Registration is open
The conference will be loaded with great training courses, guest speakers and tours of historic parks and landmarks. This will be a conference you will not want to miss so start planning today. The agenda is shown below.
Hotel Lodging
Montgomery Bell State Park Lodge
Reservation Group Code 2181
Room rate is $100.80 per night.
PLEA Annual Training Conference
February 28 - March 2, 2023
Lodge at Montgomery Bell State Park
Agenda
Virtual conference attendees will be emailed a link to sign-in for the virtual portion of the conference.
Our Conference Agenda is:
Monday, February 27
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM – Board of Directors Meeting – PLEA Executive Board and Board Members.
4:00 PM -7:00 PM – Registration in the lobby of the Lodge at Montgomery Bell State Park.
5:00 PM – 10:00 PM - Networking Social - Hospitality Room.
Tuesday, February 28
6:30 AM -7:45 AM – Breakfast on your own.
7:00 AM -8:00AM – Registration and Meet & Greet – Outside of Classroom.
8:15 AM – Opening Ceremonies. Welcome by PLEA President and Host Agency.
Colors and pledge by the Tennessee State Parks Honor Guard.
8:30 AM – 10:00 AM – High Risk Recreation Panel Discussion. – Tennessee State Parks Managers Jacob Young, George Shinn, Damon Graham, Ray Cuthcer, Angelo Giansante and Josh Kuykendall.
10:00 AM – 10:30 AM – Break
10:30 AM – 11:15 AM – Hate Crimes and Protests- JR Tinch, Assistant Chief Ranger Tennessee State Parks.
11:15 AM – 12:00pm – Sex Trafficking in State Parks – Jane Switzer, Ranger Tennessee State Parks.
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM - Lunch (On your own)
1:00 PM – 1:45 PM - Resource Based Law Enforcement – Sam King, Stewardship Ecologist Tennessee State Parks.
1:45 PM – 2:00 PM Break
2:00 PM – 2:45 PM – Field Training on the Natchez Trace Parkway – Josh Waggener, Park Ranger Tennessee State Parks.
2:45 PM – 3:00 PM Break and Door Prizes
3:00 PM – 3:45 PM – Wild Hog Management – Jacob Ingram, Park Manager Tennessee State Parks.
3:45 PM - 4:00 PM –International Ranger Federation Update – Andy Wright, Park Manager Tennessee State Parks.
5:00 PM – 9:00 PM - Optional on your own dinner and sightseeing in historic downtown Nashville. We will organize carpools or vans during the morning training sessions
5:00 PM – 10:00 PM – Networking Social - Hospitality Room.
Wednesday, March 1
6:30 AM - 7:45 AM - Breakfast on your own.
07:45 AM - 8:00 AM – Meet outside lobby for transportation.
08:00 AM – Vans depart Lodge at Montgomery Bell Park.
8:30 AM – Arrive at Natchez Trace Bridge.
- · Heavy Traffic Issues including speeders
- · Suicide attempts on bridge
- · Historic significance of Natchez Trace
10:10 AM – Vans Depart.
10:40 AM – Arrive at Radnor Lake State Natural Area.
- · Park surrounded by affluent Nashville suburb.
- · Large aviary. Program on birds of prey.
- · 11:45 AM – 12:30 PM – Lunch provided by “Friends of Radnor Lake.”
12:40 PM – Vans Depart.
1:05 PM – Arrive at the Parthenon.
- · Metro Nashville Parks. A re-creation of the Greek Parthenon sits in the park.
2:00 PM – Vans Depart.
2:10 PM - Arrive at Bicentennial Capital Mall State Park.
- · Park is in downtown Nashville.
- · Presentation on large scale event management.
3:15 PM – Vans Depart.
3:15 PM – 5:15 PM – Explore Nashville on your own, no transportation provided.
4:00 PM – Arrive at Montgomery Bell State Park.
6:30 PM – 8:30 PM – Awards Banquet. Dinner is provided. Fund raising raffle.
8:30 PM – 10:00 PM – Networking Social - Hospitality Room.
Thursday, March 2
6:30 AM -7:45 AM -Breakfast on your own.
8:30 AM – 4:30 PM – Keynote Presenter Walt Dabney. Walt will offer the following presentations:
- 1. History of Americas Public Lands.
- 2. The Park Idea
- 3. Building Local Constituencies.
- 4. Law Enforcement Attitude and Image
- 5. Managing the Law Enforcement Function
- 6. Leadership and Supervision
- 7. Visitor statistics
8:30 AM – 10:00 AM – Walt Dabney
10:00 AM – 10:15 AM - Break
10:15 AM – 12:00 PM – Walt Dabney
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM - Lunch on your own.
1:00 PM – 2:30 PM – Walt Dabney
2:30 PM – 2:45 PM - Break
2:45 PM – 4:30 PM – Walt Dabney
5:00 PM – 10:00 PM – Networking Social - Hospitality Room.
Friday, March 3
6:30 AM - 8:00 AM – Breakfast on your own
11:00 AM - Checkout
Safe travels, hope to see everyone next year!
Hotel Reservations – Call (888) 867-2757. Use Group Code 2181.
