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.