2026 ACA 156th Congress of Correction Pittsburgh_Program Book

productive partnerships with communications professionals. The session will also highlight practical strategies for amplifying messages across internal channels, media outreach, executive communications, and owned storytelling platforms, including social media channels and agency websites. Through real-life examples from Nebraska and Virginia, participants will leave with actionable approaches they can apply immediately to strengthen their agency’s voice and narrative. Moderator: Kyle Gibson , Chief Communications Officer, Virginia Department of Corrections, Richmond, Virginia Speaker: Dayne Urbanovsky , Director of Strategic Communications, Nebraska Department of Correctional Services, Lincoln, Nebraska Power, Policy, and Partnership: Strategic Legislative Engagement for Today’s Leaders Room 317 Primary Community of Focus: Adult Corrections Overview: Agency leaders operate in an increasingly complex legislative environment where policy decisions directly affect public safety, staffing, funding, supervision practices and agency authority. Yet few correction professionals receive practical training on how to effectively engage legislators, especially during high-pressure sessions or contentious public debates. This fast-paced, interactive workshop delivers field-tested strategies for building productive relationships with lawmakers across the political spectrum. Presented by executive leaders from three different states and nearly 100 years of combined experience, this session provides practical tools drawn from real-world legislative engagement. Participants will engage in rapid-response scenario labs, simulated legislative questioning exercises and applied strategy discussions

focused on: • Navigating adversarial hearings • Responding to misinformation without escalating tension • Protecting agency credibility during crises • Building bipartisan trust outside of session • Avoiding common communication pitfalls Grounded in evidence-based leadership, crisis communication principles, and proven stakeholder engagement strategies, this workshop equips correctional professionals with actionable techniques they can implement immediately. Participants will leave with the tools and strategies to confidently represent their agencies in today’s high-stakes policy environment. This session is ideal for executive leaders, wardens, community corrections administrators, policy professionals, and emerging leaders preparing for executive roles across prisons, parole and probation systems. “100 Years of Experience in 45 Minutes.” Moderator: Chris Barnett , Executive Director, Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles, Atlanta, Georgia Speakers: Chris Barnett , Executive Director, Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles, Atlanta, Georgia; Timothy McDonnell , Chief Operating Officer, Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles, Austin, Texas Turning Research into Action: Improving Corrections Workforce Wellness Room 310 Primary Community of Focus: Staff Wellness Overview: Explore resources with NIC to address risks faced by corrections staff due to chronic stress, trauma exposure and critical incidents. Corrections officers experience higher rates of injury, PTSD and depression than other professions and the general public. Drawing on 15+ years of research and collaboration, this session introduces emerging resources, policies, practices, peer-support

WORKSHOPS

Sunday, Aug. 2 ▼ 8 a.m.–12 p.m.

ACA 156 th Congress of Correction | Pittsburgh — 161