HIGHLIGHT ON ST. MORITZ RETAIL SERVICES AND GUARD SERVICES DIVISIONS [more...]

DON'T FORGET TO FALL BEHIND THIS MONTH! [more...]

AVIATION SECURITY ABOUT TO CHANGE [more...]

PROTECTING YOUR BUSINESS AGAINST TERRORISM [more...]

St. Moritz Retail Services Division

This is normally a busy time for the retail industry with the Christmas Season approaching, and St. Moritz is in position to provide retailers with a security program that can assist them with safety and loss prevention measures. The Retail Services Division has recently signed contracts with some big box retailers, and has several contract negotiations in progress. The St. Moritz difference is catching on with retailers.

St. Moritz and DSW

St. Moritz has agreed to provide security services to DSW for their New York City retail locations. DSW currently has seven existing locations in the five boroughs, and is in the process of opening a five story location in Union Square and a new retail location in Battery Park (former site of the World Trade Center).

St. Moritz has agreed to provide security officers for all DSW locations, and assist with security measures for the new construction at Union Square and Battery Park. St. Moritz security officers appear in black blazers and are in place to guard inventory in the construction locations and perform a loss prevention/customer service role in the existing store locations.

St. Moritz and Federated Department Stores

St. Moritz has agreed to provide Federated Department Stores Bloomingdales location in Soho (New York City) with security service for all retail store locations during the Christmas season. St. Moritz coverage will start on Black Friday, and continue until early 2005. Security officers will be provided to assist with crowd control, loss prevention, and safety measures.

St. Moritz Guard Services Division

St. Moritz Guard Services Division has been extremely busy over the last few months. The increased activity is due to Regional Managers commitment to build their branch to meet the projections set forth at our corporate kick-off last month in Chester, WV.

St. Moritz Guard Services Division in Pittsburgh, PA has recently taken over the security contract for the Home Loan Bank Building managed by CB Richard Ellis. St. Moritz has also signed an agreement to provide security for 701 Technology Drive in Canonsburg, PA for the Grubb and Ellis Management Company. In addition, General Electric has awarded St. Moritz the contract for a power outage at their facility in Maidsville, WV (2 minutes from the Pennsylvania border).

St. Moritz Guard Services Division in Frederick, MD has just completed security services for the Great Frederick Fair in Frederick, MD. Additionally, the St. Moritz Frederick office has signed a contract to provide security officers for several Mountainview Landfill locations throughout Western Maryland.

St. Moritz Guard Services Division in Columbus, OH has signed a contract with the Beulah Park Race Track to provide armed and unarmed security officers for their facility and special events.

St. Moritz Guard Services Division in Youngstown, OH has signed a contract extension with Western Reserve Transit Authority (WRTA).

St. Moritz Guard Services Division in Parkersburg, WV is performing security services for three different outages at major power plants located in the Northwestern West Virginia/Southeastern Ohio area.

St. Moritz Guard Services Division in Los Angeles, CA has taken over proprietary operation of all ATM escorts in the Greater Los Angeles Area.

Fact: Employment prospects for many look up in 2005. Several of the nation's largest outplacement firms report that they expect hiring to increase 12% over next twelve months-the first real rise since 2001!
Source: BottomLine Personal, 2004

On Sunday, October 31st, at 2:00 AM it's time to set your clocks back one hour to standard time for most of the United States. Why not take this time to perform a few safety checks of your home or business as well, such as:

• Replace the batteries in your smoke detectors
• Have your furnace inspected for proper working order
• Check your door and window locks to ensure they are locking properly
• Make sure your exterior doors and windows are properly sealed to keep out the cold air
• Check your fireplace chimney for obstructions; this could prevent a fire hazard
• Don't store flammable liquids near objects in your garage or workshop that could ignite
• For those of you in "cold country" make sure you have snow melting material on hand at home and in your vehicles.
• Prepare an emergency kit for your vehicle to store in your trunk. Store items such as non-perishable foods, snow shovel and scraper, extra gloves, blankets, flares, portable transistor radio etc. These items can very helpful and may just save your life should you become stranded on the highway in a snow storm.
• Most of all, take time to enjoy the seasonal color changes, one of god's greatest gifts to mankind

The Aviation and Transportation Security Act (ATSA) mandated federalization of all airport security screening in November 2001. As a test, the ATSA allowed five airports to opt-out and use private screeners. The five airports, San Francisco International, Kansas City International, Rochester International, Jackson Hole, and Toledo (Ohio), all have a federal security director to oversee operations. A recent GAO survey suggests that despite better selection practices, better pay, more training, and improved technology, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screeners performed no better and possibly worse than private screeners. As of November 19, 2004, the ATSA statutorily allows airports to apply for opt-out status and again use private security. TSA officials would still manage private security operations but airport authorities could streamline their processes and realize big savings. In the meantime, TSA is developing performance standards to measure screener reliability and lay the groundwork for potential contractor replacements at airports currently staffed by TSA.

Source: Security Letter, 2004

The Department of Homeland Security has just launched a new Web site for small business owners offering information on how to set up programs for protecting workers and continuing operations in the event of a terror strike. The site, www.ready.gov, offers advice on what small businesses can do to protect workers in case of a nuclear, chemical or biological attack, and how to develop escape plans. It also offers disaster recovery and business continuity plans for small businesses.

For continuity of operations planning the site suggests:

• Carefully assess how your company functions, both internally and externally, to determine which staff, materials, procedures and equipment are absolutely necessary to keep the business operating.
• Review your business process flow chart if one exists.
• Identify operations critical to survival and recovery.
• Include emergency payroll, expedited financial decision-making and accounting systems to track and document costs in the event of a disaster.
• Establish procedures for succession of management. Include at least one person who is not at the company headquarters, if applicable.

Quote of the Month: The object of education is to prepare the young to educate themselves throughout their lives.
- Robert M. Hutchins; 1899 - 1977