Industry Professional
Welcome to Dallas, Y’all
Seminar 2017 is better than ever
- By Thomas J. Langer
- Jul 01, 2017
As the 2017 President of
ASIS International, it’s
my honor to welcome
security professionals to
Dallas for the ASIS International
63rd Annual Seminar and Exhibits
(ASIS 2017) this Sept. 25-28. As the
only event with the power of the world’s
leading association dedicated to the advancement
of the security profession behind
it, ASIS 2017 provides hands-down,
the best opportunity for security professionals
across all sectors to learn, share
best practices, and build relationships that
they can turn to year-round for support
and guidance.
It’s an exciting time to be leading ASIS.
The changes sweeping across the Society—
new executive leadership, ambitious strategic
priorities, and a commitment to transparency,
partnership and collaboration—are reflected
in the program, which is significantly
different from previous years. We solicited
attendee and exhibitor feedback, as well as
reached out to partners to gain a better understanding
of how we could better align
our respective constituencies. As a result, the
ASIS HQ team has implemented many exciting
changes, from new networking events
and expo floor innovations to new partnerships
and revamped learning formats, all
aimed at revitalizing the overall experience
for attendees and exhibitors.
One of the big changes is holding the
expo on Tuesday, September 26, through
Thursday, September 28. That leaves a full
day for uninterrupted education on Monday,
while providing our exhibitors an extra day
for setup. Front-loading education creates
more exclusive hours for attendees to explore
the thousands of innovative security services
and solutions available in the exhibit hall
later in the week.
The President’s Reception is also moving
to a new night this year—Wednesday, September
27—at AT&T Stadium, home of the
Dallas Cowboys. Speaking from personal
experience, this has always been one of the
most anticipated events at Seminar, and this
year’s party will be another memorable experience.
Attendees can participate in on-thefield
games and drills, tour the locker rooms,
and relive the excitement of the week with
plenty of food, fun, and revelry. It’s truly a
must-attend event.
A terrific line-up
of keynotes will frame
the conversations
that will take place
throughout the week.
Former U.S. President
George W. Bush,
will open the event on
Monday morning.
On Tuesday, futurist Scott Klososky will
discuss “The Technology Integration of
Man” during his Tuesday keynote remarks.
Wednesday will see Edward F. Davis, III, former
Boston police commissioner, and Rick
DesLauriers, former special agent in charge
of the Boston FBI, delivering a special presentation
as part of the annual Law Enforcement
and Military Appreciation Day, “Remembering
Patriots Day: The Hunt for the
Tsarnaev Brothers and the True Meaning of
#BostonStrong.”
The education program, featuring 22
tracks, includes new learning formats, prioritizing
interactive programs and seating
arrangements to better engage attendees. All
sessions will also be categorized by experience
level (new to industry, mid-career, advanced,
CSO-level), so you will know which
ones are the best fit for your needs.
ASIS brings even more value to Expo-Only
attendees with multiple theatres on the show
floor featuring education and product demonstrations,
technology showcases, thought
leader sessions, and a Tuesday networking
happy hour. The exhibit floor will also include
a central ASIS hub, with the latest information
on the Society’s certifications, standards
and guidelines, education, chapters, councils,
global events, membership, and more.
InfraGard will once again hold its Annual
Congress and Conference at Seminar.
And for the first time, Information Systems
Security Association (ISSA), a global organization
of information security professionals
will develop information security tracks
for the education program. In addition,
ISSA will showcase cybersecurity-focused
solutions providers on the ASIS exhibit floor
and host organizational meetings and social
events for its members.
Partnerships, collaboration, security solution
excellence, and building—and renewing—
relationships with peers are all hallmarks
of our Society and core to the ASIS
2017 program. This event embodies our
profession’s shared mission—across practitioners
and service and technology providers—
to making the world a safer place to
live, work, and play. It’s this dedicated community
that comes back year after year that
makes this event so special.
Hone your professional skills, learn the
tools of the trade, and connect with peers
from around the globe. I look forward to seeing
you in Dallas.
This article originally appeared in the July 2017 issue of Security Today.