Looking to jump-start your Symposium week early? Choose from one of three pre-conference sessions!
Leading Across Boundaries: Building Teams That Deliver When It Matters Most
Facilitator: McChrystal Group
Time: 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Location: Conference Room 1
Description: This is an interactive session designed for emergency management professionals operating in high-pressure, rapidly evolving environments. Participants will explore practical strategies to build trust, strengthen psychological safety, and navigate conflict and feedback across teams and agencies. Grounded in principles from McChrystal Group’s Team of Teams® approach, the session focuses on improving coordination, enabling clearer decision-making, and fostering shared understanding in complex environments. Through guided discussion and applied exercises, attendees will reflect on real-world challenges and leave with actionable tools to enhance team performance and collaboration.
Maryland Qualification System Technical Assistance Workshop
Facilitator: Carolyn Malloy, Maryland Department of Emergency Management
Time: 2:30 PM to 4:00 PM
Location: Conference Room 2
Description: The Maryland Qualification System (MDQS) Certifying Officer will provide an overview of the MDQS Program and provide technical assistance to attendees at the workshop. This technical assistance will include reviewing examples of completed position task books and supporting documentation, walking through the application process, available resources for training and exercises, and answering questions.
Psychological First Aid: Concepts, Models, and Practice
Facilitator: Dr. Caren M. Carney
Time: 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Location: Conference Room 3
Description: This three-part workshop will introduce evidence-based concepts and models describing Psychological First Aid and focus on Emergency Management and community settings. It will also provide applications from Positive Psychology that complement using these models effectively. Participants will work on three case studies applying one model of Psychological First Aid. This generalized model has been shown to work successfully in organizational, work, family, and community environments. The process, questions, and solutions presented can help navigate difficult emergency management, fire, hospital, police, and community interactions. Participants will receive a handout explaining one model as well detailed questions on how to apply it.
Details
Thank you for registering for a Pre-Conference Session! Please note that space is limited; if you can no longer attend, we ask that you notify mdema@marylandema.org as soon as possible so that your spot may be given to someone on the waitlist.
