Topic:  Strategic Event Safety: Tools, Tactics, and Real-Time Readiness
Speaker:  Mark Coxen, COO of Blue Steel Security Services

Safety isn’t a checkbox—it’s the foundation of a successful event. Learn essential strategies required to protect attendees, staff, and organizational reputation at your next association event.

We’ll explore a structured roadmap for safer events, from early hazard identification and proportionate planning to emergency preparedness and real-time event monitoring. You’ll walk away with practical tools that will strengthen safety protocols, enhance team coordination, and boost attendee trust. Whether coordinating a major conference, or smaller member gathering, this session will empower event professionals to create experiences that are not only engaging and memorable but also safe, compliant, and resilient.

Learning Objectives:

After participating in this session, attendees will be able to:

1. Design scalable event safety plans that align with event size, complexity, and risk level.
2. Identify potential hazards early through structured risk assessments that evaluate severity, likelihood, and acceptable risk thresholds.
3. Develop proactive emergency response procedures, including weather contingencies, equipment failure protocols, medical response plans, and “show stop” triggers.
4. Define and communicate clear safety roles for staff, vendors, and volunteers to ensure coordinated, confident execution.
5. Implement real-time safety monitoring strategies during events to adapt quickly to changing conditions.
6. Integrate insurance considerations and risk mitigation tools to safeguard attendees, property, and organizational reputation.
7. Foster a culture of safety inside their organization by shifting from reactive responses to proactive, preventive planning.
8. Apply practical checklists and planning frameworks that support consistent, repeatable, and compliant event operations.

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About our Speaker:

Mark served with distinction as a helicopter navigator in the US Army until his honorable discharge in 1991.  After serving, he began his career patrolling Public Housing in Northern California as a gang and narcotics enforcement officer.

In addition to patrolling low-income communities, Mark was also a team leader on a Maritime Counter-Terrorist Security Team under contract with the Department of Defense Military Sealift Command where he excelled as a Designated Marksmen, Diver and Small Boat Assaulter.  When the team wasn’t working on DoD ships, they were often called upon to perform dignitary protection. Mark has protected such notables as Sarah Palin, Whoopi Goldberg, Michael Eisner and Larry Ellison.  In 2004, Mark moved to Arizona where he oversaw all uniformed operations for a major security company with over 300 employees and 3 offices in 2 states.  In 2011, Mark joined Blue Steel Security as an Owner and the Chief Operations Officer as well as the primary firearms instructor.  In addition to overseeing the day to day operations of Blue Steel, Mark also teaches courses in firearms, personal safety and active shooter response.

When he’s not working Mark enjoys spending time with his wife Michelle trail riding or competitive cattle sorting on their horses.  Mark is Dad to 2 amazing kids, 3 horses, 2 mini donkeys, 5 dogs and 1 ornery cat.