“We don’t plan for ‘if’ something will happen. We have to plan for ‘when’ it will happen.”
Those are the words of VTA Chief System Safety and Security Officer Aston Greene, who recently took part in a panel discussion on crisis management and potential threats in the workplace.
Allied Universal, the private security firm VTA contracts with for supplemental security, sponsored the discussion, along with Santa Clara semiconductor company Applied Materials, with an eye on potential political unrest that some expect could arise on Election Day, November 5.
“We have to be hypersensitive of what is happening around us,” said Greene. “We do this by staying connected with one another. We empower each other with open communication.”
VTA is in the process of shoring up its emergency operations management with a newly dedicated Emergency Preparedness Manager, and a consultant whose expertise lies in helping organizations prepare for and respond to emergencies.
During the hour and a half long open panel discussion that included leadership from Allied Universal, the Irvine Company and Applied Materials, Greene also emphasized that staying alert and having a practiced plan in place, allows companies and organizations to be prepared for emergencies before they occur.
Other panelists included Global Security Operations Manager at Applied Materials Chris Deringer, Senior Manager of Corporate Security at Irvine Company Mike Kihmm, Vice President of Integrated Security Solutions at Allied Universal Rachelle Loyear, and Chief Security Officer of Allied Universal General William Walker.
“When we have a well-practiced plan in place, when an emergency happens we can react with logic instead of emotion” said Walker.
“We always have to anticipate the ‘what ifs’ of any situation.”
The audience at the October 9th discussion included other security specialists, and employees from Allied Universal, the Irvine Company, Applied Materials, and VTA.
