The Security Equation With Dan Donovan

In this unique episode, the tables are turned. Rachel Uchitel, host of the "Miss Understood" podcast, sits down with Dan Donovan to ask the questions people actually want answered: How does he think about risk? How does he make decisions under pressure? And what does everyone—including most business leaders—completely misunderstand about security?For 30 years, Dan Donovan has been protecting some of the largest and most complicated events in the world. He's worked on 13 Super Bowls, five Olympic Games, major tech conferences with 45,000+ attendees, and countless events for Fortune 500 companies. But his journey into security is not what you'd expect.He started after coaching football at Georgia Tech and getting recruited to lead the sport competition department for the Sydney Olympics. That experience made him an "event junkie," but instead of jumping from event to event, he decided to start a business to solve problems in operational readiness and crisis management. That first company, the Intercom Group (yes, they regretted that name), landed major contracts with Coca-Cola and the Salt Lake City Olympics.Then 9/11 happened. Suddenly, everything changed.With the Secret Service taking over Salt Lake City's security posture for the 2002 Winter Olympics, Dan thought his team would be sent home. Instead, the opposite happened. Secret Service leadership told his team: "You keep focusing on the 90%. We're going to focus on the 10%." That moment transformed Dan's first company into what became the foundation for Stratoscope Holdings—a multi-billion dollar event security company.In this conversation, Dan shares:The origin story: How a football coach became the security expert for Olympic GamesThe Salt Lake moment: Why Secret Service validation changed everythingThe philosophy that built an empire: Event objectives come first, security is the enabler, not the barrierWhy people misunderstand security: "A guard standing at a door" vs. the reality (ops centers, video surveillance, crowd management, K-9, weapons detection)The balance between safety and experience: How to protect 100,000-person events without making them feel like security operationsScaling Stratoscope & multiple companies: Ingressotek, Stratus K9, Stratus EP, and consulting divisions across five different brandsROI of security: Why cheap security is expensive, and how great security multiplies event ROI year after yearWhen he walks away from clients: The non-negotiables that define Stratoscope's valuesWhat keeps him up at night: Culture, scaling without compromise, and raising standards continuouslyThe book: His upcoming title "The Security Equation," which finally puts on paper what security actually is (and why it's been so poorly explained)Rachel also asks the deeper questions: What makes Stratoscope different from competitors who are "better known but not better"? Why does he refuse to be the cheapest option? How does he maintain culture while scaling? What would make him turn down a client?This is essential listening for event organizers, business leaders, corporate security professionals, entrepreneurs, and anyone trying to understand what it actually takes to protect people at scale while delivering the experience clients invested millions to create.FOLLOW US ON LINKEDIN Follow Dan Donovan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ddonovan50/Follow Stratoscope (Event Security Strategy): https://www.linkedin.com/company/stratoscope/Follow Ingressotek (Event Security Weapons Detection: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ingressotek/Follow Stratos K9 (Event Security Detection Dogs):https://www.linkedin.com/company/stratos-k9/Would you be interested in learning more about Stratoscope?Check out our website: https://stratoscope.com/

In this episode of The Security Equation, Dan Donovan sits down with Brad Eggert, now Vice President of Consulting at Stratoscope Holdings. (Note: During this recording, Brad held the title Senior Director of Client Experience on the consulting side; he has since been promoted to Vice President of Consulting following this conversation.)Brad's journey into events security is unique—he grew up thinking he'd work in minor league baseball but instead became obsessed with large-scale event management. After earning his degree in sport management, he interned with the Southeastern Conference and landed a full-time position in Lake Placid, New York. But his career was forever shaped by being in the planning cycle for the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics when 9/11 occurred."Everything took this security focus priority," Brad recalls. "That was really my first experience with all of that."Since then, Brad has worked on an incredible breadth of events: golf tournaments, rodeos in Wyoming, tech conferences, the reopening of Manchester Arena after the Ariana Grande tragedy, and dozens of corporate and entertainment events. He's been instrumental in building Stratoscope's consulting division from the ground up—and his role has evolved from being an event lead to now managing a team of consultants who bring operational expertise to every client engagement.The conversation explores what separates consulting from security contracting. Most clients assume they're getting security guards and experienced guard managers. But Stratoscope does something different: they sit down with clients and ask the questions no guard company is asking.Dan and Brad discuss:The consulting differentiator: Understanding event makeup, clientele, venue perimeter, arrival profiles, ingress/egress flows—not just "what time" and "how many"The credential problem: Why security needs to be involved in seemingly non-security decisions like credential design, and why clients resist this until they understandThe Chicago moment: The breakthrough moment when a production company finally realizes the consultant is looking at problems faster than their own team because of a "different lens"Crowd management chaos: The escalator/door bottleneck—when a 55,000-person event space only has 2 escalators to get there, how do you manage 10,000 people starting and ending at the same time in hallways designed for 2,000?Computer modeling for safety: Using technology to show clients why staggered start times and alternating rooms aren't bureaucracy—they're attendee safetyFrom contractor to team leader: The mental shift from building client relationships to building team relationships and coaching consultantsThe variety of events: Why experience across golf, rodeos, tech conferences, and arena reopenings creates problem-solvers who can help any clientBrad also shares some colorful event stories: the chaotic Uber event across Las Vegas (which he describes as "a little bit of craziness"), the Beyoncé helicopter arrival at the Palms, and how working with programming teams requires going "way inside the perimeter" to understand total event flow.At its core, Brad's philosophy is: Security isn't about saying no. It's about understanding what the client is trying to accomplish and then helping them accomplish it safely. "We're looking out for you. We're looking out for me as your client," as one breakthrough client finally realized.Essential listening for event organizers, production companies, venue operators, corporate event planners, and anyone responsible for large-scale gatherings.Would you be interested in learning more about Stratoscope?Check out our website: https://stratoscope.com/

In this episode of The Security Equation, Dan Donovan sits down with Paul Mathews, who leads the Ingressotek division at Stratoscope Holdings. Paul has 13 years of experience at Madison Square Garden followed by six years building and scaling Ingressotek's event security operations.Paul's journey into security was unconventional. He grew up wanting to work in the sports industry and landed at Madison Square Garden, where he spent nearly two decades working his way up through various operational roles. During his time at MSG, he managed some of the world's most high-profile events: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame concerts (where he spent time with Paul McCartney), papal visits with 20,000-person communion logistics, and Stanley Cup Eastern Conference Finals.But Paul also experienced some of security's hardest moments—like the ASAP Rocky benefit concert where a perimeter breach at the loading dock nearly resulted in hundreds of unauthorized people entering the venue. That incident, and many others, shaped his understanding of why perimeter control isn't theoretical—it's existential.After MSG, Paul worked for a staffing company and then moved to TNM before landing at Ingressotek six years ago, right as the company was scaling from startup to full-service event security provider.The conversation explores what it really takes to scale security operations without cutting corners. Paul breaks down:Perimeter control in real-world chaos: The ASAP Rocky breach and why MSG's architectural complexity actually saved the dayBalancing attendee experience with security: How Secret Service prioritizes zero experience for absolute security, but commercial events must find the middleWhy experience is irreplaceable: A "light bulb moment" from someone who's dealt with a situation before beats any new hire with zero contextThe FIFA World Cup deployment: One of Ingressotek's biggest accomplishments—screening across 60 training sites and 4 stadiums in the US and CanadaThe logistics nightmare behind FIFA: 139 open gates deployed, 80 operations managers, 825+ screening days, constant mid-tournament pivots (32 teams → 16 teams)Why technology is only as good as the people operating it: A lesson Paul learned early and applies relentlesslyEmerging threats on the horizon: Vehicle barriers (recent Berlin attack), drones, facial recognition, X-ray technology competitionFirst principles of event security: What MSG taught him that still applies at 8,000-person events and 100,000-person stadiumsPaul also shares some incredible war stories: the midnight warehouse sort of 139 open gates before FIFA, the 20-hour shifts during early tournaments, and how establishing a single point of command communication transformed chaos into coordination.This is essential listening for security professionals, event organizers, venue operators, and anyone scaling operations in complex, high-stakes environments.Learn more: www.ingressotek.com or contact Paul directly at [email protected] or (917) 412-6359

In this episode of The Security Equation, Dan Donovan sits down with Stephen Staats, better known as "Old Man Liver," a 30-year veteran in the live events industry who has built a business empire from BreastFest charity events to large-scale festivals attracting 8,000+ attendees.Stephen's journey into events was accidental—he started as a musician in Los Angeles, eventually becoming the organizer for his band and then launching BreastFest, a breast cancer benefit that gained national attention in 1999. Since then, he's built Butter Popcorn Productions and expanded into multiple events including Fallout Fan Celebrations, Wasteland Jamboree, Nevada Blues Festival, and other large-scale gatherings.But Stephen's story extends far beyond entertainment. He's also the owner of the Pioneer Saloon in Good Springs, Nevada—a 113-year-old venue operating in a complex legal and security landscape where open carry is allowed and guests can legally drink with firearms.The conversation explores what most event organizers don't talk about: the real cost of scaling. When Stephen's Fallout Fan Celebration grew from hundreds to 8,000+ attendees, the complexity exploded. Suddenly he wasn't just coordinating with venue staff—he was coordinating Metro Police Department, private security, Amazon corporate security (for celebrity guests), medical personnel, and navigating Nevada's permitting requirements for 5,000+ person events.Dan and Stephen dive into:The evolution of event security from the 1990s to today (spoiler: weapons and modern threats changed everything)Scaling events without cutting corners: the true cost of buses, permits, medical staff, and security coordinationWhen you have to say no: His negotiation with Billy McFarland to buy the Fire Festival brand, and the red flags that made him walk awayDue diligence and legal complexity: Why a poorly written contract and trademark uncertainty were deal-breakersDe-escalation over confrontation: Why he doesn't carry a gun to "counter" guns, and how small-town self-regulation worksFirst responder mentality: Why all his managers are CPR certified and trained as emergency respondersSafety first, profit second: How to build sustainable events without compromising on people's safetyLeadership decisions: The difference between ambition and recklessness in event planningStephen's story is particularly relevant to The Security Equation audience. When Billy McFarland tried to recruit him to resurrect Fyre Festival, Stephen spent six weeks in negotiations before red flags emerged: a poorly written contract (appearing ChatGPT-generated), trademark ownership issues Billy couldn't explain, misunderstanding of basic business costs (like attorney fees), and a pattern of impatience and disrespect when questioned. Stephen walked away, telling McFarland he'd "rather do a music festival from scratch" because "his soul hasn't changed."This is a masterclass in knowing when to walk away—and why safety-first event planning is better business long-term than chasing quick wins or attaching yourself to a toxic brand.Essential listening for event organizers, security professionals, venue operators, nonprofit leaders, and anyone scaling operations in high-stakes environments.Would you be interested in learning more about Stratoscope?Check out our website: https://stratoscope.com/

In this episode of The Security Equation, Dan Donovan sits down with Anna Reahl, founder and CEO of Arcus Group, a company specializing in perimeter security and protective infrastructure for high-profile events, government functions, and major gatherings.Anna's journey into security is unconventional. She started in live event production, working on the Super Bowl (Jacksonville 39), touring with bands worldwide, and managing large-scale events. But a transformative experience at an NSSE (National Special Security Event) in 2012 changed her perspective on risk entirely. She realized that the same organizational skills that made her successful in event logistics could be applied to security operations—and that security professionals needed to think like event planners: operational design from inception to execution.Through Arcus Group, Anna pioneered solutions that major events now depend on: anti-scale fencing designed to stop vehicles and mitigate ballistic threats, perimeter infrastructure that protects attendees without compromising the guest experience, and coordination protocols that integrate with law enforcement and government agencies.She's provided perimeter security for presidential-level events, worked alongside federal agencies including Secret Service and DHS, and developed the frameworks that keep thousands of people safe at major gatherings. Her background in event production gives her a unique advantage: she understands that security can't exist in a vacuum—it has to enhance, not detract from, the experience attendees came for.In this conversation, Dan and Anna discuss:Her origin story from fashion dreams to federal event securityWhat changed after her first NSSE experienceThe technology behind anti-scale fencing (and why it matters)How to coordinate security across multiple agencies and vendorsBeing a female founder in a male-dominated security industryHer take on the recent White House Correspondents Dinner incidentWhy operational design is the future of event securityWhat keeps her up at night about event safety todayThe evolution of perimeter security and what's coming nextAnna also shares a philosophy that resonates beyond security: we've lost the art of humanity in this country, and that loss is directly reflected in the threats we're seeing at large gatherings.Essential listening for event organizers, security professionals, corporate security leaders, government agencies, and anyone responsible for protecting large groups of people.Would you be interested in learning more about Stratoscope?Check out our website: https://stratoscope.com/