Executive Protection in Florida and More

ESS Global Corp specializes in Executive Protection in Florida and more, with a presence in Tampa, Orlando, Miami, Jacksonville, West Palm beach and more.

Executive Protection in Florida and More

Being a corporate executive may not be as stressful as you may think, but it’s certainly dangerous. Or at least, that’s a reasonable conclusion based on the money companies spend protecting their top executives.
Executive compensation reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission over the past several years reveals how much companies spend to protect their top executives.
Oracle, spends about $2 million/year protecting Chief Executive Larry Ellison. Google spends over $500,000 protecting Chief Executive Eric Schmidt. Disney over $1 million for Mr. Eisner.
More and more frequently, large companies are accepting security expenditures as a necessary cost of doing business. Top executives are the company’s most valuable assets, and they need to treat them accordingly. In the Ford Annual Proxy Report they Ford states that, “the benefits of providing these programs outweigh the relatively minor costs associated with them.” Ford spends over $1 million a year protecting its top executives and members of the Ford family.

Executive Protection ESS Global Corp - On The Job
Executive Protection ESS Global Corp – On The Job

Executive Protection in Florida – ESS Global

An executive will contract with a security company such as ESS Global Corp to provide guards at their home, both for screening visitors as well as stationed around the perimeter and inside the property. And it’s not just corporate executives; politicians, celebrities, athletes, and more are hiring executive protection specialists.
The risks increase when people travel and even more so if that travel is outside the US, as is often the case with celebrities. Most hire additional manpower when they travel to high-crime countries. The executive protection guards use secure drivers, plan secure routes, and investigate cars, limos, even the corporate jet for potential security breaches such as unidentified luggage.
Agents scout out hotels, meeting rooms, restaurants, venues and more in advance.
“People need to remember”, says Theodore Billiris, CEO of ESS Global Corp, “everyday situations in relatively safe locations are not totally risk free. It doesn’t matter if the threat is planned or opportunistic. Incidents affecting personal safety, both directly and indirectly, can and do occur every day. This threat is heightened with travel outside the perceived safety of the home.”
ESS Global Corp clients benefit from:

  • Customized Risk Assessments
  • Close Protection Agent Availability Across The US, As Well As Globally
  • Secure Ground Transportation
  • Travel Planning and Protection
  • Private Aircraft Protection
  • Special Event Security
  • Venue Security and Protection

ESS Global Corp will take every precaution when it comes to protecting you, your family, and your property.  Our agents experience in this field is second to none.
Our solutions are tailored to your needs. Give us a call or drop us a line and find out more about the ESS Global difference.

727-940-7926

info@essglobalcorp.com

Florida Church Security Tampa, Orlando and More

ESS Global Corp offers professional “faith-based” Florida church security in Tampa and throughout Florida and the US.

Florida Church Security Tampa, Orlando and More

We are saddened by recent church violence events and our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the deceased.
Over 420 people have died in incidents involving deadly force at churches and other faith organizations in America since 1999, as detailed by noted church security expert Carl Chinn and reported in a 2013 issue of SBC LIFE, the journal of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee. If you’ve followed the news the past two years, you know that number has risen dramatically.
The biggest trigger in church violence over the last 16 years is “Domestic Spillover”. This is when domestic relationship violence finds it’s way onto ministry property resulting in a deadly force incident. The second most common reason for church violence is “Random Acts” which describes the tragedy in Charleston, SC.
The SBC Life article recommended ways churches can protect themselves against violent intruders.

  • Perform a professional security analysis for activities throughout the week and at services.
  • Assess unmonitored entryways to the church on Sundays or during other activities including day care, Bible studies, and more where someone could enter and hide.
  • Consider hiring a security firm to provide armed security during all church events.

Carl Chinn also stated recently, “If you still have time to be on the security team after making sure your own house is in order, then you can look around your church to see if any friends or relatives of ‘Bozo Thug’ are around you. There are plenty of them in our society. Empty-eyed mindless little rats looking for an opportunity to get their name in the paper.”
Faith-based organizations must increase their awareness of, and preparation for, criminal hazards capable of compromising their primary ministry purpose.
8-2 Update
This post is barely a week old and the national news has reported two church bombings that seem to  be related http://essglobalcorp.com/ess/wq4l7  as well as a stabbing in a church in Maryland that has resulted in one death.  http://essglobalcorp.com/ess/7mn3w 
Are churches the new “soft target”?

727-940-7926

info@essglobalcorp.com 
and let’s talk about “faith-based” church security.

Florida Close Protection/Bodyguard Training

Elite Security Services offers Florida Close Protection/Bodyguard Training, and is the only Executive Protection School in Florida licensed through the Florida Department of Education. ESS Global is also in the process of becoming Post 9/11 GI Bill approved by the Department of Veteran Affairs. (UPDATE 12-23-16 ESS Global Executive Protection Training is now approved by the VA to accept Post 9-11 GI Bill Benefits)
But a piece of paper from the state or the VA isn’t what sets us apart.
It’s all about the training.

Florida Close Protection/Bodyguard Training
Florida Close Protection/Bodyguard Training

ESS Global training is taught by industry professionals who have unmatched experience and knowledge in the Executive Protection field.  Our primary goal is to pass down our real world knowledge from our own training and experiences in over 60 countries, to our students, in an effort to best prepare them to work as a professional in the Close Protection/Bodyguard Industry.
The Security/Protection industry is growing fast, simply because executives and their families, celebrities, politicians, sport stars and more all look for professional protection. Close Protection is the pinnacle of the private security industry. This is your opportunity to be trained by the some of the best professionals in the industry for a career second to none in the security field.

Florida Close Protection/Bodyguard Training

Classes are held at various times in Tampa, Orlando, Dallas, Chicago, Detroit, Las Vegas & Los Angeles.
Ask about group rates, discounts, referrals and private classes.  ESS Global Corp will take its course to you, and also offers private courses for groups, organizations and businesses.
Class sizes will be limited to ensure that each student receives the proper amount of “hands-on” instruction so that when they complete the course their knowledge meets and exceeds industry standards.

See The ESS EVENT CALENDAR

If you have a desire to be the best, then pick up the phone and train with the best.

727-940-7926

info@essglobalcorp.com 
 

Training – Choose Wisely

I’m sure you are aware of the horror stories or maybe you have experienced them yourselves. The let down and anger you feel when you pay hundreds if not thousands of dollars on training courses only to find out the course material or the instructors themselves were less than mediocre. Unfortunately, this is an all too common experience that many students have and will endure in the Security and Executive Protection industries.
While some states have mandatory courses for Security that are regulated by the state, most of the additional training officers receive is not regulated. In addition, as most of you know, the material taught in the state regulated courses is less than adequate. It is simply a theory course that involves zero practical or hands on training.
As for Executive Protection, there are a handful of states, if that, that have a state regulated course. This means that when you attend an Executive Protection school, nobody is regulating what is being taught or who it is being taught by. This means you are basically taking a gamble and hoping that what you are being taught is accurate, and the person teaching it is experienced. To be honest, this is rarely the case with most Executive Protection schools.
What you will find, is that the school was opened by a retired law enforcement officer or somebody that took a course at another school and saw the potential to make money. Regardless, most schools are being taught by those who have spent little to no time in the industry. And, since the states don’t regulate these courses, it will continue.
This is why it is extremely important to research your school and your instructors. Make certain that not only have your instructors worked in the Executive Protection industry, but they are active in it now! Remember, the Executive Protection industry evolves and changes just like any industry. If you are planning on attending a school where the instructor is the same person instructing for the last 20-30 years, you may want to find out how many jobs they have worked in those last 20-30 years. I bet you will be surprised.
This is why we always recommend that you go through a school that is licensed through the department of education. Then, you know that their curriculum and instructors have had to of been reviewed and approved. All instructors have had background checks performed on them and have had to provide credentials that attest to their knowledge and ability to instruct. While even this isn’t perfect, it’s better than there being no check and balance system like it is at most schools.
Again, take the time to research your school and its instructors. And while I know there aren’t many licensed Executive Protection schools in the country, trust me, it is worth the expense of traveling and lodging to attend a quality school rather than waste your money at a school that gives you below average training. We always say here at ESS Global Corporation: There are two things you never cheap out on, gear and training. They are the two things that may save your clients life and yours!
Until next time, stay safe and stay alert!

Compromise vs Convenience

BieberExecutive protection is not just about protection. It is in fact about the entire experience for our client. Now, while most of what we do is based upon security, some of it is simply based upon pleasing our client. We always teach in our courses here at ESS Global Corporation Executive Protection School, that you will always be balancing Compromise vs Convenience. That is the compromise of security that we must allow to enable the convenience of the client. As Executive Protection agents, we are always security minded and want to keep security at a high level. Unfortunately, high levels of security are not always convenient for our clients. While we would like to keep them locked down under our supervision 24/7, they like to go outside, go shopping, go eat, etc. In order to do this, we have to drop the level of security a little bit to achieve this.
Now, this does not mean that we drop all security measures. It just means that we now have to be even more vigilant and aware than ever. Make sure you are always in YELLOW. Remember, we can never tell our clients NO. Well at least not in most cases. So, if they ask us to go somewhere, and we have advised them that it is dangerous to go there (like a nightclub), and yet they still wish to go, we must take them. And, if exactly what you warned them about happens, even though you advised them not to go there, guess who will be at fault. That’s right, YOU! We are always at fault.
For these reasons, it is extremely important to know your clients likes and dislikes so you can be prepared for moments like these and can perform a proper security advance to at least reduce the risk. While it still isn’t perfect, as most things are not in the Executive Protection industry, it will be safer. Knowing your clients likes and dislikes is first achieved through the client interview. A technique rarely used or taught anymore unfortunately. Remember, in anything, to be successful you must master the basics. Client profiling or client interviews are part of the basics in Executive Protection.
Until next time, be safe and stay alert!

Executive Protection, Executive Assistant or Both?

For those of you that have never worked in the Executive Protection industry, you will find this post to be an eye opener. Especially to those who come from an extensive military background with many years of training and certifications out the wazoo. What we will talk about in this post is the single most reason why some of the most highly trained and tactically capable individuals wash out of this industry. You must learn how to check your ego at the door before walking into any Executive Protection job.
Be ready to open doors, carry shopping bags, carry luggage, take out the trash and even take orders from children or men half your size. Yes, all of these things are not only a reality but common day to day practices for all Executive Protection agents in the industry. This industry will definitely test your masculinity and can be emasculating at times. Can you handle it? You need to ask yourself that question, because if not, this is not the industry for you. Regardless of how well trained your are or how tactically sound you may be, if you cannot humble yourself to the point of being able to accept all of the above examples and more, you will not last long as an Executive Protection agent. Remember, you are the hired help and you will be treated as such. Just ask anyone who has worked a high profile detail.
Unfortunately, I have seen agents leave in the middle of a detail as they could not handle these instances. And remember, when you do leave in the middle of a detail, it is not the client you screw over, it is your team. So, this is even a greater reason to ask yourself if you can handle this as to not screw over the other guys working next to you. Remember, it’s not the client you need a reference from, it’s the Executive Protection company or detail leader you were working with. And, if you walk out on them, you may want to look elsewhere for a reference.
So, make sure you take all of this into account before entering this industry. There is a lot more involved than just the protection side. Well, until next time, stay safe and stay alert.

Back to Basics! Really?

back to basics
So here we are again. Just when you think it wont happen to you, or you say to yourself, “I don’t know anyone that has had an accident. We all hear the stories and see all the pictures on the web, we even watch the videos of DEA agents actually teaching others on gun safety and yes you guessed it, BAM! A Negligent Discharge. I am in the camp, that does not believe you should call it an “accidental discharge” Really? Can accidents happen yes.! Like maybe if you drop a firearm and it goes off, or you are running from a bear and shooting at it blindly, and you accidentally kill a mocking bird. But when you reach for a firearm to handle it and you grab it incorrectly or haphazardly, that results in the discharge of the firearm that is NEGLIGENCE! You caused it! You failed to take the appropriate measures to ensure the safe handling of the firearm. Why am I writing this article, because a buddy of mine decided to discharge his pistol while in his vehicle where he, YES! You guessed it, he shot himself in the foot and through the floorboard of his car. In his words “I had an awkward grip on the gun and my ring finger slipped into the trigger guard and it went off.” I wanted to post his picture, but he threatened me with litigation if I did, so I just told him he would be the subject of our next post. So lets go through the basics once again.

  • 1) Treat all guns as if they are loaded!

This rule by itself does not completely keep you safe of negligence but it does set the tone as to how we treat a firearm and do not just assume the gun is unloaded. It must be treated with respect! Even when someone tells you it’s “Not loaded” Clear the firearm yourself!

  • 2) Do not point the gun at anything you do not wish to destroy!

At this point you have not verified weather or not the gun is loaded or not, so we will consider it loaded and keep it pointed either down at the ground or in the ready position. Not to the side, not in the air, keep it pointed DOWN!

  • 3) Keep you finger off the trigger and outside the trigger guard until ready to shoot!

And here we are the number one rule that if followed no matter what else you do, the gun will not discharge. Hmmm, so basically the firearm is safe, until someone picks it up, and how that person handles it determines weather or not it stays safe.

  • 4) Know your target and what is beyond it!

So you have followed all the rules and now you are placed in the position to discharge your gun, either at the range or in a life or death situation, you must know what you target is and what is beyond it. What kind of backstop are you shooting at? Are there people behind your attacker? Always remember there is a lawyer behind every round that gets fired from your gun. And they want to know why it was fired and why it landed where it did. And you need to be able to articulate your thought processes as to why you discharged your gun, and why the bullets landed where they did.

Choosing The Right Instruction

Security - JaynieIf you are thinking of carrying a weapon (legally), then it should be no surprise that formal training is highly recommended.
A course is required in many states to receive a Concealed Weapon Permit (CWP)/Concealed Carry Permit (CCP). The overall purpose of this class is to assure that the issuing state that people who obtain carry permits have been exposed to the state laws governing concealed carry and are minimally capable of using a gun safely. There are basic gun handling classes, armed self-defense classes, tactical training, and courses designed to train the occasional shooter to the competitive shooter.
Along with a CWP/CCP class, a basic “introduction to firearms” class is recommended as the place to start.
You will have to check your area for your local options. Gun stores, gun shows, and shooting ranges are good places to start.  ESS recommends that you choose a school that is licensed by the US Department of Education.  In Florida, that would be ESS, as we are the only DOE licensed shooting school in Florida.  We do also recommend that you visit in person to get a good sense of the professionalism and quality of our facilities. Your local police department can offer you some direction as well.
Try to find one that offers a variety of courses, with highly experienced instructors and perhaps one that offers classes for activities other than shooting.  Some of the skills to develop through ESS firearm instruction are:

  • Safely manipulate a firearm
  • Reload quickly and safely
  • Shoot accurately
  • Shoot quickly
  • Draw from a holster
  • Multiple targets
  • One-handed shooting
  • Moving targets
  • Moving while shooting
  • Working in low light

If you are a first-time gun owner, or you are an experienced marksman, we welcome your visit to ESS.

727-940-7926

Where’s Your Head At?

So you are all high-speed now, you have a 1.75 inch belt, desert tan ball cap with Velcro patch. You have Sabre Red Pepper, tactical knife, and you’ve mounted torches to your waist; one in the front and a tactical back up in the rear! Remember what your instructor said during training: “two is one, one is none!”
You weren’t sure what time of day you would be on post so you stored away some black flex cuffs and some white ones, you don’t want to offend anyone, right?
Now when it comes to firearms you figure the bigger the better, so you strap a 9mm hand cannon to your hip. You have taken all the courses and the State has issued your credentials. You have passed the entire necessary tests; you’re ready to go, right? WRONG!
IMG_0043 (5)Ask yourself these questions:

  • Am I willing to take another human being’s life to save my own or the life of another?
  • Am I capable of defending another, or myself and then render first aid and/or CPR to the very person I just injured?
  • Am I ready to face the consequences of my actions and defend those actions in a court of law?
  • What about the effects of my actions on my family and my friends, how will the public view my actions?

Each of the answers to these questions should actually create new questions to be answered, depending on which direction you have chosen. The bottom line is there is much more to think about than just, what kind of gear you will equip yourself with. Stay safe and consider all your options before you need them!

727-940-7926

Which Defensive Tactics Work Best?

This is a question that defensive tactics experts and instructors have debated and continue to debate. But, in reality, the answer is simple. I don’t care what defensive tactics or martial arts discipline you train in or feel that you have mastered, the answer is the same. ALL experienced executive protection agents will agree that the best defensive tactic we have as agents, that will give us the greatest chance of survival and least chance of injury, is AVOIDANCE. Avoidance is our best defensive tactic.
IMG_0027 (3)
This is not the industry you enter into to get a charge or to prove your manhood. As we like to say in the executive protection industry, “boring is good!” A boring day is a safe day. It means that we have done our jobs so well that an attack on our client wasn’t possible or was thwarted. So, back to avoidance and how it can help us keep the job boring. When we see a possible oncoming threat, avoidance allows us to go another direction, choose another route, pick another restaurant, etc. We live to fight another day. There is no loss of respect when an executive protection agent chooses avoidance over conflict. And, I can assure, whether you win or loose the conflict you will affect your client in todays sue happy society.
Now, there are times when avoidance is not possible and you must use defensive tactics to protect yourself and your client. In those instances, the defensive tactics that works best are those that you have practiced. Remember, defensive tactics are like anything else in life: it’s all about repetition! The way you train is the way you will perform. To achieve muscle memory in an effort to utilize tactics effectively, you must practice them thousands of times.
This is why ESS Global Corp’s executive protection certification course spends 2-3 hours on defensive tactics and utilizes the majority of the time teaching you executive protection principles. It’s because we know that there is no way, even if we used a whole day on defensive tactics, that you will be proficient enough to be effective utilizing those techniques in the field. We use those 2-3 hours as an eye opener to show our students that there are other areas of training available to make them better agents.
If you have any questions about defensive tactics, executive protection, security training or different martial arts disciplines, please inquire and we will give you our input. We hope this has helped, and until next time, stay alert and stay safe!