***UNDER CONSTRUCTION / COMING SOON***
ESA’s 2026 Safer Events Series will include several installments during the year.
The first installment—Weather Preparedness—features four sessions
presented on 5/12/26, 5/19/26, 5/26/26 and 6/2/26.
ESA members can register for $99 and non-members will pay $149.
Registration is OPENING HERE SOON!
Your one-time registration fee provides you with:
-Participation in live session (Zoom link sent out the day before each)
-Receipt of the session PPT presentation after each session
-Access to the session recordings after the series
***UNDER CONSTRUCTION / COMING SOON***
the Weather preparedness sessions
Tuesday 5/12/26 1:00-2:30pm ET
part 1 of 4 > weather doesn’t wait: neither can you
DR. KEVIN KLOESEL
Live events operate on tight timelines, but the atmosphere doesn’t follow a schedule. From lightning and winds to extreme heat and rapidly evolving conditions, weather threats demand quick decisions that promote life safety. This session will focus on how accurate, timely weather planning and real-time monitoring can reduce risk and protect lives. We’ll walk through successful practices for pre-event forecasting, on-site monitoring, and decision-making that translate complex meteorological data into clear, actionable steps. Attendees will gain insight into integrating forecast intelligence with operational plans, establishing actionable decision points, and communicating effectively across event teams when weather conditions deteriorate. Whether you manage athletics, concerts, festivals, or public gatherings large or small, this session provides a practical playbook for staying ahead of the weather—because when conditions change, hesitation is not an option, and hope is not a plan.
Dr. Kevin Kloesel is the Chief Science Officer at Zelus and the Event Safety Meteorologist at Baylor University. At the 2025 annual meeting of the National Weather Association in 2025, he was presented with the prestigious Larry R. Johnson Special Award. Kevin is an ESA board of directors member.
Jeff Reder, P.E., is the Principal/Owner of Clark-Reder Engineering Inc in West Chester, Ohio. He earned a B.S. and M.S in Civil Engineering from Purdue University and is a licensed Professional Engineer. Jeff has been an ESA member since 2018.
Tuesday 5/19/26 1:00-2:30pm ET
part 2 of 4 > how to deal with big sails: LED’s and HWAP’S
JEFF REDER, P.E.
Our subject matter expert will lead a discussion about wind and lateral seismic forces on large format LED walls and how the loads affect structures. The session will focus on bracing of LED walls and how different bracing methods affect the support structure. We will discuss high wind action plans for the screens to ensure the engineering for the stage structure, screen and event are in consistent with the usage. Attendees will discuss indoor ground supported LED structures and how the new 2024 IBC requirements may affect their ballasting and design. Jeff will provide case studies on real life examples of the bracing and wind action plans from past events.
Hadden Hippsley is the Owner and President of Lambda Productions, Inc., a full-service event and production management company based in Breckville, Ohio. His lengthy career experience includes playing a key role in the design and creation of the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival. Hadden is an ESA founding contributor.
Tuesday 5/26/26 1:00-2:30pm ET
part 3 of 4 > how to put engineering into action
HADDEN HIPPSLEY
Hadden will address how to take Jeff’s engineered action plans on stamped drawings to actions onsite by making our favorite weather action plans. He will be sharing the template and a communication organization chart that is used at each event for his production team. Hadden will also be reviewing how to heat map and track where the crowd is through apps and RFID, so you know how large the crowd is and where they are around the clock at festivals (especially camping festivals since attendees are at the site 24/7). He’ll also review the Tier 1 and Tier 2 in command centers and how he utilizes weather services, as well as engineers onsite, during the build and the entire event. We’ll also review how to build and strike production and stage builds so that you don’t get caught during the build with a structure not complete enough to with stand winds and/or storms.
Dr. Kevin Kloesel is the Chief Science Officer at Zelus and the Event Safety Meteorologist at Baylor University. At the 2025 annual meeting of the National Weather Association in 2025, he was presented with the prestigious Larry R. Johnson Special Award.
Tuesday 5/26/26 1:00-2:30pm ET
part 4 of 4 > from compliance to confidence: utilizing the ansi es1.7-2021 standard
DR KEVIN KLOESEL
ANSI ES1.7-2021 establishes a critical framework for weather preparedness in live events—but implementation is where safety is truly determined. This session translates the standard into practical, operational strategies that event organizers, safety officers, and venue managers can apply in real-world environments. We will review the current strategies for risk assessment, planning requirements, monitoring expectations, and decision-making protocols. Attendees will learn how to integrate accurate forecasting and real-time weather monitoring into their event action plans, define clear thresholds for protective actions, and align responsibilities across teams. The focus moves beyond compliance to execution—ensuring that weather preparedness is not just documented, but operational, timely, and effective when conditions change.