2023

The 6th Annual Pennsylvania Emergency Preparedness & Homeland Security Conference was held on October 15 to 17, 2023 and broke record attendance and support!  Just under 300 (293 to be exact) individuals attended the Conference and there were 25 exhibitors that had displays.

The theme for 2024 was “Meeting the Challenge of Tomorrow” and featured Keynote Speaker Kelly McKinney of the NYU Langone Health in New York City. The Lunch and Learn speaker was Katie Murphy, Senior Manager of Business Continuity at C&S Wholesale Grocers, who discussed public-private partnerships within emergency preparedness. Rounding our the guest speakers, at the Annual KEMA Membership Dinner, Emily Wesselhoff, the newly elected President of the Maryland Emergency Management Association, gave an excellent presentation that really engaged those in attendance.

The Conference would not have been possible if it was not for the Sponsors and Exhibitors: Mobile Concepts Specialty Vehicles, The Olson Group, Ltd.. FirstNET, Fedora Intertech, LLC, IEM, MCM Consulting Group, Inc., Motorola Solutions, Visual Sound, Inc.,, Centre Communications, Inc, DeSales University, Emergency Management Consulting, LLC, Guest Communications Corp, Immaculata University, JH Consulting, LLC, LSU National Center for Biomedical Research and Training/Academy of Counter-Terrorism Education, North American Rescue, PEAKE, Salamander Technologies, Tetra Tech, and Witt O’Brien’s.  And finally our planning partners: PEMA, PA Office of Homeland Security, PA VOAD, PA Hat Association, and PASRO.

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2022

The 5th Annual Pennsylvania Emergency Preparedness Conference returned, after the pandemic hiatus, to the Blair County Convention Center.  A new 4 day format was introduced and the Conference was held from October 22 – 24, 2022 with the theme “Beyond the Horizon, Shaping our Future.”

With considerable support from PEMA, the Conference was a huge success.  The Keynote Speaker was PA State Senator Stefano.  A new “Lunch and Learn” was featured on Sunday and Monday.  Filling in for PEMA Director Padfield, PEMA External Affairs Director Molly Dougherty presented the Sunday session, while FEMA Region 3 Administrator MaryAnn Tierney gave the Monday presentation.

Finally, special thanks to the sponsors of the 2023 KEMA Conference: Airgain, Inc., Argo Navis Technologies, Capital Area Communications, Delta Development Group, Inc., FEMA IPAWS, FirstNet, Innovative Public Safety, JH Consulting, LLC, MCM Consulting Group, Inc., Mission Critical Partners, Motorola Solutions, ProPac, Inc., The Olson Group, Ltd., and Visual Sound.

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2021

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, KEMA conducted its annual conference in a virtual, video on-demand, format.  Thank you to the conference sponsor MCM Consulting Group, Inc.

2020

Postponed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

2019

KEMA returned to the Blair County Convention Center on October 27, 28, and 20 to “Explore the Possibilities.”  Educational opportunities included over 35 sessions for the more than 250 attendees to learn from.

The Keystone speaker was Mr. Michael Sharon, Deputy Superintendent for FEMA’s Emergency Management Institute.  Also welcoming the attendees, on behalf of PEMA Director Randy Padfield was PEMA;s newest Deputy Director for Response, Mr. Tim Sevison.

Also, thanks to the Conference Sponsors: IT Responsibly, AT&T First Net, Juvare, Knowledge Center, Ascenttra, Centre Communications, Delta Development Group, Inc., IamResponding.com, MCM Consulting Group, Inc., OnSolve, PEMA, Motorola, Mission Critical Partners, and Salamander.

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2018

The Inaugural Emergency Preparedness Conference by KEMA was hosted a the Blair County Convention Center on October 21, 22, 22, 2018 and featured over 30 educational sessions ranging in topics in General Operations, Homeland Security, Communications/9-1-1, VOAD, and Instructor Training.

The Keynote speaker was FEMA Region III, Regional Administrator MaryAnn Tierney.  During the KEMA Annual Dinner, Dr. Tim Murphy was the guest speaker who discussed emergency responder stress, PTSD, and suicide prevention.

Thank you to our conference sponsors: CTL/IT Responsibly, The Olson Group, Ltd., ACD Telecom, Bold Planning, Centre Communications, Delta Development Group, Inc., Everbridge, FirstNet, J.H. Consulting, LLC., Inmarsat Government, Michael Baker International, MCM Consulting Group, Inc., Mission Critical Partners, Motorola, Mutualink, OnSolve, Rave Mobile Safety, ResponseMaps.com, Sierra Wireless, Sonim Technologies, Inc., Tetra Tech, Inc., and Veoci.

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