The 2015 APCO International Conference & Expo concluded Wednesday night with similar grand fanfare that accompanied the entire conference.

Along with high-quality, informative conference sessions ranging from how to cope with stress in the workplace to updates on the merging FirstNet system, the conference also boasted keynotes speakers such as former United States Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and former Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Peter Pace.

APCO International Executive Director Derek Poarch opened up the President’s Dinner  – the final event of the conference – with remarks on the outstanding turnout and quality of the four-day conference.

“I hope everyone has been able to network with colleagues, attend valuable training, education, and development sessions, learn more about what’s happening in Public Safety Communications, and experience some of what our nation’s capital has to offer,” Poarch said. “APCO Past President Bill Carrow served as this year’s Conference Committee chair. He worked closely with an outstanding Conference Committee and Program Development Events Committee, as well as our own APCO staff to put together a very strong program and an exceptional conference.”

APCO 2015 was truly a success with a turnout of more than 5,700 attendees and exhibitors.  Attendees came from as far away as Senegal, Sri Lanka, Turkey and Australia representing 30 countries.  Attendance was the highest it’s been in the last seven years and the exhibit hall was one of the main features with 282 exhibiting companies.