to help trainees move away from dependence on the trainer into quick accurate decisions with this new and creative exercise. 

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Call Takers and Dispatchers will have a day of reasoning, examining, logic, bias, skepticism and problem solving by looking at a series of actual 9-1-1 calls in a way they have never looked at them before.  

1200–1300 1300-1700

Lunch – on your own CHILL OUT, LESS STRESS TECHNIQUES – Sue Pivetta – Professional Pride Training Why is the individual asked to change and the workplace is allowed to stay toxic? This course is all about stressors and the individual. It's all about coping, values, learning, understanding and accepting the reality of stress - but not just any stress - the stress of THIS workplace, for this type of wonderfully unique individual. The exercises are fun, using sticky notes throughout the day with different ways of understanding. To wrap it up we all participate in a team exercise on neutralizing the negativity behaviors that add to the stress in the Comm Center. 

Commercial Presentations - Management/Technical Sessions 0900-1000 L.R.Kimball 1000-1100 Alcatel-Lucent 1100-1200 Zetron

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1300-1400 1400-1500 1500-1600 1600-1700

Lunch Harris Aviat Networks Motorola Solutions Davicon Division of Comlab Inc.

1400

PUC 911 Task Force Meeting

Public Safety Awards and Hospitality - Exhibits Open – 1700 –2000 Reception with Food and Drink – Public Safety Awards at 6 pm

Tuesday, March 27, 2012 0800-1000 Exhibits Open - Breakfast Buffet– served 0800 – 0930

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Courtyard

Courtyard

Educational Sessions- Dispatch/Supervisor –TechnicalManagement Practical Tactical (Dispatcher)-Brad A. Reinert, Supervisor, Matthew Markland, Supervisor and John Geib, Assistant Director Montgomery County Department of Public Safety 0900-0950

This presentation is designed to enhance the attendee’s knowledge of Tactical Communications Teams, in what they do as well as defining some simple steps on how to do it. As one of the busiest Tactical Communications teams in the Commonwealth, the presenters will provide an overview of: day to day operations;policy & procedures; technology used; apparatus; team member qualifications; training; back fill procedures and case study. Attendees will be shown what the team does in and outside of the communications center as well as the positive effects on the telecommunicator inside the communication center.

Speaker – PEMA Chief Deputy Director Robert Full – PEMA No session How to Educate the Public on Little or No Budget(Dispatcher)-Stacy Cotter, QA/Training Supervisor, Bradford County Emergency Services

1000 –1050

Do you want the Community to know how your job affects their lives? Ever wonder if the Community even cares about your job? The best way to educate the Community is to tackle it head on. Take the initiative to get the word out about what a 911 dispatcher/telecommunicator really does! The presenter has taken her "One Woman Show" on the road and attempted to give the Community a better understanding of the day in the life of a Dispatcher.She’s offered to go to schools, social events, open houses, meet and greets, and asked that they take the time to tour her dispatch center. Plus, this is all done with less than $500 a year Outreach Budget!

PEMA Updates-Deputy Director for Administration David Holl (Management)

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NG 9-1-1: Fact, Fiction, Realities and Unintended Consequences Or Lessons learned from multiple statewide next generation 9-1-1 rollout initiatives (technical)- Ashish Patel, Intrado, Inc. To ensure success in the next generation 9-1-1 system, we must be careful what we ask for. As NG 9-1-1 technologies encompass and surpass legacy systems, safeguards and standards must remain intact. Critical success factors include a reliable network; a fully integrated, secure delivery platform; the ability to support existing E9-1-1 functions and emerging non-voice technology features. This session will discuss the path from Legacy to the future; evolution and subsequent implementation of NG9-1-1; and the challenges of migration. Attendees will benefit from experiences of those who have already traveled this path as they plan their own transition to NG9-1-1.

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Dispatching with handicaps (Dispatcher)- Jason L. Kaufman, Snyder County Emergency Services This session will consist of the presenter speaking firsthand about what it is like to dispatch and work in public safety with a visual handicap and about ways that we in public safety can make adaptations and/or more comfortable working environments for people with handicaps.

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Case study of a Pennsylvania regional NG911 IP telephony system and network project. (Management)- Michael C. McGrady, President. Ken Heisel, Senior Consultant, MCM Consulting Group, Inc.

1100-1150

This session will review a seven County, regional geo-diverse NG911 telephony system project that is currently taking place in Northwest & Northwest Central Pennsylvania. When completed, the system will encompass 34 call taker positions, 10 remote positions and operate through a redundant IP based network. The presenters will review the assessment, design, procurement, implementation and maintenance aspects of the project.

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On Star Emergency Services Update (Technical)-Sherry LeVeque, Public Safety Outreach Leader, OnStar In-vehicle communication systems have come a long way since the technology appeared in automobiles in the mid 1990s. Once considered a high-tech option in luxury vehicles, the technology is fast becoming a standard safety and security feature. As a result, in vehicle communication systems or telematics are an increasingly vital link between motorists and PSAPs during emergencies. This presentation will teach how telematics service providers connect motorists to the emergency help they need in a variety of scenarios. This interactive session is designed to facilitate the sharing of ideas.

1200 –1315 Luncheon Buffet – PIV-I / First Responder Authentication Credentialing (Dispatcher)-Craig Wilson, National Continuity Programs/National Capital Region Coordinator Credentialing Coordinator, FEMA; Robert Pincaro, Emergency Management Supervisor, Governor’s Office of Homeland Security; Lindsay 1330-1420 Yeager, QA Coordinator, Chester County Department of Emergency ServicesAn overview of a federally interoperable credentialing system deployed in Chester County, PA and Southeast Pennsylvania for emergency responders and how it can be used for telecommunicators. Topics will include an overview of the program and how it can be used for routine identity applications and emergency use.

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Presidential

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Radio interoperability: moving to P25 digital radio and what it means for users (management)- Scott Skibness, Vice-President Strategic Sales, Tait

Communications APCO P25 digital radio is becoming increasingly popular as a communications tool for public safety agencies throughout the world. This session will provide an overview of the current state of P25 and how it differs from analog radios most users may be familiar with. Firstly, the session will review the relevant P25 standards, interfaces and certification bodies and regimes. Secondly, the session will address implications for decision makers: interoperability is about more than just open standards. The session will also review reasons why sometimes different manufacturers’ equipment does not work on a P25 system, and the issues encountered in implementing a multi-vendor P25 network. The significance of the P25 Compliance Assessment Program (P25 CAP) will be explained as an example of how the industry is addressing interoperability issues. Finally we will discuss practical gains and experience from agencies that have sourced terminals from multiple vendors.

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P25-PA STARNet Interoperability Planning(Technical)- Steven Kuller, Director, PA Office of Public Safety Radio Services, Pennsylvania Office of Administration, Office of Public Safety Radio Services This session will provide information related to radio interoperability issues associated with connecting P25 radio system to the PA STARNet OpenSky Radio Systems. Session will detail the PA STARNet “Four Ways to Connection” concept and explain how this concept includes various gateway, ISSI, and other technologies. Included will be a demo of the existing PA STARNet 700 MHz P25 air-to-ground capabilities. The session will conclude with an open discussion to allow the presenters to receive information from the attending radio user community.

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Crisis Communications/When bad things happen how to keep from making it worse.-John Haynes, Chester County Emergency Services 1430- 1520

This presentation will focus on the basic do’s and don’ts of crisis communications including speaking with internal personnel, citizens and the media. This presentation is intended for anyone who may be faced with speaking publicly regarding a real or perceived crisis.

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Bridging the Gap” – Preparing for Configuration Management- Andy Maxymillian, Blue Wing Services So, what are you doing with all that network and system data that’s accumulated through the years? Perhaps you’ve just completed a new system installation and have been deluged with configuration and “as-built” documentation and data. Does it seem like you reinvent the wheel every time someone asks a question like, “How many widgets do we have?” or, “what software versions are we running?” Wouldn’t it be nice to put a program in place to keep all that information useful, complete, accurate, secure, and readily available? Well, that program exists, and it’s called Configuration Management.This session will provide an overview of Configuration Management. It will also detail a project management approach to implementing a configuration management program. It will also detail some typical tools that may be used to manage the program after integration.

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The Technical and Governance Elements of a Regional P25 Trunked Network- John Cunnington , L.R. Kimball and Tom Stutzman, Indiana County Emergency Management Presentation will provide an overview of how the InterCounty Regional Radio System (ICORRS) P25 trunked network serving Westmoreland, Armstrong and Indiana Counties in Western PA evolved, what technical and design issues were involved and how they were addressed, and how the governance and cost sharing structure was developed. The presentation will specifically address; Technical considerations related to development of a regional multi-jurisdiction trunked system; Governance considerations related to development of a regional multi-jurisdiction trunked system and Benefits and resources that can be leveraged in a regional multi-jurisdiction trunked system

1600 –1900 Networking/Hospitality

Grande III

Presidential

Wednesday, March 28, 2012 0730-0900

Continental Breakfast –

Grande Ballroom area

Allentown Gas Explosion-Michael D. Hilbert, Superintendent of Communciations, Allentown City E911 Center On February 9, 2011, at 10:47 PM, a natural gas explosion ripped through a residential community in Allentown PA. The Allentown 9-1-1 Center was inundated with 9-1-1 calls reporting an explosion that was felt in all areas of the City. In a heartbeat, two occupied homes were leveled and four others were severely damaged. From a nearby street surveillance camera, the Allentown 9-1-1 Center could see severe structural damage with heavy fire emanating from the debris pile. Fire, fed from the leaking gas main, could 0900 – 0950 also be seen pushing from the cracks in the street. Over the next several hours, the incident would escalate to a large scale suppression operation including the evacuation of a neighborhood that included two, 13 story elderly high-rise buildings. Five people, ranging in age from 4 month to 69 years, were missing and presumed dead. Mutual Aid Police, Fire and EMS units were called in from all parts of the County to assist with the operation. The Allentown 9-1-1 Center was tasked with dispatching equipment and coordinating personnel and resources to the scene. In addition, the normal operation and protection of the City needed to be maintained. This presentation will discuss the lessons learned for the 9-1-1 Center from this tragic event. What worked, what worked well, and what could have been improved.

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Mobile Devises and Social Networking (management)-John A. McCreary, Jr., Babst Calland 0900- 0950

0900-0950

The huge popularity of social networking sites, and the novelty of the technology they use, should not distract employers and their counsel from the basic employment law principles that apply to the correct resolution of issuesarising out of the use and abuse of social networking tools. With a basic understanding of employment law, familiarity with some of the statutes applicable to these particular types of technologies, and some common sense, employers should have no more difficulty addressing 21st century issues than they had dealing with those issues in the last millennium.

700 Mhz/Broadband Legislative Process-Ali Shahnami, ACD Telecom This presentation will give a brief history of 700 MHz spectrum allocation, planning and frequency coordination. It will also look at the history of public safety set aside broadband spectrum in the 700 MHz band and legislations which led to the latest decision by the Congress as part of Spectrum provisions within Payroll Tax Relief Act of 2012. CLEAN Update – Cpl Jason M. Winkowski & Debra Pipes, Pennsylvania State Police ** CLEAN operators/TAC’s would benefit from this session**

The CLEAN/NCIC platform has been up dated to an environment that will accommodate 21st century technology. It will facilitate the implementation of the requisite state and federal security enhancements. The upgrade will replace the current user interface with new user-friendly and intuitive web-browser presentation layer. New and enhanced security features is another component to meet the CJIS Security Policy. A 1000 – 1050 demonstration of the new interface and capabilities will be provided

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Law Enforcement Justice Information System(Management)-Michael J. Spirito, Deputy Director, Chester Co. Dept. of Emergency Services/LEJIS Chairman

1000-1050

1100 - 1150

LEJIS is a Homeland Security initiative of the Southeast Taskforce. It is a real-time police incident sharing system started in Southeast Pennsylvania, but expanding to all parts of the state. Approximately 300 departments participate today, and that number is growing, including the City of Philadelphia. Access is through J-NET and LEJIS is web-based. Use of Video as a Training Tool- Dennis Ward, CEO, MWF Enterprises This presentation will provide an overview of the advantages of using video for short term and long - term training for technology based communication center tools. The presentation will show that through video, you can provide a clear and consistent message that can be used over and over for those previously trained to hone skills and for newly hired staff members. JNET Update- Eric Webb, JNET Communications Manager The latest on information and services provided by JNET.

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Combating Absentee Abuse in the Communications Center- Atty. Alex BakBoychuk It has become one of the most talked about problems among Communication Center managers and leads to ballooning overtime, Absentee Abuse. This presentation will take a look at what can be done to try to control this growing problem. Public Safety Investments/Applying Risk Management to New Technology-Jim Bitting, Mission Critical Partners Spectral efficiency, manufacturer competition, and low cost communications alternatives are some of the reasons for the development of a variety of communications methods available for public safety agencies. Analog, Digital, P25, NXDN, Cellular and the emergence of broadband technologies like WiMAX and LTE are all options available for Public Safety, but the question remains – what technology is best? How does an agency determine where to invest with so many features, but is not necessarily a proven fielded technology? What are the risks and how do I protect myself, my department and the public?

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Box lunch will be provided. 1200 – 1300 PA APCO Chapter meeting –everyone is welcome to attend This schedule is subject to change as needed.

Registration Schedule Sunday

1930 – 2030 (for Prepaid Registrants only in the Hospitality Room)

Monday Tuesday Wednesday

0800 – 1700 0800 – 1200 0800 – 0900

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