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
Day 1 Keynote
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.
Day 2 Keynote
The second keynote, “Lessons Learned from Hurricane Helene”, was delivered by Chief Daran Dodd from the University of North Carolina Asheville
His presentation offered sobering but inspiring insights into leadership, resource management, and community resilience during one of the most catastrophic natural disasters to impact the Carolinas.
Case Studies
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.
-
University of Glasgow’s Gary Stephen 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 & Dominic Barnsley
A major highlight of the event was the pair of Product Masterclasses led by Danny Malone, Global Product Marketing Director at CriticalArc.
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 Roadmap Session, Dominic Barnsley, CIO of CriticalArc presented the latest SafeZone developments and future roadmap. His session included live interactivity with the audience, inviting real-time feedback, ideas, and input as he highlighted emerging capabilities — from wearable duress technology and expanded integrations to advanced analytics and healthcare-focused workflows.
Attendees described these sessions as “eye-opening” and “immediately actionable,” underscoring the team’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.
Stream 2 – Global Collaboration & Wellbeing Support
Showcased how universities and healthcare partners collaborate regionally and globally through SafeZone, alongside a companion session focused on mental health and wellbeing support pathways.
Stream 3 – Emergency Response and Safety Culture
Provided a step-by-step guide to building effective multichannel emergency response strategies, followed by insights on fostering a strong, lasting safety culture.
Stream 4 – Healthcare Collaboration & Real-Time Response
Introduced the SafeZone Healthcare Steering Committee and examined how SafeZone enables seamless coordination between first and second responders.
Across all streams, the “Ask the Experts” area allowed attendees to get tailored guidance from CriticalArc’s Customer Success team.
Panels and Discussions: Learning from Leaders
Lively panels throughout the conference encouraged collaboration between institutions and industry partners.
Sessions such as “From Kickoff to Commencement” and “Bridging the Gaps: People, Technology, and Partnerships in Campus Emergency Management” brought together representatives from the University of Kentucky, University of Arkansas, Texas A&M, Purdue University, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, 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 scheduled sessions, attendees enjoyed numerous opportunities to connect — from casual coffee meetups to Casino Night and the Gala Dinner & Awards Ceremony.
These events provided relaxed settings for deep conversation, reflection, and celebration. The sense of partnership and collective mission was evident throughout, reinforcing CriticalArc’s belief 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.
Planning for SafeZone USA 2026 is already underway and 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.