Cincinnati is gearing up for a busy season of conventions, festivals, and other major downtown events. To prepare, about 100 security professionals, first responders, venue managers, and hospitality leaders gathered at First Financial Center for a day of safety and security training.

Training Focuses on Crowd Management and Emergency Response

The free training, hosted by First Financial Center and Legends Global, focused on crowd management, situational awareness, communication, de-escalation, and coordinated emergency response. First Financial Center general manager Rodney Faulk emphasized that safety and security are everybody’s job, and bringing together people from different industries helps ensure everyone understands how to recognize potential risks and work together if an emergency occurs.

The training was led by Mark Herrera, president and chief security strategist for Global Awareness Professionals. Herrera emphasized that preparation gives teams the confidence to respond when it matters most. The session comes as Cincinnati continues to attract more high-profile sporting events, conventions, and festivals, including BLINK this fall.

Ben Huffman, executive director of the Cincinnati Regional Sports Commission, said creating a positive visitor experience goes beyond entertainment and hospitality. Huffman wants to ensure that visitors feel safe and secure while in the community. The training included interactive discussions and exercises centered on crowd management, awareness, and guest service.

First Financial Center leaders said additional training is planned, and they hope to expand participation to faith-based organizations and community partners in the future.

Original reporting: WLWT Cincinnati — read the source article.