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Student Safety Abroad
Services
Resources
Contact
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Student Safety Abroad (SSA) is the premier provider of security consulting, security training services, and security management certification for higher education study abroad departments, staff, faculty and students. SSA specializes in safety, security, and associated services. Our staff is comprised of study abroad professional trainers and international experts with law enforcement, security, education tourism, marketing, budgeting, and international travel backgrounds.
We offer services in the following areas:
- Study Abroad Crisis Management and Emergency Response
- Study Abroad Security Consulting and Management Services
- Medical Insurance Services
Please Contact Us to assist you with
your study abroad security and safety needs.
Student Safety Abroad provides a variety of security and safety services to
higher education institutions that manage study abroad programs, including
the following services:
We assist higher education departments, faculty or staff with planning and
implementing crisis and emergency response.
When your study abroad office encounters a crisis, it is vital that your
staff and faculty know how to effectively respond to minimize the damage
and its impact on students, staff or faculty, and the higher education
institution's assets and image. We work closely with study abroad staff
and faculty to provide thorough and practical procedures to assist them in
implementing crisis and risk management modules and plans, in addition to
pre-travel preparation modules to minimize security risk.
SSA's international experts provide hands-on and practical training
seminars to study abroad staff and faculty to help them respond to crises,
while improving existing emergency response and crisis management plans.
SSA designs comprehensive standard operating procedures for higher
education study abroad offices in the U.S.A and abroad to respond to many
types of emergency or crisis scenarios. Our emergency services include
evacuation plans, repatriation, and 24 hour emergency support through our
international health insurance partner.
SSA assists study abroad staff and faculty at higher education institutions
with security assessments and security management services.
SSA's international security experts offer risk management and assessment
training to staff and faculty who operate in sites abroad. Our specialists
offer comprehensive and specialized plans on how to mitigate the risks and
threats found in campuses or sites abroad.
If your institution operates in high-risk areas, our world renowned
security experts provide security training and plans to minimize threats
such as terrorism, kidnapping, and other types of crimes.
SSA's online study abroad student security orientation modules are
available to study abroad offices or faculty to prepare students for their
study abroad experiences. SSA also produces a monthly security newsletter
(“Security Tidbits") which offers practical advice on study abroad
security and safety.
SSA works closely with its medical insurance partner to provide
comprehensive and affordable health and medical insurance, and 24 hour
emergency service for faculty, staff and students traveling abroad.
Packages
One year subscription of the Student Safety Abroad Online Course for students and staff at your institution.
Cost: $5000
One year subscription of the Student Safety Abroad Online Course for students and staff at your institution, and one year subscription the SSA Monthly Safety and Security Newsletter for students and staff.
Cost: $6000
One year subscription of the Student Safety Abroad Online Course for students and staff at your institution, one year subscription the SSA Monthly Safety and Security Newsletter for students and staff, and SSA's Safety and Security Manual for students and staff.
Cost: $6000 plus Security and Safety Manual @ $68 per student or staff.
One year subscription of the Student Safety Abroad Online Course for students and staff at your institution, one year subscription the SSA Monthly Safety and Security Newsletter for students and staff, SSA's Safety and Security Manual for students and staff, and two hour seminar on any of our Study Abroad Crisis Management and Emergency Response or Study Abroad Security Consulting and Management Services. Our team of international security and safety experts may provide expertise to help your institution design comprehensive crisis management and emergency response plans and systems, as well as other student safety modules for the success of your study abroad programs. Please see our Services page for details of SSA's services.
Cost: $8500
Please Contact Us to assist you with
your study abroad security and safety needs.
For many, studying abroad is both exciting and intimidating. The destination is often full of fun activities, interesting academic work and new adventures. One of the keys to a successful experience is being prepared and ready for your new environment.
Safety concerns range from protecting yourself and your possessions to being aware of differences in laws. During study abroad trips, students often use modes of travel they may not be familiar with at home, whether it be by bus, train, subway, or rickshaw. Students need to know not only how to prevent dangerous situations, but how to react in any type of emergency. Student Safety Abroad will educate you in how to protect yourself, your possessions, give travel tips, and more.
When organizing a study abroad experience for students, it is important they are completely prepared for the trip. In addition to the academic work that may be required and fun excursions, their personal safety needs can be overlooked.
Often, students do not heed casual warnings or safety concerns, and may not seek out any additional information on their own. A gap in a student's knowledge of the customs and laws of their destination may leave them in a dangerous situation. Student Safety Abroad seminars, courses, and manuals will send students on their trip better prepared and more able to take full advantage of the incredible opportunity studying abroad affords by ensuring they know how to stay safe.
While students tend to be very excited about studying abroad, parents are often worried. Sending your student to the safety seminar, enrolling them in the online course, or reading the manual can ensure you are both comfortable and prepared for their trip.
Your student's study abroad group may not be participating in group safety training. If this is the case, or they are traveling on their own, the Student Safety Abroad Online Course can fill the need for your child's safety information.
Student Safety Abroad
P.O. Box A-4
College Station, TX 77844
Student Safety Abroad
6530 Waterway Dr.
College Station, TX 77845
979.492.1345
wise@wiseabroad.org
Our staff is comprised of professionals with extensive experience in the field of international education and business. Key members of our team are:
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Daniel P. Kennedy
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Dr. Peter Tarlow
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Terry Revella
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Lothel Crawford
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Richard Feenstra
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Eduardo Leite
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Warren Ferreira
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Bill Foos
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David Beirman
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Diego Garcia
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Randall Mack
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Tom Marrs
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Dave Wiggins
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Richard Hudak
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Tomer Benito
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Theresa Huth
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Dr. Peter E. Tarlow is an expert specializing in the impact of crime and terrorism on the tourism industry, event risk management, and in tourism and economic development. Tarlow earned his Ph.D. in sociology from Texas A&M University. He also holds degrees in history, in Spanish and Hebrew literatures, and in psychotherapy. Since 1990, Tarlow has been teaching courses on tourism, crime & terrorism to police forces and security and tourism professionals throughout the world.
In 1996, Tarlow became Hoover Dam's consultant for tourism development and security. In 1998, Tarlow's role at the Bureau of Reclamation expanded. He was asked to develop a tourism security program for all Bureau of Reclamation properties and visitor centers. In 1999, the US Customs service asked Tarlow to work with its agents in the area of customer service, cultural awareness, and custom's impact on the tourism and visitor industry. In 2000 Tarlow, due to interagency cooperation on the part of the Bureau of Reclamation, helped to prepare security and FBI agents for the Salt Lake City 2002 Winter Games. In 2003, Tarlow was asked to take on special assignments dealing with iconic security for the US National Park Service.
Tarlow also lectures for Homeland Security. In that capacity, he has lectured to both urban and rural tourism areas across the United States. Tarlow lectures at major universities around the world. He also lectures on the topic of prisons as breeding grounds for terrorism for the United States Bureau of Prisons and for the Department of Justice's counter terrorism groups.
Tarlow has worked with US government and international agencies such as the US Park Service at the Statue of Liberty, The Smithsonian's Institution's Office of Protection Services, Philadelphia's Independence Hall and Liberty Bell and New York's Empire State Building. He has also worked with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, The Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and the United Nation's WTO (World Tourism Organization), the Center for Disease Control (Atlanta, Triangle Series). Tarlow speaks throughout North and Latin America, the Middle East and Europe. Some of the topics about which he speaks are: the sociology of terrorism, its impact on tourism security and risk management, the US government's role in post terrorism recovery, and how communities and businesses must face a major paradigm shift in the way they do business. Tarlow has trained numerous police departments throughout the world in TOPS (Tourism Oriented Policing Skills) and offers certification in this area.
Tarlow is a member of the Distance Learning Faculty of "The George Washington University" in Washington, DC. He is also an adjunct faculty member of Colorado State University and the Justice Institute of British Columbia (Vancouver, Canada). Tarlow is also an honorary professor at the Universidad de Especialidades Turisticas (Quito, Ecuador), of the Universidad de la Policia Federal (Buenos Aires, Argentina), and on the EDIT faculty at the University of Hawaii in Manoa, (O'ahu). Tarlow lectures on security issues, life safety issues, and event risk management at numerous other universities around the world including universities in the United States, Latin America, Europe, the Pacific Islands, and the Middle East.
Tarlow is a well-know author in the field of tourism security. He is a contributing author in the first major book on tourism security book Tourism, Crime and International Security Issues (John Wiley & Sons) and has published numerous academic and applied research articles regarding issues of security including articles published in The Futurist, the Journal of Travel Research and Security Management. In 1999 Tarlow co-edited "War, Terrorism, and Tourism." a special edition of the Journal of Travel Research. In 2002 Tarlow published Event Risk Management and Safety (John Wiley & Sons). The Chinese language edition of Event Risk Management and Safety will be published in 2005 (I am not sure this occurred). Tarlow also writes and speaks for major organizations such as the Organization of US State Dams, and The International Association of Event Managers. He has recently completed two new major works, one on "dark tourism" appeared in "Niche Tourism" (Elsever University Press) and one on theories of terrorism. Tarlow also writes and publishes "Tourism Tidbits," an electronic newsletter on tourism and travel. Thousands of tourism and travel professionals around the world read "Tourism Tidbits" in its English, Spanish, Turkish, and Croatian language editions. Tarlow is also a regular contributor to the joint electronic tourism newsletter, ETRA, published jointly by Texas A&M University and the Canadian Tourism Commission.
Tarlow's fluency in many languages enables him to speak throughout the world (United States, the Caribbean, Latin America, Europe, and Africa, and the Eastern Pacific). Tarlow also lectures on current and future trends in the tourism industry, rural tourism economic development, the gaming industry, issues of crime and terrorism, the role of police departments in urban economic development, and international trade. Tarlow has done extensive research on the impact of school calendars on the tourism industries, on tourism crime, and on terrorism. Tarlow is also well known in the area of rural tourism having lectured on this subject in numerous states throughout the United States. Tarlow publishes extensively in these areas and writes numerous professional reports for US governmental agencies and for businesses throughout the world.
Tarlow has appeared on National televised programs such as Dateline: NBC and on CNBC. Tarlow organizes conferences around the world dealing with visitor safety and security issues and with the economic importance of tourism and tourism marketing. He also works with numerous cities, states, and foreign governments to improve their tourism products and to train their tourism security professionals.
Tarlow is a founder and president of Tourism & More Inc. (T&M). He currently is the executive director of the Texas Chapter of the Travel and Tourism Research Association (TTRA). Tarlow is a member of the International Editorial Boards of "Turizam" published in Zagreb, Croatia, "Anatolia: International Journal of Tourism and Hospitality Research," published in Turkey, "Turismo: Viso e Ao" published in Brazil, and "Estudios y Perspectivas en Turismo," published in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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Mack is the Vice President of Tourism & More in charge of the Pacific Rim, including Hawaii, Japan, Australia, and the Philippines. Mack has over 30 years experience in management, design & engineering, contracting, safety, security, and law enforcement. He has chaired a number of safety/security conferences held in Hawaii and was invited to speak at the Hawaii's Governor's Safety Conference on “The Emerging Trends for Safety & Security". Mack participated in the NAVAA (Visitors Crime Victims Conference). He has designed & engineered safety/security systems and program for the hospitality industry, medical facilities, and state facilities using the latest state of the art technology.
Mack is certified as a Risk Assessment Manager by Sandia Laboratories. He is certified by the American Society for Industrial Security (ASIS International) as a Certified Protection Professional (CPP) and by the American College of Forensic Examiners as a Certified Homeland Security specialist, level III. Some of Mack's projects include the University of Hawaii, John Burns School of Medicine, three state harbor projects for the Department of Land and Natural resources, Harbor Division, Maui County Municipal Building, Maui Satellite City Hall, and Maui Water Department. He was recently appointed by the Governor of Hawaii and confirmed by its Senate to serve as member of the State Board of Private Detectives and Guards. Since his retirement in 1995 from the federal government, he has been involved with safety/security consulting for many large organizations, testifying as an expert witness on a number of premise liability cases, and working as the Director of Security for several major hotels. His design and engineering background allows him to develop drawings and plans. In 2005 he was honored as a “TOP COP" by the Hawaii Coalition of Law Enforcement and Security Agencies for giving rescue breathing to save the life of a Japanese tourist.
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Dr. Kennedy is a professor of criminal justice and security administration at the University of Detroit Mercy. He is a former probation officer and police academy director who has served as a guest lecturer at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia. A graduate of the National Crime Prevention Institute, he is also designated a Certified Protection Professional by the American Society for Industrial Security and a Certified Clinical Sociologist by the Sociological Practice Association.
Dr. Kennedy applies his understanding of criminal behavior to the evaluation of crime prevention and security operations at hotels, casinos, multihousing complexes, parking facilities, retail establishments, educational institutions, shopping centers, and a variety of other settings. For the past several years, he has had a particular interest in tourist security and safety.
Dr. Kennedy has been extensively involved as a consulting and testifying expert in premises liability litigation throughout the U.S. and abroad. He frequently makes presentations to audiences comprised of legal, insurance, and security professionals; and he has published widely in the areas of security administration and premises liability for negligent security.
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Terrance Revella has had over 30 years of law enforcement experience with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Police Captain before retiring. Revella has also worked as part of the New York State Office of Homeland Security. He is a survivor of the September 11th (2001) World Trade Center Disaster. Revella also served as the New York State Health and Safety Officer, and as New York's Governor's liaison for the entire Ground Zero clean-up operation.
Revella has been instrumental in the development of numerous anti-terrorism programs. Many of these programs are being used throughout the world. His presentation on Public Building Security has been utilized by various law enforcement agencies in Australia, England. Prior to his retirement, Revella spearheaded a program to create a National Law Enforcement Identification Card which would facilitate the identification of emergency personnel responding to major incidents in jurisdictions not their own.
While employed by the New York State Department of Corrections, Revella helped establish the Harriman Training Academy, and served as its Behavioral Modification Officer (Officer in Charge of the Recruits).
Revella service as a police commander for over 15 years has given him a wide range of knowledge in multiple forms of event and tourism security. He was the Governor's liaison to the New York City's Office of Emergency Management for all major incidents including: ferry accidents, New Year's Eve in Times Square, parades, building collapses, building explosions, and an outbreak of the West Nile Virus, where he worked closely with Mayor Rudolph Guiliani. He has performed dignitary protection for the Republican National Convention, foreign dignitaries, as well as the President of the United States.
Revella is a Marine Corps, Vietnam Veteran. He is the most decorated member of the Department of Environmental Conservation, having also been awarded the Samuel S. Taylor award, the department's Medal of Honor. He is a member of International Chiefs of Police Association, the New York State Chiefs of Police Association, the International Narcotics Officers Association, the New York State Fraternal Order of Police,, the American Legion, Delta Epsilon Tau and the Gold Key National Honor Society.
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Lothel Crawford Jr is a retired New York City Detective and was a member of the elite United States Secret Service Task Force, New York Field Office. He has over 26 years of combined experience in law enforcement, security training, private security administration and consulting. Currently, he is a consultant for Security Plus Consultants and PR Concepts. During the last four years with the US Secret Service he assisted in many high profile cases in New York City and around the country the country. He is skilled in identifying and developing strategic business alliances with the Financial Institutions.
Mr. Crawford is considered on of New York's premier experts in the field of financial fraud. He lectures, consults, and provides technical assistance on films in the United States and around the world. He trains police, security, and casino personnel in various methods and techniques used to successfully size criminals. He is a high level trainer in the area of Identity Fraud Theft, Credit card, Counterfeit Money Forgery Scams, Bank Fraud, Casino Fraud, Distraction Theft, Money Laundering, School Safety Violence and other offenses involving U. S. Obligation and Securities.
Mr. Crawford has been called upon many times by the New York City Police Department to testify as an expert witness. Mr. Crawford has appeared on numerous television shows; The Montel Williams Show, New York One, Fox News, Prime Time, CNBC, Cable 67, Good Morning America, London Weekend Television, Court Television, TLC. Mr. Crawford is a member of Internal Security Association-Financial Firms, Hotel Association of New York City Metropolitan Area, and the Golden Key National Honor Society.
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Richard Feenstra is a former police and military non-commissioned officer who specializes in tourism security and training. Feenstra is a graduate of Texas A&M University, from which he holds a masters degree in human resource development. Feenstra's bachelor's degree, also from Texas A&M University, is in tourism science. Feenstra combines academic knowledge with practical experience gained from living through the United States and Europe. Feenstra brings to Tourism & More specializations in such diverse areas as: … weapons of mass destruction, … transitory medical issues, … arrest search and seizure, … interview processing, … crime scene search, … standardized field sobriety testing, … use of force and defensive tactics, … drug recognition and interdiction, … hazardous material identification and response, … nuclear and biological, and chemical warfare.
Feenstra is both computer literate and has experience in web page development and analysis. Feenstra has also worked as a trainer for the International Association of Chief's of Police. In that capacity, Feenstra taught US Customs officials about issues of cultural diversity and customer service. As a military instructor, Feenstra has taught courses in leadership, operational planning, and critical incident resolution.
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Eduardo Leite repreents Tourism & More in Europe. Leite is T&M's expert in Sports Tourism and in Educational Tourism. Leite knows sports from the ground up. He began his professional Soccer career in 1989. During the next decade his professional sports career permitted him to play for such Portuguese football clubs as Gil Vicente, Desportivo das Aves, Feirense, Sanjoanense and Arrifanense. After retiring from the world of professional sport, Leite founded and became the president of the Technical and Scientific Foundation for Sports (Fundação Técnica e Científica do Desporto) known by its acronym FTCD.
The FTCD is not Leite's only business enterprise. During the last ten years Leite has also founded Enterpriser SGPS Inc. which international holdings in Europe and South America. Leite also acts as a legal advisor to the courts in Santa Maria da Feira. and in the European tourism community.
Leite is highly involved in his community. His civic and charitable contributions include his having served as the president of Santa Maria da Feira's cultural center for orphans, treasurer of the Fogaça society and secretary of his local Business Association. He currently works as an advisor to his community's planning board.
Leite received his bachelors's degree in tourism science in 1998 from the Portuguese University of Fernando Pressoa. In 2003 he was awarded his masters' degree in business administration, and in 2007 he will received his doctorate from the University of Universidade de Trás-os-Montes Alto Douro in Vila Real.
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Bill Foos is a retired Lieutenant Colonel with the US Army Reserves and brings to Tourism &More a combination of business acumen and military skills. He has more than 26 years of experience within a variety of security fields. Foos is an expert in risk management in both a permissive and non-permissive environment. Foos facilitates the exchange of information on security management best-practices among the business owners, facility managers, utility operators, and government officials who are responsible for regulating security matters prescribed for and enforced throughout the country. Foos' interest in assisting the commercial sector with proper security services has led Bill to develop strategic business relationships to help meet any client's security needs.
Since 2002 Foos has worked as a security, consulting in such fields as anti-terrorism and force protection. Foos'domestic experience includes leading and participated in over twenty-five vulnerability studies and technically reviewing a large number of security risk studies. He has played a critical technical role in the development and improvement of a number of vulnerability risk models currently under use by federal agencies. Additionally, he has conducted numerous formal and informal class/workshop presentations on security risk management. Due to Foos' of his enthusiastic presentation style and personal experience, he is a highly sought after instructor. Foos has presented lectures to the Army Corps of Engineers, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Administration, the Multinational Forces in Iraq, and the Association of State Dam Safety Officials.
As the Iraq based Gulf Region Division's Deputy G3/ Force Protection officer, his experience spans the security spectrum, from structural office building studies, and non-traditional structures, to construction sites vulnerability studies. Additionally, he personally managed and developed a force protection program valued in excess of $300 million throughout his tour in Iraq. He was awarded the "Bronze Star" for his in preventing casualties within the Corps of Engineers. With both undergraduate and graduate level degrees in business, (BA from University of Nebraska in Lincoln, and a MBA for Campbell University), he is able to tie security, vulnerabilities, and risk management techniques into any organizations business or budgetary model.
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Dr. Beirman is a tourism crisis and recovery marketing specialist. He is the author of “Restoring Tourism Destinations in Crisis – A Strategic Marketing Approach" published 2003 in the USA, UK and Australia. This book is widely regarded all over the world as an authoritative work in this genre. Dr Beirman has contributed chapters to several books dealing with tourism crisis and recovery issues and his work in this field has been published in many tourism academic journals.
Dr Beirman has over 25 years hands-on experience of the travel industry and extensive experience in destination marketing. He has been involved in crisis and post-crisis tourism recovery projects for the governments of Israel, the Philippines, Kenya, Australia and Trinidad and Tobago. He has been a major and keynote speaker on the subject of tourism crisis and recovery marketing at academic and travel industry conferences throughout Asia, Australia, Canada, Israel and the Caribbean.
Beirman specializes in developing strategic and contingency marketing plans for destination marketing organizations and associated government and private sector stakeholders to manage crisis events and expedite market recovery.
In Australia he is a board member of the Association of National Tourist Office Representatives and is the founder and first chairman of the Eastern Mediterranean Tourism Association, an industry body which promotes and markets 12 Eastern Mediterranean Tourism destinations to the travel industry and traveling public.
Dr. David Beirman is able to either run or organize seminars and programs dealing with tourism crises and recovery. He is available as a speaker at conferences and training programs dealing with this issues. Dr Beirman is available to provide consulting services for private enterprise and government tourism associations and businesses.
Contact E-Mail: davidbeirman@yahoo.com.au
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Dr. Tom Marrs is a psychologist and an expert in the use of applied psychology. Marrs received his Ph.D. from Texas A&M University. He worked in counseling psychology at the University of Texas after which he joined the staff of Texas A&M University's Employee Assistance Program. In this capacity, Marrs facilitates focus groups and helps various university departments to provide better client and customer service. Marrs is an expert in multi-cultural counseling, group dynamics, and career development. As such Marrs works with people from across multiple spectrums.
Marrs is an expert in interpersonal dimensions of management. He also is a specialist in human resources with specific knowledge in mediation techniques, management efficacy, dealing with difficult employees, conflict management and resolution, and dealing with US government mental health employment issues (such as ADA).
Marrs has an extensive background in sports psychology and is a coach of the US National Olympic Development Team for Sport Shooting. As part of his work, Marrs has traveled extensively in Africa, Oceania, Europe, and the Americas. Marrs has worked on both the athletic and administrative side of his sport and through his sports work brings valuable business acumen to the Tourism & More team.
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Mr. Ferreira has been in the private security field since 1990 and is presently the Corporate Director of Security for Outrigger Hotels and Resorts. Mr. Ferreira had over twenty-nine years of experience in police work with the Honolulu Police Department, the last six and one-half years as Deputy Chief and the second-in-command. He has lectured at the university level in the areas of Criminal Justice and Political Science. He has served on a number of select committees with the State of Hawaii, in the areas of corrections and technology, and is presently a member of the Standing Committee on Crisis Management for the American Society for Industrial Security.
Mr. Ferreira has been very involved with Hawaii's Crimes Against Tourists Conferences that have led to a number of initiatives instrumental in reducing crimes against tourists in Hawaii. He has worked closely with the Visitor Aloha Society of Hawaii and participated in National Association VOCA (Victims of Crime Acts) Assistance Administrators Conferences and Workshops. He is a member of the International Association of Professional Security Consultants and holds their designation as Certified Security Consultant. He provides expert witness testimony on civil litigation cases in the areas of premises liability and police policies and procedures. He has been designated as an expert witness on the “Use of Force" in both the State and Federal Courts in the State of Hawaii and conducts classes dealing with the ramifications in the use of deadly force.
Mr. Ferreira was appointed by the Governor of Hawaii and currently serves as the Chair of the State Board of Private Detectives and Guards. He holds Private Detective and Guard Licenses from the State of Hawaii. He is the Immediate Past President of CrimeStoppers Honolulu and the Hawaii Visitor Industry Security Association and the current President of Fountains at Makiki Condominium Association and Past Chairman and present Vice-Chair of the Visitor Aloha Society of Hawaii.
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Diego Garcia is an economist and financial manager who brings to Tourism & More a wide range of international business experience. Garcia has worked as a director of the National Honey Board (Longmont, CO) and as its International Marketing Director/Consultant. He also served as the president of an international coffee import/export business. Garcia has had extensive experience in international finance and stock transactions providing him with insights into the field of international trade. In the field of advertising and marketing, he has promoted multiple products and services throughout Latin America, the Middle East, Europe, and Asia. Garcia's fluency in Spanish allows him to work throughout Latin America's Spanish speaking nations.
In 1998, Garcia joined Texas A&M University's (College Station) staff first as the assistant director for Latin American programs and then as the director of the L.T. Jordan Institute for International Awareness. As such, he develops partnerships with large corporations to promote international education, understanding, and career development. In this capacity he manages a one and half million-dollar endowment that funds international internships, research, and service programs. Garcia works closely with U.S. and foreign corporations to develop experiential education programs, and perform fundraising efforts with corporate sponsors to secure funds for international student travel opportunities.
Garcia also has experience in conference development and organization. As president of America's premier international student educational internship placement service Garcia not only provides Tourism & More with a wide range of international networks, but also intercultural dynamics.
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Richard G. Hudak, Managing Partner, Resort Security International, graduated from Harvard University (BA) and later earned Masters Degree in Criminal Justice from InterAmerican School of Law in San Juan, Puerto Rico. From 1967 to 1970, Mr. Hudak served as an Officer in the United States Marine Corps and was decorated for his actions in combat during the Vietnam war. Following military service, Mr.Hudak was appointed as a Special Agent in the Federal Bureau of Investigation and was assigned to several offices during his 11 year career investigating criminal matters, conducting background checks on presidential appointments, and working counter-espionage cases.
Mr.Hudak's corporate career includes cross-industry experience as Director of Corporate Security positions in banking (Mbank, Dallas, TX); hotels ( ITT Sheraton Corporation—500 hotels in 64 countries) and most recently with Loews Corporation (a holding company comprised of Loews Hotels, Bulova Watch Corporation, CNA Insurance, Lorillard Tobacco, Diamond Offshore Drilling, Texas Gas, Gulf South).
In addition, Mr. Hudak has been employed as an International Security Consultant with Ackerman and Palumbo, Risk Management Group, and with Resort Security International, a company that he incorporated in Delray Beach, Florida. As an Adjunct Professor, he has taught Master's level courses at John Jay University, NYC and has lectured at NYU, George Washington University, and at the Hotel Management School in Lausanne, Switzerland.
In his current capacity as Managing Partner, Resort Security International (RSI), Mr. Hudak provides security expert witness testimony and litigation support for several national law firms. RSI also works with architects and developers during construction of new resorts and hotels to create a practical and cost effective approach to security. RSI conducts security surveys and audits, and provides consultation for existing hotels and resorts, marinas, golf clubs, equestrian and ski operations to ensure that they have reasonable protection and safeguards in place. Finally, RSI provides valuable security expertise to selected vendors of security equipment, technology and services.
Mr. Hudak is an active member of ISMA, ASIS, Society of Former Special Agents of the FBI, VFW, American Legion, Harvard Club of NYC and Palm Beach, and the Harvard Varsity Club. He is on the Board of Advisors for I-OnAsia, PPM-2000, IdentityTheft911 and is a frequent contributor to Stafford Publications. Mr. Hudak has authored numerous published articles regarding contemporary issues in security management and has appeared on both radio and television programs. Mr.Hudak was featured on the cover of Security Magazine, January, 2007 edition.
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Dave Wiggins is the past president of the California Tourism Safety & Security Association, a non-profit collaboration of law enforcement, security professionals, attraction operators, travel professionals, tourism industry representatives and others dedicated to improving visitor safety via the exchange of tourist crime and safety information, education, and professional networking. Dave is a 20-year veteran of California law enforcement, and currently works on community and tourist oriented policing projects and investigations. He has authored articles, and been interviewed for a variety of magazines and newspapers, regarding tourism security trends. He co-authored the year-long field survey "Visitor Attitudes Concerning Safety & Security" which has received international attention.
Dave helps administer the Orange County Crime Alert Network. He served as the co-chairman of the conference organizing committee for the annual California Tourism Safety & Security Conference from 2001 - 2006.
In 2001, Dave was honored by the Orange County Tourism Council with their Chairman's Award, the first time the Council has recognized a member of law enforcement. In 2005 he received a Congressional certificate of commendation for his initiatives in promoting improved visitor security.
Dave and his T&M colleagues provide training for convention managers, meeting planners, tour operators, hotel and attraction operators, and civic groups, as well as law enforcement and security teams. Dave recently addressed the Hawaii Visitor Industry Security Association in Honolulu, the International Association of Convention & Visitor Bureaus Conference in Boston, the Las Vegas Tourism Safety & Security Conference, the Western States Lodging Convention in Sacramento, the Financial & Insurance Conference Planners Association in Atlanta, the Southern California Visitor Industry Outlook Conference in Long Beach, the ARLAG travel industry convention in Guadalajara, Mexico, the Connecticut State Police Academy, Southern California Attractions Security Association, Texas Visitor Safety Conference, Meeting Professionals International, Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International, and Soroptimist International.
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Tomer Benito brings the practical aspect of security in tourism with vast experience and hands-on knowledge. Mr. Benito served as a Staff Sergeant in a special unit of the IDF's (Israel Defense Forces) Paratrooper Brigade.
Benito was in charge of the IDF's Elite Officers School Medical and Emergency Team and received the President Award for Excellence in Service. He joined the ISA (Israel Security Agency - Shin Beit).
In 2002 he was assigned to LAX, Los Angeles International Airport, as a security officer and expert profiler. He received specialized training in areas such as explosives and both passenger and air freight screenings. During his service at LAX, Mr. Benito was part of the terrorist attack mitigation that occurred at the terminal in July 2002.
Among his duties as an instructor and consultant, Mr. Benito has developed training programs and initiatives that have been implemented by organizations worldwide. He designed, developed, and delivered training and development initiatives to various agencies and multinational organizations. Mr. Benito's main objectives was to change the mindset towards threats and to thwart terrorism in its field of operation-the psychological warfare. He is the mastermind behind The Art of Deterrence, a Homeland Security approved program for threat mitigation as well as several others. Mr. Benito's programs credit his audiences with Continuing Education Units (CEU) provided by San Diego State University.
Mr. Benito is the author of Rain for the Wicked-a fictitious training novel, various training manuals, and several articles in leading magazines. He is an expert in public speaking, security engineering, and articulation of vulnerabilities. Mr. Benito pays special attention to the three E's in his programs-Engaging, Entertaining, and Educating. Mr. Benito is currently focusing on the effectiveness of deterrence measures on the targets selected for terrorism.
Mr. Benito holds a Bachelor of Arts in Geography from the University of Haifa, Israel and a Master of Arts in Geographical Information Systems from California State University, Northridge. His focus in the field of study was spatial distribution of terrorists and vulnerable spaces.
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