COMPLIANCE, LIABILITY, AND BEST PRACTICES

STRATEGIES FOR SAFER SOCIAL VENUES

Wednesday, April 15, 2026

The Sociable City Academy is your portal to a richer experience from your Summit attendance.
Join hundreds of past graduates who learned how to build the foundation for a Sociable City plan.

The Academy is a one-day professional training for nighttime managers, public safety teams, regulators, planners and advisory board staff. Presented with online seminars and onsite case studies and sessions to assist you build the foundation for a comprehensive policy, resource, and training system.

This year's Academy will provide more peer-to-peer discussions so you and your team will learn how others cities are developing their daytime and nighttime social economy, strategies to streamline the permit process, form interagency teams for improved venue compliance, and support for more live music, entertainment, festivals, and events.

Sociable City Academy Program

THE FUTURE OF DINING AND ENTERTAINMENT depends on proactive strategies that ensure social venues meet government and community standards for safety and security. Businesses must adopt comprehensive risk management policies, provide ongoing staff training, engage in community-driven solutions, and receive recognition and incentives for compliance.

Mounting risks—ranging from sexual harassment and assault, aggression and violence, alcohol-impaired crashes, and related lawsuits—are placing venues, especially those serving alcohol and offering entertainment, in jeopardy. These challenges also impact insurance coverage and premiums, creating an urgent need for government and industry-wide solutions.

Academy Section 1 guides you and your team with others to compare current systems in your city with theirs and return with proven strategies and resources. This will focus on your current process to build collaborative alliances to manage current and emerging areas with a concentration of social clusters where people dine, drink, listen to music, and shop.

  • What are your challenges?
  • What are your strengths?
  • How are other cities managing risk and expanding opportunities?

Academy Section 2 delves deeper into one of the most challenging elements of a Sociable City Plan, Safety in a Social District. It takes you on a journey of the evolution of safety and security in nighttime social districts, focusing on three components:

  • Operating a social venue serving alcohol and providing live or DJ entertainment with dancing presents an increased number of risk factors.
  • An effective public safety strategy goes beyond police, requiring broad collaboration and risk management among many key stakeholders.
  • Build a continuum of public safety resources and strategies, from efficient and informative licensing and permitting to early assistance teams,

Sociable City Academy Faculty

This year's Sociable City Academy assembles a unique faculty with decades of experience in the licensing, permitting, compliance, and liability defense in social venues serving alcohol. You can view interviews to learn more about each person's background and role.  

Responsible Business Practices

Jim Peters

Bio

Jim Peters will present model legislation first drafted in 1985 and implemented in seven states. This framework allows businesses that meet responsible practice standards to mitigate liability and reduce penalties from regulatory agencies and lawsuits.

Government Permit and Licensing

Rosa Escareño

Bio

Rosa Escareno will share Chicago’s innovative approach to engaging businesses and compliance agencies through efficient licensing and permitting systems for alcohol-serving establishments and events.

Alcohol Compliance Training

Carrie Christofes

Bio

Carrie Christofes, Executive Director, National Liquor Law Enforcment Association, will introduce a national campaign aimed at improving compliance training for public safety officials.

Security and Risk Management

Robert Smith

Bio

Robert Smith, CEO, Nightclub Security Consultants brings decades of experience in security training and consulting, offering insights into what experts see in liability lawsuits and how venues can protect themselves.

Community Engagement

Gregory Mullen

Bio

Greg Mullen, former Charleston Police Chief and Associate VP of Public Safety at Clemson University, will share strategies for building coalitions and working with venues and stakeholders to create community-based safety solutions.

Incentive Policy

Patrick Gagliardi

Bio

Patrick Gagliardi is a former state legislator and former chair of the Michigan Liquor Control Commission, will discuss how responsible practices defense legislation worked in practice and its impact on compliance.

Venue Operator Perspective

Larry Byrne

Bio

Larry Byrne, In-house Counsel, E11ven Miami, will share insights on the hidden costs and challenges of poorly written legislation and regulations. He’ll explain the complexity of compliance in today’s legal environment and why lawmakers should consider responsible operators when drafting laws. Larry will also address how current insurance industry trends impact licensed businesses.

Build Your Team for a Sociable City Plan

Key Stakeholders

Governance

An alliance of stakeholders dedicated to nighttime governance is key to long-term success

Planning

Sociable cities anticipate mobility needs and create systems to maintain a high quality of life

Safety

Safety in social districts and within venues requires coordination among public and private partners

Vibrancy

Vibrancy is created by the mix of social experiences in venues and in public space both day and night

Governance

  • Night Mayors/ Managers
  • City Managers
  • Nightlife Advisory Board

Planning

  • Business District Managers
  • City Planners
  • Economic Development Directors
  • Mobility Systems
  • Residential Associations
  • University Administrators

Safety

  • Alcohol Regulations
  • Police: Municipal & Campus
  • Licensing & Regulatory Staff
  • Fire Department
  • Health Department
  • Code Compliance
  • Private Safety/ Security

Vibrancy

  • Venue Operators
  • Hospitality Associations
  • Events Planners
  • Music & Nightlife Advocates
  • Entertainment Marketing
  • Tourism/Destination Marketing

Join Hundreds of Academy Graduates

The first Academy was held in 2018 in New Orleans, and continued every year except 2021. Build your team and be part of a growing network of professionals from multiple disciplines and backgrounds. The Academy is recommended for first time attendees to enhance the learning experience at the Summit.

Team Training  |  Create Your Action Plan

Bring your team for an immersive experience with case studies and tools to create an Action Plan.

  • Identify how national trends and market forces are driving change in downtown social economies
  • Gain insights on how cities are creating coordinated strategies to enhance public space and venue safety and security
  • Get the tools you need to evaluate the strengths, challenges and opportunities in your city’s social economy
  • Learn how a public safety alliance is an important component of a dedicated office on the social economy.

Registration

Nashville Hosted Reception: Sunday, April 12 evening kick-off reception to meet friends and connect with previous connections.

Summit Registration Includes: Continental Breakfast and Luncheon; Educational Presentations and Workshops.

Academy Registration Includes: Online learning and onsite training, luncheon and breaks. Also includes workbook and reference documents.

Summit $100 Team Discount: Teams of 3+ people from the same city qualify for a Summit team discount. Write to Emily Lopez to get your team discount code. Each person registers separately using the same code.

Individual
$595
Summit Registration
Before January 23
Summit Team Rate
Before January 23
Registration
January 24to March 29
Late Registration
After March 30
Academy
Separate Registration
Individual - $695
Team - $595
Individual
$795
Individual
$180
Three or More on a Team
$495