Introduction
The SafeZone community gathered in Denver, Colorado, for the first-ever USA SafeZone Conference, hosted by CriticalArc at the Renaissance Boulder Flatiron Hotel. Over two dynamic days, campus safety leaders, public safety professionals, and industry experts came together to exchange knowledge, network, and explore the evolving landscape of safety, security, and wellbeing.
The event drew a strong turnout of attendees from across the United States and beyond — representing higher education, healthcare, and corporate environments. Feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with participants highlighting how valuable the conference was as a forum for networking and real-world knowledge sharing among SafeZone customers and industry partners alike.
A Strong Start: Building a Connected SafeZone Community
The conference opened with remarks from Glenn Farrant, Co-Founder and CEO of CriticalArc, who set the stage by reaffirming the company’s commitment to delivering Safety Everywhere™ — a unified, real-time approach to security, coordination, and response.
The energy carried through the opening evening’s networking reception, where speakers, panelists, and delegates connected before diving into two packed days of programming. Attendees praised the event’s collaborative spirit and inclusive atmosphere, noting that the SafeZone community continues to grow stronger through events like this.
Powerful Keynotes and Case Studies
The first keynote, “Risk on the Move”, was delivered by Chief Joe Monroe from the University of Kentucky Police Department. His session explored how security risk and emergency preparedness strategies can be adapted between campus and healthcare contexts through the Assess–Adapt–Anchor framework — a practical model for evolving operational resilience.
Several standout case studies followed:
- Florida State University Police Department walked attendees through their coordinated response to a campus shooting incident, demonstrating how innovative tools, panic button systems, and AI-driven alerts have transformed their situational awareness and response times.
- Chief Daran Dodd from the University of North Carolina Asheville shared “Lessons Learned from Hurricane Helene”, offering sobering but inspiring insights into leadership, resource management, and community resilience during one of the most catastrophic natural disasters to impact the Carolinas.
- Gary Stephen of the University of Glasgow detailed his institution’s journey in adopting SafeZone and establishing the Scottish SafeZone Alliance, demonstrating the platform’s ability to unify safety coordination across multiple universities and international borders.
Feature Session: Product Masterclasses with Danny Malone
Malone’s first session gave attendees practical, hands-on insights into maximizing their SafeZone investment — focusing on role-based access, operational alignment, and driving user adoption across large organizations. He broke down how to communicate SafeZone’s value to leadership teams and how data-driven insights can transform safety operations.
Later, in the Product Updates & Roadmap session, Malone unveiled the latest SafeZone developments and a glimpse of what’s next, from wearable duress technology and expanded integration capabilities to safety analytics and healthcare-focused workflows.
Attendees described these sessions as “eye-opening” and “immediately actionable,” underscoring Malone’s ability to bridge technical innovation with real-world application.
Workshop Streams: Practical Learning in Action
In addition to keynote and panel sessions, attendees could choose from a range of concurrent workshop streams designed to deliver focused, hands-on learning experiences. Each stream tackled distinct aspects of operational safety, leadership, and technology — allowing participants to tailor their conference experience to their priorities.
Stream 1 – Executive Engagement & Access Design
Explored strategies to gain executive support for expanding SafeZone’s role in security transformation, as well as best practices for configuring role-based access without compromising sensitive operations. These workshops helped participants learn how to align SafeZone’s capabilities with institutional goals and communicate its value effectively to senior leadership.
Stream 2 – Global Collaboration & Wellbeing Support
Focused on community connection and the SafeZone Alliance in Action, showcasing how universities and healthcare partners collaborate regionally and globally through SafeZone. Another concurrent session addressed mental health and wellbeing, emphasizing how SafeZone can help connect community members to appropriate support services and reduce reliance on police interventions.
Stream 3 – Emergency Response and Safety Culture
Provided a step-by-step guide to building effective multichannel emergency response strategies, followed by practical insights on how to foster a strong, lasting safety culture that drives sustained adoption and engagement across campus or enterprise environments.
Stream 4 – Healthcare Collaboration & Real-Time Response
Introduced the SafeZone Healthcare Steering Committee, a new initiative designed to foster knowledge-sharing and collaboration among healthcare safety leaders. Attendees also explored how SafeZone enables seamless, real-time coordination between first and second responders — improving efficiency, communication, and situational awareness in complex incidents.
Throughout all streams, delegates had access to “Ask the Experts” sessions with CriticalArc’s Customer Success team, offering guidance on product deployment, feature implementation, and operational strategy.
Panels and Discussions: Learning from Leaders
Lively panels throughout the conference encouraged collaboration between institutions and industry partners.
Sessions like “From Kickoff to Commencement” and “Bridging the Gaps: People, Technology, and Partnerships in Campus Emergency Management” brought together voices from the University of Kentucky, University of Arkansas, Texas A&M, Purdue University, and more — all moderated by CriticalArc executives.
These conversations underscored the shared challenges and innovations shaping the future of safety across campuses and healthcare environments.
Networking and Community Highlights
Beyond the sessions, attendees enjoyed opportunities to connect informally — from casual coffee meetups to the Casino Night and the Gala Dinner & Awards Ceremony.
These events provided relaxed settings for deep conversation, reflection, and celebration of achievements within the SafeZone community. The sense of partnership and collective mission was evident throughout, echoing CriticalArc’s philosophy that safety is a shared responsibility.
Looking Ahead: SafeZone USA 2026
As the inaugural conference came to a close, attendees left energized, inspired, and eager for what’s next. The Denver event proved to be a cornerstone moment for SafeZone in the Americas — uniting thought leaders, operational experts, and innovators under one goal: to make the world safer through technology and collaboration.
Plans are already underway for next year’s USA SafeZone Conference, which promises to build on the strong foundations laid in Denver.
If you’re interested in attending or learning more about the 2026 event, reach out to our team — we’d love to connect with you.