HS Daily Wire conversation with Tim Williams of ASIS International
ASIS 2008: The 54th edition of the key security industry show; Williams: “The opportunity to meet with your trusted peers on a regular basis is critical in this field. It’s helpful professionally. It’s helpful personally”
“We don’t try to be all things to all people,” said Tim Williams, president of ASIS International, who has attended the organization’s annual seminars since the early 1980’s. “We do try to facilitate all things security to all security people.” This would seem an entirely plausible goal for the 54th Annual ASIS Seminar and Exhibits, set for 15-18 September in Atlanta. One of the largest events in the security industry also ranks in the top 200, by size, of trade shows in every category; and, for three years running, Tradeshow Week has identified it as one of the 50 fastest-growing shows in North America. It attracts security professionals from around the globe. This time, more than 950 exhibitors are expected to demonstrate innovative solutions to security challenges in threat detection, analysis, and mitigation, providing saturation coverage of concerns from physical security to data protection and beyond.
Keynote speakers are Tom Brokaw, one of the most respected figures in broadcast journalism, and political consultants James Carville and Mary Matalin. They will consider security in the context of world events, environmental concerns, and other areas of importance to the sector.
In December 2004 Brokaw stepped down after twenty-one years as the anchor and managing editor of NBC Nightly News. He continues to work with NBC, reporting and producing documentaries and providing expertise during breaking news events. Brokaw will speak on Wednesday, 17 September, from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. James Carville is one of America’s best-known political consultants. He and wife Mary Matalin, former assistant to President George Bush and counselor to Vice President Dick Cheney, will speak on Tuesday, 16 September, from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. Infamous former hacker Kevin Mitnik will moderate the Security Insights program on security and Internet abuse from 10 a.m. to noon on Thursday, 18 September. On Thursday, Sept. 18, best-selling author James Bradley (Flags of Our Fathers) will speak at the closing luncheon, noon to 2 p.m.
The slate of educational programs has been organized and vetted by a committee of security subject-matter experts, ensuring responsiveness to contemporary issues. These will round out what promises to be a comprehensive experience for more than 23,000 security, business, and government professionals - veterans and newcomers alike - from more than ninety countries.
Tim Williams, however, while acknowledging the size and distinction of the ASIS annual seminar, even so places the emphasis elsewhere. “Sure, it’s a
