The following presentations have been confirmed to be taking place at the 2026 MSES in VA Beach. More presentations are being confirmed in the upcoming weeks, so make sure to check back often!  

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• “ADELFEST” -The Tabletop Exercise: Lots of events take place on public streets.  These events are already risky because they are held in spaces that are not meant for that use.  In this tabletop exercise, we will prepare for and then run the acclaimed “AdelFest,” during which we will answer the foundational question of risk management: What could go wrong?  Tabletops can be stressful – an incident for which your community should have been prepared is much worse. This exercise will take up two class periods, so make sure you are able to attend both of them.

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• Modernizing the Permitting Process: An overview of why Raleigh decided to move to a software system, how we   configured roles and reviewer types, and how technology solved for some of our pain points around the manual permitting process. Attendees will learn 1. Technology automating some of the permitting process 2. Considerations when configuring city officials' roles and reviewer types. 3. How to leverage effective communication.

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• NCS4 Overview: TEEX/NCS4 Classes, Best Practices, Overview of the Office. Attendees will learn what TEEX/NCS4 classes are, how they can benefit special event planning and safety, and how to get these free trainings in your area.

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• Be Extra on Purpose- Elevating Events and Programs One Detail at a Time: Events   are about creating experiences that people remember, talk about, and come   back for. In this interactive session, we’ll explore the power of going the   extra mile: the small, thoughtful touches that turn a good program into a   great one. From setting the stage with intentional design, to creating   photo-worthy moments, to showing “unreasonable hospitality” that makes every guest feel seen. These are the details that make the magic happen. You’ll   leave with fresh ideas, real-life examples, and practical ways to bring more   heart, energy, and impact to your programs because in Parks & Rec, extra isn’t extra… it’s essential.

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•  "It Depends" with Steven Adelman: The legal duty we all have all the time is to behave reasonably under our own circumstances.  This session will apply that murky standard to questions such as: How many security guards do I need for my event? Can I use my phone app to monitor the weather? If there are no bollards, can I just use saw horses? Let’s lock arms and jump down some rabbit holes together!

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• Virginia Beach Collaborative Approach to Special Events: Recently, Virginia Beach changed our perspective on special events to work together   with private ambulance companies to provide EMS coverage within venues. VBEMS   is still involved with the special event, but with less people therefore   saving resources, overtime, etc. Attendees will learn:  1. Out of box thinking to staff medical aspects of special events 2. how to provide a collaborative approach while ensuring EMS needs are met 3. Some Virginia Beach specifics, which they may be able to take back to their   departments.

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• The Why of Event Planning: Moving Beyond Logistics to Meaningful Impacts: The Why of Event Planning, explores a framework that equips planners to design events rooted in purpose. Drawing on lessons from Marshville’s Juneteenth Events—where the intentional recognition of local heroes deepened community pride and participation—participants will discover how aligning event design with community values creates greater engagement and lasting impact. 

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• Municipal Event Planning Masterclass: Fail to Plan, Plan to Fail: This dynamic masterclass is designed to equip municipal event professionals with the tools, strategies, and insights needed to execute successful events that are safe, impactful, and well-organized. Centered around the theme “Fail to Plan, Plan to Fail,” this session dives into the critical components of municipal event planning, from concept to cleanup, importance of building and maintaining strong interdepartmental relationships, collaboration keys, logistics management, and what to do when presented with pitfalls that often derail us.

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• Denver's Event Emergency Action Toolkit Class:  Denver Arts and Venues and Office of Emergency Management (OEM), in partnership with other regional jurisdictions, were awarded a FEMA Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) grant to fund the development of an Event Emergency Action Plan (EAP) Toolkit. The goal of these resources is to assist special event organizers with event safety planning, risk assessment, and hazard mitigation associated with outdoor public events with standardization, and open communication lines across the region. The toolkit consists of a template, guidance document, modular video trainings, sample EAPs, communication templates as well as plan seminar and tabletop exercise bundles.

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• No Is Not a Dirty Word: Setting Boundaries to Build Better Events: We all know how challenging it can be to balance community enthusiasm with the realities of ordinances, policies, and limited resources. This session will explore how saying “no” — or “not this way” — can actually strengthen our events, protect our staff, and ensure fairness across the board.

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• 60 Event Tips in 60 Minutes: Learn how to best plan for emergencies at special events. 

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• Sensory-Friendly, Eco-Friendly, and Fabulous Special Events: Learn how to put on events that are sensory-friendly, more environmentally sustainable, and fun for everyone! 

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• PLAN SMART: Safer, Smoother, Stronger Events: Why Planning your event is important, and also an in depth look at safety, logistics, & best practices for campus and city events.

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• From Barricades to Blue Lights: Special Event Coordination that Works: Join the City of Knoxville to learn how they handle safety planning for their special events. 

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• It Takes a City: Building the Right Special Event Permitting Team—Every Time: Special events are never approved by a single department—and they shouldn’t be managed that way either. While most jurisdictions rely on a familiar core group (Special Events, Police, Fire, Risk), the reality is that every event brings a different mix of locations, impacts, and activities that demand broader expertise. This session explores how to intentionally design and evolve your Special Event Permitting Team—who should always be at the table, who should be looped in based on event scope, and how to avoid both over-review and missed risks. Attendees will walk away with a practical framework for assembling the right team for each event, improving coordination, accountability, and outcomes for staff and applicants alike.

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• Drone Show 101: Learn what goes into putting on a Drone Show from the pros at Open Sky Drones! At this class you will learn the benefits of a drone show, what goes into planning a drone show, and best practices.