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MY
TIME WITH ASSIST
Kevin Galloway
I was first introduced to ASSIST in 1998 by Dave Parker at En Garde Protective Services. At the time I was only 24 years old, and branch manager of Silver Star Security’s Houston office. I really had no idea what I was doing running a security company, and would look to anyone who seemed more experienced and knowledgeable in the profession. (Many people are convinced I still don’t know what I’m doing!) Dave explained to me that ASSIST had a wide selection of long-time security professionals who were very supportive of their fellow men and women.
I remember attending my first ASSIST meeting at the Steak & Ale restaurant near the Astrodome. I was a bit surprised, even at that time that people would be smoking during a meeting but sure enough, we did! Later on, when we moved our venue to a non-smoking establishment, Ann Ball had a conniption.
Mike Cornell presided over that first meeting I attended. He was never seen at an ASSIST meeting again! Hope it wasn’t something I said to him.
I quickly started making industry friends through ASSIST. I met Ruben Amaya, Susan Griswold, and Jeff Moore through the organization. Ruben would become my drinking partner, Susan my business partner, and Jeff, well, my partner in crime.
After a year hiatus (I was exiled to a snowy hell in Denver, Co., by Allied Security) I returned to ASSIST in 2001. Dave Parker was now the president on what was then still called the Houston chapter. While working for Dave, I was afforded “opportunities” to move up within the organization. That is to say, I was volunteered for things. One day Dave called me into his office and asked what I was doing, to which I responded “nuthin.’” Bam! Just like that, I became chapter secretary.
Being a slow learner, it happened again. On a particularly lazy day at En Garde, I became editor of The Messenger, our then ASSIST newsletter.
Editing our newsletter gave me access to Dave Scepanski. As we all know, it is an exclusive club that gets the rare chance to talk to the great Dave Scepanski! Working with Dave, we changed our humble little Messenger into Managing Security Today, a well read and respected statewide publication.
After holding the offices of secretary, vice president and executive vice president, I finally had the honor of becoming president of the Gulf Coast Region in 2008. This also meant I got to host a convention. As anyone who has ever put on an event of that size knows, you will never work harder for free in your life. I was near physical and mental exhaustion when the annual meeting finally came around, and was literally choked up thanking my executive board for all their hard work.
Being a member of ASSIST has been enlightening, to say the least. For those of you who know me, humility is not exactly my strong suit. There was a time when I greatly favored ASIS over ASSIST. It was during Ann Ball’s passing that I really saw the true value of our organization. I don’t think there is another professional organization that would go out of their way to help Ann’s legacy carry on. The same occurred with the passing of Carl Maynard from Armadillo Security. Although we are all competitors, it’s through this organization that you can have an issue, pick up the phone, and reach at least a dozen people who will bend over backwards to help. People such as Bob Burt, Dan Flores, Dave Scepanski and Walt Roberts, just to name a few, who give selflessly to others make ASSIST truly unique. Having been possibly the youngest member in ASSIST history, I am proud to associate myself with the organization today, and for many years to come.
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