Living The Dream

Living the dream….

?This month (September), marks 40 years in the security industry for me. I started in NY as a bouncer in 1982 eating pasta and pop tarts to get by and 40 years later as I write this, I am sitting in a $5000 a night villa in San Diego with my Principal next door, eating a $90 steak. I moved up quickly in the security industry. From bouncer to head of security for all the clubs, then to escorting talent performing in the clubs (my first E.P. gigs!). This led to a Security Director position at an entertainment-based company through a contact I had made in the clubs (Networking!). Even with no experience, I landed the job which relocated me to CA. I was traveling all over the U.S. handling E.P. for the high profile celebrities that this entertainment-based company had at their events. Eventually, I started networking with other people I was meeting and more security gigs came my way. I was doing very well for myself with security but then took a left turn and went into law enforcement. I went from a very nice six figure salary to $37,500 as a police officer (You gotta follow your heart!) I continued to work in the security field when I could as armed security while still a police officer. When I retired from law enforcement, I decided I wanted to specialize in Executive Protection. I researched the field and discovered that I couldn’t just show up and be given the job anymore just because I was ‘big’. I needed to have skills. I needed training. I needed contacts. I needed to network. I needed to know what 'Emotional Intelligence' was. I needed to reinvent myself as the industry had really changed during my tenure in law enforcement.?

?If I was going to be serious about Executive Protection, I needed to invest in myself. So, I signed up for and attended the LaSorsa & Associates 9-day Executive Protection course in Miami. This was the first of many schools I’ve taken since but still one of my absolute favorites. It ignited the fire for me. Learning, networking, skill building, reading, attending conventions, and gaining experience. As my skill set grew, I updated my resume and my phone started ringing. In the last 16 years since retiring from law enforcement, I have made a concerted effort to invest in myself?and?back into this industry as often as possible. As a result, I am ‘Living the Dream’ in Executive Protection.?

?‘Living the Dream’ for me, includes traveling to 39 countries, 48 states and numerous islands. I have escorted Principals down the red carpet at The Oscars and escorted Principals through the jungles of Panama. I got to land on the deck of an aircraft carrier (with a Principal) and then got catapulted off the side the very next day. I’ve done Covert, Overt, Lo-Pro, surveillance and uniformed security. I’ve done E.P. for individuals who became President, Royalty, CEO’s, celebrities, sports figures & UHNW Principals. I sat in the Captain’s chair of the USS Enterprise (Star Trek) and I’ve sat in the Captain’s chair on a $200 million dollar yacht. I’ve seen and heard things I still can’t discuss but it is exciting to know about them long before they come to fruition. I’ve driven celebrities in their half million-dollar cars, and I’ve snuck celebrities in and out of places in a rented minivan. I’ve guarded people, guitars, cars, airplanes, multimillion dollar homes, children, jewelry, artwork, staff & entourage, food, luggage, and businesses. I’ve made $10 an hour and I’ve made $1200 an hour. I’ve eaten at Michelin Star restaurants, and I’ve eaten at McDonalds. I’ve done halls and walls, Security Driver, RST, advances, E.P., taught classes at a recognized school, mentored others in the industry, written a few articles, earned my CPP and worked special event security positions. I try to never say no. I always try to represent the industry well. A lot of it was hard work and I wouldn’t trade a minute of any of it.

?So why do I mention all these things??

?A good portion of all the things that I’ve mentioned, came as a result of the training and investing I’ve done in both myself and into this industry. And now, 40 years in, I want to give back to someone else who is deserving but just needs a leg up in this industry to start living the dream. So, starting today, I am offering up a ‘Living the Dream’ scholarship to the 9-day LaSorsa & Associates Executive Protection course of your choice in Miami in 2023 which is where I got my start in Executive Protection. This is a $5700 value! The hotel, the course and most meals are covered.?All you have to do is get there. The scholarship opportunity opens now and ends on December 1st?at midnight (Pacific). The winner of the scholarship will be announced at the LaSorsa & Associates booth at IPSB in Vegas on December 9th via a live stream and/or social media posting (As well as an email to the winner). The scholarship requirements are listed below.?

?There are 3 steps to be eligible:

?1-Preliminary: Go to the LaSorsa & Associates website (Lasorsa.com)?and pick the 2023 training date you are interested in. Make sure you include the date and EP training you are interested in, in the information sent in step #2. If you need to switch dates at a later time, that is acceptable as long as it is still within the 2023 year.

?2-?Invest in yourself:?Write an essay describing why you want this scholarship and how you think it will help you in your career. See the essay requirements posted below. Additionally, include a copy of your resume and a personal recommendation from an experienced EP practioner in your submission. Send requested documents, in email form, to?[email protected]. Include your resume as an attachment. Everything else should be in the body of the email.?

?3-?Invest in the industry:?Write an informative social media post about any topic you like and post it on the Protective Security Group board on Facebook. The only requirement here is that you must connect it back to Executive Protection. If underwater basket weaving is your thing and you can somehow show how it benefits the EP community, write about that. The post must appear on the Protective Security Group Facebook board before the deadline, and you must tag me so I can see it. Once I read your social media post and receive your essay which includes the training dates, recommendation & resume, your submission will be complete.

?The winner of the scholarship will be decided and announced at the LaSorsa & Associates booth at IPSB on December 9th, 2022. It will be social media posted on that day to the Protective Security Group Facebook board. A special thanks goes out to the following people who helped me put this all together (as well as contributed to my success in this career); Joe LaSorsa, Aaron Mauldin, Gerard Boniello and Joe Autera.?

?The essay requirements are listed below:

?Scholarship Program Overview

Essay Guidance:

This Scholarship is intended to give professional practitioners, from newcomers to those with experience, the opportunity to attend one of the LaSorsa & Associates training courses in 2023 tuition free. This scholarship offer expires on the last day of 2023 and must be used prior to that date. Please note that scholarship recipient is responsible for any and all travel-related expenses. This scholarship is awarded on a competitive basis, meaning each applicant will be competing with others for the scholarship of their choice. Each award is based on the following:

?? Applicant’s professional experience, with preference going to those with less experience. If you are just in this industry temporarily until something else comes through, or just for a paycheck, then preference will go to a practioner who is looking to make a career out of Executive Protection.

? The content and context of the Applicant’s written essay (see Essay Guidelines below for more information)

? The recommendation of an experienced practitioner (Recommender’s contact information MUST be provided by the applicant; see Scholarship Application for more information).

All complete submission packages submitted by the application deadline will be reviewed by me and I reserve all rights in regard to the consideration of application packages and the award of scholarships.?ALL AWARD DECISIONS ARE FINAL.

Deadline 12/01/2022 @ midnight. Email to send documents to is:?[email protected]

Application Guidance

Incomplete applications will be rejected, and the applicant’s package will NOT be considered.

Each applicant must submit a written essay describing:

? their motivation for pursuing a career in the protection profession

? their professional goals and objectives

? how they believe attending the course they are seeking a scholarship for will help them achieve those goals and accomplish those objectives

This is not a creative writing contest, but rather an opportunity for the applicant to demonstrate to the Review Committee their level of professionalism, as well as the desire for, and commitment to, a career in the protection profession.

Communication skills are essential to success in the profession and reflect on the person who is communicating, so please be clear, concise, and use proper grammar and punctuation.

The maximum acceptable length of the essay is 1500 words. There is no minimum length, but each of the required points must be adequately addressed.

Recommendation

Applicant must provide a written reference from a professional practitioner (i.e. an individual who is currently working, full or part-time, in the protection field) for at least two (2) years. Alternatively, a reference from a security professional with no less than five (5) years of supervisory or managerial experience IN THE SECURITY FIELD is acceptable. Please note that preference will be given to those applicants with recommendations from protection professionals.

RECOMMENDATIONS WILL BE VERIFIED on all applicants being considered for a scholarship based on the merits of their essay.

It is not necessary for references to be a former graduate of Lasorsa and Associates or someone with whom the Review Committee is acquainted.

? Scholarships, once awarded, are not transferable to any other individual.

?? Scholarship recipients are ineligible for future scholarship programs

?? Scholarships are only valid for the course dates for which they were awarded (legitimate hardship exceptions such as a medical emergency, death in the family, etc., will be considered on a case-by-case basis)

? Scholarship recipient is responsible for any and all travel related expenses

? Only individuals may apply (i.e. business entities and/or third party organizations are not

eligible)

Award notification will be sent via email but will also be posted on social media.

Scholarship recipient MUST respond in writing, within 5 business days that they have accepted the scholarship they were eligible to receive. Otherwise, I reserve the right to award the scholarship to an alternate recipient.

For Further Information

Candidates may submit any questions, or requests for additional information they might have via email to?[email protected]

Please note that we will not respond to requests for information via Facebook, LinkedIn, etc., nor will we address questions via telephone.

Aaaaaaannnnnndddddddd GO!!!!