Blog » Chesley Brown International - Worldclass Security Solutions

Preventing Retail Theft: Strategies for Loss Prevention

Written by: James Hart Shoplifting is one of the most persistent threats to retail businesses — and one of the toughest to solve. Fortunately, you can substantially lower your company’s risks with two basic strategies: consistent training and more effective store design. “Shoplifting has always been a problem,” said Josh Noland, vice president at Chesley…

Supply Chain Security: Protecting Logistics Operations

Mature manager meeting with warehouse worker to discuss supply chain security procedures

By: James Hart Recent years have provided almost constant reminders about the importance of supply chains — and just how fragile they can be. Pandemics, shutdowns and natural disasters have all interrupted the orderly flow of goods to the marketplace. Some of the biggest and most expensive disruptions have been caused by thieves, hackers, rivals…

Last-Minute Security Tips for Election Season

Political unrest prevention, Community safety during elections

Ensuring Safety and Reducing Disruptions With Election Day only a week away, businesses and community leaders are in the final sprint to prepare for any potential disruptions. While there may not be time for long-term strategies, impactful, practical steps can still help keep teams and property safe. And remember, political unrest can extend beyond Election…

Mail Room Theft and Fraud: Securing Your Business’s Mail Handling Processes

Preventing mail room theft: tips for securing business mail and protecting sensitive information

Your office building’s mail room could be an unexpectedly easy target for thieves looking to steal everything from banking information to brand-new electronics worth thousands of dollars. “In many properties, the mail room is usually out of the way and unsecured, making it incredibly easy for a criminal to steal something valuable,” said Max Briggs,…

Ensuring Workplace Safety: Best Practices for Protecting Employees

Workplace safety, standards, safety measures, employee training

Written by: James Hart In a world like ours, businesses can’t afford to take workplace safety for granted. There’s a long list of reasons why preparedness and planning must be a priority for companies of all sizes. “It should go without saying that just caring for your people — the human element — should be…

Building a Crisis Communication Strategy: Effective Communication During Emergencies

Crisis communication in action standing near a firetruck. Emergency safety. Protection, rescue from danger.

Written by: James Hart During a crisis, good communication can save lives. That’s especially true for larger office buildings. Some properties hold thousands of people during a typical workday. If there’s a fire, an active shooter or some other emergency, the building staff and security must be able to quickly alert everyone and tell them…

Effective De-escalation Techniques: Conflict Resolution Strategies

de-escalation training: An image of a young woman at the center of a crowd feeling overwhelmed practicing de-escalation techniques

Written by: James Hart If your job requires you to talk to other human beings, then you could probably benefit from de-escalation training. De-escalation is a conflict resolution strategy where security officers or other front-line workers use dialogue to calm angry individuals, understand their problems and persuade them to choose a better course of action.…

Home Security Tips: Safeguarding Residential Properties

a consultant and an executive walking the property discussing Residential Security

residential security

Crisis Management at Festivals: Strategies for Event Organizers

festival security - concert goers having a great time at a festival

Written by: James Hart Nothing beats spending the day at an outdoor festival. Who doesn’t love being part of a large, happy crowd enjoying delicious food, exciting music or beautiful art? Unless, of course, a brawl breaks out. Or there’s a medical emergency. Or — worst of all — a mass casualty event occurs. Fortunately,…

The Role of Guest Service Agents

guest service agent greeting a mature businessman wearing a suit in a lobby.

Written By: James Hart To compete for tenants, more commercial properties are adding a new type of role to their security presence: the guest service agent. Like traditional security officers, these agents are trained to spot and manage threats, but that’s only part of their job. They can also give restaurant recommendations, tell you about…

Security Solutions for Small Businesses: Safeguarding Digital Assets

Small business workers discussing digital security - Small business assets protection

Written by: James Hart Even if you don’t think your small business has any valuable information, the average cybercriminal will probably disagree. The last few years have shown that cybercrime is a threat for organizations of all sizes, even smaller companies. Their customer lists, their payment and banking information, their patents and designs — they…

Emergency Response Planning for Shopping Centers, CIDs, Entertainment Districts and Other Large Locations

Emergency Response Plans - Firemen near their truck on the street having rest after they put out a fire at night. Emergency , danger, service concept. Firemen at work.

Written by: James Hart It takes hard work and careful thought to create an effective emergency response plan for office towers and other commercial properties. But what if — instead of a single commercial building — you need to create a plan for a community improvement district, a shopping or entertainment district, or some other…

Neighborhood Watch Programs: Empowering Residents

Two ladies looking out window discussing how neighborhood watch programs help redisents feel safe.

Written by: James Hart The neighborhood watch, one of the oldest tools for community crime prevention, can still be a useful tactic today for combating crime and nuisance activity at commercial properties, especially when combined with a professional security presence. These programs encourage the public to be on the lookout for suspicious activity in their…

Archie Dinwiddie Promoted to Vice President Risk Management, Training, & Compliance

Archie Dinwiddie - Corporate Director of Compliance and Risk Management

We are thrilled to announce the promotion of Archie Dinwiddie to Vice President of Risk Management, Training, & Compliance at Chesley Brown. With an impressive tenure of 23 years at the company, Archie has been an integral part of Chesley Brown’s leadership team, consistently demonstrating his knowledge, expertise, and passion for excellence. His journey with…

Disaster Recovery Strategies: Business Continuity in Crisis

Image of a stressed business owner with her head in her hands to reresent business continuity and crisis management

Written by: James Hart The best advice on disaster recovery and business continuity might actually come from the movies. As Rocky Balboa said: “It ain’t about how hard you hit. It’s about how hard can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward.” And that’s really the point…

Community Policing Strategies: Building Trust and Safety

A group of people walking outside to represent how Community Policing Strategies can bring communities closer

Written by: James Hart It’s always important to remember: Private security officers aren’t police, and police aren’t security officers. The two roles are both important, but they have fundamental differences. “Security officers can’t be everywhere, and they can’t see everything,” said Max Briggs, vice president of central operations for Chesley Brown International, the security consulting…

Securing Infrastructure: How to Prepare for Disruptions to Critical Services and Systems in Your Business

Securing Infrastructure - A view from under a bridge looking out towards the shipping yard.

Written by: James Hart Infrastructure is one of the great blessings of the modern age. Flip a switch, turn on a faucet, launch a browser window, and you can generally assume the giant invisible systems connecting and powering society will work as expected. The same goes for transportation infrastructure. Running into delays on the interstate?…

Security Challenges in Shopping Centers — and How to Overcome Them

Two women browsing at a shopping center: Security Challenges in Shopping Centers

Written by: James Hart Overcoming the Biggest Security Challenges in Shopping Centers The retail business has never been for the faint of heart. In recent years, however, security problems have made it even more challenging to operate a shopping center. While individual shoplifters haven’t disappeared, organized rings of retail thieves can now pick store shelves…

Securing Office Buildings: Best Practices for Property Managers Seeking a Safer, More Secure Environment

Securing Office Buildings - The façade of a A office tower - best practices for commercial building security

Written by: James Hart As competition for tenants remains high, property managers must not overlook the importance of effectively securing their office buildings, according to experts from Chesley Brown International, the security consulting and risk management firm. New amenities may help win over companies that need to lure their employees back into the office. But…

Introducing Ray Strobel: Director of the Waterfront

Picture of a man (Director Ray Strobel) wearing a suit standing in front of a Chesley Brown Flag.

We’re thrilled to announce the promotion of Ray Strobel to the role of Public Safety Director at the Waterfront in Pittsburgh’s Steel Valley! Ray brings with him a wealth of experience and a unique perspective from his extensive background in law enforcement and service to our country. We sat down with Ray for a fun interview to get to know him better and learn about his journey with Chesley Brown and beyond.