#MACoCon Academy Electives Include Drones, Zika, and Identity Theft Sessions

County Fellows of the Academy for Excellence in Local Governance are required to complete 8 Core Courses and 6 Elective Credits – MACo announces 7 Electives to be held at 2016 Summer Conference.

Core Courses to be offered: Public Information Act, Consensus & Team Building

Academy Fellows with questions about their transcripts should contact registrar Aisha Washington at awashin1@umd.edu or (301) 314-2641.

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Tech Expo Deep Dive Session: Look! Up In the Sky! It’s a Bird! It’s a Plane! No – It’s a Drone!

The capabilities and potential applications of unmanned aerial vehicles (commonly known as “drones”) are vast and rapidly expanding. Drones can assist county governments in a wide array of areas, including public safety, emergency response, transportation and infrastructure management, service efficiencies, and data collection. Panelists will discuss the current state of drone technology and the myriad tasks drones can be used for. A live drone demonstration will accompany the presentation.

Speakers: 

  • Brent Kavon, Director of Commercial UAS, , Aviation Systems Engineering Company (ASEC)
  • Bryan Bartheleme, Business Development Manager, ASEC

Date/Time: Wednesday, August 17, 2016; 12:00 pm – 1:15 pm

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Tech Expo Deep Dive Session: Mobile Command and Comms: Portals to Regional Emergency Response

In a regional response, emergency managers require tools that ensure rapid, reliable, and interoperable communications to help save lives. Join this hands-on demonstration of today’s mobile command and radio technologies in a special session during MACo’s Tech Expo. Walk-through a mobile command unit and see how emergency managers use its features to deploy their responders in coordination with the home county’s incident commander. Make a test-call on radios programmed for interoperable communications and see how they work together like they were part of the same agency.

Speakers:

  • Jack Markey, Director, Division of Emergency Management, Frederick County
  • Gary Zamerski, Manager, Maryland Joint Operations Center
  • Jerry Napolitano, ‎Principal Solutions Architect, Motorola
  • Dick Briggs, Team Leader, Anne Arundel County Mobile Communication & Command Unit

Demo/Tour: Anne Arundel County Mobile Command Unit

Date/Time: Wednesday, August 17, 2016; 1:30 pm – 2:45 pm

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Reaching the Tech-Savvy Traveler – Digital Destination Marketing for Your County

Maryland’s tourism industry brings millions of visitors to our state annually. Significant State and county resources have been devoted to marketing Maryland destinations in a way that will reach today’s tech-savvy traveler. From a microsite that offers virtual tours of our scenic byways, to social media, apps, and campaigns to encourage tourists to engage with local attractions and vendors, Maryland’s tourism industry is innovatively reaching out to bring people in. Speakers will discuss the digital side of tourism product development and marketing with a focus on how travelers consume digital marketing messages and what that means for your county.

Speakers:

  • Liz Fitzsimmons, Managing Director, Tourism, Film & the Arts, Maryland Department of Commerce
  • Lisa Challenger, Director of Tourism, Worcester County
  • Frank DiVenti, Chief Marketing Officer, Visit Annapolis and Anne Arundel County

Date/Time: Thursday, August 18, 2016; 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm

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Outbreak! Responding to the Zika Threat

While the Zika virus has made international news headlines over the last year, few people truly understand what the virus is and the role county governments play in preventing its spread. For example, mosquito control is an important local responsibility that can significantly reduce the spread of Zika. If an outbreak does occur, counties can use Geographic Information System (GIS) and related technology to monitor and track the virus. Panelists will provide an overview of the Zika virus, including its symptoms, treatment, and transmission; county actions and responsibilities to combat Zika; and the use of GIS technology to track and manage identified cases.

Speakers:

  • Leana Wen, MD MSc, Commissioner of Health, Baltimore City
  • Brian Prendergast, Mosquito Control Program Manager, Maryland Department of Agriculture
  • Scott Shalley, Executive Director, Florida Association of Counties
  • Michael Scott, PhD, Professor, Department of Geography and Geosciences, Henson School of Science and Technology, Salisbury University

Date/Time: Thursday, August 18, 2016; 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm

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It’s a Trap! 10 Tricks Targeting Your Identity and Information

Identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes in the country, affecting nearly ten million Americans a year, and Marylanders are not immune. Identity thieves may target older adults whose social isolation, loneliness, and memory loss make them particularly vulnerable. Examples of identity theft include when a thief uses your personal identifying information to open credit accounts in your name or to evade criminal liability. Hear ways that the State is seeking to help victims of identity theft address their problems, and to help all consumers protect themselves from identity thieves. In this session, county officials will learn advice to share with their constituents about how to protect themselves from ID thieves using, or continuing to use, your personal information, and how to address some of the issues that identity theft causes, such as dealing with credit card companies or collection agencies.

Speakers:

  • The Honorable Brian E. Frosh, Attorney General of Maryland
  • Sharonne Bonardi, Deputy Director, Maryland Office of the Comptroller
  • Tammy Bresnahan, Director of Advocacy, AARP Maryland

Date/Time: Friday, August 19, 2016; 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM

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From Dewey Decimal to WWW: Libraries Online

Maryland Libraries are leaders in bringing the latest technology to our communities. They are designated hubs of broadband connectivity, striving to close the digital divide in our communities and they are a place of learning and professional development. With the launch of MakerSpaces, Innovation Labs, and STEM classes, residents come to libraries to create original content and train on skills critical to compete in today’s economy. Library members range from toddlers learning to read, to entrepreneurs learning to use 3D printers. Learn more about today’s Maryland libraries.

Speakers:

  • Mary Hastler, CEO, Harford County Public Library, Immediate Past President of Maryland Association of Public Library Administrators
  • Mary Baykan, Director, Washington County Free Library
  • Morgan Miller, Acting Director, Cecil County Public Library
  • Valerie Gross, CEO & President, Howard County Library

Date/Time: Friday, August 19, 2016; 2:15 PM – 3:15 PM

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Surviving the Information Supernova: Open Government & Performance Management

Striving for customer service in the public sector, counties leverage their best efforts to create open and accountable public services. Measuring outcomes, harnessing “bid data,” and creating open platforms can improve your citizens’ trust in, and support for, your county’s efforts. Stakeholders from large and small jurisdictions will discuss best practices in performance management, and chart the road ahead in this fast-moving field.

Speakers:

  • Benjamin J. Birge, CountyStat Manager, Prince George’s County
  • The Honorable William Pickrum, Commissioner, Kent County
  • Ewan Simpson, Maryland Account Manager, Socrata
  • Lauren Edwards, Assistant Professor, School of Public Policy, University of Maryland Baltimore County

Date/Time: Saturday, August 20, 2016; 9:30 am – 11:00 am

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Learn more about MACo’s Summer Conference: