Paul Stretton-Stephens profiles the International Association of Professional Security Consultants (IAPSC). He is the US-based association’s UK representative.
I confess to saying to myself where do I begin, there is so much to say and so little time and space to do it in; how could I possibly do the IAPSC justice’ And then I realised that I don’t have to do the IAPSC justice, this unique association speaks for itself through the calibre of its membership. One has only to visit the IAPSC web site (www.iapsc.org) to witness the quality of its international members from countries such as New Zealand, Italy, UK, Mexico, Canada and the USA. Witness the projects they undertake; the books they write and the high regard in which their industry peers and the media hold them. What you cannot witness from visiting the site is the degree of association; the welcome extended to a new member and their partner or spouse; the warmth of friendship that each member imparts to another; the wit and the laughter; the willingness to assist another; the mutual respect; collaboration on projects; the advise and ideas and of course the constant flow of communication that provides the lifeblood of this organisation like no other I have witnessed.
At this juncture perhaps I should say a little about the IAPSC origins. It was in 1984 that Mr Charles ‘Chuck’ Sennewald, perhaps the most highly regarded security consultant of all, embarked upon the adventure of establishing an organisation dedicated to provide international independent security consultants, with a forum to better serve clients and grow their practices.
I should say that Mr Sennewald is known by his peers as one of the "Founding Fathers" of security management consulting, he is one of the most recognised and respected consultants practicing today. He has written extensively, including Effective Security Management, The Process of Investigation, Shoplifting, and his latest book, Shoplifters vs. Retailer – The Rights of Both. In 1989, his book Security Consulting was published by Butterworth-Heinemann and became an instant success. Due to requests and demand, the Second Edition was published in 1996. This book is a must read for anyone considering this profession, and provides the answers to a variety of questions and concerns anyone thinking of practicing as a full or part-time consultant has. The purpose of the International Association of Professional Security Consultants (IAPSC) is to establish and maintain the highest possible standards in the security consulting profession. For that purpose, the Association will provide opportunities for the professional enhancement of the members and will promote a greater awareness of the objective standards of its membership. Chuck and his team conceptualised the most stringent of membership criterion. Members of the IAPSC meet strict educational, professional experience and ethical requirements, ensuring that they represent the highest standards within the industry. They are also required to be independent, non-product affiliated consultants that pledge to meet client needs with their professional services. As a result the IAPSC is able to promote the Association and its members to potential user groups, providing additional assurance for clients when evaluating solutions to their security challenges. The reputation of the IAPSC and the specialised skills of its members add an additional credential for members seeking assignments.<br><br>
Today there are a number of benefits to be had from IAPSC membership, not least those mentioned above. The greatest value of membership in the IAPSC is the exposure to its professional members. Possessing a variety of specialised security skills, members are an invaluable resource for advice, partnering and referral opportunities. When faced with opportunity to serve a new or existing client needing expertise in an area outside the member’s specialty, IAPSC members often partner with other members or refer the assignment. This allows members to best meet client needs.<br><br>
Other benefits include the IAPSC website that allows prospective clients to search for consultants to meet their specific needs; annual conference and educational seminars; extensive resource library; IAPSC-sponsored ‘best practices’ position papers; liaison to media for interviews; and publishing opportunities; and rapid access to guidance and advice. The recent tragic events of September 11th in the USA have clearly demonstrated the professionalism that is associated with the IAPSC. In the first three days alone 12 IAPSC members were requested for interview and consultation from 32 independent media channels. A range of subjects addressed questions on ‘how corporate security should respond to such catastrophic events” to ‘the implications of building/high rise security’ and ‘how do corporations control access” to questions surrounding the background of terrorism. For those of us in the professional security consulting field, and those entering the field there are many challenges ahead. Wherever they maybe in the world a personal and professional empathy can be found in membership of the International Association of Professional Security Consultants, IAPSC. There are currently five membership classifications these being for Active, Associate, Employee, Affiliate and Internal Consultant Members and membership is growing. The next IAPSC 2002 Annual Conference is to be held in Atlanta, Georgia USA – April 20-24, 2002 and there are plans to hold a first European IAPSC meeting.
