IPMBA Conference Archives
2017 IPMBA Conference
June 5-10, 2017. The 27th Annual IPMBA Conference was held in Delaware, Ohio. It was the first IPMBA Conference to be held on a university campus – Ohio Wesleyan University. It was the first IPMBA Conference to be held in June. It featured a new, compressed format that enabled more attendees to stay through Friday and participate in the competition and awards ceremony. The first National Bicycle Response Team Roundtable brought together BRT subject matter experts from coast-to-coast and Canada. Change comes with challenges, but IPMBA is no stranger to challenges and, in partnership with Delaware Police Department and Ohio Wesleyan University Department of Public Safety, overcame all obstacles to the changes. More than 300 participants from 35 states, the District, and three Canadian provinces converged upon Delaware for an exceptional event.
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Thanks to Our Hosts
The IPMBA board, staff, members, and conference attendees extend their sincere thanks to the Delaware Police Department and the Ohio Wesleyan University Department of Public Safety for hosting the 27th Annual IPMBA Conference. We appreciate the support of Mayor Carolyn Kay Riggle and the City Council, Delaware Police Chief Bruce Pijanowski, OWU Public Safety Director Robert Wood, the Delaware Fire Department, the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office, Delaware County EMA, Delaware County EMS, Dublin Police Department, Columbus Airport Police, and Columbus Regional Airport Authority. We are grateful for the generous in-kind and financial contributions from Delaware’s business community, and we extend a special thanks to Main Street Delaware, 84 Lumber, Barley Hopsters, Blackwing Shooting Center, Byers Subaru of Dublin, Fraternal Order of Eagles #376, Meijer, Safeguard Printing and Promotional Products, and Sam Dong Ohio.
Special thanks to Delaware Patrolman Bob Hatcher, whose dedication to IPMBA and persistence resulted in this “paradigm shift” in the conference format. When he first suggested a campus-based conference, the idea, as they say, “went over like a lead balloon.” Never one to take “no” for an answer, Bob submitted a proposal to host the 2015 conference. For various reasons, one of which was the challenge of change, the 2015 and 2016 Conferences were held in Chandler, Arizona, and Asheville, North Carolina, respectively. Fortunately, persistence pays off and when invited to Delaware for the 2017 Conference, IPMBA accepted. Not only did we venture into a new venue, we compressed the format to enable more attendees to stay for the duration.
As soon as Delaware was awarded the conference, Bob shifted into planning mode, assembling a team whose efforts would result in an outstanding event. “Right-hand man” Adrian Foust and fellow committee members Ron Burkitt, Sean Franks, Pete Gomia, Mark Jackson, Renae Rice, Ramon Walls, Jon Weirich, Adam Willauer, and Bill Zoller invested many hours into the planning and implementation of this conference. They were supported by others too numerous to mention, but whose contributions are nonetheless valued.
One of the unexpected benefits of bringing the IPMBA Conference to a city like Delaware was the outpouring of support from the local community. Between the Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association and the Connections Volunteer Center, the bike check was staffed and the Bicycle Response Team members faced a formidable crowd of zombies. Downtown establishments offered discounts and the phrase, “we’re glad you’re here” was heard again and again. One could not walk a block without witnessing IPMBA members enjoying the local hospitality. It is gratifying to know that we had a positive impact on the community.
We could not have had that impact without the 300+ IPMBA members who converged upon Ohio Wesleyan University to hone their skills, shop for products, meet new friends, and reunite with old ones. We recognize that many have to overcome such obstacles as staffing shortages, training budget reductions, and travel restrictions to attend, and appreciate the priority you place on the quality training programs offered by IPMBA.