Conversations in Close Protection

Lauren Wygant's path might sound familiar: from high school athlete to becoming a secret agent and, eventually, a corporate security specialist. However, Lauren's journey has been purposeful and deliberate. Throughout her personal and professional life, she has remained deeply connected to her "why," serving as a guiding force. Having previously worked as a human intelligence specialist in the Cen...

It's July Shop Talk, and there's much to cover. This time we find the team discussing the recent conferences they have attended and Russian events, including the recent change of venue by the Wagner Group, an assassination attempt on Putin, and a "resurgence" of wet work activity. They also discuss recent decisions by the Supreme Court affecting threat management and protective intelligence, assau...

Join the team as they explore the genesis of the Marine Corps Hunter program (established in 2007 by General James "Mad Dog" Mattis to equip Marines with cutting-edge combat skills) with Arcadia Cognerati's Greg Williams and Brian Marren. Greg Williams, a highly experienced veteran and intelligence leader, shaped the Combat Hunter program. With a decorated career spanning over three decades, vario...

Practitioner, Mother, Author, Producer, Publisher, Philanthropist, Entrepreneur, Spouse, and Partner are a few ways to describe Alana Stott. In our discussion, the recently inducted Member of The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) talks about her passion for excellence and what it takes to keep a security business, and brand, moving forward. Author and philanthropist, she is a fully...

It's been a hot minute, so the team discusses current headlines affecting the security industry. As well as catching up, the conversation centers around a few recent articles highlighting deteriorating risk levels in big cities and the consequences on people, assets, and security providers. Conversations around AI and the resurrection of the monthly EP risk report are also had. Please give us your...

As the first quarter ends, your CiCP team gathers to talk about the headlines and discuss interesting and poignant news. It's a cavalcade of continuing conversations that include ramifications from power grid attacks, letterbombs sent to journalists, the 2023 annual threat assessment, Haiti, a new U.K. security agency that aims to assist the community and corporations, Russian spies in Mexico, thr...

  Shawn Ryan has traversed multiple paths - US Navy Seal, Cleared Contractor for the Department of State and the Central Intelligence Agencies, Real Estate Broker, and Tactical Trainer - he has pursued a series of passions resulting in the creation of the wildly popular long-form youtube channel and interview podcast, "The Shawn Ryan Show."  On his show, Shawn helps bring out more profound stories...

Diversity is an essential topic in the workplace, and the security field is no different. This week we are joined by Eric Jorgenson and Yari Mcbride from Concentric Advisors, Elizabeth Springs from Uber, and Shannon Gibson from a private family office as we discuss diversity across the board. Originally, this was the Close Protection Conference panel subject, and we felt it would be more impactful...

We are well into the second month of 2023, and there is no shortage of topics and trending news bytes to examine.  This month's Shop Talk has the team discussing risks identified by various former US homeland Security Executives - Is Run, Hide, Fight outdated - Hazards to religious organizations - Threats to Public Officials, and John Wick's Stalker—this and more from your CiCP team.  Please give...

Bodyguards for Kids fundraising event for the children of St. Jude is a two-day virtual educational event on March 18 & 19. the activity will bring over 15 subject matter experts from different countries to provide talks and presentations on industry-specific topics, and 100% of all proceeds will go directly to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.    The CiCP team sits down with founders Denida...

From Private Detective to Protective Intelligence Technologist Tom (TK) Kopecky has used an expeditionary mindset to help direct and focus the work.  From a stint working for the state of Illinois to crafting the protective intelligence strategies for high net-worth individuals, he has managed his career with one eye on the operational activities and another on refinement, seemingly weaponizing le...

CiCP starts the year with a Sesquipedalian episode examining issues and events affecting the security and risk industry.  The team discusses dusting off protocols for working with Law Enforcement, FBI warnings concerning threats against minors, and compounding issues from the January 6th riots.  They also consider the gaps in risk management, highlighted by the recent NYE Times Square incident, TS...

Education and training are essential elements in all jobs - doubly so for the protective security industry and those involved in more martial sectors. Owning the basic skillsets of the job is something practitioners must relentlessly pursue in an effort to prevent the unforeseen from rearing its head.   Miyamoto Musashi said, " A thousand days of training to develop, ten thousand days of training...

It's Christmas Eve... Eve and the team get together to have our annual "what to watch in your downtime" discussion.  Join Chuck, Chris, and Aaron as we muse over Christopher McQuarrie's "Way of The Gun." We discuss tactics, plot, why James Caan's character is fantastic, and invent a new game involving "John Wick."  Happy Holidays to all!  Let us know what you are going to watch at protectiontalk@o...

The International Protective Security Board's (IPSB) annual Close Protection Conference has just concluded, and the team gives their take on this year's gathering.  From the presentations to the fantastic sponsors and exhibitors area, Chuck and Chris discuss their quick interpretations and why they remain excited about everything within the protective industry. Join the conversation and give us yo...

The idea of the " international practitioner " is a goal often sought by many in the security, protection, and risk industry. While achievable, it requires adaptability and the presence of mind to see opportunities and not allow yourself to be stuck. On this "close protection week," we catch up with EP Wired founder and SCS - Security Crisis Solutions' Executive Director, Oran Ben Simon. OBS discu...

We all deal with setbacks. Small or large, they often cause us to doubt our actions, ability, and even values unconsciously. Without even realizing it - a reversal of momentum can have long-lasting effects on career and personal growth. Join us as we discuss dealing with bureaucratic machines, starting a security consultancy, and maintaining your core values with Alchemy Global's Managing Director...

Risk encompasses many vectors. This week we step back to gain insight and awareness into three different but tangentially essential elements in risk management; protective, cyber, and privacy. Joined by Asymmetric Response's Tom Ryan and Privacy Attorney Jen Sander, the team discusses converged threats, response, and management best practices. Please give us your feedback at protectiontalk@outlook...

It's been a minute, but the team is back to examine recent and relevant events to protectors, practitioners, and the more significant risk and security industry. This month the team discusses efforts to bring security to Haiti, Shinzo Abe assassination probes, a break-in and assault at House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's home, and The hacking of the New York Post's Twitter feed.  We riff on insider threa...

Imagine waking up in the middle of the night to a threat standing in your bedroom doorway . With no prior training or experience, that is precisely the moment Donna Miles and her then-husband faced. Listen to her harrowing story, learn how the couple reacted, and how she used it to reshape her life, empower others to manage their mindset, and become hard targets. Find out more about Donna's work o...

With the team on the road, Chuck managed to grab multiple protectors and have a quick discussion about GSX '22 and the industry. Join the conversation and send your thoughts to protectiontalk@outlook.com

GSX is leading this month's early edition of shoptalk as your CiCP team discusses issues of interest to the protective risk community. Join the team and listen in as they discuss the recent attempt to assassinate the VP (and former President) of Argentina, the targeting of an heiress,  Alicia Keys brush with her audience,  HNW prepping, positive feedback from the protector community (no seriously)...

From a Devil Dog to a global security leader, Matt Bohatch has used flexibility and personal awareness as foundational principles in his career. Joining the United States Marine Corps when it was pretty certain you would find yourself in a combat theater, Matt used the skills he acquired as a Marine Embassy Security Guard to launch a successful close-protection career. Matt discusses his decision...

Risks continue, which means there is never a lack of issues for the team to discuss.  Please join the conversation as the team CiCP examines recent developments in Haiti, assassination attempts and attacks, and why protectors should take that recent Apple cyber security announcement seriously.  We take time to discuss risk as a tool for network expansion, risk monitoring, the power of NSTRs, and c...

From a desire to enter the sportscasting arena, Wendy Bashnan quickly pivoted to a life in Law Enforcement fueled by a desire to be in Diplomatic Security.  Wendy takes a career worth of experience and talks to the team about what she learned and how she used those lessons to pivot into a corporate security leadership role with a Fortune 500 organization.  Grab your pencils and get ready...