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ASIS International, the world's largest association for security management professionals, today unveiled the workplace violence focused education sessions that will be featured during its 63rd ASIS International Annual Seminar and Exhibits (ASIS 2017), Sept. 25-28 in Dallas, Texas. With the U.S. Department of Labor reporting that nearly two million American workers report being victims of workplace violence—and that is just in the United States—the ability to identify, prepare for, and respond to the risk of violent incidents is paramount. ASIS 2017 has developed a program to provide best practices and education for organizations small and large. Risk of workplace violence "To demonstrate the serious and escalating nature of workplace violence, an FBI review of active shooter events between 2000 and 2013 found that over 70 percent of these incidents occur in the workplace or in an educational environment," said Eugene Ferraro, CPP, PCI, CEO, ForensicPathways, Inc. and chair of the ASIS Active Assailant: Prevention, Intervention, and Response standard initiative. "ASIS is taking a leading role in developing industry standards to address security design considerations, security protocols and response strategies, as well as the procedures for detecting, assessing, managing, and neutralising assailants. The sessions at ASIS 2017 will help any size organisation analyse its current risk positioning, and establish or enhance their workplace violence response plans." "ASIS is taking a leading role in developing industry standards to address security design considerations, security protocols and response strategies" Preparing for workplace violence A selection of the ASIS 2017 sessions open to the media that focus on helping businesses, schools, and community centers prepare for workplace violence incidents include: Corporate Security Can Prevent Domestic Violence Attacks, presented by Lynn Fairweather, President, Presage Consulting and Training, LLC Defusing Hostile People, presented by Bruce Blythe, Chairman/Crisis Management Consultant, R3 Continuum Emergency Response by Retailers in Active Shooter Incidents, presented by Alan Greggo, CPP, Regional Asset Protection Manager, Microsoft Corporation Strategies for Violent Predator Mitigation, Parts 1 and 2, presented by W. Douglas Fitzgerald, CPP, President and CEO, Fitzgerald Technology Group; Kathleen Kiernan, CEO, Kiernan Group Holdings; Michael Rehfeld, Vice President, Realistic Training Solutions, LLC; and Joseph Robinson, CPP, Senior Vice President, Fitzgerald Technology Group Workplace Bullying: Time to Grab the Problem By the Horns, presented by George Vergolias, Associate Medical Director, R3 Continuum; and Oscar Villanueva, Chief Operating Officer, TAL Global Applying Behavioral Analysis to Soft Targets, Parts 1 and 2, presented by William Martin, Principal Consultant and Trainer, Advanced Security Protection Conducting a Safe Employee Termination, presented by Jeffrey Sweetin, CPP, Executive Vice President of Operations, Athos Group Dealing with active shooter incidents Additionally, ASIS 2017 is offering a special programme on Wednesday as part of its Security Cares initiative focused on active shooter/assailant response featuring Dallas Sheriff Lupe Valdez. The first panel will cover the unique risks facing small/medium-sized businesses and community and cultural institutions and steps these organisations can take now to both prepare for, and respond to, an active shooter/assailant incident. Insights will spotlight the importance of a crisis management plan and the various free resources available through local law enforcement and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The full panel lineup of speakers includes: "ASIS is committed to helping organisations of all sizes provide safe work environments for employees and the public at large" Kevin Doss, CPP, PSP, author Active Shooter: Preparing for and Responding to a Global Threat Michael Dailey, Chief, Outreach Programs Branch, U.S. Department of Homeland Security Infrastructure Protection, Region VI Paula Ratliff, author Crime Prevention for Houses of Worship Paul Timm, PSP, author School Security: How to Build and Strengthen a School Safety Program and president, RETA Security Sheriff Lupe Valdez, Dallas County Sheriff's Department Prevention and emergency response plans Wednesday's second session, "Preventing Violence: Developing and Testing Your Readiness Plans," focuses on having effective prevention and emergency response plans in place and includes peer-to-peer collaboration in an immersive, simulated scenario focused on testing protocols to surface vulnerabilities. "ASIS is committed to helping organisations of all sizes provide safe work environments for employees and the public at large," said Peter J. O'Neil, Executive Vice President and CEO of ASIS International. "The breadth and depth of our program this year to address this issue is second to none. Our educational lineup combined with leading solution vendors on the show floor will give business, human resources, and community leaders the information and tools they need to educate and protect their workforce."

The ASIS event will bring together local businesses, schools, hospitals & community leaders to discuss security preparedness ASIS International (ASIS), the world’s largest association for security management professionals, announced the launch of Security Week, a series of community preparedness and educational events that will be held in conjunction with the organisation’s 62nd Annual Seminar and Exhibits (ASIS 2016). Nearly 20,000 security professionals from across the globe are expected to attend ASIS 2016, which is being held Sept. 12-15, at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando. Response to attacks Security Week, supported by the Department of Homeland Security Office of Infrastructure Protection, was developed in response to the violent attacks being carried out where citizens work, play and assemble around the world. It is designed to educate small business owners, community leaders and other organisations that have not considered themselves targets about the importance of security and preparedness in today’s evolving threat environment. The initiative will be a valuable component of the annual ASIS seminar moving forward, providing host communities with expertise on emergency planning, safety, and security. "DHS recognises that communities are the first line of defence when it comes to keeping the public safe and secure. Security Week aligns with our work to ensure the security and resilience of our critical infrastructure and our way of life,” said Caitlin Durkovich, DHS, Assistant Secretary for Infrastructure Protection. "Recent events across the world illustrate the need to protect against these threats and mitigate the consequences. ASIS is taking a significant step in helping educate communities on possible threats and ways that organisations can takes steps to better prepare for emergencies. We are pleased to be a part of this discussion.” "ASIS is taking a significant stepin helping educate communitieson possible threats and ways thatorganisations can takes steps tobetter prepare for emergencies" “Security Week was created to help prevent the violent attacks being carried out in places where people seek to go about their lives in a peaceful manner,” said Peter O’Neil, CEO, ASIS International. “ASIS International brings together thousands of security management leaders and experts, and now we look to extend this expertise to our seminar host cities to ensure these communities are stronger and more resilient.” Preparedness and prevention community seminar Security Week kicks off with a free Preparedness and Prevention Seminar at 2 p.m., on Sunday, September 11, 2016, at the Hyatt Regency Orlando. Local businesses and institutions, including houses of worship, hospitals, schools, retailers and restaurants, community leaders, law enforcement and first responders are invited to learn how to build preparedness plans, harden soft targets, and work with law enforcement and first responders. Kevin Doss, CPP, PSP, CEO of Level 4 Security, and author of Active Shooter: Preparing for and Responding to a Growing Threat, will moderate the event, which will feature speakers discussing the fundamentals of proper safety planning and risk assessment. Doss has more than 26 years of experience providing protective services in high-risk environments and currently serves as a consultant with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Naval Special Warfare Development Group, and other state and federal agencies. He is a subject matter expert on active shooters and workplace violence. Dr. Jennifer Hesterman, author of Soft Target Hardening: Protecting People From Attack, will outline strategies for addressing preparedness. Hesterman is a retired Colonel in the U.S. Air Force and is one of the few analysts specialising in the terror-crime nexus. She designs courses for federal law enforcement and security organisations, and is a senior fellow at the Center for Cyber and Homeland Security at George Washington University. "Security Week creates a holistic approach to community actionand preparedness, and will leave our host seminar communities,as safer, more prepared environments"             “Today’s threat landscape is constantly changing, and cities face risks to the safety and security of citizens every day,” Dr. Hesterman said. “Security Week aims to provide businesses and communities with a high-level view of the tools needed to prepare for possible threats, identify risks and think critically about ways to protect the public. I commend ASIS for their drive to create this initiative, and I am excited to offer insight into these efforts.” Paul Timm, PSP, President of RETA Security, and author of School Security: How to Build and Strengthen a School Safety Program, will provide insight on challenges facing educational institutions and community organisations. A nationally recognised school security expert, Timm has more than 17 years of security consulting experience and has received the Regional Certification Award from ASIS International four times. Additional activities Attendees on Sunday will receive passes to attend free educational seminars presented in the exhibit hall, September 12-14, during the Annual Seminar. Topics include active shooter response, fundamentals of a risk assessment, protecting soft targets and security guard service standards. On Wednesday, September 14, law enforcement, first responders and military personnel are invited to experience the full scope of the annual seminar at no cost. The comprehensive line-up of education programmes, demonstrations, and events enables individuals to learn about future opportunities in private industry, educate themselves on enterprise security and cyber best practices, and hear lessons learned from seasoned professionals. Security Week wraps up on Thursday with recognition of the winner of the 2016 ASIS Foundation School Security Funding Competition. This year’s honouree, Lake Brantley High School, received a $20,000 donation for security upgrades. There will be a media event at the school on Sept. 9, 2016, and the principal will be recognised at the ASIS 2016 closing lunch on September 15. “Everyone deserves a safe place to work, live and play," said David C. Davis, CPP, President, ASIS International. "Security Week creates a holistic approach to community action and preparedness, and will leave our host seminar communities, as safer, more prepared environments."

The 62nd ASIS International Seminar and Exhibits will run from September 12 to September 15 in Orlando, Florida. ASIS estimates that the Seminar may attract more than 20,000 security professionals to the Orlando Convention Center, where the event is being held. Giving back to the host community The Seminar always has a major economic effect on the host community. This year, ASIS will inaugurate a programme called Security Week, which is designed to give something back to the Seminar’s host city in exchange for its hospitality. “This is our first Security Week,” says Peter O’Neil, CEO of ASIS. “We were originally planning to inaugurate Security Week next year, but the tragedy at the Pulse nightclub led us to do it this year in Orlando.” “A shooter killed 49 people and wounded 53 others at the Pulse nightclub back in June,” says Michael Gips, chief global knowledge and learning officer for ASIS. “The Orlando segment of the programme will start on Sunday with a two-hour presentation for Orlando community members at the local Hyatt Regency hotel.” "We were originally planning to inaugurate Security Week next year, but the tragedy at the Pulse nightclub led us to do it this year in Orlando" “The programme will include an essay competition in which we award $20,000 to a school,” says Gips. “The essay topic is why your school needs security upgrades, what those upgrades are and what benefits the upgrades will provide. The award will help pay for the upgrades." Seminars and presentations Over the course of the week, ASIS will hold a series of seminars for local business and organisations to better prepare for current physical security threats. The Sunday presentation will feature a moderator and three speakers. It will be open to members of all local community organisations, including schools, law enforcement, the fire department and community organisations and businesses. “These are people and groups that don’t consider themselves targets of violence and so have never developed sophisticated security programmes,” Gips says. Kevin Doss, CHP, CEO of Level 4 Security — a security and training firm — will serve as moderator. He is the author of the book “Active Shooter: Preparing for and Responding to a Growing Threat.” Speakers will include Marty J. Smith, the protective security advisor for Eastern and Central Florida, DHS District 5; U.S. Air Force retired Air Force Col. Jennifer L. Hesterman, author of “Soft Target Hardening: Protecting People from Attack;” and Paul Timm, PSP, president of RETA Security and author of “School Security: How to Build and Strengthen a School Safety Programme.” The importance of security was highlighted when a shooter killed 49 people and wounded 53 others at the Pulse nightclub in June (Image credit: Neville Elder / Shutterstock.com) Building an effective plan for preparedness They will discuss how to build an effective plan for preparedness, hardening soft targets, fundamentals of proper safety and security planning and how to work effectively with local law enforcement. According to Gips, ASIS will invite members of the military, first responders and law enforcement professionals to attend the seminar free of charge. “Everyone that attends our Sunday programme will receive a free pass to the show floor from Monday through Wednesday,” he says. “They can take in the exhibits and attend the educational sessions on a wide variety of subjects,” continues Gips. “It will be an opportunity to learn about meeting security challenges by learning about security technology and talking with security professionals.” Gips adds that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has signed on as a supporting partner for the Sunday event. Why? “As Assistant Secretary of DHS Caitlin Durkovich says, ‘Communities are the first line of defence,’” explains Gips. All told, the inaugural ASIS Security Week will aim to impart information about best practices to the local community in an effort to enable Orland to build this first line of defence. Save Save Save Save

A comprehensive security assessment will tell how to plan and manage security in the facility A comprehensive security assessment will tell you how to plan and manage security in your facility. Without an assessment, you can only guess about security. For facilities with existing security programs, an assessment can also reveal whether the pieces of the system are working as they should. As a security director, can you do the assessment yourself? Sure, although a large school of thought favours “fresh eyes,” a third party that can form an objective opinion. An objective third party assessment can cost thousands of dollars, and if you do it every year, as recommended, it could be prohibitively expensive. “If you outsource assessments, use the same consultant every year,” says Kevin Doss, a principal with Wormleysburg, Pa.-based Level 4 Security. “The first will be expensive, but the annual update will cost less because your consultant already knows the facility and its security status.” How to find a qualified consultant? How do you find a qualified consultant? “The number one key is years of experience with assessments,” Doss says. “Education is second, especially ASIS training and certifications. When you earn a certification like CPP — Certified Protection Professional — you need a minimum of 60 continuing educational units every three years to maintain it. “Each ASIS certification has continuing education requirements that keep certified security people focused staying up to date.” Security assessment formal process Investigate crime in surrounding areas The formal process begins with a risk assessment that investigates crime in the area surrounding the facility. According to Doss, most police departments will provide some information, but they will often fail to reveal sensitive information that might affect an ongoing investigation. To get around that, Doss suggests talking to someone with local knowledge, perhaps a retired FBI agent living in the area. If the facility has an existing security program, security incident reports should be part of the crime analysis. With a risk assessment in hand, Doss inspects the facility, looking for risk-related vulnerabilities. “The first will be expensive, but the annual update will cost less because your consultant already knows the facility and its security status" Doss begins his inspections beyond the outer perimeter with the neighbors. “Years ago, I saw people protesting around the Sunoco building in Philadelphia,” he says. “I assumed they were protesting Sunoco. When I asked, however, I learned that they were protesting a nearby investment firm for investing in a company that conducted research on animals. “That taught me to find out who the neighbors are and to consider what threats they might bring to the facility.” Doss checks the perimeter and works back to the core of the facility, paying particular attention to critical assets. “What will stop the company from doing business?” he asks. “It could be intellectual property like the secret formula for a soft drink. It could also be a manufacturing plant and supply chain. We address these critical assets first. Then come the secondary assets.” Consider natural threats Doss also considers natural threats. What happens when the basement floods? Some companies keep their generators in the basement where flooding would disable them. Consider insider threats Doss also looks into insider threats. How easy is it for employees to steal products or information? He evaluates the technology, too. Do the video cameras see what they are supposed to monitor? Do they see at night? Does the access control system alarm when a door is propped open? Annual assessments and update Where are companies the weakest when it comes to security assessments? “The biggest mistake I see is failing to update the plan,” Doss says. “They do an assessment and develop a security plan. But they don’t do annual assessments and update the plan. You should assess annually or when conditions change. A new tenant in a high rise, for instance, could completely alter a building’s security needs.”