ASIS INTERNATIONAL HOUSTON CHAPTER

MEETING MINUTES: AUGUST 25, 2004

The luncheon meeting was held at AIG American General, Riviana Building. Chapter Chairman Mike Crocker CPP presided. 80 members and guests attended.

Opening prayer and Pledge: Lewis Eakins

Committee Activities:

Newsletter: Tom Hamilton CPP: Articles for the next newsletter are due by 9/3. We actually have an overage in the newsletter budget, which was part of the original plan. We will be starting a scholarship program for the Police Academy program at North Harris County College.

Treasurer: the report was distributed.

Certifications:

CPP: Mark Caldwell, AIG, just received his CPP. The next class is scheduled to start around October 5^th. It will last 8 weeks and be held somewhere in the Medical Center.

Corporate Roundtable: Charles Hutchinson; A slate of 27 members of the roundtable met with Mr. Ben Bentzin, Chairman Texas Private Sector Homeland Security Advisory Council assigned to the Governors office, to further discuss the impact of HB1769. This meeting was held on August 19, 2004 in the AIM Investments Board Room. We are actively pursuing an organized solution prior to the Bill being enacted.

Seminars: Mike Mason CPP announced the annual Houston-ASIS Security Seminar will be held November 3 & 4 at the University of Houston Hilton (main campus). Some of the initial topics highlighted are Crime Stat Analysis and Risk Assessment; Emergency Planning; Investigations; Ethics. Mike Crocker also encouraged everyone to attend the Annual Seminar in Dallas next month.

Golf: Several representatives of UHD and AIG attended the “official” presentation of our donations from the Golf Tournament to our UHD/Criminal Justice scholarship fund.

L.E. Award: Deputy Gary Rodgers, District IV, Harris County Sheriff’s Office. Deputy Rodgers was accompanied by Capt. Coon. Deputy Rodgers has 22+ years experience and is currently also a Field Training Officer.

On March 25, 2004 Deputy Rodgers initiated a traffic stop after noticing the vehicle had an expired license plate. While interviewing the male driver, he noticed inconsistencies in the responses to questions and sensed that something was not right. After running the suspicious driver on his car’s computer, Deputy Rodgers learned that the man matched the description of fugitive murder suspect wanted in California. Although he could not confirm the identity from what little information he had, Deputy Rodgers followed his intuition and detained the suspect. After several but persistent attempts, fingerprints confirmed the identity. The Modesto Police Department informed Deputy Rodgers that they had been searching for the man for three years. The man was wanted for a total of seven drive-by-shootings, wherein the last shooting involved over 50 rounds being fired from an AK-47 Assault Rifle, resulting in the death of a 7 year old boy.

Deputy Rodgers was presented a plaque as a token of appreciation for his professionalism and exceptional service to the community.

SPEAKERS:

Mark Caldwell, CPP, Director of Corporate Security AIG-AG

Steve Brack, CPP, Manager of Corporate Security AIG-Houston

Topic: “The ‘How and Why’ of Enhanced Security in the 21^st Century”

Background:

The AIG campus has 66 third-party tenants with over 7,000 occupants with additional 600-700 daily administrative visitors. Mr. Caldwell and Brack were tasked with implementing an enhanced visitor and vehicle tracking system for the entire complex.

How?

The enhancement program began 18 months ago and was just recently completed. The program includes:

• Electronically tracking visitors
• A vehicle inspection station that is separate from the buildings
• Digital CCTV
• Access system control
• Leverage integrated technology

The badge system also co-integrates bar codes and proximity cards. The system is capable of tracking a visitor by name as well as badge number. The visitor must also scan to exit, which provides current population counts for evacuation purposes.

Program Design Considerations

They utilized a design consultant. The infrastructure considerations include not only the requirements, but the limitations, and must address:

o The ability to expand

o End user capabilities

o Realistic goal setting

o Scope of work and contract development is critical. It provides leverage to get the work done with no ambiguity.

o Direct management by the customer is also critical. Everyone walks away from the project in the end but you!

Partnering for Success

• Internal IT
• Product vendors and installers
• End users
• Clients

The key to this partnership is communication. AIG used newsletters, internal, intranet and town hall meetings well in advance of the final implementation. When the system went on-line, they only received one complaint.

Challenges

• Whenever instituting groundbreaking policies or procedures, communication is again stressed as a critical factor.
• It is not a “stand alone” network. Security must change its mentality that they are solely responsible, but must integrate with other departments, such as IT.
• Developing data security standards that do not compromise the firewalls.
• Understanding the internal and external customer needs.
• Facing procedural changes for both the guard force and the clients
• TRAINING. Make sure the guard force is properly trained in advance. Establish a benchmark of their skills, train and test to be sure that they have the opportunity to succeed.

Why

• The bombing in Oklahoma City has prompted many of the changes to the design and implementation of security systems and plans. Many of the fatalities were from shattered glass, not the explosion itself. Better building design, such as safety glass, would have saved lives.
• The first WTC bombing proved we DO need to track visitors and vendors. It also demonstrated that vehicles should be searched prior to entering the loading dock area.
• What is the building made of and how is it designed?
• Do you actually know how your facility would be affected by a bomb? What are the blast zone areas?

Are We Ready?

• Do we have ownership of the security programs?
• Are we positioned well in the company to affect change? Do you have access to the decision makers?
• Have you partnered appropriately within and outside of the company?
• Have you obtained another set of “eyes” by having an outside auditor?
• Who recommends security policy and procedure?
• Who develops the security programs?
• At what levels are you involved in creating the budget for your department?
• Who is the subject matter expert on any security briefing to your senior management?
• Are we positioned well in the company to affect change? How many steps removed from the CEO is the Senior Security Manager?
• Are there routine substantive meetings with the CEO and Senior Security Management?
• Do you have immediate access?

Internal/External Partnerships

• Senior Executives
• Legal
• Human Resource (workplace violence; new hire security orientations)
• Facilities
• Realty
• Federal/State/Local law enforcement
• Federal/State/Local Office of Emergency Management
• Outsourced subject matter experts

Are We Flexible?

• Do you have a Life-Safety program or a concierge program? Life-Safety must come first.
• Are WE accessible? Especially to complaints. Can those complaints be accommodated?
• Can we listen to make better decisions?

Summary:

• In all things: life safety first
• Partner at all levels
• Take real ownership of all programs and budget
• Develop credibility with senior management
• Being proactive is harder to sell than being reactive. Keep a balance with risk without crying wolf.
• Most corporate security departments do not create profit. We save severe loss of life, property and business.

After a question and answer period, our speakers were presented plaques in appreciation of their time and expertise. We also greatly acknowledge them hosting the event at their facility.

Our next meeting IS ONE WEEK EARLIER THAN USUAL DUE TO THE ASIS INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE IN DALLAS. It will be held at the Renaissance Hotel on September 22^nd. Our speaker is Captain Kaser USCG.