​VOLUNTEERS PLAN FOR THE FUTURE

More than 250 ASIS International volunteer leaders from across the globe gathered in Arlington, Virginia, for the January leadership meetings and strategic planning workshop. The program launched with member awards, followed by an organizational update from CEO Peter J. O’Neil, CAE. He explained the changes taking place to better align staff and technology investments with organizational priorities. 

The workshop component of the program opened with a discussion on the Society’s new strategic plan. Attendees broke into working groups to provide input on aligning their volunteer areas of work with the new plan. Many innovative ideas emerged and results are being used by ASIS staff and the Board of Directors to shape deliverables and metrics. At the end of the day, attendees and HQ staff came together for fun-filled, sports pub-themed networking. 

“The opportunity to collaborate with ASIS staff and the Board of Directors, have concerns heard, and be involved in developing solutions for change was an unparalleled volunteer leadership experience that was on point, transparent, and highly appreciated,” said Senior Regional Vice President Jeffrey A. Slotnick, CPP, PSP. “The Sports Night was a terrific end to a full day of camaraderie and information sharing.”

Day two included the annual business meeting address to the membership from ASIS President Thomas J. Langer, CPP, who noted that the past two years have been “the stage setting and execution years for the Society’s refreshed direction.” He recapped past-year milestones, citing new leadership at headquarters, a renewed focus on member value, new strategic priorities (including ESRM and comprehensive mobile access to Society programs and services), and increased global growth and inclusion so all members can reap the full rewards of their membership. He noted that the board has addressed many tough realities—both financial and structural—and is fully aligned with the Society’s path forward. “In 2017, expect to see positive changes in member engagement, website design and experience, educational offerings and learning formats, and more responsiveness to chapters, councils, and regions.” Go to www.asisonline.org/volunteer to listen to Langer’s full address.

The program wrapped up with the Society’s first town hall of 2017, an interactive Q&A between volunteer leaders, board members, and ASIS executive leadership. The positive response from this exchange continued with the launch of bimonthly virtual town halls beginning in March. Share your thoughts on the Society’s new direction via email to [email protected].

ASIS 2017: WHAT’S NEW? 

Get ready to experience the best in security networking, education, and technology. The ASIS International 63rd Annual Seminar and Exhibits (ASIS 2017) is coming to Dallas, Texas, September 25–28.

The finest global security event in the industry is getting better. Some events will be expanded and new ones will be launched. The calendar is shifting some popular activities to new times. These changes will lay the foundation for what is sure to remain an outstanding event for years to come. 

Some of what’s new for 2017 includes:

New hours for exhibits. Expo days will shift from the traditional Monday through Wednesday schedule to Tuesday through Thursday, creating more noncompeting hours so attendees can maximize their educational and networking experiences. Tuesday and Wednesday, the exhibit hall will be open from 10:00 am to 5:30 pm; Thursday’s hours are 10:00 am to 1:00 pm.

Opening night celebration. Join peers and colleagues from around the globe and across the profession to kick off ASIS 2017 on Sunday, September 24, with a big Texas welcome. Mechanical bull riding, armadillo races, good food, live music...you’ll find it all at the ASIS 2017 Opening Night Celebration. This event, which will be held from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm, was formerly known as the Welcome Reception.

ASIS Happy Hour. Connect with peers and clients on Tuesday, September 26, from 4:30 pm to 5:30 pm. This gathering, which will be held in the exhibit hall, is designed to help you learn more about a wide range of security solutions and innovations.  

President’s Reception. This event is moving from Monday night to Wednesday night. It is always one of the most anticipated events at Seminar—and this year will be no different! Be sure to stay in town for this one-of-a-kind experience.

New educational offerings. Watch for new learning formats, plus more education on the exhibit hall floor. Visit www.securityexpo.org for the latest announcements and updates. Use #ASIS17 on Facebook and Twitter to connect with ASIS show management staff, exhibitors, and fellow attendees. 

NEW CHAIR OF THE S&G COMMISSION

For the first time in a decade, the ASIS International Standards and Guidelines (S&G) Commission has a new chairman. Michael Knoke, CPP, takes on the role vacated by F. Mark Geraci, CPP, at the start of 2017. Serving alongside Knoke is Vice Chair Bernard Greenawalt, CPP. The Commission has a full plate in the year ahead, including the upcoming release of the Security and Resilience in Organizations and their Supply Chain Standard. In addition, work is well underway on a joint ASIS/(ISC)2/ISACA Security Awareness Standard and a Private Security Officer Selection and Training Standard. Keep current on S&G news and activities at www.asisonline.org/standards. 

CSO SUMMIT

Nearly 75 senior security executives from across the globe are expected to attend the 10th Annual CSO Summit April 23–25 at the Ritz Carlton at Pentagon City in Arlington, Virginia. The high-level program features sessions on cyber risk, community stakeholder engagement, and metrics for the C-suite. Attendees will also get a behind-the-scenes tour of the U.S. Capitol and gain insights on public-private partnerships from event keynoter John Walsh, who created the television program America’s Most Wanted and now anchors The Hunt with John Walsh on CNN. Summit updates can be found on the CSO Center website, www.cso.asisonline.org.

MEMBER BOOK REVIEW

Managing Critical Incidents and Large-Scale Event Security. By Eloy Nuñez and Ernest G. Vendrell. Published by CRC Press; 314 pages, $89.95. 

Examining case studies and after-action reports for valuable lessons, Managing Critical Incidents and Large-Scale Event Security provides a timely resource for understanding effective critical incident management. Effectively conveying their knowledge and experience, the authors use vignettes to provide real-world examples of hurricane response planning and recovery; planning and post-action events for several Super Bowls; and responses to various riots and other incidents from the 1980s to 2015. While walking the reader through known and familiar concepts and practices, Nuñez and Vendrell deliver a fresh perspective on successful critical incident management, explaining how to attain fiscal resources for planning, exercising, executing, and recovering from security events.

The authors challenge Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) precepts of four phases of critical incident management. Advocating for a three-phase model, Nuñez and Vendrell suggest that mitigation is intrinsic throughout all stages and therefore is not a phase in and of itself. Throughout the text, the authors advocate for mitigation during the preparedness, response, and recovery phases of critical incident management.  

Written with the critical incident manager in mind, the book delivers sound advice, providing readers with several checklists for effective training and management of such events. Managing Critical Incidents is ideal as a go-to reference for incident managers, as well as a valuable textbook for instructing future practitioners.  

Reviewer: Dr. Will Morrison, CPP, is a security management professional with more than 35 years of service in the U.S. federal government that includes work in national and homeland security. He has been a member of ASIS International since 2004.

LIFETIME MEMBERS

The ASIS Board of Directors granted life membership to the following individuals:

• Ira M. Weiss, CPP

• Thomas M. Seamon, CPP

• Brian N. Goldsworthy, CPP

• Robert C. Anderton, CPP

• Richard F. Williams, CPP

Lifetime Certificants

Congratulations to the following security professionals who have achieved lifetime certification status:

• James V. Clarke, CPP

• John W. Collins, Jr., CPP

• Harold F. Crawford, CPP

• Daniel R. Devine, CPP

• Richard C. Hofmann, CPP

• Lester E. McFarland, CPP

• Margaret Nix, CPP

• Michael J. Pepe, CPP

• Robert W. Riley, CPP

• Fergus P. Ross, CPP

• Dennis J. Urban, CPP

• Jose Luis Zepeda, CPP ​