MN ASIS

Public crime reduced by private security...

2012-02-10T12:48:00.000-08:00

The Crime Report pointed us toward an interesting paper.

The RAND study The Effect of Business Improvement Districts on the Incidence of Violent Crimes suggests that private sector spending on security improvements be considered as part of the reason crime rates continue to fall year over year.

Very interesting news, especially for private sector security professionals. It only makes sense that effective corporate security programs contribute to the reduction of crime rates in the the communities where companies operate. It's time private security initiatives take some credit.

MN Chapter of ASIS February Meeting

2012-01-26T14:50:00.000-08:00

MN Chapter of ASIS February Meeting, Thursday, February 9th, 2012, from 11:30am-1:00pm

TOPIC: Executive Protection

SPEAKER: Greg Sherrill- President, Heartland Companies

Mr. Sherrill has enjoyed a successful 25 plus year career in the private sector, working with Multi-National corporations, Executives, Foreign Dignitaries and High Net Worth individuals, both in the United States and overseas. During his long and varied career he has acquired a broad range of training and experience in Threat Management, Security Services, Investigations and Executives Services.

Mr. Sherrill is considered a "go to" professional when it comes to Security Services, Executive Services and Threat Management concerns. He is an instructor at Executive Security International (recognized as one of the best in executive protection training). He teaches two classes on Proactive, Protective and Productive Intelligence, and CEO/VIP Stalking and threat management.

He is a Certified Executive Protection Specialist and a member of ASIS, ATAP, OSAC, and the International Close Protection Network.

Meeting Date: February 9th, 2012

Meeting Time: 11:30am-1:00pm

Meeting Place: Travelers - 385 Washington Street, St. Paul, MN 55102

Cost to Attend: $25 for local Chapter Members - $35 for non-members

Cancellations must be made by 4pm on February 8th, 2012.

Preregister here: http://www.mnasis.org/meetings/meetings_speakerbio_2012_02.html

Time to renew your MN ASIS membership!

2012-01-26T14:43:00.000-08:00

Time to renew your MN ASIS membership!

Here's the form http://www.mnasis.org/members/2012_MembershipApp.pdf

Remember members save $10 on each luncheon meeting so membership pays for itself in no time.

You can pay for your membership in addition to the meeting registration on line in the drop down box on the registration tab, and e-mail your application to Tracy Hover the Chapter Treasurer.

Most Workplace Homicides Happen During Robberies

2012-01-25T10:16:00.000-08:00

By way of the ASIS Security Management Daily - January 25, 2012
Insurance Journal (01/25/12) Jones, Stephanie K.

"A new report from the National Council on Compensation has found that the number of workplace homicides and assaults that result in injuries have dropped since the 1990s. Just 11 percent of all workplace deaths are the result of homicides, the report found. Meanwhile, the rate of homicides that result from robberies and other crimes has fallen since the late 1990s, due in large part to the decline in the number of violent deaths of cab drivers. The report noted that the murder rate for taxi drivers and chauffeurs dropped from 16.4 per 100,000 private sector workers in 2003 to 6.8 per 100,000 in 2009. However, homicides that are the result of robberies and other crimes still represent 69 percent of all deaths in the workplace. In addition, the number of workplace murders committed by work associates--which includes customers--has increased, due in large part to the growing number of violent acts committed by customers. As for workplace assaults, they represent just 2 percent of all workplace injuries. Workplace assaults typically take place at healthcare facilities like residential and long-term care facilities, the report noted."

January 12 2011 Chapter Meeting

2011-12-29T13:45:00.000-08:00

Becoming a Trusted Strategic Advisor by James Lukaszewski

James E. Lukaszewski (loo ka SHEV skee) has been a member of ASIS for many years. He has presented at the National Seminar and other ASIS local functions across America. He counsels very large organizations and the most senior operating executives in situations where the organization's reputation and public trust are at stake. He frequently works with the leaders of the security, corporate communications, and human resource functions within large organizations and government agencies.

Jim Lukaszewski is considered, within his own professional sphere, as a consultant's consultant. He advises, coaches, and counsels the men and women who run America's largest corporations. He also coaches and teaches those who advise these senior managers, including all staff functions ? communications, security, human resources, finance, and others.

Jim is a trusted strategic advisor to many CEOs and senior managers. He comes to us to share many of his unique, sensible ideas about how to overcome these challenges so we can be the trusted, strategic staff advisor most of us would like to be.

Jim is President of The Lukaszewski Group Division of Minnesota based Risdall Public Relations. Corporate Legal Times lists Jim as one of "28 Experts to Call When All Hell Breaks Loose," and PR Week named Jim, one of 22 "crunch-time counselors who should be on the speed dial in a crisis."

His latest Book, Why Should The Boss Listen To You; The Seven Disciplines of The Trusted Strategic Advisor was published in 2008 by Jossey Bass, San Francisco. His next book, due out in February 2012, is "Lukaszewski on Crisis Management: An American Crisis Guru Shares Extraordinary Insights into Managing the Toughest Business and Leadership Problems."

I've had the pleasure of listening to James Lukaszewski present at a meeting hosted by Hannon Security Services Inc. His outlook is fresh and creative. I encourage you to attend this meeting.

Please pre-register here http://www.mnasis.org/meetings/meetings_speakerbio_2012_01.html

There's More Than One Way to Protect a Town

2011-12-29T13:43:00.000-08:00

The Minneapolis StarTribune published my editorial commentary “There's More Than One Way to Protect a Town” in which I respond to their editorial “Don’t Experiment with Public Safety.” The annotatated pre-publication version here.

The Nine Practices of the Successful Security Leader

2011-12-25T20:36:00.000-08:00

More leading edge wisdom from The Security Executive Council...

This brief paper ought to be required reading for everyone on your security teams, your peers, and your superiors! All nine are excellent, but I especially like "Winning respect by refusing to exploit fear, uncertainty and doubt." Read this today as you prepare for a successful 2012.

Smart Phone Apps for Security and Police

2011-12-08T07:20:00.000-08:00

A staff member on my team is working on an undergrad project on this topic. That got me thinking. Given the prevalance of smart phones it seems only natural to adopt or adapt apps to help us do our jobs more efficiently. Are there any smart phone apps you know of that would be useful to the security or law enforcement professions? Are there any security or policing tasks you do every day that leave you saying "I wish there was an app for this?"

Security Tips For The Holidays

2011-11-28T11:43:00.000-08:00

From The Minneapolis Police Department.

A Security Tips For The Holidays PDF can be downloaded at the Minneapolis Police Crime Prevention Resources page (which contains other useful guidelines, many of which are useful to non-Minneapolis residents).

This Holiday Season MPD has other specific warnings regarding smart phones thefts and robberies.

Electronic devices being used in plain view, such as IPHONE and DROIDs have been the target of several theft and robbery cases downtown. Please advise your security teams, employees, residents, and visitors to be aware of their surroundings. Attached is holiday safety tips that can be shared with your staff or tenants.

Unusual Behavior/MO

Pepetrators hanging around in groups of five our more watching for lone individuals using a Smart phone.
Typically they grab and run or assault the victim to get the phone.

Risk Indicators

Most incidents occur between 2100 to 0300.
Targeted areas are along Nicollet and Hennepin- often near bus stops.
Groups five or more loitering in the area.

Call to Action

If this type of behavior is seen, call 911 immediately.
If you are a RadioLINK user and see suspicious grouping activity please call it out via RadioLINK for further monitoring and support from the security groups.
Share the attached holiday safety tips with your security teams, employees or tenants.
Identify the victim if whenever possible.
Make a Police report based on the witness reports, even if you have no video, and no victim. These cases will not always have an identified victim or video.

If you have similar incidents matching this MO please forward available information or to report any incidents to CPS Renee Allen, 1st Precinct Crime Prevention.

What Corporate Security Should Look Like

2011-10-19T09:17:00.000-07:00

I encourage you to read this brief article, "Eleven Areas for Improvement" which succinctly describes the level at which professional corporate security leaders should aspire to operate. Not all of us are allowed to execute at this level but more of us should be.

The Security Executive Council offers some of the latest world-class thinking on corporate security, much of it for free.

Constructive Criticism From My Peers Requested

2011-08-03T12:36:00.000-07:00

Your comments on my paper are welcome.

Please leave comments at the Eclectic Breakfast blog.

Thanks for any time you can spare helping me refine my paper!

Subject of Bloomington Police Alerts Arrested

2011-07-12T09:47:00.000-07:00

Some days observe and report works just fine...

On Monday, July 4th at 3:55 P.M., a security guard working in the 8000 block of 34th Avenue observed a subject wandering a hallway and recognized this subject from BPD police alerts. The security guard called 911 and Bloomington officers were quick to respond and arrest Michael John Jones. Jones was in possession of a screwdriver and when officers checked the area they found several suites had been burglarized.

Now we'll have to see if the St. Louis Park commercial burglaries drop off...

St. Louis Park Police Crime Alert

2011-06-21T16:12:00.000-07:00

St. Louis Park Police have seen an increase in the past two weeks of business burglaries occurring in office buildings on the Parkdale Office Complex and other buildings around the complex, which is located at 5402 Parkdale Dr (near Gamble Drive and Park Center Blvd). They have occurred over the weekends at night. Unknown how party is getting into buildings, possibly through a main door by force (prying of door with screwdriver or other tool). Forced entry was then used on some of the internal suites by the unknown suspect smashing the glass with possibly a fire extinguisher to gain access to the unoccupied suites. Once inside, the party takes laptop computers and other electronic devices. SLPD is unsure who the suspect is, but it may be the party in this Bloomington PD crime alert dated 3 June 2011. Ken Sysko is the Community Outreach Officer for this case.

Suspect Sought by Golden Valley Police Known to Frequent SW Minneapolis

2011-06-03T13:33:00.000-07:00

City of Minneapolis sent this bulletin on 06/03/2011 03:08 PM CDT

Golden Valley police are actively searching for a chronic swindler and con artist. Mark Christopher Bell 12/15/1960 is an active criminal who currently has eight outstanding warrants for theft by swindle, theft and other related crimes. He has a lengthy criminal history that includes narcotics offenses and forgery. He frequents southwest Minneapolis and has been arrested here several times.

Mr. Bell typically goes door-to-door asking for money saying he needs help because his car has broken down or his vehicle has been impounded. He often states that he was on his way home from church when the incident occurred.

Mr. Bell is a black male, 50 years old, 6’00”, medium to heavy build, with a mustache and short black hair which is graying around the hair line. He is usually well dressed and very polite.

His most recent contacts with the police have been in Golden Valley. There have been possible sightings of Mr. Bell in southwest Minneapolis and St. Louis Park as well.

Should you see or come in contact with Mr. Bell please call 911 immediately.

Below is a booking photo of Mark Bell from January 2011.

Terrorism, Social Media & You Conference

2011-06-01T09:26:00.000-07:00

On June 10th, 2011 InfraGard has partnered with the Mall of America to present the Terrorism, Social Media & You Conference. Our online registration closes on Friday, so you only have 5 days left to sign-up!! If you miss the online registration, you can register at the door for an additional cost.

Our conference will feature, Gordon Graham, nationally recognized expert on risk management, whose work has had tremendous impact on the risk management effectiveness of law enforcement operations and private sector companies around the country and Dr. Jarret Brachman, internationally recognized counterterrorism specialist, author, public lecturer and former CIA Analyst and Director of Research at West Point’s Combating Terrorism Center.

We will also have a presentation from Weber Shandwick on their newly launched Social Crisis Simulator, FireBell. FireBell creates an authentic, real-time experience of being under attack on social media channels.

And we will hear from Mall of America’s Bridget Jewell, Bloomington Police Department’s Brant Richardson and the Eden Prairie Police Department’s Ryan Kapaun in a case study approach to analyze real crisis to see how social media changes crisis communication while exploring the changing nature of human response in crisis, and what organizations need to know to strategically employ and observe social media during these events.

Conference Website: http://terrorismsocialmediaandyou.wordpress.com/

“See Something, Say Something”

2011-04-28T12:39:00.000-07:00

The 12 May 2011 MN ASIS meeting will feature Bruce West, Training/Liaison Manager, for the Minnesota Joint Analysis Center (MNJAC), Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEM).

Please visit the MN ASIS website for more details and to register.

See you there!

Private Security Attitudes About the Role of Weapons in Preventing Workplace Violence

2011-04-22T17:15:00.000-07:00

As some of you know, I'm working on a Masters in Human Development - concentrating on Leadership, Team Building, and Problem Solving...
Some recent discussions at the Security Source Online discussion group at LinkedIn have got me thinking there may be some detectable demographic differences between security professionals who hold strong opinions regarding the role of armed security personnel and armed citizens in reducing homicides at work, in houses of worship, or at school.
If you are a private security professional please visit Survey Monkey to take the survey titled "Private Security Attitudes About the Role of Weapons in Preventing Workplace Violence."
I am using Survey Monkey instead of LinkedIn Polls as there are people I'll be inviting to participate who may not have a LinkedIn account (yeah, really). I do not have a premium account at Survey Monkey so I can ask only 10 questions. This make every question critically important, so please provide your best answer before proceeding.
The results of the survey will be tabulated and reported at Security Source Online and at mu blog Eclectic Breakfast.
Thank you,

Michael Brady, CPP

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

2011-04-19T10:32:00.000-07:00

A little help?

We need three volunteers to staff the MN ASIS booth at the Secure360 conference May 10-11, 2011. Contact us via the committee page at the MN ASIS website. Thanks!

Preventing and Responding to Vandalism at Houses of Worship

2011-04-12T10:30:00.000-07:00

Written by your's truly, was just published at Church Security Consultant...

In it I got to highlight the many resources ASIS International provides to its members and the public - in particular the work done by Philip Purpurra, CPP, and the ASIS Houses of Worship Security Working Group.

The Church Security Consultant website is operated by LinkedIn peer and fellow ASIS Certified Protection Professional, Jim McGuffey.

And in my bio I got to plug our very own MN ASIS Chapter 025.

After publication we discovered a few more of my typos and some formatting flaws that happen when attempting to transmogrify a Word document into HTML. We're working to resolve them though. Otherwise, have a look and let me know what you think.

Another Interesting Essay

2011-04-05T09:30:00.000-07:00

As you know, I just discovered The Journal of Physical Security and it is fast becoming an interesting resource for fresh ideas. I've been sharing papers from it with my team and other peers. Here's another essay full of useful ideas: Changing Security Paradigms by Roger G. Johnston. Let us know what you think.

Deadline for Tuition Reimbursement Drawing Tuesday 5 April 2011!

2011-04-04T14:25:00.000-07:00

The ASIS Facility Security Design Course Comes to Minneapolis!

Current members of both ASIS International and ASIS Minnesota Chapter are eligible to enter to win $900 in tuition reimbursement for registering and attending the event. Upon Course Completion, submit your paid receipt and Certificate of Attendance to Lisa Mountain. The Minnesota ASIS Chapter will pay $900 to the individual or company who initially paid the course registration fee. Register for this drawing by emailing your name and ASIS International Member Number to Tracy Hover by April 5^th, 2011.

ASIS Facility Security Design Course

Date: Monday, Tuesday, & Wednesday; June 6, 7 & 8, 201

Hours: 8:00 am to 5:00 pm

Place: The Grand Hotel, 615 Second Avenue South, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Fee: $900 ASIS Members before April 8, 2011, $1000 ASIS Members

$1200 for Non-Members before April 8, 2011, $1300 for non-members

CPE: Earn up to 22 CPEs for your CPP or PSP recertification

A cost-effective facility security system design is the foundation of your organization's protection and loss control program.

This intensive, three-day program offers a detailed, systematic, professional approach to the design of a fully integrated physical security program. It provides solid recommendations for improving protection against terrorism, workplace violence, street crime, and other threats.

Learn from leading security design architects, engineers, and operations experts as they share proven methods for completing cost-effective facility designs and ideas about how to present a sound business case for these solutions to senior management.

By supporting this training event MN ASIS Chapter 025 can attract more state-of-the-art educational programs to Minneapolis in the future.

Do not miss this opportunity to attend world-class training without the added expense of travel and accommodations.

ASIS Facility Security Design Course

Register today!

Don't miss the drawing!

MN ASIS April Meeting

2011-04-04T07:34:00.000-07:00

“Inside Target’s Global Crisis Management Strategy”

Target’s City Center Building - 33 South 6th Street (Formerly the Multi-Foods Tower)

There is ample attached parking at the City Center Mall that surrounds their office building.

Target’s entrance is on the 2nd floor in the City Center Shopping Mall

Minnesota ASIS Chapter News - announced 4/1/11 – by Lisa Mountain

Join us on Thursday, April 14th, 2011, from 11:30am-1:00pm.

Please visit the ASIS Minnesota Chapter #25 to register

Pre-registration is required and must be received no later than April 7th, 2011.

$25 for local MN Chapter of ASIS Members

$35 for Non-Members

You will find the Minnesota Chapter Membership Application at http://www.mnasis.org/members/2011_MembershipApp.pdf

You can pay for your membership in addition to the meeting registration on line in the drop down box on the registration tab, and e-mail your application to Tracy Hover the Chapter Treasurer.

Meeting Date: April 14th, 2011

Meeting Time: 11:30am-1:00pm

Meeting Place: Target’s City Center Building - 33 South 6th Street (Formerly the Multi-Foods Tower)

There is ample attached parking at the City Center Mall that surrounds their office building.

Meeting Instructions: Target’s entrance is on the 2nd floor in the City Center Shopping Mall Check in at the area signed “ASIS Chapter Meeting” and then follow the signs to room 217.

Cost to Attend: $25 for local Chapter Members - $35 for non-members

Please note:

Because the Command Center is located in a different building, they will not be able to offer a tour during the meeting. However, when the meeting is over, Target is happy to bring groups of any size down to their Headquarters to tour the command center.

Cancellations must be made by 4pm on April, 13th.

If you have questions or need further information, please email Lisa Mountain.

Being Vulnerable to the Threat of Confusing Threats with Vulnerabilities

2011-04-03T09:54:00.000-07:00

Interesting paper by Roger G. Johnston brought to our attention by Bruce Schneier's blog. Interesting reading. Anyone disagree with his premise?

The ASIS Facility Security Design Course Comes to Minneapolis!

2011-03-28T10:50:00.001-07:00

The ASIS Facility Security Design Course Comes to Minneapolis!

Date: Monday, Tuesday, & Wednesday; June 6, 7 & 8, 2011

Hours: 8:00 am to 5:00 pm

Place: The Grand Hotel, 615 Second Avenue South, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Fee: $900 ASIS Members before April 8, 2011, $1000 ASIS Members

$1200 for Non-Members before April 8, 2011, $1300 for non-members

CPE: Earn up to 22 CPEs for your CPP or PSP recertification

A cost-effective facility security system design is the foundation of your organization's protection and loss control program.

This intensive, three-day program offers a detailed, systematic, professional approach to the design of a fully integrated physical security program. It provides solid recommendations for improving protection against terrorism, workplace violence, street crime, and other threats.

Learn from leading security design architects, engineers, and operations experts as they share proven methods for completing cost-effective facility designs and ideas about how to present a sound business case for these solutions to senior management.

By supporting this training event MN ASIS Chapter 025 can attract more state-of-the-art educational programs to Minneapolis in the future.

Do not miss this opportunity to attend world-class training without the added expense of travel and accommodations.

ASIS Facility Security Design Course

Register today!

Community Shredding Event in Albert Lea to Benefit Crime Stoppers of Minnesota

2011-03-22T09:22:00.000-07:00

Community Shredding Event in Albert Lea to Benefit Crime Stoppers of Minnesota

St. Paul, MN – March 15, 2011 - Over 11 million adults were victims of identity theft in 2009 (4.8 % of the population), and the average victim spent 21 hours and $373 out of pocket resolving the crime. Crime Stoppers of Minnesota is and its partners are once again leading the fight against identity theft by offering several shredding events for the public to properly destroy their sensitive documents.

The Albert Lea Community Shredding Event will be held at American Bank on Saturday March 26th from 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon at 217 South Newton in Albert Lea.

These events also help raise critical funds for Crime Stoppers of Minnesota, a nonprofit organization that operates a statewide tip line and offers rewards to anonymous tipsters that lead the arrest and charging of criminals. A donation of $5 per grocery bag or box of documents is suggested.

Crime Stoppers has teamed up with Shred Right Inc. and American Bank of St. Paul to host the shredding events to be held at a Branch of American Bank. Shred Right will have its document destruction truck on location, and the actual shredding and destruction will be completed on site to ensure full protection.

ABOUT AMERICAN BANK: American Bank is a full service commercial bank based in St. Paul with 10 convenient locations throughout the metro and greater Minnesota. American Bank is dedicated to providing exceptional customer service, innovative financial solutions and outstanding community support. Member FDIC. www.americanbankmn.com

ABOUT SHRED RIGHT: Shred Right is a St Paul company providing information and electronic storage media destruction for the Upper Midwest, using the latest mobile high-capacity, on-site shredding and an off-site, high-security facility with one of only six Shredding Vaults™ in the world. Shred Right exceeds rigorous standards established by the NAID Quality Certification Program. www.shredrightnow.com

ABOUT CRIME STOPPERS OF MINNESOTA: Crime Stoppers, a local non-profit organization, works with law enforcement agencies to solve crimes with the help of anonymous tips provided by members of the general public. Crime Stoppers seeks to make the neighborhoods and communities a safer place to live and work by providing the people of Minnesota with a safe alternative to silence. www.crimestoppersmn.org

CONTACT: Mark Thorson Crime Stoppers of Minnesota 952-835-7069

Demand Change Project 2011

2011-03-15T11:11:00.000-07:00

Demand Change is is 2-day International Anti-Human Trafficking Event in St. Paul, MN, being held May 13-14, 2011.

Brought to the Twin Cities by Breaking Free and MATTOO - Men Against The Trafficking Of Others.

Based in St. Paul, MN, Breaking Free provides housing, advocacy, education and hope to sex-trafficked/prostituted women and girls.

MATTOO exists to educate and involve men, raise international public awareness, and employ the power of innovative business to advance sustainable and transformational human trafficking policy and cultural changes.

The solution is simple: With no buyer, there is no seller, and with no seller, there is no victim.

Oh Yes, There Will Be Golf

2011-03-11T10:34:00.000-08:00

Please save the date for the MN ASIS Golf Outing of 2011!

Whether you have a 7 Handicap or a 57 Handicap join us for an afternoon of fun!

Date:

Thursday, August 11, 2011

Time:

12:00 am lunch

1:00 pm shotgun start

3:30 pm awards/networking

Location:

Tartan Park, Lake Elmo, MN

Registration Details:

Coming Soon…

MN ASIS March Meeting Announcement

2011-03-02T10:27:00.000-08:00

Mark Lanterman, CTO of Computer Forensic Services, will speak on Impact of Digital Evidence.

Image from http://www.apple.com/iphone/business/profiles/computer-forensics-services/

Mark is the Chief Technology Officer of Computer Forensic Services. Before entering the private sector, Mark spent 11 years as a police investigator and as a member of the U. S. Secret Service Electronic Crimes Taskforce. He has routinely assisted the Secret Service, FBI and the U. S. Attorney's Office as well as hundreds of law firms and corporations with computer related investigations. Mark was recognized by the Director of the U. S. Secret Service for his contributions to law enforcement.

Visit the MN ASIS website to preregister before March 3, 2010. See you there!

Join us on Thursday, March 10th, 2011, from 11:30am-1:00pm at the Shrine Center – 2540 Park Avenue – Minneapolis, MN.

ASIS MN February Meeting

2011-01-25T12:44:00.000-08:00

Will be held Thursday, February 10th, 2011, from 11:30am-1:00pm at the Shrine Center at 2450 Park Avenue Minneapolis MN.

David Axt, of Xcel Energy will speak on Nuclear Power Plants: Monticello & Prairie Island.

Please register today!

Not a member? There's still plenty of time to join MN ASIS and take advantage of the member discount price.

See you on the 10th!

Secure360 Call for Presentations

2011-01-25T12:31:00.000-08:00

The Secure360 conference will be held at the St Paul River Centre on May 10-11, 2011...

We're still looking for professional presentations so if you're an experienced speaker with a security-related story to tell please let us know! Don't worry too much about the posted deadline as we're still a little short of talks and we'll likely extend it as needed.

The conference is still accepting sponsors and exihibitors.

Attendee registration is open and there's an early bird discount available through March.

MN ASIS: December Chapter Holiday Event

2010-11-30T10:43:00.000-08:00

Join us on Thursday, December 9th, 2010, from 4:30pm-6:30pm as we recap the year, enjoy great food, a cash bar, and a chance to visit with other MN ASIS Members.
Meeting Date: December 9, 2010

Meeting Time: 4:00pm -6:30pm

Meeting Place: The Shrine Center – 2540 Park Avenue – Minneapolis, MN

Cost to Attend: COMPLIMENTARY TO LOCAL MN ASIS MEMBERS

Pre-registration is required and must be received no later than December 1st, 2010.
Cancellations must be made by 4pm on December 8th.

If you have questions or need further information, please email Lisa Mountain.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Identifying Psychopathic Fraudsters

2010-11-30T10:33:00.000-08:00

While the temptations of the holiday season lead us to be cautious of outside threats it's always time to look out for wolves among the sheep.

A correspondent on a thread at Schneier.com recommended an older Fraud Magazine (the official journal of the ACFE) article titled Identifying Psychopathic Fraudsters by Dick Carozza. It's quite good.

November 2010 ASIS Chapter Meeting Review

2010-11-22T13:52:00.000-08:00

The MN ASIS November Chapter was held Thursday November 11th at ATK in Eden Prairie and was a smash hit. Thank you to ATK for hosting. Over 80 chapter members attended the meeting. It was nice to see so many old and new faces at the meeting. The November meeting included a panel discussion on proprietary Security Operation Centers that was hosted by Greg Jarpey from ATK. Greg invited 3M, General Mills, Lockheed Martin, MoneyGram, Prime Therapeutics, Target Corporation, and Travelers Insurance to participate in the panel discussion about the challenges with building, managing, and operating a proprietary Security Operations Center (SOC). The discussion was very well organized and informative. I caught up with Greg after the meeting and asked him a few follow up questions.

Steve: Greg, that was a great idea to host a panel discussion. What gave you the idea?

Greg: Well, I know many of the other Chapter members that that also have built their own Security Operations Center and I thought the Chapter would benefit from hearing about their experiences as well. There are so many different philosophies around alarm centers and I know my experiences would bring just one perspective. I think that everyone got a feel for that during our discussion. We had a lot of different industries represented, with a lot of different approaches. That brought out some differences in the way we operate our SOC’s. Lockheed Martin’s approach was much different that the approach from Moneygram. Yet you also saw the commonality come through with the similar challenges we all face.

Steve: Can you give us a quick recap for our members that couldn’t make it to the meeting?

Greg: We really had just four topics we wanted to cover. (1) The function, tasks and core operations at an SOC (2) Procedures and training associated with operating an SOC (3) Key metrics used to manage an SOC (4) Strategies to cope with false alarms and other challenges. Unfortunately I think we could have spent a whole afternoon covering these topics. We spent about half our time just on the first topic and then we had to rush through the other topics. I wish we could have had more time to go into great depth and answer more questions at the end.

Steve: For those members that have more questions, do you have any recommendations on good resources around SOC’s?

Greg: The best thing I can recommend is to reach out to the resources of the Chapter. Over the years I have built many great relationships with other Chapter members. I have gotten a lot of good ideas by networking with my peers. I never turn down the opportunity to tour other SOC’s. That is one of the benefits of ASIS and one of the reasons I took a panel approach for the discussion.

Steve: I know you have your PSP, how does your PSP certification help you with designing, managing, or operating a SOC?

Greg: The biggest thing my PSP certification gives me is credibility. I got my PSP back when I was a contractor with Xcel Energy. At the time, it really helped me speak with authority to the energy regulators and auditors that I dealt with back then. It has also made it easier for me to justify some of my ideas to my leadership and represent myself as a professional. Having the certification has opened up a lot of doors for me professionally and increased my compensation as well. The PSP certification shows that I am serious about my profession and committed to improving my skills and continued learning.

Steve: What advice do you have for those members that are just starting down the path of researching, justifying, or building their own central station?

Greg: Make sure you set your mission and metrics upfront. Our mission at ATK is focused around communication and customer service. I also recommend that you start working with other departments, such as the safety and communications, early in your planning process. Understand how your SOC can support them and be a resource to those other departments in your company. I have found that it is much more successful if you focus your efforts around customer service and being a resource rather than trying to dictate or be an enforcer of policy. If you approach the SOC as a customer service unit that is there to help the organization monitor, respond, and communicate information I think you will have more success. You also need to always be looking for more ways to add value to the organization and take on more responsibilities. That is why it is important to set your metrics upfront as well. You have to have the metrics to prove your value.

Steve: Thanks for your time Greg. Again, great job! See you December 9th at our Chapter Holiday Event.

Reminder: The next meeting is going to be a social event at the Shrine Center on December 9th from 4:00 to 6:00 PM. The chapter will be collecting toys for tots at the next meeting so please bring unwrapped toys or a cash donation. See you then!

Half of All Businesses Never Erase Sensitive Data

2010-11-22T13:03:00.000-08:00

This is old news actually...

According to Chris Preimesberger's article in eWeek "Although 49 percent of businesses say they employ some sort of policied data erasure system, 75 percent of those do not erase data securely, finds Kroll Ontrack in their new global survey." This information was collected by our peers and neighbors at Kroll Ontrack.

Thanksgiving Week Holiday Awareness From FreightWatch

2010-11-22T09:03:00.000-08:00

Useful precautions from Dan Burges at FreightWatch

"With the holiday season beginning, cargo theft activity is picking up. Concentrated efforts by cargo theft gangs targeting specific commodities that are popular during the holiday season, such as consumer electronics, consumer care goods, and others are already being felt, as well as specific efforts by location, such as the truck stop in Temple, Georgia, which has been hit three times in the past six weeks.

Holidays can cause long delays for drivers attempting to deliver loads. These delays will increase the risk to drivers and loads in-transit by leaving them vulnerable for longer periods of time.

There is also the additional intelligence of a known theft gang from Miami moving into the Northeastern portion of the United States targeting unknown locations.

This only amplifies the need for logistics professionals to ensure their security protocols are up to date and in line with industry best practices.

For warehousing operations, ensure your security alarm systems are functioning properly. FreightWatch also recommends the following:

• Treat all alarm trouble signals as an intrusion alarm

• Do not rely on a backup (cellular/radio) system

• If primary alarm fails assign security officer to patrol facility exterior

FreightWatch recommends drivers remain vigilant and maintain communication with their dispatch when stopped at high risk areas such as truck stops and rest areas. Loads should not be dropped or left unattended for any reason."

Holiday Safety and Security Ideas

2010-11-22T08:56:00.001-08:00

This time of year brings high energy along with the cold weather. As the holidays near for many of us, a lot of us will be out getting gifts, visiting relatives, and having a lot on our minds as we try to balance many goals all at once. Since it's easy to get overwhelmed, the Minneapolis Police Department Fifth Precinct would like to give a short reminder about some tips to make your holiday times safe and enjoyable.

Please see the following link for holiday safety tips: http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/police/crime-prevention/docs/Hsholidy.pdf

Stay safe and happy holidays!

Call For Papers

2010-10-21T12:15:00.000-07:00

George Mason University Critical infrastructure Protection Program has issued a call for papers on the topic of the Economics of Information Security. Specific areas of interest include:

Optimal investment in information security
Online crime (including botnets, phishing and spam)
Models and analysis of online crime
Risk management and cyberinsurance
Security standards and regulation
Cybersecurity policy
Privacy, confidentiality and anonymity
Behavioral security and privacy
Security models and metrics
Psychology of risk and security
Vulnerability discovery, disclosure, and patching
Cyberwar strategy and game theory
Incentives for information sharing and cooperation

If your aubmittal is selected please be sure to let the MN ASIS Chapter Board know. We'd like to have you present your paper to a Chapter gathering as well.

Biggest Insider Threat?

2010-09-27T07:59:00.000-07:00

Systems administrator gone rogue...

A sobering article by Ellen Mesmer at CSOonline. If anyone has the magic bullet for this threat we're dying to hear about it.

When it comes to passwords popular is not the same as good

2010-09-16T11:33:00.000-07:00

Schneier on Security pointed us to this interesting reseach site. The larger the characters the more popular the username or password. The bad news is you do not get a prize if your password is on the list; the good news is someone else might.

The Gift of Fear

2010-09-15T01:33:00.000-07:00

Survival Signals That Protect Us from Violence...from a professional in a position to know.

Gavin De Becker's personal back story is harrowing. His career as a protector of the rich and famous is legendary. In The Gift of Fear he makes a contribution to the survival, safety, and well-being of average people - especially our mothers, wives, sisters, and daughters - that is difficult to overestimate. I'm more than a little embarrassed that I haven't read his book until now. If you haven't read this book, you should.

There's a new blogger in town!

2010-09-14T08:41:00.000-07:00

Thank you, Steve, for the summary of the September 2010 MN ASIS meeting. And thank you so much for joining the MN ASIS team of bloggers. Who else among our 400 fellow ASIS members in Chapter 025 is interested in joining our team as we investigate new ways to have a positive influence on the security community in the upper midwest?

MN ASIS September Meeting Review

2010-09-14T07:58:00.000-07:00

Last Thursday the MN ASIS Chapter hosted an excellent discussion and review of corporate security in the insurance industry. The event was graciously hosted by Travelers Companies at their downtown St Paul location and Judy Alberio the Vice President Corporate Security & Safety at Travelers Companies led the discussion. Judy has 17 years of experience in the insurance industry and her knowledge and experience showed. One of the discussion points offered by Judy was the need for security professionals to shift their thinking from being “security managers” to being “risk managers”. What do you think?

Do you think security managers need to think more like risk managers?
What does that statement mean to you?
How do you think that would impact the way you communicate with your Leadership?

Fear Less

2010-09-04T17:58:00.000-07:00

Fear Less: Real Truth About Risk, Safety, and Security in a Time of Terrorism by Gavin De Becker is one of several books I chose for my independent study of security leadership...

Gavin De Becker does a fine job drawing out the differences between risk, threat, hazard, anxiety, worry, and true fear vs unwarranted fear. Where Bruce Schneier (in his also excellent Beyond Fear) credits government with whipping up unwarranted fear, De Becker is more inclined to credit the news media. I’m a little surprised and disappointed that De Becker recycles large chunks of his 1997 book, The Gift of Fear, but in the context of developing an effective response to the fear of terrorism I recommend this quick and satisfying read.

Plan for extra traffic during Twins and Vikings games Sept. 2

2010-09-01T08:07:00.000-07:00

Plan for extra traffic during Twins and Vikings games Sept. 2

The first concurrent Twins and Vikings games will bring big crowds to downtown Minneapolis the evening of Thursday, Sept. 2. As many as 100,000 people could fill Target Field and Mall of America Field at the H.H.H. Metrodome, so it's important that folks plan ahead and explore their transportation options. The City of Minneapolis, Metro Transit, the Minnesota Twins, the Minnesota Vikings, and many other partners are working together to mitigate traffic congestion as much as possible and to spread the word to people who are coming Downtown the evening of Sept. 2 so they can plan ahead.

Source: City of Minneapolis Traffic Alerts http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/traffic/

Shackleton's Way

2010-08-19T09:04:00.000-07:00

Leadership Lessons from the Great Antarctic Explorer...

Over the years history has come to regard Sir Ernest Henry Shackleton as an explorer of the first rate, eclipsing both Roald Amundson - who may have made polar exploration look too easy when he achieved the South Pole without incident in 1911, and Robert Falcon Scott - who for reasons only the British can explain, was celebrated for reaching the South Pole in 1912, a month after Amundson, and then dying of scurvy, privation, and exposure with his entire party on the return trip.

In 1914 Shackleton set his sights on traveling across Antarctica from the Weddell Sea to the Ross Sea. Before reaching the starting point his ship, the Endurance, was trapped in the pack ice in 1914 and then sunk in 1915. He led his 27 men onto the ice for several months, then into an ice-clogged sea in lifeboats, before reaching the relative safety of barren Elephant Island. Chances of accidental rescue on Elephant Island were nil so Shackleton and a small party sailed the lifeboat "James Caird" 600 miles to South Georgia Island. Every one of his Endurance team survived this harrowing adventure.

Authors Margaret Morrell and Stephanie Capparell have reimagined Shackleton as an example for corporate leadership. To do so they gloss over his failures as a businessman between expeditions as well as his shortcomings as a husband. A ten year old dustcover blurb comparing Shackleton to Jack Welch and Michael Dell is ironic today.

As a leader in challenging circumstances Shackleton did in fact have many admirable traits and the authors do a fine job of illuminating the leadership skills evident in Shackleton's career, particularly during the voyage of the Endurance. Shackleton was a tough man, a gifted leader, and an interesting character. Shackleton's Way draws parallels between his short life and our 21st century challenges. Examples are given of the effect Shackleton's story has had on modern business leaders but the most compelling are those offered by military leaders and by Jim Lovell, Commander of the ill-fated Apollo 13 mission, another famous "successful failure."

BOLO - Skyway Burglar Alert

2010-08-16T09:33:00.000-07:00

BOLO - Skyway Burglar Alert

In the past two weeks at least four businesses in the skyway have been burglarized. The victim businesses are along Marquette Ave from 5th-6th Street. The suspect appears to be a black male. No further information is available.
The burglaries have been forced entry and have occurred in the early evening hours after the businesses have closed for the day. Surveillance video from two incidents shows the burglar wearing a hat and glasses.

Please forward any additional information to Sgt. Keefe at the 1st Precinct, 673-5148.

Any Security Bloggers Among Us?

2010-08-12T14:11:00.000-07:00

Calling all would be, wannabe, and ought to be bloggers...

image courtesy of wikimedia commons

If you're an ASIS MN member and you'd like to contribute to the Chapter by helping create content for this blog please contact me using the email link in the profile.

If you're an ASIS MN member and you have a passion around Facebook or Twitter and know how to leverage these or other Web 2.0 social media tools to help the Chapter reach out to a wider audience please respond today!

Thanks.

A Rush to Judgement?

2010-08-06T12:52:00.000-07:00

The workplace violence tragedy that shattered Hartford Distributors in Manchester, Connecticut, this week has attracted much attention...

Those of in the security trade have worked to prevent all forms of workplace violence, including homicide, for ages. The great majority of homicides at work - 75% or so - are routinely committed during armed robberies. In the 1980s a different sort of workplace homicide captured the public imagination - workplace mass murder. In 1986 postal worker Patrick Sherrill single-handedly inspired the term "going postal" when he murdered 14 co-workers. Then in 1988 Richard Farley shocked the world, perhaps especially those of us living and working in the "Silicon Valley," when he went on his infamous rampage at ESL. Since then there have been mass killings at other businesses, on commuter trains, in schools, and even on military bases. While much less common it grabs the 24 hour news cycle by the throat every time it occurs.

This week Caroline Hamilton wrote about killings perpetrated by Omar Thornton at Hartford Distributors on her Riskwatch blog.

She posted my response a day later.

Today Security Management Daily linked to an article written 5 August 2010 by James Allen Fox on his Crime and Punishment blog at the Boston Globe titled "Workplace homicide: What is the risk?" Good reading. Professor Fox has done the math on the sort of statistics I hastily assembled for my reply to Ms. Hamilton. I look forward to following the rest of his series on this topic.

Workplace violence and its prevention and mitigation is a complex set of issues that will call for all of us to do our best work.

An excellent book on leadership

2010-07-30T08:00:00.000-07:00

I've been having some fine luck with recent books on business leadership. Making Sense of Leadership: Exploring the Five Key Roles Used by Effective Leaders, by Esther Cameron and Mike Green is another fine example of leadership research effectively and concisely repackaged for appreciation and application by a popular audience. Well worth a look.

Another good read on successful leadership

2010-07-29T08:00:00.000-07:00

When you put all the good ideas in one place it looks easy. I just finished John Baldoni's book Lead by Example: 50 Ways Great Leaders Inspire Results. Good stuff. Baldoni assembled 50 very easy to read lessons that draw on leadership examples from sports, the military, politics, and the business world. Many examples are positive but Baldoni calls out more than a few high profile persons in positions of authority for their failure to lead. The result is a punchy, pithy, and frequently powerful read.

Leadership podcasts

2010-07-28T08:00:00.000-07:00

Here are a couple leadership podcasts I've enjoyed listening to recently.
What Great Bosses Know (entering this term in the iTunes search box will take you right there).

SuperVision (these are video blogs similar in content to "What great bosses know" but there's usually nothing to watch so you don't miss anything by just listening).

Both are presented by Jill Geisler from The Poynter Institute. Poynter specializes in journalism so there are some references to "leadership in the newsroom," but by and large these conveniently brief presentations are usable by most anyone.

Cigars, Whiskey, & Winning

2010-07-27T08:00:00.000-07:00

Leadership Lessons from General Ulysses S. Grant.

This analysis of the life, career, and leadership style of one of the United States’ most successful generals (and least successful presidents) is a quick, informative, and thought provoking read.

Using the military career of Hiram Ulysses Grant as a framework author Al Kaltman has created a quick reading combination of biography, historical analysis, and a guide for leaders. By using the life of one of the Civil War’s key figures as a backdrop Kaltman engages the reader by showing that a leader’s effectiveness can be a life and death matter. In doing so the author dodges a common fault of many management and leadership books and creates a connection between common sense practices with real world results.

Such a bracing read may be a little too much for sensitive folks who do not believe managers in their corporation deal with conflict and risk on a daily basis. Those of us in the security trade however not only believe it; we thrive on the fact of it.

Across 11 chapters Kaltman moves chronologically through Grant’s early military career, his failures, his return to the Union Army in 1861, his successful prosecution of the nation’s most disastrous war, and its aftermath. The author breaks the chapters into different lessons, each of which are as applicable today, especially in the security industry, as they were some 150 years ago. Some sections – such as “Know Your Competition” – will resonate with those of us who compete for business with peers who once were fellow employees. Others, such as “See the Total Picture” will be valuable to those of us with responsibilities to national accounts and other nationwide programs. Other sections deal with discipline, the value of delegation, and the promotion of staff members – for good and ill – in ways that will ring true to professional security managers.

In the book’s conclusion Kaltman offers the reader his take on “The Quintessential Grant” by encapsulating the lessons Grant applied throughout his military career. In his final chapter on Grant’s lackluster presidency Kaltman makes the case that Grant may have failed in political office precisely because he did not apply to political life the same skills he used as a military leader.

Perhaps there is nothing new under the sun. Perhaps it is no coincidence that Thucydides, Sun Tzu, and Shakespeare sound very contemporary to the thoughtful reader. Perhaps we have read all this before. Perhaps Kaltman’s gift to the reader is simply to have created a palatable delivery vehicle for common sense leadership methods. Perhaps the rest is up to us.

A couple good reads on leadership and decision making

2010-07-26T08:00:00.000-07:00

These are a few of the books I've been reading for my grad school independent study this summer. They're not exactly beach reading but they have much to offer once you get back to the office...

The Opposable Mind by Roger Martin does not contain the information I need for my topic but it is rich with useful thinking about decision-making. I checked it out of the library but plan to purchase my own copy and add it to my reread list.

The First 90 Days: Critical Success Strategies for New Leaders at All Levels by Michael Watkins is one of those books I wish I'd had at the beginning of my career. Over the years inspired leaders have shown me pieces of what Watkins pulls all together in this excellent text, that is both quickly accessible and usefully deep.
Not surprisingly, both these books are published by the Harvard Business School Press.

Carol Martinson to Speak on Food Safety at the August Meeting

2010-07-21T14:39:00.000-07:00

The August 12, 2010 meeting of MN ASIS will be held at the Supervalu East View Innovation Center, 7075 Flying Cloud Drive, Eden Prairie, MN 55344. Carol Martinson will speak on the important issue of Food Safety.

For those few of you who don't already know Carol she's Vice President of Asset Protection at Supervalu, a grocery and pharmacy retailer and supply chain company. She has security and asset protection management experience in the financial, big box retail, and food industry. Carol is a Certified Security Services Financial Professional, active in ASIS International, ISMA, IACFI, and has served on the planning commission and boards of Bank Administration Institute, Food Marketing Institute, and Crimestoppers, Inc.

Advance registration is required. Visit MN ASIS to sign up today! See you at Supervalu on Thursday, August 12, 2010, from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm.

Hennepin Avenue in Downtown Closing This Evening (21 July 2010) for Aquatennial Events

2010-07-21T09:32:00.000-07:00

Running with torches? I'd be somewhere else...

Hennepin Avenue in downtown Minneapolis will close this evening from 6 p.m. until approximately 10:30 p.m. for two Aquatennial events: the Lifetime Fitness Torchlight 5K race and the CenterPoint Energy Torchlight Parade.

Beginning at 6 p.m., Dunwoody Boulevard will be closed to traffic, including the Dunwoody exit ramp off Interstate 394.

Beginning at 7:15 p.m., Hennepin Avenue will be closed to traffic from Dunwoody Boulevard and Lyndale Avenue to Washington Avenue, which is the entire parade route. Some cross streets will also be closed at Hennepin Avenue.

These streets will reopen after the parade is finished at approximately 10:30 p.m.

If you are Downtown this evening, watch out for heavy pedestrian traffic and allow for additional time to get to your destination. The Minnesota Twins play an afternoon game that begins at 12:05 p.m.

A Miscellany of Security, Safety, and Leadership Resources

2010-07-16T13:11:00.000-07:00

Coaching and mentoring.

Leadership in challenging times.

Some deep thinking about the impact of surveillance on society.

The Do It Yourself Scholar is a pretty interesting concept for life long learners with more time than money.

Free online emergency management training.

Snopes is a handy site to use to debunk and deflate those silly chain email rumors.

Minnesota School Safety Center

Sample Security Staffing & Deployment guideline from IAHSS.

The Raptor Center at the University of Minnesota will provide assistance if you encounter an injured bird of prey - hawks, eagles, falcons, etc. - at your site.

Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) is the next big thing after the Corporate Security Officer (CSO) concept.

Social engineering techniques: 4 ways criminal outsiders get inside.

Severe Weather Radar With Faster Refresh

2010-07-16T13:05:00.000-07:00

Unlike the TV news websites the NOAA website updates its radar images every 5 minutes instead of every 15 or so, and even shows tornado warnings, severe thunder storm warnings, and other hazards with a 5 minute window. There's a little button that say "Auto Update is..." Make sure it says "Auto Update Is On" so you don't have to refresh the webpage manually to update the radar image.

Interdisciplinary Workshop on Security and Human Behaviour 2010

2010-06-28T08:25:00.000-07:00

Bruce Scheier reminds us the 3rd Annual Interdisciplinary Workshop on Security and Human Behaviour is underway at the University of Cambridge Computer Laboratory.

If you have any interest in "human side of security" - risk, social engineering, phishing, deception detection, etc. - the papers presented for 2008, 2009, and 2010 will keep you busy with thick and chewy reading for weeks.

CSO Online Proving To Be A Handy Resource

2010-06-28T07:25:00.000-07:00

I've been checking the CSO Daily Dashboard and it seems to be updated regularly and is free of advertisements. 11 of the 14 categories link directly to third party sources of information. The other three are clearly labeled as CSO Online pages.

At the bottom of the dashboard page are links to some other useful sites. Travel warnings from Travel.State.Gov is an old standby but good to have bookmarked. The corruption perceptions index offered by Transparency International is interesting reading. If you operate in the critical infrastructure space you probably already subscribe to updates from DHS Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report. The daily reports run 20-30 pages each but the contents are organized by category for your convenience.

City of Minneapolis Traffic Alerts Update Triple Play!

2010-06-24T13:49:00.000-07:00

Not the best weekend to be operating a car in Minneapolis...

Stretch of I-35W in Minneapolis to close June 25 weekend for ramp work

A stretch of I-35W between I-94 and Highway 280 will close for the weekend beginning at 10 p.m. on Friday, June 25. Southbound I-35W ramps on this stretch will close one hour earlier at 9 p.m. During the full closure of I-35W this weekend, motorists will be detoured to I-94 and Highway 280. Motorists should anticipate delays or plan on taking alternate routes. The roadway and ramps are scheduled to re-open at 5:30 a.m., Monday, June 28.
The closure is necessary as Minnesota Department of Transportation crews begin a major rehabilitation of the ramp from Interstate 94 to 5th Street in Minneapolis. The 5th Street ramp spans Interstate 35W and necessitates the closure. The ramp to 5th Street from westbound I-94 will be closed beginning at 8 p.m. June 25 and will remain closed until July 31. Motorists will be detoured to the 11th Street exit in order to access 5th Street. In addition, overnight I-35W lane closures will occur at I-94 during the week before and after the full closure. For real-time traveler information anywhere in Minnesota, visit 511mn.org.

Buses to replace light-rail service June 25-27 weekend

Road and rail maintenance work will affect light-rail service on a significant portion of the Hiawatha line the weekend of June 25-27. Buses will replace trains between Target Field Station and Fort Snelling Station from 10:30 p.m., Friday, June 25 until 3:30 a.m., Monday, June 28. Trains will operate normally between Fort Snelling Station and Mall of America Station. Buses will mirror the light-rail schedule during the shutdown, and Metro Transit staff will be at key locations to direct customers to their buses. In downtown Minneapolis, replacement bus service will operate on 4th Street. Light-rail service is being suspended on this portion of the Hiawatha line to allow road work at the Fifth Street exit ramp off of I-94 into downtown Minneapolis and for other rail maintenance along the line. During this time, platform edge tiles at Lake Street/Midtown Station will also be replaced. Full train service will be restored in time for the Monday morning rush hour. Metro Transit operates the Hiawatha Line. Customers boarded Hiawatha trains 4 million times during the first five months of 2010, 5.3 percent higher than the same period last year. Metro Transit is a service of the Metropolitan Council. Project updates will be available on the Rail Maintenance Hotline at 612-373-3333, option 6.

Several Downtown streets close for Sunday, June 27 Pride Parade

Minneapolis will close several streets in downtown on Sunday, June 27 for the Ashley Rukes GLBT Pride Parade. The following streets will be closed: Beginning at 8 a.m. 3rd Street South will close from Hennepin Avenue to Portland Avenue. Beginning at 10:30 a.m. Hennepin Avenue will close from 3rd Street South to Spruce Place. Traffic will be allowed to cross Hennepin Avenue at 4th, 5th, 7th, 10th, 11th and 12th streets. Spruce Place will close from Hennepin Avenue to Yale Place. Yale Place will close from Spruce Place to Loring Park. These streets will reopen following the parade at about 3 p.m.

Corporate Boards Weak On Security, But Improving

2010-06-24T06:56:00.000-07:00

From an Information Week article by Mathew J. Schwartz

"Study finds more than half of Fortune 1000 companies lack a CISO, but the number of organizations with cross-functional teams for managing security and privacy is up significantly."

The discussion is primarily about IT security and privacy governance issues, but who doubts that physical security issues are even less on the minds of corporate boards?

Skimmers Getting Smarter

2010-06-22T09:29:00.000-07:00

Brian Krebs reports on Sophisticated ATM Skimmer Transmits Stolen Data Via Text Message This new twist eliminates the need for the crooks to return to the skimmer to collect stolen credit and debit card numbers and PINs. This is shaping up to be quite the arms race.

Krebs on Security: In-Depth Security News and Investigation blog is worth a bookmark or an RSS feed subscription.

Would-Be Bombers In U.S. Hampered By Logistics

2010-06-21T11:19:00.000-07:00

In case your drive time radio is not tuned to NPR, or more precisely MPR...

Here's a thoughtful article by Nina Temple-Raston that aired on NPR on the many difficulties encountered by would be terrorists in the U.S. Here's wishing them even more confusion, frustration, poor training, and even worse logistics.

CSOonline Delivers

2010-06-21T10:18:00.000-07:00

I subscribe to a variety of security, safety, business continuity, and management online newsletters. Normally they are mostly chaff but today's email from CSOonline is chock full of timely topics...

Social engineering techniques criminals use to get inside your company.

Banning worthless car alarms is an idea whose time has come.

The concept of Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) gaining traction.

Not safe for work: What's acceptable computer use in today's office?

And the new CSO Daily Dashboard looks handy.

Give Real Change

2010-06-16T11:47:00.000-07:00

Give Real Change offers people and businesses in Minneapolis an opportunity to reduce panhandling, provide for the homeless, and serve the community, all at the same time. One hopes this approach moves the panhandling homeless off the public sidewalks and entrances to Minneapolis businesses towards the social service organizations where they can receive life changing assistance.

ASIS Private Security Officer Selection and Training Guideline

2010-06-08T09:00:00.000-07:00

ASIS Commission on Standards and Guidelines of ASIS International has just released the ASIS Private Security Officer Selection and Training Guideline, 2010 Edition If you're a member of ASIS you can download once for free. If you're not a member you'll need to pay for the report. ASIS standards and guidelines are setting the standard of care for security functions. Learn more today!

Manager - Emergency Management Position at Mayo Clinic

2010-06-04T10:47:00.000-07:00

Manager-Emergency Management

Mayo Clinic
Rochester, MN

Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, is seeking a proven leader to support Mayo Clinic committees and activities involved with emergency preparedness and response. In this position, you will make sure that processes are in place that ensure Mayo Clinic's compliance with applicable laws, and regulatory and accreditation bodies. The selected candidate will collaborate with functional areas at Mayo Clinic, direct staff in the administration of subprograms within Emergency Management, serve as a resource to internal committees and staff, maintain strict confidentiality, develop and implement strategic and tactical plans, prepare budgets, and hire and develop staff. The selected candidate will also collaborate with external organizations as needed.

The successful candidates will have a bachelor's degree in safety, emergency management, risk management, or a related field, 8 years' experience in related program management, 3 years' experience in asset protection or emergency management, effective communication and demonstrated leadership skills, PC proficiency, and the ability to build rapport, work in a matrix-type organizational structure, and thrive in a changing environment that requires regular upgrades in technical knowledge and skills. Emergency Manager, Safety Professional, Protection Professional, or other similar certification, is preferred.

Mayo Clinic, one of Fortune magazine's 100 Best Companies to Work For, offers an excellent salary and benefits package. To apply or learn more about this or other opportunities, please visit:

http://www.mayo-clinic-jobs.com/job/Manager-Emergency-Management-27205-Job/829899/

UPDATED TO ADD: This position has been filled.

What Your CEO Thinks

2010-05-26T12:43:00.000-07:00

In What Your CEO Thinks: As Recession Recedes, Security Execs Feel C-Suite Spotlight, Bill Zalud offers a wide-ranging analysis of business issues affecting corporate security professionals as the recession lightens. Interesting stuff.

The 394 Block Club Now Has a Website

2010-05-25T10:27:00.000-07:00

The 394 Block Club now has a website. If you, your business, your agency, or your clients reside in the Interstate 394 corridor please visit and bookmark the site. Let us know what you think.

MN ASIS June Training Webinar: Stand Out at Work

2010-05-21T14:13:00.000-07:00

MN ASIS Training Webinar: Stand Out at Work - New Techniques for Women

Are you struggling to figure out how to stand out in the crowd at work? Competition on the job seems to be increasing everywhere. It has transitioned from battling to keep your job to competing for the next promotion. After all, you have been working longer and harder with fewer resources. The economy is improving, revenues are up, and so is your performance, but it is easy to lose focus and momentum. STAND OUT to get an edge on your competition and change your destiny. In this hands-on, highly interactive session, you will learn new techniques as we engage in "Solution Solving."

Presented by leadership coach Natalie Runyon who specializes in communication skills development and team cohesion. Her background in the security industry working in a variety of different capacities, most recently on training and people development initiatives, have given her an intimate understanding of the unique leadership challenges women in the field face—particularly the balancing act between long-term goals and day-to-day priorities. Can a leader invest the time in creating autonomous, forward-thinking employees and still deliver on immediate goals? The answer is yes, and Natalie helps leaders strike that balance every day. As a coach, Natalie helps each client identify ineffective behaviors and offers simple techniques to adjust their style. Clients see a major payoff in performance.

Please join us for this professional development opportunity. The webinar will be hosted at Saint Mary’s University.

Webinar Date: Thursday, June 3rd, 2010

Meeting Time: 11:00am – 12:30pm CDT

Meeting Place: Saint Mary’s University, 2304 Park Avenue, Room 125, Minneapolis, MN 55404-4403

Cost to Attend: FREE for local members of MN ASIS

$35.00 for Non-members (Or precisely what you'd pay for an annual membership and free access to future webinars! Ask Lisa Mountain for more details.)

To RVSP by June 1, or if you have questions, or need further information about becoming a local member of MN ASIS, email Lisa Mountain.

Minneapolis SafeZone General Membership Meeting

2010-05-19T07:44:00.000-07:00

Minneapolis SafeZone General Membership Meeting

Wednesday, May 26 - Wednesday, May 26, 2010

10am - 11am

Downtown Minneapolis Public Library (Doty Room)

300 Nicollet Mall Minneapolis, MN 55401

Agenda and registration

Securing Parking Structures

2010-04-28T10:43:00.000-07:00

In Best Practices for Securing a Parking Lot or Garage, Joe Wenzl describes several common sense solutions for parking ramps.

A classic in the genre is Mary Smith's Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design in Parking Facilities published by NIJ all the way back in 1996 (not much has changed).

Of course in Minneapolis we've been abiding by the Minneapolis Parking Ramp Safety Design Criteria since 1990. Details of this ordinance (and St. Paul's) are found in Smith's article.

Bill Chandler: "Keeping Minnesota Ready"

2010-04-21T17:20:00.000-07:00

Bill Chandler will speak on "Keeping Minnesota Ready" at the ASIS MN monthly meeting on May 13, 2010!

Bill Chandler is the Homeland Security Branch Director of the Homeland Security and Emergency Management Division in the Minnesota Department of Public Safety since December 2008.

Reserve your seat and pre-register your attendance at the http://www.mnasis.org/meetings/meetings_speakerbio_2010_05.html Major credit cards are accepted. Pre-registration is required and must be received no later than May 5, 2010.

See you at the meeting!

Crime Stoppers of Minnesota

2010-04-08T12:57:00.000-07:00

Just got back from our monthly luncheon at our ASIS Minnesota Chapter. Our guest speaker, Bob Dennistoun, gave an excellent talk on the Crime Stoppers of Minnesota program. Did you know Crime Stoppers was founded in Minnesota, but has since spread to many communities across the country and to several countries around the world? Anonymous tips can be provided to Crime Stoppers via a toll free phone call, a test message, or email. The information is scrubbed of any information that might identify the provider and then is forwarded to the appropriate Minnesota law enforcement agency. Crime Stoppers has been told that a single tip can save investigators 100 hours of work! Of course most of us reading this blog probably don't know too many fugitives from justice but there is another way we can help Crime Stoppers of Minnesota. Running Crime Stoppers costs money. Perhaps you or your firm or your company's foundation would like to make a donation to fund this important public service. To do so please visit the Support Us page at the Crime Stoppers of Minnesota website. Remember, Crime Stoppers of Minnesota is an alternative to silence.

MN ASIS: April Chapter Meeting April 8, 2010

2010-03-23T07:47:00.000-07:00

Robert Dennistoun will speak on Crime Stoppers of Minnesota

Robert Dennistoun of Crime Stoppers of Minnesota will be our featured speaker for the April Chapter Meeting. Robert serves as the Executive Director of Crime Stoppers of Minnesota. He is an employee of Hannon Security Services, Inc., a Bloomington based regional security company, on loan to the non-profit Crime Stoppers of Minnesota. Crime Stoppers of Minnesota is designed to collect information anonymously about crime, and give that information to law enforcement to investigate. His role as Executive Director is to build awareness in the public about Crime Stoppers, coordinate with law enforcement tip information that is collected, and to raise funds for operations and to pay rewards. He is well known to the Minnesota ASIS chapter as he has served on the Board and as Chapter President. He came to Crime Stoppers with 20 years experience in the private security industry managing a $12 million operation of 450 employees, and before that worked in the computer and communications industries.

Please visit the ASIS Minnesota Chapter #25 to reserve your seat and pre-register your attendance online. Major credit cards are accepted. Pre-registration is required and must be received no later than March 30, 2010. If you have questions or need further information, email Lisa Mountain.
Meeting Date: April 8, 2010
Meeting Time: 11:30 – 1:00
Meeting Place: Zuhrah Shrine Center located at 2540 Park Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55404-4403.
Cost to Attend: $25 to attend the meeting, lunch will be provided.

Complimentary Reciprocal Links with the 394 Block Club

2010-03-17T13:26:00.000-07:00

The 394 Block Club has mentioned ASIS Minnesota Chapter 025 business on several occasions so it seems only fair to refer MN ASIS blog readers who reside in the 394 corridor to this community oriented security resource.

MN ASIS Chapter Volunteers Needed

2010-03-17T12:43:00.000-07:00

We need chapter volunteers to staff the MN ASIS booth at Secure360 http://www.secure360.org/ on May 11-12, 2010. We need four more volunteers; each to fill a 4 hour shift. Please reply to Michael Brady at michael_brady_cpp@yahoo.com if you would like to help. Thanks!

There is No Joy in Mudville

2010-03-15T10:44:00.000-07:00

The MN ASIS Chapter #025 bid for the 2010 Roy Bordes Award for Physical Security was passed over in favor of the Edmonton and Northern Alberta Chapter #156 submission. If theirs was the best it must have been really spectacular. There were only two dozen chapters that applied. With odds like that we'll have to try again next year!

MN ASIS Blog

2010-03-10T10:29:00.000-08:00

ASIS Minnesota Chapter serves our communities and ASIS members. Chapter members represent a wide spectrum of local businesses, security industries and local government. We promote networking and educational opportunities for professional development. Members and guests are invited to attend our scheduled chapter meetings.

ASIS International is an organization of security professionals with over 35,000 members and 204 chapters worldwide. Founded in 1955, American Society for Industrial Security (ASIS) is dedicated to increasing the effectiveness and productivity of security professionals by developing educational programs and materials that address broad security interests. Benefits of joining are networking, professional certificates, educational classes, audio conferences, monthly magazine, and online resources.

ASIS Minnesota Chapter monthly meetings are held the second Thursday of each month 11:30am - 1:00pm at the Zuhrah Shrine Center located at 2540 Park Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55404-4403. Cost to attend the meeting is $25; lunch is provided. Please RSVP. Email Lisa Mountain to pre-register for an upcoming event.

Beginning in 2010 the ASIS Minnesota Chapter will have a annual chapter membership. The membership dues for 2010 are $35. Benefits include free access to webinars, your name and email posted on the website directory and keeping the chapter vibrant. To become a member of the ASIS Minnesota Chapter, download and fill out the Membership Form and make your check payable to ASIS Minnesota Chapter. Mail the completed form along with your payment to: ASIS Minnesota, c/o Tracy Hover – Shred Right, 862 Hersey Street, St. Paul, MN 55114. You may also bring the form and payment to the next ASIS Minnesota Chapter meeting and submit to any of the board members.