2024 Southern Region Meeting Agenda 

6:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Welcome Reception 

8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

Breakfast

9:00 AM – 9:10 AM

Welcome & Introductions

• Bryan Collier, Executive Director, Texas Department of Criminal Justice

• Chad Dotson, Director, Virginia Department of Corrections

9:10 AM - 10:00 AM

Tasers & Other Non-Lethal Weapons

• Bryan Collier, Executive Director, Texas Department of Criminal Justice

• Ricky Dixon, Secretary, Florida Department of Corrections

• Todd Ishee, Secretary, North Carolina Department of Adult Correction

10:00 AM - 10:45 AM

Cell Phone Detection Systems

• Bryan Collier, Executive Director, Texas Department of Criminal Justice

• Tyrone Oliver, Commissioner, Georgia Department of Corrections

• Bryan Stirling, Director, South Carolina Department of Corrections

10:45 AM - 10:55 AM

Break

10:55 AM - 11:40 AM

Peer-Led Recovery Programs

• Bryan Collier, Executive Director, Texas Department of Criminal Justice

• Christopher Carter, Director of Rehabilitation Programs Division, Texas Department of Criminal Justice

• Angela Whittaker, Executive Management Advisor/Deputy Assistant Secretary, Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections

11:40 AM - 12:40 PM

Lunch

12:40 PM - 1:10 PM

Transition to the Golf Course or Tour of Colonial Williamsburg

1:30 PM - 6:00 PM

2024 CLA Annual Southern Region Golf Tournament or Tour of Colonial Williamsburg

6:30 PM - 7:30 PM

Reception

8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

Breakfast 

9:00 AM - 9:15 AM

Welcome & Review

• Chad Dotson, Director, Virginia Department of Corrections

• Kevin Kempf, Executive Director, Correctional Leaders Association

9:15 AM - 10:00 AM

Tablets & Tablet Security (Closed – DOC Staff Only)

• Ricky Dixon, Secretary, Florida Department of Corrections

• Michael Bates, Director for the Fusion Center, Texas Department of Criminal Justice 

10:00 AM - 10:50 AM

Restrictive/Restorative Housing & Step-Down Programs

• Jason Clark, Chief of Staff, Texas Department of Criminal Justice

• Lois Fegan, Chief of Restorative and Diversionary Housing, Virginia Department of Corrections

• Randy Mathena, Director of Security and Correctional Enforcement, Virginia Department of Corrections

10:50 AM - 11:00 AM

Break

11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Drone Detection Systems - Use, Challenges, and Expansion

• Tyrone Oliver, Commissioner, Georgia Department of Corrections

• Bryan Stirling, Director, South Carolina Department of Corrections

12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

Lunch 

1:00 PM - 1:50 PM

Staff Wellness/Recruitment and Retention

• Todd Ishee, Secretary, North Carolina Department of Adult Correction

1:50 PM - 2:35 PM

Effective Interaction with Legislators

• Ricky Dixon, Secretary, Florida Department of Corrections

• Chad Dotson, Director, Virginia Department of Corrections

• Todd Ishee, Secretary, North Carolina Department of Adult Correction

• Jason Clark, Chief of Staff, Texas Department of Criminal Justice

• Marcus Elam, Legislative Liaison, Virginia Department of Corrections

2:35 PM - 3:20 PM

Making the Hard Decision: Settling Litigation (Closed – DOC Staff Only)

• Bill Lunsford, Legal Counsel for Association Governance, Correctional Leaders Association

3:20 PM - 3:30 PM 

Break

3:30 PM - 4:30 PM

Executive Session (Closed – DOC Staff Only)

5:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Reception