In anticipation of GSX, we sat down with presenters of upcoming sessions in order to get a better understanding of the topics at hand. This week we are featuring, “Large-Scale Evacuations: Tactics, Techniques & Protocols,” presented by Henning Snyman, Security Director, US South Atlantic at International SOS, Jeremy Prout, CPP, APP, Regional Security Director at International SOS, John Rendeiro, Vice President at International SOS, and Julian Moro, Senior Vice President & Regional Security Director, Americas at International SOS. Read on for what they had to say and don’t forget to register for GSX 2022! 

Q: How did you become interested in your topic? 

HS: Every escalation that leads to a large-scale evacuation is unique and presents challenges given country, regional, political, and organizational dynamics. Very few escalations happen overnight and without notice and that is why organizations need to prepare for such events. Managing and coordinating large scale evacuation highlighted a lack of planning and preparation within organizations. The role of the Security Professional during an evacuation are not only reactive to manage the crisis but also leading from the front as the subject matter expert.     

Q: Tell us about your presentation and why should security professionals have this topic on their radar? 

JP: Large scale evacuations are incredibly complex and dynamic operations. To successfully accomplish these operations, Security Professionals need to have the planning and logistical infrastructure in place, prior to culmination of the crisis. The Kabul Airlift and Ukraine-Russia Conflict were two of the larger and more complex evacuation operations in the past few years but they will not be the last. The time to prepare for the next crisis is now. 

Q: What advice you would give security professionals interested in this topic? 

JR: -If you have a provider with extensive experience in conducting evacuations, talk to them about their experiences. Read case studies on evacuations of all types.  No two are the same.  They can be driven by individual circumstance, crime, medical emergencies, natural disasters, political unrest, wars and other causes. Many if not most evacuations involving multiple evacuees will have both security and medical components, so be aware that both will have to be addressed in an effective and coordinated fashion. Be sure to explore what governments can, and cannot, do for you in assisting with an evacuation. Understand the roles of the various stakeholders within your organization in advance of emergencies.  Ensure that your stakeholders are organized and become accustomed to working together as a Crisis Management Team. Have an experienced service provider; work with that provider in advance to ensure that both you and they understand expectations and lastly, attend educational sessions on evacuations at events like GSX.  

Q: How do you see this issue evolving in the next 2-5 years? 

JM: The geo-political risk landscape is trending upwards, exacerbated by the impact of climate change amongst other factors, resulting in increased likelihood of more frequent large-scale evacuations. On the back of Afghanistan and Ukraine, there will be an expectation on leaders that their organization is forward leaning, intelligence led and operationally prepared to support their entire workforce and continue business operations when crises manifest. 

In anticipation of GSX, we sat down with presenters of upcoming sessions in order to get a better understanding of the topics at hand. This week we are featuring, “Remote Work and the New Unintentional Insider Threat,” presented by David Levine, Vice President, Corporate and Information Security and CSO, CISM Ricoh USA, Inc. at Ricoh USA, Inc. Watch his interview with Chuck Harold to learn more about this session and don’t forget to register for GSX 2022!

In anticipation of GSX, we sat down with presenters of upcoming sessions in order to get a better understanding of the topics at hand. This week we are featuring, “Creative and Data-Driven Workplace Violence Prevention Programs: A Comprehensive Model,” presented by Bonnie Michelman, CPP, Executive Director; Police, Security and Outside Services at Mass General Brigham and Lynda Buel, CPP, President & CEO at SRMC, LLC. Read on for what they had to say and don’t forget to register for GSX 2022! 

Q: How did you become interested in your topic? 

BM: I became interested as I have seen an evolution of healthcare violence increasing, spreading, and employing different modalities for several decades.   Trying to combat this trend and mitigate/reduce violence is contingent on strong data analysis and trending for optimal resource deployment.  The criticality of having a comprehensive workplace violence program capturing multiple components is critical 

Q: Tell us about your presentation and why should security professionals have this topic on their radar? 

LB: This presentation will showcase ways to build a diverse, innovative and comprehensive workplace violence/conflict program with sustained leadership and employee engagement.  We will also share a data driven approach for resource deployment and program optimization that will exemplify violence mitigation and prevention. 

Workplace violence remains a real and increasing threat to America’s workforce and the pandemic has only exasperated it.  Everyone has experienced pandemic fatigue and as employees started to return to the workplace this year, it has only compounded the issue.  Employers have not had to deal with the day to day concern of workplace violence like they did prior to the pandemic and as with anything, when numbers decline, so does the awareness level.  According to the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), approximately two million workers are victims of workplace violence every year and this number is increasing. 

Organizations need to ensure that they have the appropriate measures in place to address workplace violence.  A Workplace Violence Prevention Program is extremely important.  Early identification and intervention are the key to success.  Too often leaders within organizations think, it will not happen here but incidents across the globe prove otherwise. 

Q: What advice you would give security professionals interested in this topic? 

BM: Research and benchmark what other organizations are doing, what techniques and activities have been beneficial and what has been less so.  Determining your organization’s appetite for risk is important as is showcasing the fiscal, legal, operational, profitability and reputation impact of a creative and robust program managing workplace conflict and violence. 

Q: How do you see this issue evolving in the next 2-5 years?  

LB: Workplace violence is here to stay.  Historically, the FBI began officially tracking incidents of workplace violence in the 1980’s when there were a rash of postal shootings.  Surprisingly given all the media attention to this topic, many organizations continue to flounder when it comes to developing, implementing, and managing a successful workplace violence prevention program.  The good news is that with the increased focus on the importance of maintaining a safe and healthful workplace that is free from serious recognized hazards (OSHA General Duty Clause) and the recent passage of the Workplace Violence Prevention in Health Care and Social Services Act, organizations will increasingly recognize the value and importance of implementing an effective program.  Therefore, I see programs continuing to evolve for the better to meet the needs of the organization and the requirements of the law. 

In anticipation of GSX, we sat down with presenters of upcoming sessions in order to get a better understanding of the topics at hand. This week we are featuring, “COVID Crimes and Related Investigations,” presented by Karl Perlman, CEO at CIP Corps and Leland Dean, CPP, VP Regional Security Manager at Bank of New York Mellon. Read on for what they had to say and don’t forget to register for GSX 2022! 

Q: How did you become interested in your topic? 

KP: The financial sector and law enforcement agencies reported a significant increase in identity theft, account take overs, SBA loans and PPP, EIDL fraud. Leland and I spoke to several peers in the financial and law enforcement communities and discussed the relationship between COVID and the increased fraud activity. We also discussed the impact of COVID on fraud investigations. 

Q: Tell us about your presentation and why should security professionals have this topic on their radar? 

LD: Ever since COVID hit the USA and money was directed to individuals, families, and businesses… fraudsters consistently find ways to manipulate the system and to gain funds illegally.   We will show you several case studies, discuss different frauds, and how to mitigate.  This presentation will be interesting to Financial Services, Hospitals, Oil & Gas, Entertainment, and most Critical Infrastructures. 

Q: What advice you would give security professionals interested in this topic? 

KP: Take advantage of available resources such as SBA Inspector General, law enforcement, corporate security and anti-fraud departments and private security professionals. Industry Associations such as ASIS International is a great resource for information sharing and educational content. Awareness of the impact of COVID on fraud and security is a great first step. 

Q: How do you see this issue evolving in the next 2-5 years?   

LD: Whereby PPP/PPE, SBA loan, and other related COVID fraud may be reduced, other particular frauds will increase or will resurface.  Such as check fraud, IRS/tax scams, Phishing and its relatives, synthetic ID, and Zelle and related frauds like social media, cryptocurrency, romance and online shopping/HR scams. 

In anticipation of GSX, we sat down with presenters of upcoming sessions in order to get a better understanding of the topics at hand. This week we are featuring, “Leveraging DE&I to Empower Organizational Competitive Advantage,” presented by Robert Baggett, CPP,PSP,PCI, Special Agent-in-Charge, Investigations Liaison and Special Operations Division at USDA Office of Inspector General. Read on for what he had to say and don’t forget to register for GSX 2022! 

Q: Tell us about your presentation and why should security professionals have this topic on their radar? 

A: The ASIS GSX 2022 presentation entitled “Building Great Teams: Leveraging DE&I to Empower Organizational Competitive Advantage” builds upon the seminal article on this topic, which was published in the May 2022 edition of Security Management.  Security and law enforcement professionals, as well as administrators, should truly have this pivotal topic on their radars as the second and third order effects of globalization continue to change the operational environment for public safety and security organizations.  In order to capture a true global competitive advantage, organizations must strive to build great teams using a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I) lens in support of its enterprise personnel actions, i.e., recruitment, hiring, and professional development opportunities.  By bolstering organizational teams through the DE&I framework, these entities can increase a work unit’s level of strategic thinking to better holistically analyze issues due to the team’s increased frames of reference, which has been empowered by the aforementioned framework.  This year’s presentation will delve into the constructs and nuances of applying and leveraging DE&I principles, which will manifest a dynamic interaction between the presenter and participants to share best practices and lessons learned on this noteworthy topic.    

Q: Why do you attend GSX? 

A: GSX continues to be the annual flagship event for security management professionals throughout the world.  GSX not only provides cutting-edge presentations on several paramount topics within the public and private sectors, but it also serves as a venue for attendees to connect with a myriad of vendors within the industry whose products can truly become force multipliers in advancing an organization’s resources, assets, and technological capabilities to achieve mission goals.  Personally, I am a firm believer in the power of networking especially within our particular profession.  As a prior ASIS Council and Community Chair, there is priceless value in attending GSX where I not only connect with colleagues within the public and private sectors, but I also have the opportunity to create new connections with those who share the same shared goal of advancing safety and security programs in the truly dynamic environment that we live in today.  All in all, ASIS International continues to be the “Gold Standard” within the security management profession.  Year-after-year, GSX attendees truly bring added value to their organizations in light of the information shared and provided during these annual events that bring presenters and attendees from across the globe. 

In anticipation of GSX, we sat down with presenters of upcoming sessions in order to get a better understanding of the topics at hand. This week we are featuring, Bias vs. Experience in Physical Risk and Vulnerability Assessments,” presented by Terry Conlon, Commercial and Training Manager at RFC Security Group, Benjamin Crum, PSP, President at Architectural Security Design Group, Joseph Hendry, PSP, Senior Director of On-Site Services at Navigate360, and Drew Neckar, CPP, President at Security Advisors Consulting Group. Read on for what they had to say and don’t forget to register for GSX 2022! 

Q: How did you become interested in your topic? 

BC: Professionally, I have been designing K-12 Schools for over a decade and while physical security has always been an aspect of that, we are really seeing it take more precedence.  My journey began with earning my CPTED Professional Designation.  Those classes had a mix of people with different professions and backgrounds, and I had the opportunity to talk with classmates about their experiences and compare how we approached things.  I noticed that clients would tell us they had a security survey done, but the recommendations would have a negative impact on the overall design or not meet building code requirements, because these reviewers weren’t experienced in architecture or building design.  So I started asking, “how can we design these building elements so they perform better?”  Then, I set out to better understand the different aspects of security design.  I also became active with ASIS International, got my PSP certification, and continued the conversation on how security reviewers backgrounds affect their recommendations.  I want to challenge security professionals to look at their background and see how it can create a bias, while also encouraging them to capitalize on their experience, then to go learn more about the areas they are unfamiliar with. 

Q: Tell us about your presentation and why should security professionals have this topic on their radar? 

DN: Every security program has either threats that they are blind to or potential mitigation solutions that they haven’t considered. Often these are the result of the security leader’s background and the fact that we all gravitate toward what we are most comfortable and familiar with. Maslow’s adage of “if your only tool is a hammer, it is easy to see everything as a nail” often holds true.  Effective examination of security risk and mitigation requires us to step into the unknown and try assessing the problem objectively, setting aside our preconceptions. Security professionals need to be aware enough of our own biases to realize that this time around it may be a screw or a bolt rather than a nail, and while we may be able to make an impact with our hammer, we would be much better off to open up the security “toolbox” and pull out a screwdriver or wrench. Our presentation will highlight times where we have used the wrong “tool” due to our biases or have seen others do so, and our advice and experience on getting past these biases to see and use the full contents of your “toolbox”. 

Q: What advice you would give security professionals interested in this topic? 

JH: I would tell them to open your mind beyond what you think a risk and vulnerability assessment is about. Coming from a military/ law enforcement background I found myself wanting to always approach physical risk assessment from that type of mindset. When I was studying for my PSP and started talking and working with other professionals in the life safety field from NFPA, Insurance Companies, K-12, Health Care, and industry product providers, (and yes, lawyers) I realized my viewpoint was too narrow and was colored with bias from my experiences. I was missing how many of the pieces fit together to form a comprehensive safety and security program. While I was thinking physical items and checking boxes, I was missing the cultural thought processes, plans, and training that make a security program work. I was also missing how some recommendations that may work in a military or law enforcement setting could be dangerous when not examined from a holistic approach. Overcoming my biases also helped me see how to help others overcome theirs when it came to certain problem-solving solutions that I may recommend in a comprehensive risk assessment. It’s about being open to professional development all the time. 

Q: How do you see this issue evolving in the next 2-5 years? 

TC: When we have a deeper understanding of the benefits of the unknown by way of a multi-layered professional collaboration in conjunction with the academic and professional understanding we can further enhance the overall proactive and reactive framework of physical security strategies resulting in far greater success. As we journey through the coming 5 years I envisage a security industry more collaborative, expansive, less myopic and far more open to an amalgamated future of academic and professional integration between multiple stakeholders and industries benefiting the physical security practitioners of the future thus mitigating the historical roadblocks of the passed. 

In anticipation of GSX, we sat down with presenters of upcoming sessions in order to get a better understanding of the topics at hand. This week we are featuring, “Adapting Workplace Violence Strategies to Accommodate a Modern Flexible Workforce,” presented by Deb Andersen, Security Administrator, Physical and Cyber Security at MWI Direct and Robert D. Achenbach, Ed.D, CMAS, CSO and Director, Corporate Security and Safety for First National Bank of Omaha. Read on for what they had to say and don’t forget to register for GSX 2022!  

Q: How did you become interested in your topic? 

DA: Workplace violence strategies have always been a topic of concern. With the rise in incidents across the U.S., planning, training and response remains an area of focus for security professionals. Since the Covid pandemic, the Modern Flexible Workforce strategies began to change the way companies conduct business. We knew at that point, we needed to review our current training and response plans. We used this as an opportunity to adjust our plans to this new environment in order to maintain a safe and secure workplace.   

Q: Tell us about your presentation and why should security professionals have this topic on their radar? 

RA: As businesses embrace the modern flexible workforce, security professionals must reimagine how the workplace violence strategy must adapt to secure assets, data and employees. While many employees are considered, ‘hybrid’, securing the physical property is a challenge when it comes to access control, protective strategies, training and insider risk mitigation.  While most organizations may have had a robust security program in place, many facets of pre-pandemic policies and plans will not transfer over to the current work environment. We will share considerations to think about for identifying and preparing for threats of violence and establishing a proactive approach for securing the new workforce paradigm. Emergency response plans may be challenged due to the volunteered resources that may be working remote in this new climate.   

Q: What advice you would give security professionals interested in this topic? 

DA: Review your current response and recovery plans and ensure your strategy aligns with your new modern flexible workforce initiatives. It is vital to have top-down support and that all people managers embrace your life safety program. Their proprietorship will be instrumental in successful response to incidents. Conduct assessments, continue drills and exercises to build competency with your security teams and those stakeholders who have a role in your response and recovery plan. Stay flexible. 

Q: How do you see this issue evolving in the next 2-5 years? 

RA: The modern flexible workplace is a new concept for many businesses. As companies become more aware of threats and risks associated with their business through ongoing assessments, they should consider adaptive development of their business continuity plans. Likewise, security professionals should ensure they adapt response plans to meet those needs. Continuous dialog with key stakeholders is paramount to address the risk landscape in the future. Thus, implementing a good ESRM strategy for a holistic view of risk will aid in those efforts. 

Emergency preparedness has been center stage this year as disasters of all types continue to strike around the globe. Albert Samano, President of Fortress Inc., and Sue Lombard, CPP, Security and Emergency Preparedness Consultant at Fortress Inc., discuss how emergency preparedness and security programs can integrate to improve a company’s risk profile.

SM Live interviews were conducted by Security Management Editor-in-Chief Teresa Anderson for virtual attendees during each of the three days of the live GSX 2021. SM Live featured interviews with CSOs, industry veterans, innovators, and more—brought to you from the broadcast studio, the learning theatres, and the exhibit hall floor.

John A. Petruzzi, Jr., CPP, President – Mid-Atlantic Region, Allied Universal, and Peter J. O’Neil, FASAE, CAE, Chief Executive Officer, ASIS International sit down for an interview in the studio with SM Live at GSX 2021 to discuss the challenges of the year and the trends ahead for both the security industry and ASIS International.

SM Live interviews were conducted by Security Management Editor-in-Chief Teresa Anderson for virtual attendees during each of the three days of the live show. SM Live featured interviews with CSOs, industry veterans, innovators, and more—brought to you from the broadcast studio, the learning theatres, and the exhibit hall floor.

What are some major trends affecting security professionals now and in the near future? James Weston, Executive Director of the Diplomatic Security Service at OSAC, the Overseas Security Advisory Council, sits down with SM Live to climate change, disinformation, and the challenge of amorphous risk.

SM Live interviews were conducted by Security Management Editor-in-Chief Teresa Anderson for virtual attendees during each of the three days of the live GSX 2021. SM Live featured interviews with CSOs, industry veterans, innovators, and more—brought to you from the broadcast studio, the learning theatres, and the exhibit hall floor.