Agenda

7:30 a.m.     Registration and Morning Networking

8:45 a.m.     Welcome and Opening Remarks

9:05 a.m.    “I WAS ALMOST A SCHOOL SHOOTER” - Keynote Presentation: Aaron Stark

As heard by millions in his widely viewed TED Talk, Aaron Stark will share about his violent childhood, his struggles with mental health, access to guns, and why he eventually did not end up committing violence in 1996.

10:30 a.m.     Break/Networking

10:45 a.m.    “MR. TODD & THE MOB: HOW A REFERENCE TO POP CULTURE INCREASED THE THREAT IN AN EXCEPTIONAL CASE" - Bryan Flannery

An unsolved murder, a drifter with suspected mob ties, and a young defense attorney caught in between. 25 years after representing murder suspect Chris Lange, Defense Attorney Walter Todd finds himself the subject of a threat pointing towards disaster as his client is released from prison. From the initial report through case closure, attendees will act as threat managers, triaging and offering mitigation strategies as new information is presented. Certainly, in an exceptional case, the applied threat management principles will benefit any level of practitioner.

12:00 p.m.     Lunch Provided

1:00 p.m.    “CROSS-CULTURAL CONSIDERATIONS IN BTAM" - Glenn Sandford, CTM & Bev Baligad, JD

With increasing frequency, threat assessments have involved people with distinct differences in norms, languages, and cultural characteristics.  Investigative best practice dictates that the optimal way to get someone to share information is to make them feel comfortable, develop trust, and allow them to speak.  Being conscious of cultural differences and tailoring communications and behaviors accordingly can affect trust and the degree to which someone is willing to engage and share information. However, cultural norms can vary so widely in many instances that an investigator may not be aware that their words or actions may disenfranchise them from the person they are speaking with.   

2:00 p.m     Break/Networking

2:15 p.m.    “CRACKED, FEAR-VIEW MIRROR: A CASE OF FEAR-BASED MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES AS TRIGGERS TO A FINAL STRAW” - Matt Talbot, Ph.D., CTM & Ashlee Heavrin

In 2023, social media posts by a young associate sparked fear and concern among colleagues. His social media revealed a young man potentially plagued by sinister thoughts of violence, death, and destruction. With a plan in place, the BTAM team’s strategy was abruptly altered by key stakeholder decisions that quickly turned a stabilized situation into a near-fatal outcome. This case underscores the criticality of multidisciplinary collaboration and how the pitfall of familiar and popular responses concerning conduct risks creating an avoidable tragedy.

3:15 p.m     Break/Networking

3:25 p.m.   “A SOLO PRACTITIONER’S JOURNEY: MASTERING HIGH-RISK STALKING IN EVOLVING CORPORATE SEAS” - Jameson Ritter, CPP, PSP, PCI, CTM

Embark on ‘A Solo Practitioner’s Journey: Mastering High-Risk Stalking in Evolving Corporate Seas’ with Jameson Ritter, CTM, as he shares his compelling story of navigating through the challenges of a high-risk stalking case as a solo security practitioner. This presentation promises to unfold the complexity of establishing a new security program, offering attendees a unique blend of practical strategies, personal insights, and the courage to chart unknown waters. Discover the essential tools and mindsets needed to thrive in the evolving landscape of corporate security and violence prevention.

4:25 p.m     Closing Remarks

4:30 p.m.     Welcome Reception

8:00 a.m.     Registration and Morning Networking

8:45 a.m.     Opening Remarks

9:05 a.m.    “TRAMUMA VS. THE THREAT LADIES CLUB” - PANEL DISCUSSION:Carrie Ackerman, Rachael Frost, Holly Ryan, & Kelly Sayre

Who among us has lived without incurring any physical, emotional, or psychological scars? The imprints left by these scars may unconsciously impact our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors long after the visible scars have faded. This honest conversation about being women who have both suffered trauma and become threat assessment warriors has implications for all who work in our field. This will be a vulnerable conversation about how traumatic experiences, like assault, divorce, witnessing death, suffering loss, and trying to keep a victim, friend, or loved one alive impact our ability to conduct threat assessments and prevent targeted violence.  Experiences in all of our lives, good and bad, automatically leave lasting imprints in our bodies.  As contemporary women, many of us already have battle wounds from trauma and distress, which are then reinforced 24/7 by seeing and hearing the headlines and by exposure to social media:  domestic violence – another woman is dead; school violence – this could be my child; child abuse – another child is suffering; human trafficking – of women and children; and on and on and on.  As four female presenters, we demonstrate that the statistics are underreported in stating that one in four women has experienced domestic violence and/or stalking.  This presentation will be empowering, enraging, and engaging as this Threat Assessment Lady’s Warrior Club bares it all to highlight the importance of developing self-awareness, accessible support systems, and self-care protocols to ensure that no matter where you come from or what you are presently experiencing, you can still function as an effective threat assessment warrior.

10:35 a.m     Break/Networking

10:45 a.m.  “HASSLE ON THE HILLTOP: A UNIVERSITY CASE STUDY" - Malcolm McGuire, MA, CFE

This case study covers the investigation of a former student who, while in a rehabilitation facility, confided in a roommate his plans to lure several university officials into a room and kill them.  The study will cover the steps taken to investigate the threats but also to provide the former student with the assistance he needed regarding his mental health post-arrest.

 

12:00 p.m.     Lunch Provided

1:30 p.m.    BREAKOUT SESSION 1

TRACK A

                        “IT COULD NEVER HAPPEN HERE, WHY THERE’S A NEED FOR THREAT ASSESSMENTS WITHIN HIGHER EDUCATION” - Samantha Shaffer, M.S, & Matt Deurmeier, S.A.

As people within the educational field, a thought that is always in the back of our minds is that a school shooting could never happen here. The schools where these events happen have all had that same thought. This presentation aims to equip stakeholders within an educational setting with the proper tools and knowledge associated with threat assessments within higher education. It will include topics such as defining threat assessment teams, limitations of threat assessments within higher education (FERPA, HIPPA, and Clery), challenges that come with being a new member of an already established team, and an analysis of a higher education school shooting.

TRACK B

                      “UNRAVELING THE THREADS: A CASE STUDY OF ELIZABETH WETTLAUFER AND THE OVERLOOKED PRE-INCIDENT INDICATORS IN LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES” - Denise Koster, LLM, Lic. PL, CTM

This submission proposes an in-depth analysis of the case of Elizabeth Wettlaufer, a former registered nurse who perpetrated a series of murders and attempted murders in Ontario's long-term care facilities. The study will critically examine overlooked pre-incident indicators, potentially preventing the unfolding of tragic events. By delving into this case, we aim to enhance threat assessment methodologies in healthcare settings and contribute to developing proactive measures for identifying and mitigating risks.

2:30 p.m     Break/Networking

2:40 p.m.    BREAKOUT SESSION 2

TRACK A

                    “STRENGTH IN SMALL TOWNS: USING RESILIENCE AND CONNECTION TO CREATE EFFECTIVE SCHOOL BASED BEHAVIORAL THREAT ASSESSMENT PROGRAMS” - Adam Scattergood, LMHC, CTM

This presentation will review the process for developing, implementing, and maintaining a school-based behavioral threat assessment program.  The presenter will discuss specific challenges that rural settings face and how they have been addressed.  Case studies will be reviewed to model effective implementation and offer lessons learned in specific situations.  Attendees will leave the session with an enhanced understanding of school-based behavioral threat assessment and how it can work in their own communities.

TRACK B

                   “MITIGATING BLIND SPOTS IN ASSESSING STALKING BEHAVIORS: A CASE STUDY EXPLORATION” - Mariya Dvoskina, PSY.D CTM

This presentation uses a compelling case study to examine the intricate challenges inherent in stalking-related cases within educational settings. Participants will acquire a nuanced understanding of the distinctive dynamics that can play a role in these cases. This session will shed light on how to mitigate potential blind spots organizations may have in assessing stalking cases and also focus on providing participants with best practice takeaways.

3:45 pm      Closing Remarks and Certificates of Attendance