The National Systems Contractors Association (NCSA), based in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, has launched and will host its inaugural Mass Notification & Emergency Communications (MNEC) Symposium at Northern Virginia Community College’s Anandale, Va., campus, on November 14.

NCSA created the symposium based on renewed public interest in the need to communicate effectively and efficiently in times of emergency, spurred mainly by changes to NFPA 72 and other standards that establish new requirements for emergency communications systems intelligibility.

“NSCA is hosting the MNEC symposium as an industry outreach event to educate integrators on this emerging marketplace and highlight a great business opportunity,” said Chuck Wilson, NSCA’s executive director. “It’s important that NSCA be an advocate for the integrators who will lead this opportunity, educating AHJs and their customers on the products and services available to create a strong MNEC system that ensures public safety. There will be a constant need to understand the changing codes, working with public officials to incorporate the codes and standards and utilizing the latest and greatest technology for this critical marketplace.”

Highlighting the symposium will be a keynote presentation by Michael Mulhare, director of Virgina Tech University’s Office of Emergency Management, who will discuss how the school has refined its emergency notification systems, special alerts and protocols over the last few years. He will also share how these can be applied to corporate and healthcare, in addition to educational environments.

Among the information attendees will take away from the MNEC symposium are knowledge of codes and regulations; how to build relationships with A/V, fire, life safety and security industries and stakeholders; how to assist clients with risk assessments to ensure that the MNEC system addresses specific vulnerabilities; and opportunities to see MNEC technologies and applications in action.

To register for the event, visit www.mnec.org.