Shirley Pierini has spent more than 35 years in various ranks of the corporate security industry. She is a Certified Protection Professional and is a Professional Certified Investigator. She is currently the Chief Security Officer for Jackson Family Enterprises, makers of Kendall Jackson wines, in Santa Rosa, California. As a past president and board chairman for ASIS International, Ms. Pierini has gained a unique perspective and ability to represent the security industry as a whole. She has provided expert testimony in court cases and professional commentary for television news agencies.

Q: Your experience includes providing security here and abroad. Can you tell us some major differences in security between the U.S. and other nations?
One of the major differences in security management between the U.S. and other nations is compliance with laws. For example, in the U.S. we follow federal, state and local mandates (laws) and we are familiar with resources for guidelines. In other countries, one must have a close professional relationship in order to learn and know the regulations and mandates. It is many times difficult to know if all regulations have been met or even addressed.

Q: In your experience, what do most contract security providers just "not get" about what major companies are seeking from their security program?
Most contract security providers truly believe that Security Directors don't fully understand their needs for security. I have actually had the owner of a contract security company tell me that, as a Chief Security Officer, I don't know the needs of security for my company. The sales people are not good at listening to the clients.

Q: How does your professional job impact your actions in your personal life? On the flip side, how does your personal life impact the work you do?
My law enforcement and private sector security management makes me more aware of my surroundings and the safety and security of my personal environment. Both my husband and I come from law enforcement and security backgrounds so security management is a lifestyle for me at home and at work.

Q: As a uniform and equipment provider, Unitex Direct goes to great lengths to provide its customers with the tangible needs for security officers. In your opinion, what else should a contract security company be providing its officers?
Motivation and ownership to engage in the environment of the client. An officer who "owns" the uniform and performs a friendly but professional demeanor every day to protect the assets of any client will sell the business for the security company.

Q: In your experience in the security business, what is a major shift you have noticed in how independent security is performed or provided?
Independent security has become more professional through training, recognition of officers doing a good job, and management after a contract is sold, vs. "sell the contract and hope it works well."

Q: What components do you consider when creating a security plan that others may not realize are part of the big picture?
My method of creating a security plan is to involve as much senior management within a company as possible. As a CSO, I meet regularly with new and existing senior management to benchmark the success of asset protection through physical security, investigative services, background checking, and other Supply Chain Security methods to ensure security is viewed as a value-added within the corporation.

Some of the topics to be covered include:
• What Security Managers Expect from Contractors
• How to make your website work for you, not against you
• The effects of legislation and unions
• Making your organization more efficient
• Best results in the sale of your guard agency
To reserve a spot at this seminar: please fill out the online registration form or call TEAM Software at 1-800-500-4499. For more info click here to download a PDF of the event flyer.

Controlling Chaos in a Chaotic World... a one-day IAHSS Seminar
The IAHSS-Great Lakes Chapter has finalized the program for our 2009 Fall Conference at the Bavarian Inn in Frankenmuth, MI on Friday, October 16. The event is titled "Controlling Chaos in a Chaotic World" and we have invited great speakers with topics of interest to us all. Attendees will surely obtain vital information to help improve our ability to prepare for and respond to emergency events that may occur. Please review the attached seminar flyer for more information on speakers and topics, registration fees, and room rates.

We have also invited guest speakers that I'm sure will provide us with valuable information on the status of Safety and Security. Evelyn Meserve, CHPA, Executive Director of IAHSS will be giving an update on our organization and Mike Cummings, President of ASIS International and a Senior Member of IAHSS will talk about the challenges of Healthcare Security as it pertains to IAHSS and ASIS.

Kevin H. Robinson, CHPA
Manager, Police Authority
Henry Ford Health System

For More Information Contact Kevin Robinson at Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit


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A visit to the Martin Luther King Historical Site

Our family visited the Martin Luther King Historical Site in Atlanta on October 9 and toured his childhood home with the National Park Service. It was inspirational. We learned that in 1964, Dr. King became the youngest African American ever to earn the Nobel Peace Prize. While visiting at the site, on the day of President Obama's nomination for the same prize, I was interviewed on CNN and asked by the reporter what I thought about President Obama receiving this award. I congratulated the President on the honor that he had brought to America and to himself.

CALSAGA Executive Director Jeff Flint moderated a panel discussion titled, "Partnerships for Standards and Excellence in Private Security," which shed some light on how a unique partnership between industry, its regulatory agency and a state legislator was forged and brought about training and background screening standards for both contract and proprietary employers and security officers that has made California a leader in the security industry.

Jeff Flint (at podium) introduced guest panelists (from left) Connie Trujillo, Acting Chief of the Bureau of Security & Investigative Services (BSIS); Tony Sabatino, Region President for Securitas Security Services for Southern California and Hawaii; Kelly Jensen, CALSAGA Lobbyist; Senator Abel Maldonado (R-Santa Maria).

The discussion revealed some interesting perspectives on how CALSAGA was transformed from a relatively unknown entity in the Capitol to becoming a serious player in Sacramento and the clearly recognized voice of the industry, how representatives from CALSAGA led an effort to unite the entire industry and build a partnership with its regulatory body, and how a legislator who didn't previously have a background or interest in security become a champion for the industry. The purpose of the panel was to serve as a model for other states who seek to increase standards.

The NASCO Private Security Breakfast was an overwhelming success, due in part to the large contingent of CALSAGA members who attended the meeting. It was the first in a series of events that NASCO will be hosting to create collaboration opportunities between the national association and statewide associations to share ideas, in an effort to improve the professionalism of the security industry.

Unitex Direct also a NASCO Private Security Breakfast Participant

Unitex Direct participated in the Calsaga/Nasco breakfast with our guests, Aegis Security of Florida and Whelan Security headquartered in St. Louis with a new California office.  Unitex Direct supports the state and national efforts to professionalize the industry and supports NASCO, CALSAGA, the Florida Association of Security Guard Companies (FASCO) and Michigan Contract Security Association (MCSA) among others.


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