Vision 2024 Was Time Well Spent

By James Careless

Call it a success! The 2024 Vision FirstNet Users Summit (Vision 2024) held by the Public Safety Broadband Technology Association (PSBTA) was a hit with attendees, FirstNet and industry experts, and featured guest speakers. It was hosted at the Sahara Hotel in Las Vegas, October 7-10, 2024.

Fire Chief Richard Carrizzo, Past Chair of the FirstNet Authority Board, was one of those in attendance, and he has nothing but praise for Vision 2024. “The conference was well attended, with relevant speakers and presentations, lots of networking between individuals, cutting-edge technology that was being shown onsite, and tremendous excitement for everybody that was participating,” Chief Carrizzo said. “Being at Vision 2024 was time well spent.”

Three Track Model Successful

For the first time ever, the sessions at the Vision summit were organized into three distinct ‘tracks’. The Mission Driven focused on activities driving the development of FirstNet solutions. The Mission Ready track featured FirstNet user case studies to show how first responders are using FirstNet within their own daily operations and with partners. The Mission Capable track spotlighted FirstNet industry partners’ products, solutions, and capabilities for first responders.

According to Chief Carrizzo, the three track model was popular with attendees. “Providing people with this more focused approach kept them a lot more engaged and a lot more engaged in the content,” he said. “When you’re in a bigger group session, interest is lost quickly if the topic isn’t what you want. In the three-track model, if the content in one track didn’t meet your needs, you were able to go to another room to find something more engaging.”

Top Quality Content.

When it came to providing top quality content, Vision 2024 definitely hit the mark. “The speakers provided a very well-balanced wide range of knowledge and discussion, from very technical points to how to implement things within your own community — not just FirstNet operations, but other items that were very helpful,” said Fire Chief Carrizzo. “There was a lot of good knowledge to take in and take home. Much of it was focused on the operational side, but there were plenty of ideas from users as well that were worth knowing.”

As for the caliber of people who attended Vision 2024? “We had everyone from new users of FirstNet to seasoned veterans,” the Chief replied. “With this kind of mix, a lot of networking happens, which is so important when the veterans share the knowledge with newcomers. This networking also forges friendships, which helps FirstNet users help each other with projects in their respective communities and agencies.”

Increased Industry Participation

This year’s increased industry participation in the annual Vision conference provided more content for attendees. But this wasn’t the only reason that the PSBTA did this. “The goal was to give FirstNet users/future users the ability to tell those manufacturers exactly about their needs,” said Chief Carrizzo. “In the past, the public safety community has had to take whatever products the industry came up with. But the vendors really have changed their philosophies and organizational cultures within their manufacturing companies. These days, they are listening to the needs of public safety people and then developing products based on these needs.”

This being said, Chief Carrizzo most values the interpersonal contacts that the Vision conferences foster each year. “Seeing old friends and making new ones is one of the greatest benefits of these events,” he said. “As well, what really struck me most especially as Chair was to see the enthusiasm that has continued to grow within the FirstNet community, which is at 6 million users now.”

Looking Ahead to Vision 2025

With Vision 2024 now in the history books, Fire Chief Richard Carrizzo is looking forward to Vision 2025. “Very much so,” he told AllThingsFirstNet.com. “It’s in my calendar and I plan to be there. It’s a top-flight gathering that is a must-attend event for me.”

The Chief is also urging all FirstNet users to attend Vision 2025 as well, whether they have ever been to this annual event or not. “They should,” he said. “If it’s not in your calendar now, make sure you put a note in there to sign up for it. I know we don’t have a location yet for Vision 2025, because we’re looking at changing the location right now to a more central area in the United States and growing the event. But Vision 2025 will be taking place, and it is a summit that you, as a FirstNet user, simply don’t want to miss.”

To keep an eye on what’s next for Vision 2025, keep checking the PSBTA website at vision.thepsbta.org. That way, you’ll be able to make your travel plans accordingly, and start selling your boss on the value of attending Vision 2025 for your department as soon as possible!