Access for Protectors

Protectors! Check out this phenomenal review/testimonial for this year Close Protection Conference in Vegas! Enjoy! And thank you Keith Ortiz, CPP! This IS NOT mine. Please connect with Keith!

This is such a robust description, it had to be turned into an article! What great words and an affirmation for what goes on year over year at the CPC!

Access.

That is the single best word I can think of to describe this years IPSB conference in Las Vegas.

Allow me to geek out for a moment…

Anyone who knows me, knows that I’m a big networking guy and a lifelong learner. So it seemed like a no brainer to travel to Las Vegas, assist LaSorsa & Associates with training on their world class EP program (I’m a graduate of this program myself) and then get in a little networking at the convention to justify the time and cost commitment.

Where do I start?

There are people in this industry that I regularly communicate with in one form or another that I have never met. I have jumped in on their social media posts (and they on mine), we have texted, emailed and spoken on the phone; We have refered business back and forth and I have even worked details for some based on their reputation, a referral and a quick phone call. The IPSB gave me access to no less than 11 of these industry peers ( I counted!) whom I have an established relationship with but I had never met. I got to put faces with the name, voice and emails. Some of the finest people you can ever hope to meet. I am honored and humbled at the access I had to them and the ability to solidify these relationships. You all know who you are, feel free to comment below.

I haven’t even gotten to the ‘geek out’ part yet!

There are people in this industry that I consider my mentors in this industry (whether they know it or not). Guys & Gals that I can only hope to meet at some point in my career because they have influenced me in some way in my career. Trainers, authors, legends in the business, lecturers and subject matter experts. People like Joe LaSorsa, Miranda Coppoolse, Mac Segal, Elijah Shaw, Byron Rodgers, Gerard Boniello, Christian West, Aaron Mauldin, Caleb Gilbert, & Gary Pastor just to name a few. Well guess what? I met and had conversations with each and every one of these mentors listed above at IPSB!! I even had lunch with Elijah Shaw! (Well, to be fair, he just happened to sit at my lunch table and we chatted but I’m claiming it anyway!) IPSB gave me access to all of these mentors. I have furthered my career immeasurably in just a few days.

But wait, there’s more!

At the IPSB there was a shooting competition, there was the EP Forum, there was the career development seminar, there was the pretty awesome & impressive mixers, there were vendors for companies and products. Outside of the convention there were get togethers with fellow practitioners at clubs, bars, concerts, cigar bars, site seeing and even a UFC fight! The access to people, places, mentors, information, fellow practitioners, products and training is beyond compare.

In closing (finally, whew!)

I highly recommend that any practitioners who takes themselves and their craft seriously, and who want to succeed in this business, make the effort to attend the IPSB in the coming years. The return on investment is immeasurable (I’m using this word a lot but it’s the right word).

On a personal note, I have recently (in the last 3 years or so) began teaching, mentoring, writing articles and posts that I think are of interest (like this one) as well as doing things to try to help the next generation of practitioners. I’ve had a couple successes. I’ve had many failures. I thoroughly enjoy that aspect of the industry but lately it seems like more and more practitioners want the big paydays without putting in the work, they talk a big game without the experience to back it up, they criticize and tear down other people, details and the money being offered. I was starting to sour on my commitment to continue mentoring, teaching and fighting the good fight. And then I saw Mac Segal speak at the convention. His message about mentoring, writing content and giving back struck a nerve with me. He spoke of the positivity that comes back to you when you put yourself out there to assist others in this field. His message helped me to access the place within me to stay the course and keep on keeping on. It was the right message at just the right time. Thank you sir!

Access. See what I mean?