Our Story

over 20+ years experience

Introducing the architects of our event preparedness strategy: Laura Thomas and Stan Szpytek. Laura, a seasoned meeting planner, and Stan, a retired fire chief, united their expertise after years of collaboration and friendship. Their partnership in emergency readiness was ignited by Laura's realization of the imperative need for a conference preparedness plan, underscored by the 2017 Las Vegas concert shooting. Merging Stan's first responder proficiency with Laura's planning acumen, they crafted a straightforward yet potent awareness plan. This endeavor has matured into an embraced framework for event planners, empowering gatherings with the capacity to manage emergencies adeptly.

The Team

Laura Thomas

Co-Founder

With over 20 years of hands-on experience in event, meeting, and conference planning, Laura has excelled as both a manager and contractor. Her most recent role was as the Director of Meetings and Member Services at the CA Association of Health Facilities. Laura's expertise spans every aspect of successful event and program planning, from initial design to seamless execution. She has demonstrated her ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously, including overseeing large-scale statewide conferences and numerous educational workshops. Laura's passion for emergency preparedness dates back to 2009 when she organized a "Really Ready" conference for CAHF, sparking her enduring commitment to excellence in event readiness.

Stanley Szpytek

Co-Founder

Stan Szpytek, an expert in fire and life safety, is president of Fire and Life Safety, Inc. (FLS) specializing in providing tailored fire and life safety, risk control, and emergency preparedness programs for various clients, with a focus on public assembly venues, hospitality, healthcare, education, public entities, and congregate living communities.

With 26 years of experience as a deputy fire chief and fire marshal in the Chicago area, Stan retired honorably in 2003. He now shares his expertise as the Life Safety/Disaster Planning Consultant for the Arizona Health Care Association (AzHCA), the California Association of Health Facilities (CAHF), and the Utah Health Care Association (UHCA). His most recent endeavor is co-founding GatherSafe, dedicated to teaching awareness in the conference and event industry.

Our Mission

At GatherSafe, our mission is dedicated to equipping conference staff with the essential awareness tools and strategies to enhance safety at every event, regardless of size. We are committed to delivering specialized coaching focused on staff safety - empowering teams to recognize, prevent, and respond effectively to potential risks and emergencies.

By fostering a culture of preparedness, we strive to cultivate environments where staff members feel confident, supported, and equipped to handle any situation that may arise. Together, we're shaping a future where staff safety is paramount, ensuring successful and secure gatherings.