Security panel to be held 6/14

Real Estate Weekly, June 12, 2002

Since 9-11, security concerns have become a key element in business decision-making. A company's security plan can ultimately become one of its major assets. In response to member and industry requests, the Greater New York Construction User Council (GNYCUC) will present a panel discussion addressing security and threat assessments, safety planning, and business continuity planning.

The panel will feature William Bratton, former Police Commissioner of New York City and Boston, who is currently an international private police consultant. Bratton will be joined on the panel by Thomas "Toby" Thacher, II, and Dean M. Esserman, both of Thacher Associates, LLC, one of four private companies monitoring contractors at Ground Zero and organizer of this panel for GNYCUC.

The event on June 14 from 8 am to 11 am at the Yale Club will not only analyze many "quick fix" solutions that have been rushed into service but will discuss how to plan, implement, and maintain a successful, strategic, comprehensive, corporate security solution.

Panel moderator and speaker will be Thomas D. "Toby" Thacher II, president of the integrity risk management and strategic security planning firm, Thacher Associates, LLC. Thacher is also the former New York City School Construction Authority Inspector General and former Executive Director of the Construction Industry Strike Force. "Corporations now realize that relying on in-house resources and resorting to 'off-the-shelf' solutions do not actually close the gaps in vulnerability," said Thacher. "Companies must broaden their definitions of 'security risk' and 'corporate asset' to include, but extend beyond, the physical security of buildings. Once a security plan is in place, however, the company has only begun to mitigate risk and protect assets."

The third panel member will be Dean M. Esserman, executive managing director of Thacher Associates. He is the former Chief of Police of Stamford, Conn., and former Chief of Police of The New York State MTA-Metro North, which included security for Grand Central Station.

The registration fee is $65 for GNYCUC members and public agencies and $95 for nonmembers. Advanced registration is strongly encouraged. CEOs, CFOs, COOs, \ GCs, and other senior managers for building owners, major tenants, and significant users of construction industry services in the greater New York City area are encouraged to attend. The Yale Club is located at 50 Vanderbilt Ave. at 44th Street, just west of Grand Central. For further information, contact GNYCUC at headquarters@gnycuc.org or (646) 227-1522. For online reservations, go to www.gnycuc.org.