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Veronica Hill is a communications professional energized by creativity and collaboration. Veronica has a passion for developing mission-driven communication strategies and public information campaigns. With experience in the sectors of education, non-profit, and law enforcement, Veronica thrives on community and building connections. Veronica holds a bachelor’s degree in strategic communication from Wichita State University and a master’s in theology from Newman University. Veronica lives with her significant other and their two dogs in Columbia, South Carolina.

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About Trent Faris - Trent Faris serves as Public Information Officer for the York County Sheriff’s Office, a full-service and nationally accredited law enforcement agency employing approximately 400 full and part-time, sworn, and civilian personnel.  He has held this position for nine years.  

Trent is responsible for the daily coordination, circulation, formulation, and dissemination of communications to the media and publicity pertaining to the York County Sheriff's Office.

Trent is trained in Crisis Communications, achieving Advanced PIO training through FEMA and the FBI-LEEDA Master PIO course. 

He develops communication strategies and tactics to promote, enhance, and protect the agency's brand of fostering a positive and mutually beneficial relationship with the citizens of York County and the Sheriff's Office. In addition to those duties, Trent oversees video production for the York County Sheriff's Office aimed at public service announcements and crime prevention and assists with criminal investigations through visual media.

Trent manages website content and social media sites for the York County Sheriff's Office, The Sheriff's Foundation of York County, Inc., and Crime Stoppers of York County.

A native of Rock Hill, SC, Trent graduated in 2002 from Winthrop University with a Bachelor's Degree in Mass Communication, one of only two accredited journalism schools in South Carolina.  Trent was nominated for an Emmy for work on a series of stories about World War II veterans living in the greater Charlotte area. Also earned and won several awards for reports from the Radio Television Digital News Association of the Carolinas. 

Before joining the YCSO, he worked for seven years as the South Carolina Bureau Reporter/Multi-Media Journalist for WBTV News in Charlotte NC. Before WBTV, he worked as a Sports Reporter and Photojournalist at CN2 News in Rock Hill SC. While attending Winthrop University, Trent worked and interned at WBT Radio WLNK Radio in Charlotte, NC

Trent is a veteran of the US Navy, serving as an Aviation Ordnanceman as well as serving with the US Marine detachment for ship security from 1994 to 1997.

In his spare time, Trent is a volunteer soccer and basketball coach and is the Cooperative Weather Observer in Catawba, SC for the National Weather Service.    

Trent's Twitter handle @trentfaris

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Results-driven Public Relations Professional with a proven track record in managing public information, marketing campaigns, and community outreach initiatives. Strong expertise in media relations, crisis communications, and strategic planning. Demonstrates exceptional writing skills and the ability to build effective relationships with stakeholders. Committed to achieving organizational goals through impactful communication strategies.

[email protected]
www.linkedin.com/in/robert-tornabene 

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Austin McDaniel is the Communications Director for the Alaska Department of Public Safety. As communications director, he oversees four professional staff members, and the public information office team that manages all external and internal communications for the Alaska State Troopers, Alaska Wildlife Troopers, and Alaska State Fire Marshals Office. He also ensures the department remains compliant with the Alaska Public Records Act, and oversees nine professional staff that manage these requests. Austin joined the Alaska State Troopers in 2020 after serving as the Deputy Communications Director for Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy, where he oversaw all digital communications for the Governor’s Office and overall digital communications strategy for the State of Alaska. He has also worked in communications positions for Alaska Governor Sean Parnell, Alaska telecommunications company GCI, and local CBS affiliate KTVA. Austin is a lifelong Alaskan that can be found hunting, fishing, and enjoying all of the outdoors activities that The Last Frontier has to offer with his wife and son.

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Mike Koehler is the founder of Smirk New Media, Oklahoma's original digital marketing agency. Smirk has grown from one pawnshop laptop to working with nationwide brands. We’ve put together a scrappy team of experts who help companies connect with their customers online using creative content, targeted advertising, customer service innovation and data-driven strategy. 

Specialties: social media strategy, social media content, understanding social media channels, multimedia storytelling, new media, content marketing, writing

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I have been with the Oxford Police Department since 2005. I have held numerous positions, such as Reserve Officer, Patrol Officer, DUI Officer, Sergeant of the DUI Unit, Patrol Lieutenant, Admin Lieutenant, Patrol Captain, and now Admin Captain. Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Mississippi in 2006 and Master's Degree in Law Enforcement and Public Safety Leadership from the University of San Diego in 2020. Attended the 270th Session of the FBI National Academy in Quantico, VA. Married with 2 beautiful girls.

Hildon - [email protected]

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Luis Agostini is the public information officer for the DEA Chicago Field Division. Prior to joining the DEA, Luis served as an assistant director of communications with the Chicago Police Department. Luis brings over two decades of communications experience from his time in the DEA and CPD, his 12 years of service in the United States Marine Corps as a combat correspondent and public affairs chief, and five years in the private sector at various public relations firms in Chicago. 


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Luis Email [email protected]

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Shawna Bruce brings her clients 40 years of risk and crisis communications, public information, and media relations experience. Shawna served as a Public Affairs Officer in the Canadian Armed Forces before transitioning to Dow Chemical Canada's National Public Affairs Leader, where she was responsible for corporate communications and support to Dow's petrochemical sites across Canada.

Today, Shawna runs her own consulting business focusing on helping organizations boost their confidence and communication capacity during crises. She is also a curriculum writer and instructor for courses at NAIT (Northern Alberta Institute of Technology) and the Justice Institute of British Columbia, sharing her knowledge and expertise with aspiring professionals.

A true believer in giving back to your community Shawna volunteers as a Board Member for the North East Region Community Awareness and Emergency Response (NR CAER) mutual aid group, First in the Field (a Veteran's Organization founded by her family), ForVeterans Advisory Council (University of British Columbia) and is newly appointed Associate Board Member with the Concordia University of Edmonton.

Shawna is a graduate of Carleton University (Mass Communications), Algonquin College (Public Relations Diploma), the Defense Information School (DINFOS - US), and Royal Roads University (MA Disaster and Emergency Management).

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Barry Furey is an award-winning public safety executive with over 50 years of experience. Serving as a fire officer in three states, a 9-1-1 director in four, and as a consultant here and abroad, he has authored more than 300 articles, contributed to industry texts, and published two books, including his recent "Managing 9-1-1, 365 Days a Year", available on Amazon Kindle.

Chairman of numerous committees, he led the creation of the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials (APCO) "Homeland Security White Paper," which examined best practices for emergency communications centers after 9/11.

Barry can be contacted through his website www.bareyFurey.com

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Allison Breanna Hudson currently serves as Division Manager in the Office of Community Affairs for the Houston Police Department. She has 20 years of experience in crisis communication, media management, and all things public safety. Prior to her move to the Houston Police Department, she served a year as program manager and advanced public information officer for the City of Houston Office of Emergency Management and ten years with the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office in Ascension Parish, Louisiana.

Hudson has served in several volunteer roles as President of the Donaldsonville Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club of Donaldsonville, and the Arc of East Ascension. She has also served as Vice-President for the Iris Domestic Violence Center.

After six short months of transitioning to Houston, Allison was awarded the Top 40 under 40 for the Houston Business Journal, making it her third 40 under 40 award; previously the Baton Rouge Business Report in 2016 and Xavier University Top 40 under 40 alumni award in 2016.

Hudson also serves as an instructor for FEMA, teaching public information courses, Joint Information Center training, and crisis communication and social media classes.

Allison's Email 

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