While public awareness regarding the role of safety and security at events has grown in recent years, MPI remains as dedicated as ever to its duty of care. This World Education Congress (WEC), June 18-20 in St. Louis will mark the 27th year for which P.E.E.R. (Professional Executive Emergency Resources) is providing safety, security and medical needs—24 hours a day—to attendees, board members and staff whether at the convention center or offsite gatherings.

To learn more about securing this year’s event, we spoke with Nick Benning, director of operations for P.E.E.R. He’s been working WEC since 2008.

Are there any trends in event security that affected your approach to working on this year’s WEC?

Every client and event are different, so we will tailor our services to develop an event safety plan that meets your unique event. This includes emphasizing Proactive Presence & Communication. We will strategically position ourselves at key points (entrances, high-traffic areas and near medical aid stations) to maximize response time in an emergency. We will conduct pre-event coordination, working with venue security, local EMS and law enforcement to establish communication channels and response protocols. We are equipped with two-way radios/cell phones to ensure direct communication among our team and with venue security to quickly respond and report any incidents.

Is there anything notable from your perspective about this year’s WEC security?

We will have to adapt to the expanded America’s Center Convention Complex. No doubt there will be new entry points, increased foot traffic and unfamiliar layouts, requiring additional coordination with venue security. We will have to ensure effective coverage of key areas with our team. Conducting pre-event walkthroughs to identify high-risk zones and positioning ourselves in high-traffic areas where rapid response is most critical.

We encourage a “See Something, Say Something” mentality. Attendees should be aware they can report any concerns to us or venue security. We make sure event staff know that we are onsite and readily available, mixed in with attendees so we can respond rapidly to any emergency. Even though we are a small team, our strategic positioning, proactive communication and preparedness allow us to effectively support event safety and medical response at WEC 2025.