When a crisis hits an educational institution, we aren't measuring response times in minutes—we are measuring them in seconds.In this episode of Security Heroes, we sit down with Lori Alhadeff, a Broward County School Board Member and the founder of Make Our Schools Safe. Following the heartbreaking loss of her daughter, Alyssa, in the Parkland tragedy, Lori chose to turn unimaginable grief into a national security movement.Lori shares her relentless journey to pass Alyssa’s Law, a critical piece of legislation mandating silent panic technology in classrooms across the country. We dive deep into the stark reality of modern school security infrastructure, the necessity of cutting out the middleman in emergency communication, and what it truly means to lead with purpose when the stakes are survival."The faster we can get help on the scene, the more lives we will save." ⏱️Tune in to hear how one mother’s resilience is building a proactive shield to protect millions of students and educators nationwide.

In this episode of Security Heroes, host Lisa Falzone sits down with Andrew Pollack, who turned the devastating loss of his daughter in the 2018 Parkland shooting into a relentless national mission. Andrew pulls back the curtain on his work with the Federal School Safety Commission and explains why the current security landscape is still leaving schools vulnerable.We discuss:The emotional spark that led to his national advocacy.Why "response time" is the most critical metric in a crisis.The gap between police capabilities and classroom realities.What it takes to build a culture of accountability in school districts. #SchoolSafety #SecurityHeroes #ParklandStrong #SchoolSecurity #PublicSafety #K12 #CrisisManagement #AndrewPollack

It Matters What You Let In.In this episode of Security Heroes, we sit down with Raymond Martinez, CHPA, a seasoned security leader with over 20 years of experience protecting high-stakes healthcare environments.For years, the industry has been sold "the next best thing since sliced bread"—security systems that promise total protection but fail to catch the "small edge" items that pose the biggest risks. Raymond pulls back the curtain on why these legacy failures are more than just technical glitches—they are a direct hit to a Security Director's professional credibility.We dive into:The "Sliced Bread" Trap: Why flashy marketing doesn't equal real-world safety.The Cost of a Miss: How one undetected object can destroy years of built-up trust.The Athena Advantage: How streamlined analytics and total scrutiny are changing the game for security teams.Plug-and-Play Safety: Transitioning from manual, error-prone reporting to automated, instant intelligence.Whether you're managing a hospital, a school, or a corporate campus, this episode is a masterclass in why you can’t afford to settle for the illusion of security.Watch/Listen now to learn why scrutiny is the only path to true safety.

In this episode of Security Heroes, host Lisa Falzone is joined by Jason Stoddard, Director of Safety for Charles County Public Schools. Jason previously spent two decades as a police officer in the Charles County Sheriff's Office, and is the current President of the National Council of School Safety Directors.Join them as they: * Emphasize the distinction between mass shootings and community-based violence* Address the value and limitations of behavioral threat assessments* Enumerate the reasons why K-12 school shootings have fallen even as higher ed shootings have risen* Explore the various types of security technology and differences in implementation* Discuss the importance of managing public expectations for security technology* Explain why school security directors should be the ones on camera talking about securityAnd much more!

In this episode of Security Heroes, host Lisa Falzone is joined by Cranbrook Educational Community's Director of Security Christopher Furlong. Christopher was previously a police officer with the Chicago Police Department and Bloomfield Hills Public Safety, and is currently Chair of Development for the National Council of School Safety Directors.Join them as they: * Explain why community buy-in is essential for successful security* Share Cranbrook's success with Behavioral Threat Assessment Management* Address the "pathway to violence" and how to disrupt it* Explore the importance of common security terminology across schools* Lay out the reasons for a Visitor Management System* Discuss the benefits of networking with other school security directorsAnd much more!

In this episode of Security Heroes, host Lisa Falzone is joined by security assessment expert Travis Forrester. Travis was formerly Director of Security at Greenville County Schools, and is now Director of Security Assessments at ArmoredOne and serves on the Board of the National Council of School Safety Directors.Join them as they: * Explore various school hardening options like impact-resistant bollards* Address the importance of active shooter training* Lay out the key elements of having a plan, practicing, and ensuring staff follow policy* Stress the benefits of partnering with local law enforcement* Discuss the balance between making schools secure without making them like prisons* Explain the difference between Safety film and certified Active Shooter film* Reiterate the importance of having a dedicated school security directorAnd much more!

How do you measure the success of a security program when its greatest achievement is making sure "nothing happens"?In this episode of Security Heroes, host Lisa Falzone sits down with legendary school security expert Guy Grace to pull back the curtain on what it takes to protect modern campuses. Guy brings over 30 years of experience as the former Director of Security for Littleton Public Schools and currently serves as the Vice Chairman of the Partner Alliance for Safer Schools (PASS).From preventing planned explosive attacks through communication to managing the chaos of active shooter incidents, Guy shares the "boots-on-the-ground" reality of school safety. We dive deep into why security isn't just a 9-to-5 job—it’s a 24/7/365 commitment to the community.In this episode, you’ll learn:The Power of Layered Security: Why a single solution is never enough and how integrated tech saves lives.The "Invisible" Win: Why the most successful security stories never make the news (and how to replicate them).Schools as Community Hubs: Addressing the security challenges of campuses that never truly close.Averted Lessons: A firsthand look at preventing a planned school bombing through proactive intelligence.The Pilot Program Blueprint: How to effectively evaluate and roll out new safety technology without wasting resources.Whether you are a school administrator, a security professional, or a concerned parent, this episode offers a masterclass in shifting from a reactive "wait-and-see" mindset to a proactive culture of safety.

In this episode of Security Heroes, host Lisa Falzone is joined by Safe Kids Inc founder Adam Coughran. Adam spent two decades in law enforcement and then began sharing his security training expertise more broadly via his company Standards Training Group. Upon realizing that there was a gap in the school security market for teaching kids how to be safe, he created SafeKidsInc to engage children on the topic of their own safety.Join them as they: * Discuss why kids themselves are often overlooked in school security* Explore strategies for getting children engaged in safety* Consider how to approach safety as a broad life skill* Evaluate the most important types of security technology for school safety* Address parent pushback on security measures and how to handle it* Explain why school security departments need to take an "all hazards" approachAnd much more!

In this episode of Security Heroes, host Lisa Falzone is joined by Command Sergeant Major (Retired) Bart Womack. Bart served in the US Army for nearly three decades as a professional soldier, earning numerous awards including 2 Bronze Stars and the Legion of Merit. Since retiring from his Army positions, Bart wrote a book about his experiences, joined the Board of Directors for Veterans Media Corporation, and hosts a show for the Veterans Channel. He now travels the country serving as a public speaker on situational awareness safety and security.Join them as they: * Explore the ways that schools and communities can help prevent insider threats* Emphasize the importance of situational awareness* Explain the difference between hearing and listening* Recount Bart's experience dealing with an insider threat while deployed in Kuwait* Discuss the lessons he learned from his experience* Share some tips for being proactive with security And much more!

In this episode of Security Heroes, host Lisa Falzone is joined by her Athena Security co-founder and CTO Chris Ciabarra. Chris was previously a co-founder and CTO with Lisa at Revel systems. He has decades of experience in security, has received ISC's Risk Management Award, and was named an "Entrepreneur Making a Difference" by the International Business Times. Chris sits on the Forbes Technology Council and continues to make a difference with his security expertise.