2024 F.I.E.R.O. PPE Symposium
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The 2024 PPE Symposium is being held in beautiful downtown Greenville, SC. We are also hosting pre-symposium seminars on Sunday, March 17 that will feature both classroom and hands-on-training (HOT) sessions. Main symposium registration includes breakfast on all three days, lunch on Monday and Tuesday, dedicated exhibit hall/networking breaks, a professionally bound Resource Manual, and electronic copies of all presentations (distributed after the event). Come explore:
Registration Fee: $695
Registration Includes Networking Reception Sunday Night, Breakfast (Mon/Tues/Wed), Exhibit Hall Grand Reception Monday night, Lunch (Mon/Tues), Professionally bound Resource Manual, and electronic copies of all presentations.
PRE SYMPOSIUM SEMINARS ($250)
PPE Fundamentals & Program Management - (Space is limited) This seminar is perfect for both new PPE program managers and experienced PPE specialists. Topics will include a comprehensive overview of the NFPA process, current (and possible future) NFPA 1851 requirements, how/why to conduct risk assessments and wear trials, how to develop gear specs that meet your departments needs, explanation of third-party verification and testing processes, and more! The seminar will conclude with a Q&A with the subject matter experts.
Advanced Gear Inspection Hands-on-Training Session - (Space is limited to 30 participants) Chief Bruce Varner and Engineer/Paramedic Tim Tomlinson will lead an all-day hands-on seminar on how to thoroughly and properly conduct an inspection of your PPE. Very few firefighters know how to conduct an inspection that is compliant with NFPA 1851 to provide the level of protection their members deserve. Participants will have clean gear available to conduct an inspection under the guidance of Bruce and Tim. Every fire department should have a few members that are properly trained to conduct an inspection. They will also cover other pertinent parts of caring for your PPE. This is a tremendous opportunity and it sells out quickly.
The fee includes: Breakfast, lunch, am and pm refreshments each day (no lunch on Wednesday), a welcome reception on Sunday evening, an exhibit reception on Monday evening, and a hard-copy of our Resource Manual..
| NEW AGENDA | ||||
| Sunday, March 17 | ||||
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7:00 AM to
8:00 AM
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BREAKFAST & NETWORKING
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8:10 AM to
8:40 AM
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NFPA Standards Development: Who, What, When Where, Why, and How by Marni Schmid, 1971/1851 Technical Committee Member
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8:40 AM to
9:20 AM
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What Does 3rd Party Certification Mean and How PPE is Tested? by Amanda Newsom, UL Solutions
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9:20 AM to
10:00 AM
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Exposure Reduction for Aggressive Fire Departments by Jamie LIttle, RESCUE Intellitech
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10:00 AM to
10:15 AM
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BREAK & NETWORKING
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10:15 AM to
10:55 AM
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The Role of a PPE Committee and the Do's and Don't's When Working with Vendors by Battalion Chief Matt Cox, Fairfax County Fire Rescue
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10:55 AM to
11:25 AM
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NFPA and PPE: How to Navigate NFPA 1970 and 1850 (and other related standards) by Marni Schmid, Technical Committee Secretary
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11:25 AM to
12:05 PM
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How to Write Specifications and the Steps in the Bid Process by Matt Cox, Battalion Chief, Fairfax County Fire Rescue
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12:05 PM to
12:55 PM
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LUNCH & NETWORKING
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12:55 PM to
1:35 PM
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Evaluating Performance: From Lab Data to Practical Application by Webster Marshall, Lieutenant, Gwinnette County Fire
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1:35 PM to
2:15 PM
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Conducting Wear Trials: Lessons Learned by Dan Maffia, Battalion Chief, Fayetteville FD
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2:15 PM to
3:05 PM
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PPE and Cancer by Tonya Herbert, Florida PPE Services
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3:05 PM to
3:20 PM
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BREAK & NETWORKING
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3:05 PM to
3:45 PM
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Do You Train Your Rookie? by Assistant Chief Mark Willbanks, Knoxville FD
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3:45 PM to
4:30 PM
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Question and Answer Session will All the Speakers, moderated by Ron Kuley, Captain, Fairfax County Fire Rescue (ret.)
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4:30 PM
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ADJOURN
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5:00 PM to
7:00 PM
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NETWORKING RECEPTION (in the pre-function area)
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| Monday, March 18 | ||||
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7:00 AM to
8:00 AM
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BREAKFAST & NETWORKING
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8:00 AM to
8:15 AM
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Welcome and Opening Remarks by Robert Tutterow, F.I.E.R.O. President
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8:15 AM to
9:00 AM
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PFAS - How Turnout Gear Impacts Fire Fighter Health by Neil McMillan, IAFF
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9:00 AM to
9:45 AM
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Breathing Air Programs: We Need Them Now More Than Ever by Battalion Chief Chris Major, South Metro FD (ret.)
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9:45 AM to
10:05 AM
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BREAK & NETWORKING
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10:05 AM to
10:50 AM
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PPE Cleaning in the Fire Service-We have a ways to go! by Capt. Kyle O'Neill, San Diego FD
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10:50 AM to
11:35 AM
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Integrating Updated Cleaning Approaches with Prospective NFPA 1850 Changes by Jeff Stull, International Personnel Protection, Inc.
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11:35 AM to
11:45 AM
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Bruce Teele Excellence Award Presentation
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11:45 AM to
12:45 PM
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LUNCH & NETWORKING
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12:45 PM to
1:30 PM
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Firefighter Turnout Decon: How Clean is Clean When Using Liquid CO2 by Mike Duyck and Dr. Nelson Sorbo
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1:30 PM to
2:15 PM
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Roadway Incident PPE, with an Emphasis on Head Protection by Lt. Brady Robinette, Wolfforth Fire & EMS
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2:15 PM to
2:35 PM
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BREAK & NETWORKING
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2:35 PM to
3:20 PM
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We've Got Your Back! by Battalion Chief David Bernzweig, Columbus FD
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3:20 PM to
4:05 PM
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PPE Funding Opportunities by Natasha Nau, F.I.E.R.O. Board Member
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4:05 PM to
4:50 PM
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Who are we Really Designing PPE for? by Travis Ford, Executive Officer, Richmond Fire & Emergency Services
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4:50 PM to
5:00 PM
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Comments from Diamond Sponsors
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5:00 PM to
7:00 PM
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EXHIBIT GRAND OPENING, RECEPTION, AND NETWORKIING
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| Tuesday, March 19 | ||||
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7:00 AM to
8:00 AM
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BREAKFAST, EXHIBITS & NETWORKING
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8:00 AM to
8:45 AM
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TRACK A: Evaluating FF's' Coats w/ a Cooling System by Dr. Amit Bhattacharya & Dr. Marepalli Rao & Dr. Qichen Fang, University of Cincinnati
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8:00 AM to
8:45 AM
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TRACK B: Importance of PPE Committees & Wear Trials by Capt. Ron Kuley & B/C Matt Cox, Fairfax Co. Fire Rescue
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8:45 AM to
8:50 AM
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Transition Break
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8:50 AM to
9:35 AM
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TRACK A: How to Build a Proper Decon/Laundry by Bob Mitchell,
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8:50 AM to
9:35 AM
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TRACK B: Developing Real World Tests to Better Understand the Performance of PPE by Lt. Webster Marshall, Gwinnett County FD
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9:40 AM to
10:25 AM
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EXHIBITS AND NETWORKING
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10:25 AM to
11:10 AM
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TRACK A: Are Female FF's anthropometrically Different & Impact on PPE by Dr. Meredith McQuerry, Fla. St. Univ. & Dr. Cassandra Kwon, N.C. State Univ.
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10:25 AM to
11:10 AM
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TRACK B: Revolutionizing Gear Selection: An AI App for Gloves by Dr. Guowen Song, Dr. Rui Li, Dr.Yulin Wu, & Dr. Mengying Zhang, Iowa St. Univ.
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11:10 AM to
11:15 AM
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TRANSITION BREAK
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11:15 AM to
12:00 PM
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TRACK A: Enhancing Wildland FF Respiratory & Dermal Protection by Dr. Bryan Ormond, N.C. State, Dr. Matt Rahn & Rick Swan, The Wildfire Conservancy
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11:15 AM to
12:00 PM
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TRACK B: How Does Fire Smoke Interact with PPE Material and Components by Dr. Rui Li and Dr. Guowen Song, Iowa State University
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12:00 PM to
1:00 PM
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LUNCH & NETWORKING
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1:00 PM to
1:45 PM
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TRACK A: In-Field Evaluations of Fire Investigator Exposures & Performance of Protective Ensembles by Dr. Bryan Ormond & Mark Gaskill, N.C. State Univ
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1:00 PM to
1:45 PM
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TRACK B: The Life of Our PPE: What is Expected as it Ages? by Lt. Webster Marshall, Gwinnett County Fire Department
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1:45 PM to
1:50 PM
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TRANSITION BREAK
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1:50 PM to
2:35 PM
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TRACK A: Impact of PPE Design on Heat Stress: Optimizing Ease & Air Gaps in Turnout Gear by Dr. Meredith McQuerry, Florida State University
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1:50 PM to
2:35 PM
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TRACK B: How Firefighters are Actually Wearing Their Gear by Deputy Chief Aaron Heller, Hamilton (NJ) Fire Department (ret.)
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2:35 PM to
3:20 PM
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EXHIBITS AND NETWORKING (LAST CHANCE TO VISIT EXHIBITS)
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3:20 PM to
4:05 PM
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TRACK A: INVESTIGATIVE APPROACHES FOR EXAMINING AND EVALUATIONG GEAR IN INJURY AND EXPOSURE CASES BY JEFF STULL, INTERNATIONAL PERSONNEL PROTECTION
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3:20 PM to
4:05 PM
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Why We Need PPE Managers/Technicians-What They Should Know by Jessica Pickett, F.I.E.R.O. Executive Director & Robert Tutterow, F.I.E.R.O. President
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4:05 PM to
4:10 PM
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TRANSITION BREAK
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4:10 PM to
4:55 PM
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TRACK A: Evaluating Exposures to Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC's) for FF's Wearing Different PPE Ensembles by Alex Mayer, CDC/NIOSH
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4:10 PM to
4:55 PM
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TRACK B: Exposure Risk Reduction & Mass Cleaning - PPE & SCBA: Decon Apparatus by Dr. Farzaneh Masoud & Dr. Dac Nguyn, Illinois Fire Service Institute
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4:55 PM
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ADJOURN
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| Wednesday, March 20 | ||||
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7:00 AM to
8:00 AM
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BREAKFAST & NETWORKING
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8:00 AM to
8:40 AM
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Battery Fires and Firefighters Exposure by Dr. Richard Kesler, UL Fire Safety Research Institute, Research Engineer
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8:40 AM to
9:20 AM
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Too Extreme About Safety? Let's Talk Matter of Fact by Lt. Jim Reidy, San Antonio FD, (ret.)
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9:20 AM to
10:00 AM
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Dermal Toxicant Exposure and Absorption in Firefighters by Dr. Caroline Smith, Associate Professor, Appalachian State University
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10:00 AM to
10:15 AM
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BREAK & NETWORKING
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10:15 AM to
10:45 AM
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Contamination Control: Are You Keeping up with the Standards? by Battalion Chief David Bernzweig, Columbus FD
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10:45 AM to
11:25 AM
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State of Research on PFAS in the Fire Service by Dr. Bryan Ormond, Assistant Professor, N.C. State University
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11:25 AM to
12:05 PM
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The Latest in Firefighter PFAS Detection by Dr. Heather Stapleton, Duke University
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12:05 PM to
12:10 PM
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CASH GIFT DRAWINGS (must be present to win)
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12:10 PM
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Symposium Adjourns
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Sponsors and Exhibitors
