Company News
Employee News | Company News | Industry News | Book Reviews
Connecticut announces Area Manager Andy Marks | Dick Ryer and Mark Hambley of Apollo Security Featured in New Book About Growth of al Qaeda From The Siege of Mecca in 1979 | Business Etiquette & Protocol Training Press Release | Apollo Hosts International Forum on the Middle East | Philadelphia Welcomes Apollo Security | Apollo Hosts International Investigative Group | Ray Dugan Awarded PCI | The President's Message | Apollo Debuts in the Providence Business New Listing | Crowley's Comments
CONNECTICUT ANNOUNCES AREA MANAGER ANDY MARKS
Walpole, Massachusetts - Kenneth D. Jenkins, President of Apollo Security, Inc., is pleased to announce that Andrew Marks will be rejoining Apollo Security. In his new position, Marks will be the Area Manager in Connecticut and will report to Brian Webber. Marks began his career as an entry-level officer with First Security and was quickly promoted through the organization working in account management, major account management, and area level management positions. His continued outstanding performance led to his promotion to a Branch Manager position where he was responsible for managing over 250 security officers, client relations, financial controls, and budgeting for 18 client accounts. Joining Apollo Security in 2004, Marks was assigned to the Boston Scientific account as a Global Security Specialist in a technical/strategy position. He was responsible for the management of physical security software applications, developing procedures, and security system/CCTV design. As a Global Security Specialist, Marks traveled to Boston Scientific sites internationally, providing comprehensive security assessments and recommendations. With Apollo Security's approval, he was subsequently hired by Boston Scientific and assigned to their Global Security department.
back to top
DICK RYER AND MARK HAMBLEY OF APOLLO SECURITY FEATURED IN NEW BOOK ABOUT GROWTH OF AL QAEDA FROM THE SIEGE OF MECCA IN 1979
In November 1979, the United States was in the grips of a major crisis, the taking of hostages at the American Embassy in Iran. While President Carter and his cabinet were spending many sleepless nights dealing with the Iranian hostage crisis, a new major international incident that would have even a longer lasting impact was taking place in Saudi Arabia. Most of the world, including the United States and its intelligence agencies weren't aware it was happening because the Saudi government had placed a cloak of secrecy over the incident and cut off most communications throughout the Kingdom and out of the country. Most embassies in Saudi Arabia were unable to communicate back to their home countries and could not locate their Saudi sources to determine what the problem was. A radical Islamic group had seized Islam's holiest site, the Grand Mosque of Mecca.
A new book, "The Siege of Mecca" by Yaroslav Trofimov, published by Doubleday and now available in all major bookstores, is the first detailed account of what happened before, during and since that event, an event the author believes began the movement that is now known as Al Qaeda.
With the siege taking place and heavy fighting in the city of Mecca, the book states "Mark Hambley, a political officer and rare Arabic speaker among Americans posted to Jeddah, received a tip from a Yemeni employee." Hambley set up a meeting with a source who turned out to have information of significant interest but would only talk in person, fearing the Saudis had telephone lines tapped. Hambley agreed to meet in person and decided to take along backup, but decided against involving the CIA. The book goes on: "Instead Hambley walked down the corridor and into the office of Lt. Col. Richard Ryer, the U.S. Air Attaché."
Although non-fiction, the book is well written and seems more like a work of fiction involving international intrigue, secret meetings, disguises, and participation by various secret organizations to re-take the Mecca mosque. For example, later in the book, the author tells of Hambley and Ryer, "sporting Arab dress", melting into an influx of worshippers. In ordinary circumstances, that would never have happened because "infidels" (non-believers) are forbidden to enter Mecca and the U.S. Government would not have authorized their entry.
Today, Dick Ryer, a West Point graduate, who retired from the U.S. Air Force after a 28 year career primarily in overseas assignments, is Vice Chairman and a founder of Apollo Security. Mark Hambley, who spent 30 years in the Middle East and served as U.S Ambassador in both Qatar and Lebanon, is Senior Managing Director, International Services, of Apollo Security. Both primarily serve the interests of Apollo Security clients
on overseas matters. Ambassador Hambley recently has been in several Middle East countries, including Israel, Iraq, Qatar, and the U.A.E. on client assignments.
Apollo Security, headquartered in Walpole, Massachusetts, has operations in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Maryland.
About Apollo Security, Inc.: Apollo Security, Inc., provides services in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland. Founded in 1990, Apollo Security's vision remains that we will build a security company that will become the industry leader for the delivery of quality security services to a select client base, and in the process, we will create an employee friendly environment in which employees will be proud to work and will flourish.
back to top
BUSINESS ETIQUETTE & PROTOCOL TRAINING PRESS RELEASE
Coming Soon
back to top
APOLLO HOSTS INTERNATIONAL FORUM ON THE MIDDLE EAST
Apollo Security, Inc. is pleased to announce the success of a recent important panel discussion. The event featured two excellent speakers extremely knowledgeable on the subject matter, Retired Pakistani Brigadier General Rashid Ali Malik and Former Ambassador to Lebanon & Qatar/U.S. Ambassador Mark Hambley. The event, entitled "The Middle East Now and How We Got There" addressed current national and international security issues related to radical Islam, Osama Bin Laden, Afghanistan/Pakistan, and terrorist threats to U.S. targets. Dennis Crowley, Co-CEO of Apollo Security, felt that the subject matter and the expertise of the presenters would be of interest to all professionals with security-related responsibilities.
The panel discussion was held on two separate occasions; at the Sheraton Needham on October 3rd, 2006 and the Hilton New York on October 5th. Both events were a great success. The event concentrated on the impact on the US economy and security as a result of the events in the Middle East. It was attended by security and management professionals of numerous industries. John Signore, Security Manager for Thomson Financial, attended the discussion in Boston and remarked that "the presentation enhanced my knowledge regarding the magnitude of work our allies in the Middle East are doing to fight the war on terror".
General Rashid Ali Malik retired from the Pakistan Army after 35 years of service. He saw action in two wars and was the recipient of 17 medals for distinguished Army service. He remained an instructor at the Pakistan Military Academy including a period as Chief Instructor and has taught at West Point. For five years, he was the Director of General Aviation Security for Pakistan, an assignment which had him commanding over 10,000 personnel at 40 airports. With the continuing importance of Pakistan as an ally of the U.S. in the battle against terrorism, the search for Bin Laden and other "al-Qa'ida" operatives in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and the recent connections to Pakistan in the British arrests of homegrown terrorists in the aircraft hijacking plans, Rashid was able to present a unique view of his native country and its role in the war on terror.
Ambassador Mark G. Hambley has over 30 years as a career member to the Foreign Service, the majority of which was spent in the Middle East. An expert on Radical Islam and fluent in Arabic, Ambassador Hambley's assignments included ambassadorships to Lebanon and Qatar and postings in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Libya, Jordan, Lebanon, Yemen, and Qatar. Ambassador Hambley first retired in August 2001. Following the events of September 11, 2001, Ambassador Hambley temporarily rejoined the U.S. Government as the Political Advisor to the Commander of the U.S. Air Force deployment in the Middle East during the conflict against "al-Qa'ida" and the Taliban in Afghanistan throughout the fall of that year. He was again recalled to active duty in March 2003 prior to the war in Iraq. Ambassador Hambley is Managing Director, International Matters for Apollo Security and a member of its Board of Directors. During the past three months, he has traveled to Iraq, Gaza, Palestine, and Israel. At the discussion, he provided his perspective on the status of the War on Terror and on the continuing appeal of radical Islam.
Apollo Security was founded in 1990 and has since been one of the fastest growing companies in the Northeast. Locally owned and managed by the one of the most experienced management teams in the industry, Apollo provides services to corporations and institutions in Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Rhode Island and New Hampshire.
back to top
PHILADELPHIA WELCOMES APOLLO SECURITY
Apollo Security has landed in the City of Brotherly Love! Apollo was asked by one of its premier clients in Boston, New York City, and Northern New Jersey to assist them in supporting its security needs to their distinctive headquarters in Philadelphia. This move marks Apollo's entry into the fifth largest urban area in the United States, giving companies in Philadelphia an attractive and competitive alternative when seeking a high quality security services provider.
Apollo Security, one of the largest privately-held security companies in the Northeast, provides services to premium clients from New England, to New York, New Jersey and now Pennsylvania. As a member of the TransNational Security Group, the company can support client needs in the United States, Canada, and abroad.
The company was founded in 1990 by Dennis Crowley, a former executive at First Security Services Corporation, and Richard Ryer, a retired US Air Force Colonel. These two friends first met as OSI agents in DaNang, Vietnam in 1966. "As Dick dropped me off at the airfield in DaNang we made a promise to work together someday," said Dennis Crowley, Apollo's current CEO.
Through hard work and by paying careful attention to its client's needs, Apollo Security quickly developed a reputation as a leader in delivering a high quality security program. "We did not want to create another security guard service. Our goal has been to provide our clients with a full service program which was typically available from the larger companies, but with the personal delivery expected from a small, local company," added Mr. Crowley. Understanding that their growth would put demands upon their already strong management team, Apollo strengthened its organization by adding Kenneth Jenkins, the former Chief Operating Officer of First Security Services, and John Horn, the former Senior Managing Director of Kroll Associates.
As one of the largest security providers in New England, the Apollo name has quickly spread throughout New York and Northern New Jersey. With the addition of prestigious clients in the financial, medical, public utility, and investment fields, Apollo was able to prove that its style of service delivery could compete in the tough New York market.
This account will be a cornerstone for Apollo Security in Philadelphia. According to Apollo's CEO Crowley, "Our goal is to offer Eastern Pennsylvania and Central New Jersey the same high level of security services that our clients have come to rely on in New York and New England. We believe Apollo's local, personal touch will provide a fresh and welcome alternative to a market dominated by the large national and international firms."
To provide the local service, Apollo has partnered with JoAnne Dougherty, a native of Philadelphia. Ms. Dougherty has had an impressive career as a private investigator. She comes to Apollo with extensive experience in providing very high end security programs.
Apollo has landed in Philadelphia and is off and running. This organization should bring an exciting alternative and fresh ideas into the market. If you would like to learn more about Apollo Security, visit them on the web at www.apollosecurity.com or contract the company directly at 800-640-3287.
back to top
APOLLO HOSTS INTERNATIONAL INVESTIGATIVE GROUP
Over 130 people gathered
at the Hyatt Financial District
Boston for the 15th Annual
Conference of INTELNET, the International
Intelligence Network.
Apollo Security, its
CEO, Dennis Crowley, and
his wife Peg, hosted this
year's conference.
INTELNET was founded 21 years
ago by a group of former employees
of the various Federal intelligence
agencies who had moved to
the private sector investigative
field. Dennis Crowley was among
the very earliest members and has
been active in the organization
since then. The members founded
the organization because they recognized
the advantage of having
a network to support their ability
to conduct investigations on a national
basis, since that was their
experience in the agencies they
came from. Members of INTELNET
were primarily former agents and/
or members of the OSI, FBI, CIA,
CIC, SEALS, and the Secret Service.
Later, in response to the
need to have contacts internationally,
members recruited their
counterparts from the ranks of
former intelligence and investigative
personnel in countries
other than the United States.
INTELNET has grown to over 385
members world-wide. Members
meet annually at various spots
world-wide. The 2005 Conference
will he held in England and the
2006 Conference will be in
Calgary, Canada.
At the Boston Conference, members
from Russia, Italy, Canada,
and Britain joined others from the
US in one of the organizations
most aggressive seminars sessions
to date. Seminars ranged
from "Conducting Investigations
in Europe and the Former Soviet
Union" to "Computer Security for
the Investigative Practitioner";
from "Investigations Using the
Internet and Data Bases" to "Insurance
Fraud Investigations";
and from "Competitive Intelligence"
to "Insurance Fraud". The
speakers represented a wide
range of skills and expertise not
ordinarily found in private sector
investigative seminars. Ambassador
Mark H. Hambley, the speaker
at the opening night dinner,
spoke to the group on "The Impact
of Radical Islamic Terrorist
Groups". Lynn E. Mattice, Global
Director of Security, Boston Scientific
Corporation, was a presenter
on the second day of the
conference.
In addition to the intensive seminar
schedule, the visitors were
treated to a very special taste of
Boston as they went on the Duck
Tours, enjoyed a dinner cruise on
the Spirit of Boston, and had a
walking tour of Boston's Freedom
Trail. The social highlight of the
conference was a private tour of
the John F. Kennedy Presidential
Library and a sit-down dinner in
the library's Main Pavilion with a
view of Boston Harbor.
back to top
RAY DUGAN AWARDED PCI
Ray Dugan, Vice President, Investigative Services was awarded the designation of PCI (Professional Certified Investigator) by ASIS International (American Society for Industrial Security). In achieving this Board Certification from ASIS, Ray joins an elite group of professional investigators who qualify for and have successfully passed the certification process. ASIS International is the World's preeminent professional security society. Commenting on his recent achievement Ray noted, "The level of expertise required of professional investigators in a post 9/11 world is increasingly demanding. Corporations and governments all want o ensure that they are working with the most skilled and knowledgeable individuals in the business. Professional certification from ASIS helps me and Apollo deliver the expertise required by our clients." Ray is also board certified in Security
Management and Homeland Security.
back to top
THE PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
by Ken Jenkins
Elsewhere in this newsletter, you will read
an article entitled "Apollo has landed in New
Jersey." On March 26th, Apollo Security began
providing services to The Clearinghouse,
the oldest check clearing facility in the U.S.,
pre-dating the founding of Wall Street. Apollo
was selected by The Clearinghouse to provide
security services for its facilities in New York
and New Jersey. This is another exciting development
for Apollo since it marks the fifth
Northeast state where we are licensed and
providing services.
Another article describes our membership in
TransNational Security Group LLC (TSG). TSG
was formed by several of the nation's best privately
held security firms providing services
on a local or regional basis. The security company
members wanted to be able to compete
for national contracts against the large national
and international security companies.
When a company with facilities in several
states wants to have only one security vendor
providing its security personnel, the high
quality local and regional companies cannot
compete because they aren't in the necessary
states where service is needed.
TSG has brought together several of the very
best local and regional companies noted for
their high level of service quality. Apollo Security
will be the member responsible for the
Northeast and will be the lead security firm
responding whenever a national contract request
for proposals is issued by a company
located in our region.
TSG goes beyond just bidding on national
contracts, however. The member companies
benchmark and set recruiting, selection,
backgrounding, and training standards for
the members to insure that clients get the
quality they are expecting from TSG. TSG
also sets and measures performance standards.
Each of the above is an indicator of the present
and future success of Apollo. Dennis and Dick
began this company with a vision and we who
have come after them have been true to that
vision.
I foresee the day that Apollo Security will be
recognized as the dominant security services
company in the Northeast. We will all benefit
from this growth as new career positions are
created in several states. The next 12 months
will be busy and demanding as we begin to
bring online our new business in several
states. But as demanding as the times may
be, the rewards for all of us committed to
Apollo's future will be significant.
back to top
CROWLEY'S COMMENTS
Recently, at a conference of international investigators, I was asked what has made Apollo so successful and what differentiates Apollo from its competitors.
I explained that the answer to the first question is twofold. First, our employees are more professional and more dedicated to their job and our mission. Second, Apollo has always, since Day One, focused on the delivery of quality services to premium clients.
In response to what differentiates us from other security companies, I answer: "our employees, private ownership, American ownership, and ownership by those responsible for the day-to-day delivery of our quality services.
Not many realize that Pinkerton and Burns are owned by a Swedish company, Wackenhut by a Danish company, and Allied by a group of investors. None of the companies can claim 100% local ownership, with the owner in day-to-day management control of the services and in contact with our clients and employees. Three of these tout their protection of resources in America, but don't mention their corporate headquarters and senior executives are across the Atlantic.
Dick, Denny and I are proud to be one of the few large regional companies owned and operated by Americans. And we are very proud of our employees. We value their commitment to our corporate mission of providing the very highest quality services.
back to top
|