In the coming year MI Security Training and The Bodyguard Academy will become one and will be under the umbrella of a new company….Threat Security Group.  We are currently in the final stages of submitting to the State of Michigan our application for licensure as a Private Security Guard Agency. According to the State’s website this process could take from 12 – 16 weeks. With the upcoming Christmas and New Year’s holidays we are hoping to have this all finalized by Spring 2012.

After much discussion with someone I trust, we have decided the time is right to move forward with this process. Essentially, Threat Security Group will be the primary focus with both MI Security Training and The Bodyguard Academy handling the training needs of both client and staff. A new website will be developed in the coming weeks which will incorporate much from the www.MISecuritytraining.com and www.TheBodyguardAcademy.com sites.  A decision has not been made if we will close those sites, but if we do we have all intentions of keeping ownership of the two domain names.

Many are most likely asking what will be our focus of operations; well I know I am not looking to do static security; i.e. uniformed security services; but I will not say that we will not go that route if we see fit. Our main areas of security we wish to delve into is that of executive protection, threat and risk assessment and management, stalker and harasser mitigation and both special event and conference security.  Additionally, we will make our services available for witness protection and transportation along with helping the victims of domestic violence.

My desire is to make this one of the top providers of high end security in the future. I know this will not happen overnight and will take me time and much effort to get there, but with the support of my wife Nancy, and her business knowledge I feel this is something that can be accomplished.  Baby steps.

As many of you who have read prior blogs know, I am big on training and that of having a well trained security staff not just a warm body. With this in mind I plan on ensuring that everyone who works for me is both well suited and well trained for the position they will be standing. While Michigan has no training standards for PPS, and very limited for security officers, that is one area I will not skimp on. I truly believe that the Commonwealth of Virginia has it right when it comes to both private security training standards and registration. My plan is to take what they have developed for training requirements for both security officers and personal protection specialists and use them as my company’s standards. Just having a CCW does not make one an armed security officer or personal protection specialist. It’s not all about the gun.

Along with training comes finding the right people and putting them in the correct position based on their training and experience. There was a question in one of the LindedIn groups I belong to about the security officer having more experience and knowledge then their supervisor. Sometimes this can be the right match depending on the client and responsibilities of both supervisor and officer. Can this happen in my company? It could and it just may dependent upon the needs of the assignment. If I have someone who is good at the admin side and someone who is good on the operations side, guess what, that admin guy just may be the boss while I let the operator, operate.

So in closing, look for changes to occur in 2012, good changes! Have a wonderful and joyous Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Be safe!