May, 2020 - Global Threat Solutions

Global Threat Solutions Interview with Troublemakers Podcast

Listen to the Podcast here: https://troublegroup.com/ken-bombace-troublemaker-at-global-threat-solutions/

I’ve always gotten the greatest learning from examples at the edges – the extreme cases. Ken Bombace and his team at Global Threat Solutions are busy re-inventing just such an industry.

ABOUT EXECUTIVE PROTECTION

Successful entrepreneurs are careful to differentiate their businesses from competitors. Ken will be quick to tell you the protection, investigation, and due diligence services company is 100% veteran owned. That is one of his favorite innovations.

The company uses the phrase “Executive Protection” rather than the standard “Bodyguard.” Not meaning any offense to bodyguards Ken says, “We don’t use the term bodyguard in this industry. Quite frankly, to people in the executive protection industry, it’s offensive. It rings of somebody who thinks we’re like, a bouncer.”

You might think Ken’s use of a more elevated term like Executive Protection means he and his team only handle the big stuff, he’s quick to point out that his team is trained to handle every detail of an engagement. That includes carrying bags from the airport to the vehicle. It also includes high awareness of any issue that might inconvenience a client. In any big city, the airports and highways get crowded. Picking up a client from Teterboro Airport and getting them to Wall Street with just minutes to spare can be high stress. Ken’s team is trained to handle it.

NOTABLE QUOTES

“Some of the larger firms have a “more distant” relationship with the clients. Executive Protection is a very personal business.”

“Perseverance. Never quitting is the number one attribute for any successful entrepreneur.”

“The senior leadership of the business has to be within immediate reach of the principals we’re protecting.”

“No matter how busy we have become, I monitor all communications threads for every protection detail we have going, all the time.”

Replace the above phrases like Executive Protection with your industry phrases. Do you feel this strongly about your profession? You might want to look into that.

EXPERIENCE MATTERS

Ken leads off the podcast with his EXTENSIVE background. He also leads his sales pitch the same way. In this industry, someone who’s been in the world’s worst security situations is precisely who you want protecting your diplomats, top executives, and loved ones. Sit through the entire opening and I bet you’ll be ready to hire Global Threat Solutions.

THE MIND OF A TROUBLEMAKER

One of my favorite stories from Ken is how he turned a standard magazine interview on its head and into a huge PR opportunity. (Read the full story on the GTS blog). Without giving to much away, Ken was approached to be interviewed for a magazine. Rather than just be interviewed over the phone, he offered to pick up the reporter and treat her like a V.I.P. for a day. She was met at the West 30th Street Heliport, whisked downtown to the 9/11 memorial, and then off to lunch uptown and an imaginary meeting. She got the full treatment and learned much more about the Executive Protection business than she would have.

Ken isn’t sitting on his many laurels. His next move with GTS is to shake up the standard EP training. He’s just launched an online training course, and he launched it fast. As Ken well knows, many times speed to market is the deciding factor. This course opens up huge new geographic opportunities for the company.

When asked “why are you the one to shake up the industry?” Ken makes it clear that he’s a student of business success and a voracious reader on the subject.

Entrepreneurs (especially the troublemaking kind) are almost always on the lookout for marketing, networking and sales opportunities. That’s likely why Ken jumped at the opportunity to do this podcast, and I’m certainly glad he did.

By the way, if you click that Email link above, it goes to Ken’s personal work email address. He’s that serious!

The Show Must Go On – What Will Protection Services Look Like in the New Normal?

As countries around the world prepare to return to business following the worse pandemic since 1918, the Protection Services industry is working hard to adjust to the new normal. Following the COVID crisis, Executive Protection providers will need to adjust to the reality of new government regulations, the requirements of clients concerning social distancing and PPE, changes in travel procedures, new required equipment and an expanded role as it pertains to sanitizing procedures.

To be sure, this is not the first time the Protective Services sector has had to adjust procedures due to the impact of world events. Following 9/11 our industry had to adjust to a new normal that included restrictive travel procedures that included the creation of the Department of Homeland Security. Additionally, protective intelligence operations needed to adjust the very real possibility of terrorist attacks that posed a potential threat to Principals. Corporate EP leadership also had to be included in the rapidly expanding importance of Business Continuity planning. As with our response to the attacks of 9/11, I am confident that our industry will once again adjust fire and move forward with the mission without pause.

It is impossible to accurately predict the overall impact that the COVID crisis will have on the Protection industry, but there are some issues that are sure to become a key requirements for clients as we move beyond the initial phases of the pandemic. I have listed some of the anticipated and already implemented operational changes that have become important to clients:

· Social Distancing monitoring and enforcement

· Regular sanitizing of vehicles

· Sanitizing of hotels and residences as part of advance site visits

· Protective Intelligence with a COVID threat assessment for locations and venues

· Testing of protective detail members/staff within proximity to the Principal

· Training on sanitizing procedures

· Obtaining in-house sanitizing equipment and maintain ample supply of PPE

· Shift to virtual meetings to reduce threat of in-person meetings

· Online team training to reduce exposure to Protective Detail members

As with all industries, there will be different requirements for different clients. Some Principals will resist changes to their usual operating procedures, lifestyle and travel habits. It is, of course, our mission to brief them on the threats that exist and the impact it can have on their personal health and their respective firms. Ultimately, we will do what we have always done in the Protective Services industry, adjust to the specific needs and preferences of our clients. The challenge for those in our field will be to do so in a professional and seamless manner.

Finally, we must not become hyper focused on the crisis at hand and leave our clients and our own companies vulnerable to the next threat. As health professionals develop treatments and vaccines and bring the COVID crisis under control, we must be sure to always dedicate resources to forecasting the next threat and mitigate the impact it will have on our clients. After all, that is what our industry is all about.

Kenneth Bombace – Chief Executive Officer – Global Threat Solutions Companies

www.linkedin.com/in/kenbombace

Global Threat Solutions, LLC

“Peace of Mind in Uncertain Times”

www.globalthreatsolutions.com