By Rick Goldstein
The Connect & Celebrate Dinner in the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center on Wednesday, Aug. 5, featured award presentations, the swearing-in of the Board members and of the 2026-2027 Executive Committee. It also featured the farewell and inaugural addresses from outgoing President Jack Varnado and incoming President Michael O’Connor. Dinner and dancing wound up the evening and closed APCO 2026 in San Antonio.
APCO CEO and Executive Director Mel Maier opened the program by highlighting a new partnership between APCO and RapidSOS on a survey tool to track how artificial intelligence is being used in emergency communications centers, with results to be shared with the field in a joint report.
Maier bestowed life membership, APCO’s highest recognition, on Jeryl Anderson, Grayson Gusa, Cheryl Konarski, John Lemmon and Melissa Stroh.
Varnado then presented the Jack Daniel Award of Distinction to recognize a commercial member’s exceptional accomplishments on a national or international level to Michael Mangini, senior director of enterprise solutions at Motorola Solutions. He leads a team responsible for NG9-1-1 enterprise systems, network design and engineering. He has worked in public safety since 1977, including more than 23 years with Boston EMS and 12 years on the Massachusetts Statewide Emergency Telecommunications Board. He has been an APCO member since 1986 and a life member since 2001.
Varnado swore in the 2026-2027 Regional Representatives to APCO’s Board of Directors: Jonathan Goldman and David Saffel, East Coast Region; Cheryl Konarski, North Central Region; Danny Murray, Gulf Coast Region; Karen Sutherland, Western Region; and Jessica Long, representing the Commercial Advisory Council.
In his last speech as APCO president, Varnado cited cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, workforce recruitment and mental wellness as the defining challenges facing the profession. He urged members, particularly young professionals, not to wait for permission to lead.
Immediate Past President Stephen Martini swore in the incoming Executive Committee: Varnado moved to immediate past president, Brian LaMonica joined as second vice president, Jennifer Reese became first vice president, and Michael O’Connor became president. Martini rotated off the Executive Committee.
Taking to the podium, O’Connor recalled attending his first APCO conference 28 years ago in Albuquerque before rising through his Illinois chapter to the national Board. He outlined priorities, including:
- Continued advocacy for reclassifying public safety telecommunicators under the federal Office of Management and Budget’s protective service designation.
- Continued pressure for federal funding to deploy NG9-1-1 nationwide.
- Rollout of new association management, financial management and learning management systems and the next generation of PSConnect
- Updated APCO Institute coursework, and the return of radio technician training and certification courses.
- A new membership task force to be led by Reese.
O’Connor gaveled the conference to a close, telling attendees, “We’ll see you in Anaheim,” the home of APCO 2027, before dinner and a dance set from the evening’s band began.
