Gerald T. Brandt

Founding partner Gerald Brandt has over thirty years of experience in law enforcement and private security. As a Commander of the Evanston Police Department and a graduate of the FBI National Academy, he has an in-depth knowledge of investigative systems and procedures. As director of security for a major multinational manufacturer, Mr. Brandt was the executive responsible for the company's total asset protection program worldwide, including the protection of executives, property and proprietary information, as well as the direction of the security force. Mr. Brandt is an expert in investigations, executive protection and other areas of security management.

Ronald J. Brandt

Ron Brandt has over 20 years experience in law enforcement and private security. He began his career in law enforcement in 1986 with the U.S. Coast Guard, where he learned to combine law enforcement and public safety. Mr. Brandt has worked for the Niles Illinois Police Department since 1992, where he has worked as an evidence technician, accident investigator and crime prevention specialist. He has been active in the Illinois Crime Prevention Association including being elected twice as the State President of the association. Mr. Brandt received numerous awards for his crime prevention activities including the Niles Chamber of Commerce Officer of the Year and the Illinois Crime Prevention Association s Officer of the Year. Mr. Brandt is a certified in Crime Prevention, CPTED, and Dignitary Protection. He is also a certified instructor for Community Emergency Response Teams (CERTs).

Joseph M. Brennan

Founding partner Joseph Brennan has more than twenty-five years experience in law enforcement and private security. His career includes thirteen years with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, where he served as an investigative supervisor of major case squads and as a hostage negotiator. Since leaving the FBI, Mr. Brennan has been involved in all aspects of security program management including corporate security director of a multi-billion dollar facility. His unique qualifications enable him to work with corporations in areas of crisis management and violence in the workplace.

Ross A. Olmos, PhD.

After serving 10 years on the Evanston Police Dept. Dr. Olmos earned a Master's Degree in Criminal Justice and Public Administration from Michigan State University. After graduation, he joined the faculty of Stockton State College in New Jersey as an Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice. He then served as Director of Public Safety for Bridgewater New Jersey for nearly three years.

After moving to Minnesota, Dr. Olmos was appointed Executive Director of the Police Training Academy for the Minnesota Community College System. After completing his Doctorate in Education at the University of Minnesota in 1986, and becoming a licensed industrial psychologist, he joined Jostens, a Fortune 500 Company as training and development manager. In this role with Jostens, a manufacturer of class rings and yearbooks, Dr. Olmos had the opportunity to visit and work with many school administrators and educators throughout the US.

Since 1993, Dr. Olmos has worked in the private sector as a security expert. In 1999 he was the featured speaker at a national symposium of secondary school educators dealing with school violence prevention. He has conducted scores of security assessments and hundreds of workshops dealing with personal safety and violence prevention.

Carol A. Westrum, M.A.

Ms. Westrum has been involved in the survey business for 17 years. She has a Bachelors Degree in Sociology and Social Psychology, and a Masters Degree in Sociology from the University of Minnesota. Trained in survey design, methodology and analysis, she has worked with various organizations doing surveys in the areas of public opinion research, program evaluation, racial bias, member satisfaction, employee satisfaction, and health care research. She has spent the last 8 years working for a large HMO, heading up the survey area of their research department. Her duties there include project management, survey design, implementation, and evaluation.

Richard B. Ayers, CPP

Mr. Ayers has served in both the public and private sectors of the law enforcement community for over 35 years. Mr. Ayers first became a police officer with the City of Evanston in 1966. Mr. Ayers held several progressively responsible supervisory and command positions within the police department that included Internal Affairs, Gang Crimes/Narcotics Task Force, Criminal Investigations, and Traffic Enforcement Bureau. Mr. Ayers also held the position of Shift Commander in the Patrol Bureau and Sergeant in Charge of the Tactical Response Team.

After retiring from the police department in 1995, Mr. Ayers accepted an executive position with a major Chicago based security services provider corporation. In April of 1998, after working at the Director level for three years, Mr. Ayers was promoted to Vice President, Department of Investigations and Internal Affairs. Mr. Ayers is a graduate of the University of Louisville School of Police Administration Administrative Officers Course. Mr. Ayers also successfully completed a long course of study at the University of Minnesota at the Juvenile Officers Institute. He is among select security industry executives who have been awarded the designation of "Certified Protection Professional" (CPP) by the Professional Certification Board of the American Society for Industrial Security (ASIS).

Mr. Ayers is licensed by the State of Illinois as a Private Detective and Private Security Contractor. Mr. Ayers holds memberships in the American Society for Industrial Security, Special Agents Association, Evidence Photographers International Council, Association of Threat Assessment Professionals, and the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners as an Associate Member. Mr. Ayers was awarded a life membership in the Illinois Police Association in 1995.

John L. Demand, Jr.

John L. Demand, Jr. has over 30 years of law enforcement and security experience. He has worked as a criminal investigator, served as Director of Security/Safety for a Fortune 500 Corporation and has provided protection for both executives and celebrities. Mr. Demand is an expert in critical situation response and has developed plans and strategies for homeland safety. He is a member of the Association of Threat Assessment Professionals.

Dennis L. Nilsson

Dennis L. Nilsson has 36 years of experience in law enforcement, working his way up from beat patrol to Deputy Chief of the Evanston, IL Police Department. His professional focus has been on combining community policing and problem-solving with the traditional model of policing, and he has been recognized by a number of community and civic organizations for his humanitarian activities and efforts to build better communications between police and citizens. Nilsson has been a police and community trainer for more than 20 years, and is a lead trainer with the Institute for Public Safety Partnerships (IPSP), a Regional Community Policing Institute funded by the COPS Office of the U.S. Department of Justice, as well as adjunct faculty at the Center for Public Safety, Northwestern University. Nilsson is a certified instructor in many national curricula, including State and Local Anti-Terrorism Training (SLATT) and the Police Ethics and Integrity Series, and is a guest speaker at numerous local, regional and national conferences.

John W. Fellmann

John W. Fellmann has over thirty years of professional law enforcement experience.  Retiring from the Arlington Heights, Illinois Police Department as Captain of Field Operations he was in command of over 120 officers and civilians.  He developed advanced investigative techniques during his eight years as a detective and then three more years in command of the Detective Division.  He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy and has received over 2,000 additional hours of specialized law enforcement training.  He is experienced in security planning and operations having developed plans for the Arlington Million, Breeders’ Cup 2002 horse races, and many other large scale public events.  He is currently a Senior Consultant with Gerald T. Brandt, & Associates.