Nine Individuals to Receive Professional of the Year Award at the 2025 National Sports Safety and Security Conference and Exhibition

Fri, 06/13/2025 - 01:54pm | By: NCS⁴ Staff

Nine professionals will be recognized for their leadership in addressing safety and security issues during the 2025 National Sports Safety and Security Conference and Exhibition on June 30-July 2 in San Antonio, TX. The event is presented annually by the National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security (NCS⁴) at The University of Southern Mississippi.

The Professional of the Year award recognizes a member of management in the field who has, over the past year, demonstrated outstanding leadership in addressing safety and security issues. In addition to the enhanced safety of their venue/event, the recipient’s contributions have set an example for others to follow. This award is sponsored by Prevent Advisors, a risk management advisory and implementation service, providing holistic security solutions focused on safekeeping the entire sports, live entertainment, and dynamic public assembly facility ecosystem.

Each league or organization selects the criteria and determines who will be recognized. Individuals receiving the award include:

• Bill Christiansen, Esq., Vice President, Security, TeamOps, LLC.
• Brittney Garza, Director of Security, Dignity Health Sports Park
• Chris Joffe, Founder & CEO, Joffe Emergency Services
• Michael LeGage, Director of Athletics & Student Activities, Scarborough Public Schools
• Elton Owens, Senior Director of Security-Lead Investigator, National Basketball Association
• Donald Paisant, Vice President, Security & Guest Services, Texas Rangers Baseball Club
• Blake Paris, Senior Vice President of Public Safety and Experience, Smith Entertainment Group
• Ben Steward, Sr. Associate Director of Operations and Events, The University of Utah
• Jeffrey Sullivan, Director, Systemwide Athletics, Montgomery County Public Schools

“What a stellar group of professionals we are honoring this year. And there is no greater honor than being recognized by your peers. These individuals make a difference every day to ensure the safety and security of all,” said Dr. Stacey Hall, NCS⁴ executive director and professor of sports management.

The recipients will be recognized at the awards luncheon during the conference. The luncheon is sponsored by Evolv Technology, which provides weapons detection systems for security screening.

Click here for more information about the conference and to register. Click here for more information about the awards. 

About the 16^th Annual Conference
The National Sports Safety and Security Conference and Exhibition, sponsored by CSA360 Software, will take place June 30-July 2, 2025, at the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort in San Antonio, Texas. The conference will attract more than 500 attendees and 70 exhibitors representing professional sports, intercollegiate athletics, interscholastic athletics, marathon and endurance events, sports and entertainment facilities, and those who provide safety and security products and services to the industry. Visit the conference website for more information.

About NCS⁴
Established in 2006, the NCS⁴ is the nation’s only academic center devoted to the study and practice of sports safety and security. The NCS⁴ is partially underwritten by grants from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The NCS⁴ mission focuses on three key pillars – Training and Education, Research, and Outreach. Click here for more information about NCS⁴, call 601.266.6183.