Company Overview

1. Year business started: 1995
2. Secondary businesses: Northeast Safety & Security Training Academy, LLC (NESSTA) – Safety & Security Training Solutions; Green Mountain Flagging, LLC (GMF) – Traffic Control Management Solutions.
3. Licensed in 12 states.
   • Connecticut # AS-2454
   • Maine # 03/004
   • Massachusetts # LW 0202A
   • New Hampshire # SA-543
   • New Jersey # 1429
   • New York # 11000137933
   • Pennsylvania # 85
   • Rhode Island # 264
   • Vermont # 044-0002130
   • Virginia # 11-7536
   • West Virginia # 35267
   • Tennessee # 12946

This business is licensed by the New York Department of State

4. Number of clients: 500+
5. Total number of full-time employees: 40+
6. Total number of part-time employees: 800+
7. Proud members of:

Summary

For over two decades Green Mtn. Concert Services, Inc., (GMCS) has specialized in providing unarmed, physical security solutions to high-profile special events, venues, and educational institutions. The company has headquarters in Vermont and is licensed and local in 12 states. GMCS has a strong foundation and is growing rapidly because we can provide the staffing of our largest competitors, but with the outstanding customer service our clients deserve. We’re committed to being a trusted and strategic partner in safety and security, not just another vendor. GMCS has a successful reputation for helping clients create an exceptional experience for their guests, and for providing added value to event management. GMCS is highly respected for having an elite security force, exceptional training program, and a respected management team. We believe that our training and our ongoing coaching and supervision are the most important ingredients to separating GMCS from the competition. GMCS provides safety and security solutions for more than a thousand events annually and is setting the standard for quality security professionals.

History

Founded in 1995, GMCS cut its teeth providing security at the top Burlington venues such as, Memorial Auditorium and the Flynn Center for the Performing Arts. However, it was providing security at the legendary Grateful Dead shows in Highgate, Vermont in 1994 and 1995 that got GMCS noticed in the industry. Following the success of that event promoters for large scale special events such as, the Gathering of the Vibes, Berkshire Mountain Music Festival, and local Vermont heroes, Phish, turned to GMCS for their event security needs. GMCS President, CEO, Kevin W. Cheney, was recruited to be the Security Director for Phish’s annual multi-day festivals, which codified him among the industry elite security professionals and positioned GMCS as a premier event security company. Subsequent contracts with the ESPN Great Outdoor Games and the Winter X Games, U.S. Open Snowboarding Championships, Burlington Discover Jazz Festival, Gathering of the Vibes Festival, Champlain Valley Exposition, and others further developed GMCS as a New England leader in event security. By 2003 the company was employing more than 350 people part-time, and had established strong relationships with an extensive client base.

Responding to a need in the market GMCS launched a traffic control division in 2004, which became Green Mountain Flagging, LLC (GMF), a wholly owned subsidiary of GMCS. With a growing workforce the company was able to provide work zone safety during the week, when that service was needed, and event safety during the weekends, when that service was needed. By applying the same philosophy and business model to GMF as GMCS, the company grew from a single client to one of New England’s largest traffic control management companies in less than a decade.

GMCS has continued to grow and over the past four years has experienced dynamic growth in a slowed economy. The company currently employs over 800 trained & licensed safety professionals throughout eleven (11) states. GMCS is highly respected for having elite personnel, an exceptional professional development program, and a respected management team of safety and security industry experts. 2014 has been another year of dynamic growth for the company which continues to add prestigious venues and construction projects to its growing resume.

Philosophy

We help create a safe and exceptional event experience.

GMCS is in the event business and we take our role seriously. We approach each event as an opportunity to create a safe, secure, and positive environment for people to shed off the stress and chaos of daily life and enjoy themselves. We’re at the front lines of guest interaction. We deliver a style of event security that’s heavily rooted in guest services, which means we approach each interaction with the guest as an opportunity to create a better experience for them. This practice is broadened to how we interact with each other, venue management, other vendors, and every part of the event team. In order to properly execute this philosophy our officers are trained in security techniques, crowd management, and guest services, and then receive on-going coaching from GMCS supervisors and our personnel development department. We believe that our philosophy, training programs, and supervision practices differentiate us from other security companies.

Management Team

Our executive management team and senior supervisors are respected, expert security professionals. They have experience running event staff and security at venues like Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC), PNC Bank Arts Center, Montage Mountain, AC Casino’s (Trump, Borgata, Showboat) , Boardwalk Hall AC Convention Center, Madison Square Garden (MSG),Wells Fargo Arena , Spectrum, Metlife Stadium, and Veterans Stadium, to name a few. They also have experience directing security and event staff for large-scale events such as, but not limited to: Phish’s Festivals, ESPN Winter X Games, Gathering of the Vibes Festival, Mtn. Jam, and Taste of Country. With over 100 years of combined security experience they can provide expertise in all areas of event operations. Members of the management team have received advanced training and certification from IAVM’s Academy for Venue Safety & Security; Department of Homeland Security’s Sport Event Risk Management Workshop; Homeland Security-Level III (Security, Emergency Management/ Preparedness & First responders); Executive Protection course offered by R.L. Oatman & Associates; Handcuff, Aerosol Pepper, MEB: Sepulveda, Inc.; CDT Non-Deadly Force Techniques: Compliance and Escorts; Terrorism Abroad/ Terrorism at Home/ Understanding the Linkages from the US Attorney’s Office; Proactive Approaches to Global Terror from the US Attorney’s Office & DHS, and many more.

Experience

“The Flynn enjoys working with GMCS -their guest services approach to security makes for a better experience for our audiences, which adds value to our business! I highly recommend them!”

John R. Killacky – Executive Director, Flynn Center for the Performing Arts

GMCS is a respected leader in event security and proud to be considered a trusted partner to leading industry professionals. Our relevant experience includes providing event security staffing to respected venues, prominent educational institutions, and high-profile special events. We work exclusively at venues, such as but not limited to: Champlain Valley Exposition, Essex, VT; The Ryan Center, Kingston, RI; and The Capitol Theatre, Port Chester, NY. We’re the preferred vendor to augment in-house staffing at dozens of venues including, but not limited to: the Whittemore Center, Durham, NH; Mathews Arena, Boston, MA; the Mass Mutual Center, Springfield, MA; Flynn Center for the Performing Arts, Burlington, VT; and the Cross Insurance Center, Bangor, ME. In addition, we work at dozens of educational institutions such as, but not limited to: University of Vermont, Brown University, Dartmouth College, Skidmore College, Northeastern University, Fitchburg State University, Plymouth State University, Union College, Middlebury College, Amherst College, Smith College, Curry College, Hampshire College, Saint Michael’s College, Merrimack College, Babson College, Wheaton College, and Rivier College. We also staff many annual, multi-day, festival style special events including, but not limited to: Gathering of the Vibes, Mtn. Jam, Taste of Country, Mysteryland ’14, The Hudson Music Project, The Big Up, Catskill Chill, Wilco’s Solid Sound, Burlington Discover Jazz Festival, Grand Points North, Mass Moca, Wanderlust, Royal Family Affair, and Life is Good.

Recruiting / Hiring / Development

GMCS is in the business of safety and takes the responsibility of protecting people and assets seriously. Therefore GMCS spends considerable resources on recruiting personnel with the background, experience, and disposition that will add value to our elite units. Each potential recruit will go through a demanding interview process and rigorous national background check prior to employment. Without exception GMCS and all its officers are licensed in the state they do business. Upon passing the GMCS pre-employment phase the new hire will be processed into our system and enter our training program, thus beginning their initial trial phase of employment with GMCS. Their advancement and compensation from there will depend largely on their own ambition. Our professional development program is designed to motivate our personnel to better themselves as security officers and reward them for their progress. GMCS believes that professional development through training, on-going coaching, and supervision creates a loyal, qualified, and experienced workforce.

We are committed to quality and development through our A.S.K.™ Program:

• Attitude – Our Team Leaders instill a sense of pride and professionalism; they set the standard.
• Skills – Our “Ladder of Advancement” rewards training, experience, and commitment.
• Knowledge – Based on a combination of industry leading classroom training, on site briefing, and on-the-job coaching, our teams know your venue, your team, and your guests.

Training Philosophy

Our philosophy is that through a combination of classroom and on-the-job training our officers will have the tools and knowledge needed to succeed. The success of our business model originates in our commitment to our staff and their development. We never stop training and we consider our comprehensive training programs to be the most important ingredient to our dynamic growth and successful reputation. We understand that the better each officer is trained, and the more on-going coaching that they receive, the better protection and service they can provide. Our fierce belief in formal industry training includes constant professional development for our executives as well. GMCS is a proud member of the International Association of Venue Manager’s (IAVM) and our executives and supervisors attend the International Crowd Management Conference (ICMC) annually in order to learn the latest industry standards and techniques in crowd management and event safety and security. They share this knowledge with front line staff by updating course material and through on-going coaching.

In 2012, it was our commitment to training and safety education that inspired GMCS to launch the Northeast Safety & Security Training Academy (NESSTA) as a wholly owned subsidiary of GMCS. Through NESSTA, GMCS can ensure its officers and supervisors receive the latest industry leading safety and security education and training making our officers the best trained security officers available. Each member of our management team has been trained in guest services, the Cleary Act, CPR, First Aid, as well as crowd management, and security techniques, emergency planning, protective services, emergency medical techniques, terrorism alert and awareness, Homeland Security emergency management and preparedness, and basic criminal law. Our security officers receive training in security techniques, crowd management, guest services, conflict resolution, report writing, CPR, First Aid, and more.

Technology / Equipment

GMCS believes in leveraging technology to improve business solutions and pass on savings to our clients. We invest heavily in our infrastructure and especially in technology, resources, and equipment that increases our efficiency and makes us better corporate citizens. We custom designed a web-based scheduling and deployment software system with built-in email and text shift reminders helping ensure our officers are never late to their post or without the proper gear. Our officers carry trade equipment such as a small flashlight, earplugs, paper & pen, their license, a photo ID, first aid personal protection equipment, and a radio.

Uniform / Appearance

We are proud and understand that we represent not only ourselves, but our clients as well. All our officers are expected to maintain a neat, clean and professional appearance, and to project a positive image at all times. They are required to wear black pants and the approved color uniform shirt with black socks and black shoes. If they need a jacket then that jacket must be zipped at all times. Hair must be kept clean and neatly combed away from the face. Men with hair longer that the shirt collar must pull it back. Facial hair must be neat, short, and fully grown out (no stubble).