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2026 Annual Conference

The New England Crisis Negotiators Association 2026 Conference will be held at a new venue in Hyannis, MA (Margaritaville Cape Cod Resort), which also requires a change in dates for 2026. The new dates will be Monday, May 18 (08:00), to Wednesday, May 20, 2026 (15:00). We are looking forward to an outstanding lineup of presentations and networking opportunities again this year.

Conference Registration Link:
https://buytickets.at/necna/2022274

The registration fee is $425 and includes:

Monday: Lunch and Dinner
Tuesday: Breakfast and Lunch
Wednesday: Breakfast

Conference Hotel:

Margaritaville Resort Cape Cod

1225 Iyannough Rd, Hyannis, MA 02601

Some hotel highlights include:

The Margaritaville Resort has recently undergone a full $40M renovation!
Room rate for 2026 is $121 per night plus applicable taxes.
Hotel space is limited for 2026. Please book your rooms early.
Waterpark passes are included with your room rate upon request.
Use the link below to receive the discounted rate.

Margaritaville Resort Cape Cod -Booking Link

A one-night deposit is required for all reservations. See the hotel website for reservation and cancellation policies.

Discounted room rates are also available at our overflow hotel…

Holiday Inn Cape Cod - Hyannis

1127 Iyannough Rd, Hyannis, MA 02601

(Booking code coming soon)

We are especially excited to celebrate our 25th Anniversary this year and have several top-notch presentations planned. A complete schedule will be posted when all time slots are finalized.

We appreciate your patience as we work with the new venue to ensure we continue to provide you with the highest level of training and networking opportunities you have grown accustomed to over the past 25 years at our conference. Thank you, and be safe. We look forward to seeing you in Hyannis!

Conference Cancellation & Transfer Policy

Full refunds will be issued for cancellations received on or before Friday, May 7, 2026.
Cancellations received after May 7, 2026, will receive a $175 refund.
The remaining $250 will be retained to offset costs already incurred, as final food and attendance numbers are required one week prior to the event.
Registrations may be transferred to another participant. All transfer information must be provided to NECNA prior to the conference.

For additional information, please contact NECNA Secretary Jennifer Hatch at j.weaver@belfastmepd.org

A sample of our 2025 schedule and other 2025 conference details are on this page. A 2026 schedule will be posted soon, along with applicable updates to events, meals, presenter bios, vendors, and sponsors.

Please be advised that our address has changed to PO BOX 772 Burlington, MA 01803

REGISTER TODAY!

The 2025 Conference schedule is HERE!!

Schedule updated as of 04/02/25 and subject to change.

NECNA Congratulates our 2025 Conference Cornhole Champions…

The GABOS!!

The GABOS (aka Andrew Distelhurst and Jeff Taranto of Warwick PD) outlasted all other teams and had an impressive run to the title!!

Well done, fellas!

P.O. Box 772

Burlington, MA 01803

2025 President’s Message

Welcome to the New England Crisis Negotiators Association's 24th annual Conference at the Cape. It is a true honor to be your president and to serve our members from the six states that comprise NECNA! I am proud of the Board of Directors and the State Representatives who work tirelessly to bring you quality trainings, manage the Organization with integrity, and meet monthly to discuss the ways NECNA can sustain, grow, and improve.

I thank the Board of Directors for the amount of time devoted to making our Organization the success it has become, and the Members for your trust in us!!!! Our Membership continues to grow as each new 40-hour class is completed. I am proud to say we are also seeing an uptick in membership of Mental Health Professionals (MHP) who are embedded with law enforcement and corrections teams. This is a testament to embracing the future of negotiations and bringing in the MHP component to be part of the NECNA Board of Directors. This inclusion shows the true value of their talents and how a Board Member (Dr. Edward Keane) can make a difference in our profession. The BODs has selected an incredible panel of presenters for this year's Conference and I believe you will learn and be able to apply what you have learned with your teams!!

The Board of Directors listens to its Members and we have provided more training opportunities than ever before. This year we had a very successful and well-attended “Summer Scenario Series!” Thanks to Dr. Ed Keane, our Fall Regional Training instructed by Sgt. JD Byas of Dallas SWAT-CNU was a huge success as evidenced by several venues running out of space (Next year larger sites will be used). V.P. Wayne Cole has secured Dr. Jeff Thompson who has agreed to a first-time “Winter Series” of instruction. Our new Vermont Rep., Krystal Wrinn, and our Massachusetts Rep., Mike Knight, hosted Dr. Thompson’s Winter Series and the class reviews were stellar.

I also bring to people’s attention our past President, Dr. John Colautti’s, passion for negotiating and never forgetting NECNA. Dr. Colautti presented a block of instruction on negotiations in the prison setting at last year’s Conference and knocked it out of the park. He also pioneered getting Crisis Systems Management (CSM) to visit Anna Maria College and hold the first-ever Northeast Negotiator Challenge last summer. Dr. Colautti has continued his vision and has brought CSM to Anna Maria College for Crisis Negotiation Training Levels 1-3. NECNA Board Members attended some of these trainings, and all have had amazing experiences! Thank you, Dr. Colautti!!

Please sign up for our “Second Annual Cornhole Tournament” being held Tuesday night in the Bass River Room. Prizes will be awarded!! Please use the QR Code on the website, on posters at the Conference, or speak to a board member to register.

Please enjoy yourselves responsibly while you are at the Conference!! If you need help with navigating anything while you are here, please reach out to your State Representative or any member of the Board of Directors. Please refer to the posted Agenda’s/QR Codes for speaker bios and daily activities.

Be safe and take care of each other!!!

Phil Hadden

NECNA President