March 6, 2025

House of Worship Security Summit

Price:

FREE

Location: SouthPark Church, Charlotte, NC

Join us for a free church security education followed by drinks with attendees. From insider threat detection to funding strategies, this summit equips you with tools to better protect your congregation and secure your facility. The event will feature engaging discussions, expert panels, and networking opportunities, capped with drinks out to reflect and connect.

This event is capped, so register today to save your seat.

Event Details

Join us for the House of Worship Security Summit on March 6, 2025, at SouthPark Church in Charlotte, NC. This exclusive in-person event is designed for leaders, administrators, and security personnel committed to enhancing the safety of their worship facilities. Gain actionable insights from industry experts, including representatives from the Department of Homeland Security, Allegion, FEMA, and more.

Date: March 6, 2025

Location: SouthPark Church, Charlotte, NC

Event Schedule:

3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Insider Threat Detection, De-Escalation, and Cybersecurity
Led by the Department of Homeland Security

4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Best Practices for Planning, Implementing, and Securing Funding
Presented by Christin Kinman, Allegion End-User Consultant

5:00 PM – 5:30 PM
Ask the Experts: Security Grants and Funding Opportunities
Moderated by Mark Silviera, FEMA, with:

Amanda Thaxton, NCDPS
Derek Dorazio, NCDPS
Simon Osamoh, Worship Security Editor
Chris Dozier, Shalom Foundation

6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Drinks and Networking
Enjoy appetizers and drinks with fellow attendees and speakers, providing a relaxed setting for further networking and discussion. There will also be a chance to see vendor security solutions in action in the technology lab.

**technology lab will be open from 3p-7p

Meet Our Featured Speakers

Our lineup of expert speakers brings unmatched experience and insights to the House of Worship Security Summit. From grant funding and compliance to security planning and real-world implementation, these leaders have dedicated their careers to enhancing safety in worship spaces. With diverse backgrounds—including law enforcement, nonprofit program management, counter-terrorism, and facilities security—our speakers offer practical strategies and proven solutions. Together, they will equip you with the tools and knowledge needed to safeguard your congregation and steward your resources effectively.

Christin Kinman, MPH

Christin is an End-User Consultant for Allegion. She is an active member of ASIS, and sits on the Security Standards Technical Committee, which is responsible for developing an international standard for school security. She has worked with CISA, part of the Department of Homeland Security, to review its guidance documents on physical security for schools and Houses of Worship. She has been featured in multiple industry publications, and has spoken nationally about planning for physical security, the importance layered security, and how to procure outside funding for security improvements. During her tenure as a facilities project manager in the Archdiocese of Baltimore, Christin successfully obtained over $4 million in grant funding to enhance security throughout archdiocese schools and churches.

Derek Dorazio - NCDPS

A former U.S. Coast Guard officer and licensed attorney, Derek Dorazio manages a robust $80M annual portfolio of grant programs, including the Non-Profit Security Grant Program (NSGP) for North Carolina. With an MBA from George Washington University and a background in compliance and preparedness, Derek provides actionable insights on securing and managing grants to enhance safety at Houses of Worship.

Amanda Thaxton

With over 20 years of experience in non-profits and associations, Amanda specializes in streamlining processes and managing complex projects. Her expertise includes advanced CRM, AMS, and CMS systems, making her a driving force behind efficient program implementation. Amanda’s passion for collaboration and problem-solving is evident in her role at the North Carolina Department of Public Safety.

Simon Osamah

Simon Osamoh is a nationally recognized expert in safeguarding Houses of Worship. A former detective in England and leader of Counter Terrorism at the Mall of America, Simon has dedicated his career to security solutions for nonprofits and worship facilities. As the editor of Worship Security, an Amazon bestselling author, and host of the Church Security Accelerator Podcast, Simon’s insights are both practical and inspiring.

Chris Dozier

Chris Dozier, originally from Charlotte, N.C., is a retired 29-year veteran of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department. Throughout his distinguished law enforcement career, he served in various capacities, including officer and sergeant in some of Charlotte’s most challenged areas, as well as in Internal Affairs. As a captain, he commanded two patrol divisions and led the Violent Crimes Unit, overseeing robbery, sexual assault, and homicide investigations.

Chris holds both a B.S. and M.S. in Criminal Justice from UNC-Charlotte and is a graduate of the FBI National Academy (Class #263). In February 2024, he joined the Foundation of Shalom Park as the Director of Safety and Security.

Keith Jones

Keith Jones serves as a Protective Security Advisor (PSA) for South Carolina, advising the SC Homeland Security Advisor and facilitating vulnerability assessments for critical infrastructure. With 25 years of federal security experience, including roles at the Department of Homeland Security and Department of State, he specializes in physical security, threat assessments, and emergency action planning. Jones has extensive expertise in explosives countermeasures, chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRNE) security, and security management procedures. He also represents Region IV on the Unmanned Aerial Systems working group.

Josh Modlin

Josh Modlin serves as a Protective Security Advisor for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). In this role, he works with public sector partners, such as state, local, tribal, and territorial governments, as well as private sector organizations essential to the nation’s homeland security to reduce risk and enhance the cyber and physical resiliency of critical infrastructure. Prior to joining DHS/CISA, Josh served as a Critical Infrastructure Specialist for the North Carolina Department of Public Safety, Division of Emergency Management (NCEM). At NCEM, he coordinated with public and private sector partners statewide to mitigate and respond to threats to critical infrastructure. Josh is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps and currently resides in the Raleigh, NC area.

Mark Silviera - FEMA Grant Directorate

Event Hosts

This special event is hosted by:

Smart Church Solution’s team are experts in church facility stewardship, offering software solutions for event management and work order & asset management to improve the efficiency of your building and your team, and consulting services related to facility management training and assessments.