Hannon Security is one of the founding members of the newly formed National Security Alliance (NSA). The concept of the Alliance was the brainchild of Nicholas Luciano, Vice President of Hannon Security Services. Born after one of Hannon’s long time customers developed a need for security coverage outside the State of Minnesota, Nick offered his help to find a reliable security company to fill their needs. Nicks’ search led him to Kim King, President & CEO of King Security Services in San Francisco, CA.

Nick flew out to San Francisco to meet Kim and examine her operation. What he found was a company the same size as Hannon that shared exactly the same philosophies about how to service customers and treat their employees. Nick says, “In the few days I was there, we shared a lot of information about each of our companies and we both took away a lot of valuable insight into each other’s operation. It sounds awkward, but by sharing proprietary information with a competitor we benefited greatly.”

Both Kim and Nick thought that by adding other companies to the mix it would greatly expand their capabilities to service customers on a national basis using the best regional providers in their specific markets. So far, twelve privately owned and highly regarded contract security companies have joined the strategic alliance.

“This is one way Hannon Security can offer more value to our customers. If we can help our customers who have offices in other markets find security companies like Hannon, it is a win- win situation” said Nick. Through the NSA, the combined companies employ over 10,350 employees, are licensed in 33 States and have 75 branch offices. We are still researching companies to help us fill the void in States where we don’t have a partner.

The network of NSA member companies is able to provide security officer services, special event security and risk management solutions for a wide range of industries across the nation, including but not limited to: property management, residential communities, corporate office facilities, retail stores, manufacturing and industrial plants, and warehousing facilities.

The other members of the NSA include Advantage Security of Denver, Colorado; RSIG Security of Detroit, Michigan; RSIG Security of Boston, Massachusetts; Anderson Security Agency of Phoenix, Arizona and Las Vegas, Nevada; Vinson Guard of New Orleans, Louisiana; Executive Security of Dallas, Texas; Per Mar Security Services of Davenport, Iowa; BuildingStar Security of New York, New York and Puget Sound Security of Bellevue, Washington.

To learn more about the alliance visit www.nationalsecurityalliance.net

Right now, on the Web and in e-mail, scammers are telling consumers they can help them qualify for a payment from President Obama's economic stimulus package.  All they have to do is provide a little information or a small payment.

E-mail messages may ask for bank account information so that the operators can deposit consumers' share of the stimulus directly into their bank account.  Instead, the scammers drain consumers' accounts of money and disappear.  Or bogus e-mail may appear to be from government agencies and ask for information to "verify" that you qualify for a payment.  The scammers use that information to commit identity theft.  Some e-mail scams don't ask for information, but provide links to find out how to qualify for funds.  By clicking on the links, consumers have downloaded malicious software or spyware that can be used to make them a victim of identity theft.  

Consumers who may already have fallen for these scams should carefully check their credit card bills for unauthorized charges and report the scam to the FTC.

Source: www.ftc.gov

There has been huge growth in the popularity of security-related programs since 2002, when the Department of Homeland Security was created, says David Silverberg, editor of the trade magazine Homeland Security Today. The programs began popping up at community colleges and online-only institutions five or six years ago, and now they are being offered at some of the nation's most prestigious universities. "Homeland security has developed as a discipline, and it took time for people to realize that it was a discipline," Silverberg says. "People think of homeland security as just screeners at the airport, and it is way more than that." In the spring of 2007, Homeland Security Today published its first educational directory, with a list of 81 institutions with homeland security programs. The most recent directory, published last fall, had nearly twice that number. Silverberg says the growth in academic programs mirrors the job market. The Department of Homeland Security, a labyrinthine federal department made up of 22 agencies with more than 200,000 employees, is just the beginning, he adds. Every state has its own homeland security framework, and job seekers in the private sector, even in seemingly unrelated fields such as nursing and law, find the courses are a résumé builder, he says. Offerings range from vocational certificates earned in a few weeks to advanced degrees.

Source: USA Today

Representatives from California and Michigan have introduced The Child Protection Improvements Act of 2009, to help create a nationally available background check system for youth serving organizations. The legislation will help enable organizations such as The Boys and Girls Clubs of America, to perform quick, accurate, and affordable background checks on volunteers and employees. Former Board Member of Big Brothers and Big Sisters of America and California Representative Adam Shiff stated, "We are fortunate to live in a country where millions of volunteers generously make time to participate in community service. But with so many volunteers working with children we need to ensure that child predators are not preying on innocent children through the guise of volunteerism. Children’s safety is paramount, and we need to make certain that those working with our youth have been thoroughly and properly screened.” The current legislation proposed would establish universal access to nationwide background searches, by creating a criminal background check designee to process background checks on all prospective employees and volunteers. It will also help establish more efficient ways for a local youth serving organization to obtain both a state and FBI check through one central clearinghouse, while still keeping cost as low as possible for non profit organizations.

Source: The American Chronicle

Did you know… The world’s tallest waterfall called Angel Falls, is taller than five (5) Washington Monuments stacked up. It is located in Canaima National Park in Bolivar State, along Venezuela’s border with Brazil.