Drones are an emerging threat that can disrupt business operations and pose risks to employee safety. With the evolution of technology, there has been an uptick in bad actors using drones and other unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) with malicious intent.  In this conversation, Ryan Wallace, Associate Professor of Aeronautical Science at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, discusses the threat implications of drones for businesses, highlighting their capabilities, the emerging threats they...

Scaling safety and security is a daunting task for any organization, especially if your enterprise is a global brand with many moving parts. Today’s guest, Luis Duran, brings over twenty years of experience as a naval officer, NCIS Special Agent, and corporate security leader to his current role as Director of Corporate Safety and Security at TaylorMade Golf. Luis shares his expert insights on risk management and provides a behind-the-scenes look at TaylorMade’s global operations, including...

Automation and generative AI can streamline workflows and improve efficiency for corporate intelligence and security functions, especially when it comes to processing large data sets. But AI should be seen as a tool to enhance human capabilities, not replace them.  Matt Kish is the Head of Situation and Intelligence Analysis – Corporate Security at Siemens, a global technology conglomerate headquartered in Munich, Germany. In this episode, Matt explains how his team built and developed an AI...

With the 2024 U.S. election rapidly approaching, organizations should prepare their people and business for potential disruptions, from heightened security and demonstration activity to disinformation campaigns and personnel disputes.  Sara Pratley, SVP of Global Intelligence at AlertMedia, spends countless hours briefing customers and stakeholders on what to expect before, during, and after election day. In this episode, Sara provides valuable insights on the top three election-related...

Whether your Business Continuity Plan (BCP) is inherited or created from scratch, it must be practical, efficient, and up to date—not put on the shelf to be ignored. In this episode, Barry Morgeson, Business Continuity Director at Ryan Specialty, draws on his two decades of experience to offer actionable insights and recommendations for crafting a Business Continuity Plan that achieves ROI across the business. Listen in to learn:  Why you should prioritize revenue-generating business...

No organization wants to be unprepared for a crisis, but many internal and external obstacles can hinder its ability to manage and respond effectively. If these challenges are not identified and addressed in advance, companies risk damaging their brand and unintentionally conveying the wrong message in an emergency scenario. In today's episode, we're joined by Melissa Agnes, Founder and CEO of Crisis Ready Institute, an organization dedicated to enhancing crisis resilience through training...

Physical security teams will always be a critical component of organizational risk management, no matter how many technological advances come along.  According to today’s guest, the key to developing a successful and scalable physical security program is having the right balance of staff, technology, and external relationships.  Chad Bosques is Head of Physical Security at Chime, the online banking and money management platform. In today’s episode, Chad shares his advice on managing physical...

Healthcare organizations don't have the option to temporarily pause operations when a crisis occurs. They must maintain, and often increase, their capacity to handle emergencies at a moment’s notice. In this episode, Jarrid Pike, Director of Emergency Management and Preparedness at UMass Memorial Medical Center, discusses how he and his staff rely on constant communication and inclusive training exercises to stay prepared for any situation. Listen in to learn:  How to adapt crisis response...

In a time of “permacrisis,” the complexity of navigating modern threats, from climate change to misinformation campaigns, highlights the necessity of building strong partnerships cross-functionally. In this episode, Mary Hackman, Senior Director of Global Intelligence at Visa, shares best practices in global security and intelligence from her two decades of experience in both the public and private sectors. Listen in to learn:  How to maintain a high level of engagement with executives while...

The 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris begin July 26, and ensuring safety for athletes and visitors at the world’s largest multi-sport event is no small feat. Today’s guest, Scott Kim, is the Director of the Office of Protection at the Diplomatic Security Service, the agency that helps protect Team U.S.A. during the Olympic Games. Listen in to learn:  The unique challenges of securing the OlympicsThe importance of rapid communication across languagesAdvice for companies on how to keep their...

Artificial Intelligence is here—and it’s here to stay. But when it comes to safeguarding employees, do the benefits of AI outweigh the risks? Guest host Sara Pratley sits down with Dean Baratta, Group Regional Security Manager at Microsoft, to discuss how AI and large language models can impact the intelligence and security functions at organizations today. Listen as Dean shares his advice on: How organizations can leverage the benefits of AI while staying vigilant against its risksThree...

Bob Smith has more than twenty years of experience in emergency management and communication roles in both the public and private sectors. He currently serves as Director of Service Assurance and Compliance at GCI Communication Corporation, the largest telecommunications carrier for the state of Alaska  Working on large-scale events, including the Olympics, the World Cup, and the Super Bowl, Bob developed safety exercises for global teams coordinating across cultural barriers, led engaging...

On January 2, 2023, Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin collapsed on the field during a road game in Cincinnati.   The Bills’ Associate Head Athletic Trainer Denny Kellington quickly determined that Hamlin was experiencing cardiac arrest and worked with an expert team of medical professionals to perform CPR and restore Hamlin’s heartbeat. Hamlin has since made a full recovery.     In this episode, Denny shares the details of his team’s emergency action plan and how proper preparation and rapid...

Hurricane season officially begins June 1, and Colorado State University has predicted a historically active season for 2024.   Patrick Forand is a certified incident commander and FEMA instructor and was a contract manager at the Florida Department of Health for more than 16 years. He currently leads emergency management, disaster planning, and response for CAN Community Health.   In this episode, Patrick shares valuable lessons learned from two recent Florida hurricanes—Ian and...

In today's intensifying threat landscape, organizations must go beyond a check-the-box approach to achieve positive safety outcomes.   For Andrew Dingee, pilot, safety expert, and author of Delivering the Right Stuff, an effective safety culture is achieved through a systems approach—that catches human error while preventing blame. In this episode, Andrew shares how to:  Optimize checklists for busy workloads Apply Thinking, Fast and Slow concepts to achieve safe workflows Streamline incident...

April is Workplace Violence Prevention Month, an important reminder for organizations to pause and analyze their readiness for workplace violence prevention and response.  Bryan Strawser is an expert in helping organizations uplevel their workplace violence prevention programs and adapt to stay resilient in the future. His consultancy, Bryghtpath, helps companies improve their corporate security, intelligence gathering, business continuity, and crisis management efforts.   In this episode,...

Tornadoes can damage or destroy anything in their path in seconds, leaving lasting impacts. With climate change driving tornado outbreaks year-round, organizations must continually review and update their preparedness and recovery plans.  Warning Coordination Meteorologist Jennifer Dunn and her team at the National Weather Service combine forces with storm spotters and on-the-ground reporting to ensure everyone in a storm's path receives life-saving information as quickly as possible.  Listen...

Throughout his 30+ year career, Bart Brown has led teams of hundreds, securing both the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad and critical national infrastructure.  In his current role as Vice President and Chief Security Officer at Frontier Communications, the keys to creating an effective security organization are adaptability, scalability, and automation.  Listen in to learn:   Which processes to outsource versus keep in-house How to lead the change from manual SOPs to automation The importance of...

In the two years since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, global supply chain disruptions, ballooning inflation, and unpredictable risks to employee safety have left organizations scrambling to adapt.  Today, as several global conflicts rage on with no end in sight, a new era of misinformation challenges resilience leaders to rise to a new level of vigilance—one that requires human-gathered and human-vetted intelligence—to succeed.  AlertMedia’s Senior Vice President of Global Intelligence, Sara...

There's nothing like an NFL game day. With 50,000+ people pouring into FedExField, the Washington Commanders rely on the elite coordination and collaboration of Director of Security & Transportation, Matthew Van Norton, to keep fans and staff safe.  By partnering with vendors, federal, state, and local officials, and the league itself, Matthew and his team ensure a secure and memorable experience for all.   Matthew joined the show to discuss:  How his team complies with the NFL’s best...

As a remote-first organization with cloud-based headquarters, Zillow maintains its resilience with a 24/7 approach to business continuity and crisis management. Business Resiliency Manager Ryan Williams and his team of two rely on modern tools and technology to ensure any incident – from an app outage to an active threat – gets an immediate and effective response.   Listen in to learn:  How a small team can achieve and maintain organizational resilience The importance of robust threat...

From natural disasters to the advancement of AI, 2023 saw various disruptive events that impacted business leaders' approach to employee safety, security, and business continuity. As we move further into 2024, trendlines indicate that the global threat landscape will continue to intensify.  Sara Pratley, Senior Vice President of Global Intelligence at AlertMedia, joins the show to help us understand the top threats facing organizations this year and provide expert advice on how to navigate...

Many companies view their corporate security function as a cost center—and miss out on the untapped potential of a robust security culture. In this episode, Wendy Bashnan, Director of Security and Fire Protection at Scout Motors, unpacks insights from her 30-year career—from government security at the U.S. Department of State, NATO, and the Diplomatic Security Service to the private sector as Chief Security Officer at Nielsen.  Listen to learn how to:    Engage with the business and get...

John Liuzzi built the business continuity program for Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits from the ground up.   As the world’s largest wine and spirits distributor, Southern Glazer’s complex global supply chain makes managing situational intelligence 24/7 an impressive feat. In this episode, John unpacks the keys to a successful business continuity program, including how to:  Become a strategic business partner to the organization Win executive support for your program Nurture internal and...