Advisory Board

Stevan Bernard, CFE, Stevan Bernard, CFE | LinkedIn, Stevan retired from Sony Pictures Entertainment after 16 years as Executive VP of Global Protection Services.

Education
B.S. Criminal Justice | A.A Psychology | Graduate FBI National Academy | Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE)

Background
Global keynote speaker | Advisor to US Government | Cyber Resilience | Global protection services | BCP/CM/Response (cyber, etc.) | Brand and reputational | Advisor to International SOS | Former CSO/CISO, Police, Military | Risk mitigation advisor

Speaker (Keynote/Main Plenary/Moderator)
Instructor US Department of State (Anti-Terrorism Assistance) | Tel Aviv University, USC, Kellogg, U of Hawaii | Briar Cliff University Adjunct Professor | CIA the Farm | Wall Street Journal | US Cyber Command

BIO
Stevan founded Bernard Global, LLC in July 2018, and he currently serves as their Chief Executive.

Prior to this he held the position of Executive Vice President for global protection services at Sony Pictures Entertainment. During his 16 years with Sony Steve initiated numerous programs in support of Sony worldwide. His staff covered over 50 countries and 150 offices. Services also extended to contracted production personnel operating in the far corners of the globe. Critical responsibilities included: global threat management; investigations; forensics (with 3 labs); information security and data privacy; content protection; threat management; major event security; environment; health and safety; production safety and security; sustainability; medical and clinical services; BCP/CM and incident management (including cyber); resilience; physical security; law-enforcement and government liaison; fire and life safety.

In addition to the entertainment field Stevan has also held key leadership roles in energy, food, human resources, and technology. His public service included 12 years in municipal police and 3 years in the US Army. He resided overseas for 8 years of his life and traveled in over 50 countries.

Today, Mr. Bernard is very engaged with the law enforcement community, the U.S. Department of State, Academia, the International Security Management Association (ISMA), the FBI’s Domestic Security Alliance Council (DSAC), the Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC), InfraGard with the FBI, ASIS International and HSIN. He has been recognized by the CIA, the FBI, AT&F NRT, the US Army, and the U.S. Department of State for his service to country.

Stevan is a sought-after speaker, advisor, and confidant on topics such as corporate security, crisis preparedness, cyber security, resilience, leadership, duty of care and risk mitigation.

James Mottola,   James Mottola, MS, CISM,CPP | LinkedIn, Jim has more than 25 years of experience in the United States Secret Service including serving as the former Special Agent in charge of the Newark Field Office.

James G. Mottola is a Vice President of Data Privacy, Investigations and Security for Porzio Compliance Services. Mr. Mottola has more than 25 years of experience in the United States Secret Service including serving as the former Special Agent in charge of the Newark Field Office of the United States Secret Service. Mr. Mottola leverages his experience to counsel and advise clients on matters of information security, data privacy, physical security, schools safety, internal corporate investigations, incident response management, and other compliance related matters.

Jim works with emerging businesses, educational intuitions and organizations to provide a strategic perspective, in a wide range of security matters. He advises clients in the areas of risk identification and mitigation to help them prepare, respond and recover from cyber-related events to reduce the likelihood and impact of financial fraud and increase organizational resilience. He has experience leading and managing personnel in both national and international security and investigative matters.

Before Porzio, Jim was the Director of Forensic Investigations and Risk Mitigation Services at Sobel & Co. He further developed his unique skill set during his years as a Special Agent in the New York, Phoenix and Frankfurt, Germany office and culminating in his role as the Special Agent in Charge of the Newark Field Office in New Jersey. Jim holds a Certified Protection Professional (CPP) certification from ASIS, a Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) certification offered by ISACA, and a Masters of Management, specialization in Organizational Change.

Komendat was also the lead Boeing interface for both national and international security policy engagement with numerous government and industry advisory groups. He represented Boeing as past co-chairman and current board member on the Domestic Security Alliance Council, past President of The International Security Management Association and served as a member of the Threats and Information Committee for the Overseas Security Advisory Council.

Komendat is the founder and President of DSKomendat Risk Management Services, he also serves on several company advisory boards and holds board leadership roles with several non-profit organizations whose missions are to protect people globally, including Hostage U.S., International Security Foundation, and the Domestic Security Partnership. Dave is also a Strategic Engagement Advisor-Office of Private Sector to the FBI. In 2018, Dave was awarded the Director’s Award for Exceptional Public Service by FBI Director Christopher Wray.

Komendat graduated from California State University at Long Beach with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice specializing in industrial security, and is a graduate of the executive development program at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

Michael Gips, JD, CPP, CSyP, CAE,  Michael Gips | LinkedIn, Michael is a security expert, attorney, author, journalist, researcher, and business executive.

Michael Gips, JD, CPP, CSyP, CAE, is a decorated security professional, attorney, writer, journalist, researcher, and business executive. He is principal of Global Insights in Professional Security, where he consults for multinational corporations, security providers, academic institutions, utilities, law firms, nonprofits, healthcare organizations, and other businesses and agencies. Previously he served as both the Chief Security Officer and Chief Global Knowledge and Learning Officer for ASIS International, where he oversaw Learning, Content, Certification, Standards & Guidelines, Production, Enterprise Security Risk Management, and other departments. He developed the CSO Roundtable, an organization that includes hundreds of the most senior security executives at the biggest corporations around the world, as a membership group within ASIS. He also served as editor and publisher of Security Management, where he authored hundreds of articles.

Mike is also a senior advisor for Cardinal Point Strategies, a senior advisor for the Network Contagion Research Institute, and a Partner in the Knowledgebase of Insider Threats. He is also an associate with the Netherlands-based insider risk firm Signpost Six. Other services he provides include workplace investigations, social media monitoring, litigation support as an expert witness, and staff training. Mike also serves on the advisory boards of several organizations that provide technology and services in crisis management, emergency response, executive protection, violence prevention, and robotics.

Mike has received many commendations, including Outstanding U.S. Security Consultant (OSPAs, 2022), #1 most influential security thought leader in security (IFSEC, 2022), top twenty most influential security leaders (International Security Journal, 2022), #6 most influential thought leader in security (IFSEC, 2021), and one of the most influential people in security (Security magazine, 2019). He has received more than fifteen awards for his writing, most recently for his monthly leadership column in Security magazine.

On the volunteer side, Mike is president of the Life Safety Alliance and heads the security committee for a large house of worship. He was on the committees that updated ASIS’s CSO standard and developed ASIS’s ESRM guideline. He also mentors many young professionals.

Among his many research publications are papers and reports on ESRM (2010), the size and scope of the security sector (2012, 2014), convergence (2019), blockchain (2020), business continuity and Covid (2021), and an article on security professionalization coauthored with Dr. Alison Wakefield for the third edition of The Handbook of Security (2022). He is currently researching the security benefits and threats of drones.

Besides his column for Security magazine, Mike regularly contributes to Security Management, International Security Journal, Security Technology Executive, Security Journal Americas, and other publications. He frequently presents on security and legal topics at conferences and webinars, on issues such as disinformation, insider threat, trends in access control, and security skill sets. A graduate of Tufts University (Phi Beta Kappa, summa cum laude) and Harvard Law School, Mike also has obtained security certificates from R.L. Oatman & Associates (2006), Wharton (2015), Tel Aviv University International (2016), IE Business School (2017), and Signpost Six (2021).

Tom Sloane, Thomas Sloan | LinkedIn, Tom is a published author who previously worked as a security leader for United Health Care Global Risk, the New York Stock Exchange, and First Data/Western Union.  He spent almost twenty-five years as a Special Agent with the United States Secret Service before entering the private sector.

Mr. Sloan has served with distinction for the past twenty years as a senior security manager with UnitedHealthCare Global Risk, New York Stock Exchange, and First Data/Western Union, where he had been responsible for developing, implementing and directing company-wide security processes. He is a recognized authority on identifying physical security risks and designing programs to prevent the loss of an organization’s assets due to social, environmental or structural threats.

Through his company, Tactful Security Solutions, LLC, he provides “best practice to policy direction” to businesses, healthcare organizations, and universities offering risk and vulnerability assessments that serve to enhance the protection of people, places and things. Mr. Sloan is a charter member of Metro One Loss Prevention Security Group’s advisory board. He has authored and mentored six applications for Department of Homeland Security’s coveted SAFETY Act Designation and Certification. Previously, he served with distinction on the Southern Methodist University’s security advisory group helping to guide it and the George W. Bush library that resides on its campus, toward maintaining its current high standard of security operations.

Before joining the private sector, he served more than twenty-five years as a Special Agent with the United States Secret Service. During his distinguished career, he held numerous positions of increasing responsibility as Special Agent in Charge of the Baltimore Field Office where he oversaw complex financial crimes investigations. Prior to that, Mr. Sloan was the Special Agent in Charge of the Major Events Division where he managed security systems for the U.S. government’s designated national special security events, including the United Nations General Assemblies, the NATO 50th Anniversary celebration, and the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics. He managed all security aspects leading up to the 2000 Presidential Campaign. During his career, he had been responsible for the security of President William Clinton and managed an international fraud task force. He remains an active member with the Secret Service’s NY/NJ Electronic Crimes Task Force.

Mr. Sloan has authored two books: Bratvas Rose Tattoo and Guardians of Democracy raising over seventy thousand dollars for charity. His third book, Bratvas Revenge will serve to raise awareness and financial support for the Navy SEAL Foundation’s traumatic brain injuries (bTBI).

Mr. Sloan received a Master’s of Forensic Science degree from George Washington University and Bachelor’s degree from Villanova University.

James Hughes,  Jim Hughes, | LinkedIn, Jim has 42 years of law enforcement experience and security leadership roles in retail, insurance, airport, airline, oil, gas, chemical, and energy. Jim is the current Director of the North Texas Crime Commission.

BS degree in Criminal Justice and MBA from Abilene Christian University. 32 year career with the Dallas Police Department. Twenty years in Narcotics, 15 of those years on the Drug Enforcement Administration Narcotics Task Force at DFW Airport. Developed the “Airline Ticket Profile” used to profile narcotics couriers by the way they purchased their airline tickets. The ticket profile was responsible for the seizure of over $43M in narcotics related currency, 1 ton of cocaine, 200 lbs of methamphetamine, and 8 tons of marijuana. Participated on the “Vice President Al Gore Commission on Airport Safety and Security” providing the FAA with the ticket profile, to profile terrorists. Currently being used by the TSA known as the “Capps System”. Assisted in developing the “Operation Jetway Training Program” for DEA and have personally trained over 7,000 DEA, FBI, Customs, state and local officers and agents throughout the world. Co-founder of the International Narcotic Interdiction Assoc. Guest speaker on “Methods of Concealment on Aircraft” at the AVSEC Conference in Cairo, Egypt hosted by Airports Council International. Director of Security for Legend Airlines. Authored the FAA approved Legend Airlines Security Manual, provided security training to Legends pilots and flight attendants. Responsible for Legend Airlines Terminal security and staff.

PAST PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AND AWARDS Vice President of the International Narcotic Interdiction Association Board Member of the Dallas Citizens Police Review Board 1994 Officer of the Year, Dallas Police Department Certificate of Merit presented by Jorge de Sampaio, President of Portugal

CURRENT ORGANIZATIONS AND BOARDS Secretary, Board of Directors, North Texas Crime Commission Chairman, NTCC Law Enforcement Training Committee, North Texas Chief of Police Association, Advisory Boards of the Global North Texas International Visitors, Dept of State, One Community USA, Alert Enterprise, Metro One Loss Prevention