Sgt. Doug Kazensky (ret.)
Sr. Solutions Engineer
Wednesday, September 16, 2026 | 2pm-3pm ET
Every September, National Preparedness Month asks households to get ready. But for public safety agencies, readiness isn’t seasonal — it’s the job. And increasingly, “readiness” has become synonymous with technology: better tracking, better data, better automation.
That’s not wrong. But it’s incomplete. Training compliance software can tell you who’s certified. It can’t tell you who’s about to burn out. Scheduling tools can optimize coverage. They can’t replace the senior dispatcher who talks a rookie through their first bad call, the company officer who recognizes when a firefighter is struggling after a difficult incident, or the sergeant who notices an officer isn’t themselves before it becomes a problem.
Agencies and departments that are getting readiness right aren’t choosing between technology and people — they’re being deliberate about which half of the job belongs to each. This session breaks down where automation genuinely earns its place, and where the human touch isn’t a nice-to-have, but the actual job.
What you’ll learn:
- Which parts of agency readiness are genuinely better handled by data and automation — and which aren’t
- Why over-indexing on metrics and tracking can quietly erode trust and morale if it’s not paired with human follow-through
- What “the human half” actually looks like day-to-day in public safety (de-escalation, mentorship, the calm voice on the line)
- How to tell if your agency has built readiness on tech alone — and what that gap tends to cost you
- Practical ways to pair tech-enabled tracking with people-first practices, starting this month
Presenters
Doug Kazensky is a Senior Solutions Engineer at Vector Solutions, as well as a former police training sergeant and officer of over two decades. After proudly serving in the United States Air Force as a member of the Security Police, he joined the Longview Police Department in Washington in December 1997. He served in patrol, as a School Resource Officer (SRO), and as a detective specializing in fraud and computer crimes.
Deputy Chief Matt Shronts
Sr. Solutions Engineer
Matt Shronts brings over 24 years of experience in public safety, having progressed through every rank in the fire service, including serving as Fire Chief in Illinois. He currently holds the position of Deputy Fire Chief. With more than two decades as a licensed Paramedic and EMS Lead Instructor, Matt has developed a deep expertise in EMS, Fire and Emergency Management training.
Throughout his career, Matt has remained committed to advancing training and operational excellence. He has successfully implemented and optimized platforms such as TargetSolutions, Check It, Scheduling and Evaluations+ to enhance organizational efficiency, streamline recertification processes, improve data tracking, and deliver high-impact training programs.
Matt holds a Master’s degree in Public Safety Administration from Southern Illinois University and is a credentialed Chief Fire Officer through the Center for Public Safety Excellence.
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