Kelvin Beene is an award-winning code enforcement trainer and consultant who runs Code Performance Consultants. He develops and delivers educational programs on professional skills for code enforcement officers, which can include topics such as effective communication, emotional intelligence, disarming bias, and courtroom preparedness.

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Background and expertise

• Decades of experience: Beene has over 30 years of enforcement experience, ranging from law enforcement and protective services to code enforcement.

• Award-winning educator: In 2021, he received the Robert Klein Award from the American Association of Code Enforcement (AACE) for his dedication to promoting code officer education.

• Training philosophy: He aims to enhance the skills of enforcement professionals by creating an engaging and fun-filled learning environment.

• Organizational leadership: His leadership includes service as a past president of the AACE and holding presidential roles with the Illinois and Texas Associations of Code Enforcement.

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CLASS DETAILS: Thursday, August 27, 2025

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Core training components for Code Enforcement Officers

1. Effective Communication

• Goal: Equip officers with the verbal and non-verbal skills to interact with citizens and colleagues constructively, especially in difficult situations.

• Key skills:

  • Maintaining a calm demeanor during crises.

  • Verbal de-escalation tactics to manage tense encounters.

  • Using persuasion and rapport-building to gain compliance.

  • Ensuring clear and empathetic two-way communication.

2. Emotional Intelligence (EQ)

• Goal: Help officers recognize and regulate their own emotions while understanding and responding to the emotions of others.

• Key skills:

  • Self-awareness: Recognizing personal triggers and the impact of daily emotions.

  • Self-management: Applying coping strategies to manage stress and difficult feelings.

  • Social awareness: Understanding emotional cues from community members to guide effective interactions.

  • Relationship management: Using emotional information to build trust and improve community relations.

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CLASS DETAILS: Thursday, August 28, 2025

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3. Disarming Bias

• Goal: Improve officer awareness of personal biases—both conscious and unconscious—to ensure fair and impartial interactions.

• Key skills:

  • Recognizing bias: Training officers to identify their own prejudices and learned fears.

  • Mindfulness: Developing awareness to prevent biases from impacting decision-making.

  • Promoting fairness: Emphasizing tenants like giving respect and maintaining neutrality to build trust with diverse communities.

4. Courtroom Preparedness

• Goal: Instruct officers on the technical and legal requirements for developing and presenting strong, defensible cases.

• Key skills:

  • Case development: Learning the necessary criteria for building an "iron-clad" case that can withstand legal challenge.

  • Evidence and records: Understanding proper records management and documentation for trial.

  • Professional testimony: Improving verbal skills and credibility when presenting evidence and testimony in court.