Ransomware demands and payments reached unprecedented levels this year, and the attacks themselves are more complex than ever. That’s why we decided to re-release our episode on ransomware resilience with guest Heather Engel, Managing Partner of Strategic Cyber Partners. She has extensive expertise in risk management, cyber planning, and security program development, and shares her best practices for ransomware preparedness and response. Listen in to learn how to: Protect and recover critical systems and data Train your team to stay vigilant against social engineering Consider your options before paying a ransom Mitigate reputational risk with effective communication For more information on mitigating the risk of cyberattacks, check out the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. The Employee Safety Podcast is hosted by Peter Steinfeld, SVP of Safety Solutions at AlertMedia. Get every episode delivered straight to your inbox by subscribing at https://www.alertmedia.com/podcast/.
Winter weather can be unpredictable, and the 2024-2025 season is shaping up to be no exception. With La Niña conditions influencing weather patterns across the U.S. and beyond, organizations must stay vigilant and proactive.Peter Steinfeld is joined by AlertMedia’s Senior Meteorologist, Jason Moreland, to discuss how global weather patterns, climate change, and historical trends shape winter weather forecasts. Jason shares insights into how organizations can prepare for unexpected cold snaps, protect outdoor workers, and educate employees on weather and safety alerts. Listen in to learn:Early season global forecast predictionsHow La Niña will impact the upcoming winter weather seasonWhy understanding weather terminology is crucial for safety professionalsThe importance of flexibility as forecasts evolveJason encourages listeners to visit theweatherprediction.com and Comet MetEd’s site for education and training on weather forecasts. Also, visit weather.gov to better prepare yourself for this winter weather season.The Employee Safety Podcast is hosted by Peter Steinfeld, SVP of Safety Solutions at AlertMedia.Get every episode delivered straight to your inbox by subscribing at https://www.alertmedia.com/podcast/.
Drones are an emerging threat that can disrupt business operations and pose risks to employee safety. With the evolution of technology, there has been an uptick in bad actors using drones and other unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) with malicious intent. In this conversation, Ryan Wallace, Associate Professor of Aeronautical Science at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, discusses the threat implications of drones for businesses, highlighting their capabilities, the emerging threats they pose, and the challenges organizations face in addressing these risks. Listen in to learn: Why organizations are often unprepared for drone-related threats Key takeaways from real-world drone attacks How laws and regulations for drones are varied and difficult to enforce Why proactive measures are the key to understanding and mitigating drone risks The Employee Safety Podcast is hosted by Peter Steinfeld, SVP of Safety Solutions at AlertMedia. Get every episode delivered straight to your inbox by subscribing at https://www.alertmedia.com/podcast/.
Scaling safety and security is a daunting task for any organization, especially if your enterprise is a global brand with many moving parts. Today’s guest, Luis Duran, brings over twenty years of experience as a naval officer, NCIS Special Agent, and corporate security leader to his current role as Director of Corporate Safety and Security at TaylorMade Golf.Luis shares his expert insights on risk management and provides a behind-the-scenes look at TaylorMade’s global operations, including support for remote employees, security for high-profile golf events, and the development of an ideal security program.Listen in to learn: How to adapt public sector strategies for enhanced effectiveness in the private sectorHow to cultivate trust and foster strong relationships with your teamHow to equip employees with practical security skills for everyday useHow to be aware of and mitigate challenges like insider threats The Employee Safety Podcast is hosted by Peter Steinfeld, SVP of Safety Solutions at AlertMedia.Get every episode delivered straight to your inbox by subscribing at https://www.alertmedia.com/podcast/.
Automation and generative AI can streamline workflows and improve efficiency for corporate intelligence and security functions, especially when it comes to processing large data sets. But AI should be seen as a tool to enhance human capabilities, not replace them. Matt Kish is the Head of Situation and Intelligence Analysis – Corporate Security at Siemens, a global technology conglomerate headquartered in Munich, Germany. In this episode, Matt explains how his team built and developed an AI platform to help process large volumes of information so their analysts could focus on high-impact tasks. Matt and Peter discuss: The benefits and challenges of building an AI platform from scratch How Matt’s team got buy-in from leadership to create the platform Common mistakes employees make when utilizing AI and how to avoid them Best practices and advice for other organizations looking to incorporate AI into their businesses The Employee Safety Podcast is hosted by Peter Steinfeld, SVP of Safety Solutions at AlertMedia. Get every episode delivered straight to your inbox by subscribing at https://www.alertmedia.com/podcast/.
With the 2024 U.S. election rapidly approaching, organizations should prepare their people and business for potential disruptions, from heightened security and demonstration activity to disinformation campaigns and personnel disputes. Sara Pratley, SVP of Global Intelligence at AlertMedia, spends countless hours briefing customers and stakeholders on what to expect before, during, and after election day. In this episode, Sara provides valuable insights on the top three election-related threats her intelligence team is monitoring and actionable tips for how to mitigate their impacts. Sara explains: Key dates and locations of concern, from pre-election events to Inauguration Day The potential risks businesses should prepare for—locally, nationally, and globally The importance of monitoring election-related activities near your people and assets The Employee Safety Podcast is hosted by Peter Steinfeld, SVP of Safety Solutions at AlertMedia. Get every episode delivered straight to your inbox by subscribing at https://www.alertmedia.com/podcast/.
Whether your Business Continuity Plan (BCP) is inherited or created from scratch, it must be practical, efficient, and up to date—not put on the shelf to be ignored.In this episode, Barry Morgeson, Business Continuity Director at Ryan Specialty, draws on his two decades of experience to offer actionable insights and recommendations for crafting a Business Continuity Plan that achieves ROI across the business.Listen in to learn: Why you should prioritize revenue-generating business verticals when building your BCPWhy you need internal champions to help your BCP succeedHow to identify the “must-haves” versus “nice to haves” for your BCPHow to develop a personalized approach to planning to maximize adoption across departmentsThe Employee Safety Podcast is hosted by Peter Steinfeld, SVP of Safety Solutions at AlertMedia.Get every episode delivered straight to your inbox by subscribing at https://www.alertmedia.com/podcast/.
No organization wants to be unprepared for a crisis, but many internal and external obstacles can hinder its ability to manage and respond effectively. If these challenges are not identified and addressed in advance, companies risk damaging their brand and unintentionally conveying the wrong message in an emergency scenario.In today's episode, we're joined by Melissa Agnes, Founder and CEO of Crisis Ready Institute, an organization dedicated to enhancing crisis resilience through training and industry standards. Melissa shares "The Five Crisis Ready Hindrances" and explains why you can't beat emotion with logic in a crisis.Listen in to learn:How to get your organization "Crisis Ready"How to lean into vulnerability in crisis communicationsHow to lead with empathy and emotional intelligence during a crisisThe Employee Safety Podcast is hosted by Peter Steinfeld, SVP of Safety Solutions at AlertMedia.Get every episode delivered straight to your inbox by subscribing at https://www.alertmedia.com/podcast/.
Physical security teams will always be a critical component of organizational risk management, no matter how many technological advances come along. According to today’s guest, the key to developing a successful and scalable physical security program is having the right balance of staff, technology, and external relationships. Chad Bosques is Head of Physical Security at Chime, the online banking and money management platform. In today’s episode, Chad shares his advice on managing physical security from his fifteen years of experience, from public law enforcement to major organizations like Bank of America, Twitter, and DocuSign.Listen in to learn: Best practices for gaining employee and executive buy-in on your program’s initiativesHow to evaluate the program’s effectiveness and improve on itHow to scale programs to meet the growing needs of an organizationThe Employee Safety Podcast is hosted by Peter Steinfeld, SVP of Safety Solutions at AlertMedia.Get every episode delivered straight to your inbox by subscribing at https://www.alertmedia.com/podcast/.
Healthcare organizations don't have the option to temporarily pause operations when a crisis occurs. They must maintain, and often increase, their capacity to handle emergencies at a moment’s notice.In this episode, Jarrid Pike, Director of Emergency Management and Preparedness at UMass Memorial Medical Center, discusses how he and his staff rely on constant communication and inclusive training exercises to stay prepared for any situation.Listen in to learn: How to adapt crisis response efforts on the fly and document those adaptations for future emergenciesHow to foster a culture of collective responsibility in crisis situations, from hospital executives to frontline staffHow to ensure continuity of patient care in any emergencyThe Employee Safety Podcast is hosted by Peter Steinfeld, SVP of Safety Solutions at AlertMedia.Get every episode delivered straight to your inbox by subscribing at https://www.alertmedia.com/podcast/.
In a time of “permacrisis,” the complexity of navigating modern threats, from climate change to misinformation campaigns, highlights the necessity of building strong partnerships cross-functionally.In this episode, Mary Hackman, Senior Director of Global Intelligence at Visa, shares best practices in global security and intelligence from her two decades of experience in both the public and private sectors.Listen in to learn: How to maintain a high level of engagement with executives while setting sustainable expectationsHow to use “listening tours” to better understand company needsHow to offer real-time support to employees during a crisisThe Employee Safety Podcast is hosted by Peter Steinfeld, SVP of Safety Solutions at AlertMedia.Get every episode delivered straight to your inbox by subscribing at https://www.alertmedia.com/podcast/.
The 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris begin July 26, and ensuring safety for athletes and visitors at the world’s largest multi-sport event is no small feat.Today’s guest, Scott Kim, is the Director of the Office of Protection at the Diplomatic Security Service, the agency that helps protect Team U.S.A. during the Olympic Games.Listen in to learn: The unique challenges of securing the OlympicsThe importance of rapid communication across languagesAdvice for companies on how to keep their employees safe at the OlympicsThe Employee Safety Podcast is hosted by Peter Steinfeld, SVP of Safety Solutions at AlertMedia.Get every episode delivered straight to your inbox by subscribing at https://www.alertmedia.com/podcast/.
Artificial Intelligence is here—and it’s here to stay. But when it comes to safeguarding employees, do the benefits of AI outweigh the risks? Guest host Sara Pratley sits down with Dean Baratta, Group Regional Security Manager at Microsoft, to discuss how AI and large language models can impact the intelligence and security functions at organizations today.Listen as Dean shares his advice on:How organizations can leverage the benefits of AI while staying vigilant against its risksThree major weaknesses of AI and how to work around themAdvice for those considering implementing AI to support corporate securityYou can find this interview and many more by following The Employee Safety Podcast on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.Get every episode delivered straight to your inbox by subscribing at https://www.alertmedia.com/podcast/.
Bob Smith has more than twenty years of experience in emergency management and communication roles in both the public and private sectors. He currently serves as Director of Service Assurance and Compliance at GCI Communication Corporation, the largest telecommunications carrier for the state of Alaska Working on large-scale events, including the Olympics, the World Cup, and the Super Bowl, Bob developed safety exercises for global teams coordinating across cultural barriers, led engaging large-scale tabletop exercises in different time zones remotely, and taught a crisis workshop during an actual earthquake. In this episode, Bob shares his proven tactics for improving tabletop exercises and other safety training at scale. Listen in to learn how to: Effectively engage both remote and live audiences during training Get the most out of large-scale exercises Recognize and overcome common safety training challenges Adapt your training procedures for changing environments The Employee Safety Podcast is hosted by Peter Steinfeld, SVP of Safety Solutions at AlertMedia. Get every episode delivered straight to your inbox by subscribing at https://www.alertmedia.com/podcast/.
On January 2, 2023, Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin collapsed on the field during a road game in Cincinnati. The Bills’ Associate Head Athletic Trainer Denny Kellington quickly determined that Hamlin was experiencing cardiac arrest and worked with an expert team of medical professionals to perform CPR and restore Hamlin’s heartbeat. Hamlin has since made a full recovery. In this episode, Denny shares the details of his team’s emergency action plan and how proper preparation and rapid response resulted in a positive outcome that fateful evening. Listen in to learn: How the Bills coordinate their emergency response before, during, and after an incident Denny’s approach to building trust with players and staff The contingency communication plans that ensure player health and safety How the NFL’s robust mental health response supported the team What every organization can do to prepare for cardiac emergencies The Employee Safety Podcast is hosted by Peter Steinfeld, SVP of Safety Solutions at AlertMedia. Get every episode delivered straight to your inbox by subscribing at https://www.alertmedia.com/podcast/.
Hurricane season officially begins June 1, and Colorado State University has predicted a historically active season for 2024. Patrick Forand is a certified incident commander and FEMA instructor and was a contract manager at the Florida Department of Health for more than 16 years. He currently leads emergency management, disaster planning, and response for CAN Community Health. In this episode, Patrick shares valuable lessons learned from two recent Florida hurricanes—Ian and Nicole. Listen in to learn how: Streamlined communication alleviates stress for staff and patients Unified threat intelligence and emergency communications improves disaster response Two-way communication and multichannel notifications empower emergency managers CAN Community Health scales and improves their communication and response plans The Employee Safety Podcast is hosted by Peter Steinfeld, SVP of Safety Solutions at AlertMedia. Get every episode delivered straight to your inbox by subscribing at https://www.alertmedia.com/podcast/.
In today's intensifying threat landscape, organizations must go beyond a check-the-box approach to achieve positive safety outcomes. For Andrew Dingee, pilot, safety expert, and author of Delivering the Right Stuff, an effective safety culture is achieved through a systems approach—that catches human error while preventing blame. In this episode, Andrew shares how to: Optimize checklists for busy workloads Apply Thinking, Fast and Slow concepts to achieve safe workflows Streamline incident reporting for continuous improvement Develop a culture that embraces owning and learning mistakes The Employee Safety Podcast is hosted by Peter Steinfeld, SVP of Safety Solutions at AlertMedia. Get every episode delivered straight to your inbox by subscribing at https://www.alertmedia.com/podcast/.
April is Workplace Violence Prevention Month, an important reminder for organizations to pause and analyze their readiness for workplace violence prevention and response. Bryan Strawser is an expert in helping organizations uplevel their workplace violence prevention programs and adapt to stay resilient in the future. His consultancy, Bryghtpath, helps companies improve their corporate security, intelligence gathering, business continuity, and crisis management efforts. In this episode, Bryan shares: Pitfalls to avoid in managing workplace violence prevention programs How to develop centralized reporting processes When and how to communicate workplace violence incidents with employees How to evaluate and mitigate workplace violence threats cross-functionallyThe Employee Safety Podcast is hosted by Peter Steinfeld, SVP of Safety Solutions at AlertMedia. Get every episode delivered straight to your inbox by subscribing at https://www.alertmedia.com/podcast/.
Tornadoes can damage or destroy anything in their path in seconds, leaving lasting impacts. With climate change driving tornado outbreaks year-round, organizations must continually review and update their preparedness and recovery plans. Warning Coordination Meteorologist Jennifer Dunn and her team at the National Weather Service combine forces with storm spotters and on-the-ground reporting to ensure everyone in a storm's path receives life-saving information as quickly as possible. Listen in to learn: Key takeaways from 2023 tornado activity How the transition out of El Niño influences tornado conditions in 2024 Tornado risk factors for organizations Tips for effective severe weather emergency plans How to alert employees to act fast in a tornado emergency The Employee Safety Podcast is hosted by Peter Steinfeld, SVP of Safety Solutions at AlertMedia. Get every episode delivered straight to your inbox by subscribing at https://www.alertmedia.com/podcast/.
Throughout his 30+ year career, Bart Brown has led teams of hundreds, securing both the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad and critical national infrastructure. In his current role as Vice President and Chief Security Officer at Frontier Communications, the keys to creating an effective security organization are adaptability, scalability, and automation. Listen in to learn: Which processes to outsource versus keep in-house How to lead the change from manual SOPs to automation The importance of public-private partnerships and external relationship-building How to scale a security function up or down based on the situation The Employee Safety Podcast is hosted by Peter Steinfeld, SVP of Safety Solutions at AlertMedia. Get every episode delivered straight to your inbox by subscribing at https://www.alertmedia.com/podcast/.