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Who We Are The International Security Driver Association (ISDA) is a small but influential group of protective services practitioners from all sectors of the Executive…

Congratulations, you have successfully completed the Knowledge test portion of the ISDA Certification.   You have fulfilled the ISDA requirements for certification  – Experience, Skill,…

Do not complete this form if you already are listed in the member directory. Please complete as much information as possible. The member directory is…

How to use the directory Search by the last name by typing in full or partial last name and click the Search button Search by…

We would like to introduce the Vehicle Dynamics Institute (VDI) graduates to the International Security Driver Association (ISDA). ISDA’s mission is to provide and support…

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Download a PDF version of the Training Directory here. Name Organization Website Address Training Offered Joseph Autera Vehicle Dynamics Institute Visit 1162 St. Georges Ave.,…

In this lesson, you’ll have a better understanding on how to use social media marketing and tools to manage it.

In this lesson you will have a better understanding of defining your brand, definition of branding vs. brand, and beginning of how to market your services and products on social media.

There are those who believe that if they have training and/or experience, their education is complete. But in a time when there are ever more…

If you are fortunate enough to have the skill and experience to work in the executive protection profession, and if you have gained recognition for…

Successful networking requires finding those you need to get what you need. It is estimated that only five percent of opportunities are found through advertising….

Knowledge is power. Sharing knowledge is powerful. In a time when there are even more EP/bodyguards/security drivers in the marketplace than there is a market,…

The purpose of this section of the Roadmap is to understand and become a mentor, sharing your knowledge and experience with others. Understanding the concept…

Social Media, put plainly and simply, is public conversations within established networks. These networks are made up of your friends, peers, colleagues, clients, and potential clients. These networks or channels have various names, such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc. Each is unique and useful to varying degrees for executive protection and security businesses.

You will have a better chance of achieving success if you have someone who can help you navigate the three sections of the Roadmap – a mentor. Someone who has traveled down this road before and knows where all the potholes are and is willing to share their experiences with you; someone who will give you the painful and expensive life lessons they have learned, and do so to help you, with no profit motive or ego involved. You probably already know at least one person whom you would like to be your mentor.

Effective marketing is the only way for you to achieve your financial and personal goals. What sets one company or person apart from others is the degree to which they translate their skill, knowledge, and experience into helpful and timely information and assistance to their clients or the marketplace.

This is the only way to truly grow and prosper as a company.

Your “brand” is what your clients think of when he or she hears you or your company’s name.  It’s everything the market thinks it knows about your name brand offering – both factual and emotional.

For example, what comes to mind when someone mentions Nike, McDonald’s, or Google? Each company is unique and, when you think of them, that unique brand elicits some feeling, an identity that you perceive about those brands.

When you begin to create your brand, you should ask yourself these critical questions

If you are looking for job opportunities, whether it’s to get your foot in the door or take your career to the next level, the only person who can find the right opportunity for you is you. You understand better than anyone your experience level and skill set, your desired niche, market, and location, and most importantly, the position you want and the companies you hope to work with.

Whatever your situation – you are relatively new, you have been in the profession for some time, you are a sole practitioner looking for the…

For those who are new or inexperienced, by far the hardest part of attaining success will be gaining experience. In many other professions, there is…

Whether you are relatively new or have been in the profession for some time, if you are a sole practitioner looking for the next job, a security provider looking for the next customer, or a trainer looking for the next student, YOU OR YOUR COMPANY ARE A BUSINESS!

There seem to be endless discussions concerning standards and training in the EP business. EP practitioners want standards, but they want standards that correspond to…

Two topics of discussions that dominate social media, both in the U.S. and abroad are certification and the state of training in the protection industry. In reality, the two subjects cannot be separated. The job market wants and will support, a certification that meets standards set by the respected industry and government organizations. Those who supply job opportunities welcome a certification that withstands the scrutiny of the corporate, legal, and insurance community. Nonetheless, there are still global job markets in the protection business where certification, insurance risk, and liability are not primary concerns.

Many protection practitioners, new and old, who seek certification do not have a clear understanding of the concept as defined by most other industries. That is because of the significant number of bodyguard/EP training providers who use the word certification as a marketing tool, without any real idea of what it means.

People seeking entry into the profession often say, “I have the desire and passion to succeed in the profession.”

Passion and desire alone are not enough to achieve success. Having the desire to pursue your passion is a necessary part of the Roadmap to Success. Also, talent and skill alone are not enough to achieve success. But you need to gain career capital by collecting marketable experience, skills, and knowledge (ESK).

Those who do not succeed in the profession or who do not reach their goals fail because one of those pieces was missing, was not marketable or was the wrong ESK for the intended goal.

Whether you are starting out in the profession or are a seasoned professional, you are aware that the market is inundated with numerous training providers. Depending on your needs and desires, there are countless choices from a vast number of providers. On any given day, there is an infinite number of training providers marketing their programs.

Simply put, the quality and legitimacy of a training program are determined by the standards used to govern the program. Hence, perhaps the most important question you can ask the training provider is: What are the standards that I will be trained to? Also ask: Where are these standards documented?

You cannot leave the initial training program with no experience in the profession and feel you are ready for full-time employment. Also, keep in mind that your lack of business skills will slow down your progress.

In any endeavor, decisions need to be made, and they need to be made with accurate and relevant information. Chances are that you will need to rely on others to help you make those important decisions. You will have questions; you will need answers from practitioners who do not profit from how they help you.

What are your goals? What do you want to accomplish? Full-time employment? Working for a corporation or a private security company with benefits? Starting an…

Success requires having a goal, planning the steps to achieve that goal, implementing the plan, and finally achieving the goal. If you are new or inexperienced, you need…

The purpose of this section of the Roadmap is to plan your business model – from understanding the business of protection and determining your value….

  The purpose of this section is to create a clear plan for your career path in the protection profession – from defining success to…

The ISDA’s Secure Transportation and Executive Protection News Podcast is a convenient communication tool that can increase your professional development. Every weekday, in audio format,…

To participate in the ISDA Member Spotlight, please fill in the form below completely with the information you would like shared throughout the ISDA Network….

For many, finding a career path or advancing a career is the most challenging task they face. There are no guarantees for success, but there…

White Papers, Reports, Booklets, eBooks, and SDM Magazine issues for Secure Transportation and Executive Protection professionals. Search White Papers: Reset search

We have made significant improvements and updates with the membership directory. The video below will show what has been updated and how to update your…