Last year we released the first-ever ConsultantReady^TM Report. The report was a huge success and showed it was definitely worth the effort (lots of pizza and caffeinated beverages went into that effort).

After taking in all the feedback, we decided a committee was needed to centralize and openly discuss the structure and evaluation criteria for the 2010 report. Therefore, we are happy to announce the formation of our first CRO open committee, the 2010 ConsultantReady^TM Report Committee.

Just like last year, we intend to qualify our framework, evaluation criteria, and grading methodology with our consultant members. However this year, we will allow one representative from each manufacturer evaluated to participate with feedback to the manufacturer member(s) of the committee. Consultant members don’t worry…. you are still the ultimate authority in the committee!

An email invitation will go out to consultants and manufacturers who expressed an interest early on.
All other interested parties should contact Susanne Ruse, our Director of Committee Strategic Planning and Development at SRuse@ConsultantRegistry.org.

ConsultantRegistry.org
President, Greg Bernardo

At the end of April, we announced that Susanne Ruse joined CRO to head up our new effort to committee’ize ConsultantRegistry.Org. I realize that “committee’ize” is not a real word, but our effort to build functioning committees is real.

Building committees is a pretty involved undertaking and we want to make sure that they are relevant and effective. After months of testing collaboration tools and developing internal processes, we believe we are ready to launch our first committee.  Our committees will take on challenges that no single individual could possibly accomplish and maintain the current or relevant status.  These efforts are identified and some are services to our members, while others are ongoing to provide information to our industry or a particular industry segment.

In just a few days we will have more announcements and more information on the ConsultantRegistry.org Committees and other developments.  (we told you we haven’t been taking the summer off !)

ConsultantRegistry.org
President, Greg Bernardo

Does your state require Consultants to be licensed?

Its a simple question that many people don’t know the answer to.  ConsultantRegistry.Org is building new tools to communicate information to our members.  As far as we know, there is no centralized repository for this information.

Knowing whether a State requires a license is important to consultants who are looking to branch out of their home state or for individuals who are considering becoming consultants.  Additionally, some states require errors and omissions insurance.   How much insurance do you have? Is it enough?

Seems like good information a lot of people should know about.

So ConsultantRegistry.Org has started a survey asking our consultant members to give us a heads up on what the requirements are and where to find the information for each state.  ConsultantRegistry.Org will compile the information and post it on our new website targeted to release in September.

If you are a consultant and would like to help out or have access to this information, please sign up on the ConsultantRegistry.org website and we will send you the link.

ConsultantRegistry.org
President, Greg Bernardo

Several members mentioned that communications dropped off the last few months at ConsultantRegistry.org. Let us take this opportunity to give everyone a quick update.

We want to assure you that we didn’t take the summer off!
In addition to our day jobs as consultants, the council at ConsultantRegistry.org has been hard at work these last few months. Several projects have reached a point where they are almost ready for release.

In a short while CRO will be sporting a completely redesigned website with lots of new features and a whole new look. We are working with several sponsors for additional tools and information which will follow shortly after the new website premier.

Check back often and it will be here before you know it.

ConsultantRegistry.Org
President, Greg Bernardo

ConsultantRegistry.Org  is please to announce that Susanne Ruse has agreed to fill the position of Director, Committee Strategic Planning and Development.  “The addition of Susanne to our team is a significant milestone.  We have grown to the point where we are adding members to our board and building committees to manage the organization.” states CRO president, Greg Bernardo.

The Director, Committee Strategic Planning and Development is responsible for communications, organization and structural progress of each committee.  As a developing organization, Susanne’s immediate challenge is to establish the rules and agenda for each committee.

Read more…

As a follow up to our manufacturers’ survey, ConsultantRegistry.org has begun a new survey for Security Systems Integrators.

www.consultantregistry.org/survey Read more…

ConsultantRegistry.Org recently released a survey to Security Industry Manufacturers.  More than 10% of the security industry’s manufacturers have already responded.

www.consultantregistry.org/survey Read more…

ConsultantRegistry.Org released their Fall Newsletter today.

The Newsletter is accessible from the CRO website at http://www.consultantregistry.org

ConsultantRegistry.Org is the only organization that supports the independent consultant in the converging markets of Security, IT, and Communication exclusively.

To help ConsultantRegistry.Org fund its initiatives, Henry Homrighaus, Jr. has graciously agreed to donate a portion of the proceeds from the 2nd release of his book titled “A Primer on Electronic Security for Schools, Universities & Institutions”. 

The Primer, originally published in 2006, was designed to assist educators, engineers, security personnel, and suppliers to address and resolve the issues of potential terrorism or other acts of violence or disruption in our educational institutions.

The Second Edition updates the Primer to include the multitude of changes the security industry has seen in the last three years such as the convergence of Security, IT & Communications and the maturity of the digital video market segment.  To update the Primer, the author Henry Homrighaus Jr. added co-authors Frank J. Davies and Greg Bernardo.

Greg Bernardo, president of ConsultantRegistry.Org offers, “As a new organization, CRO has several important priorities that demand time and resources.   Henry’s efforts to help ConsultantRegistry.org grow are greatly appreciated.”

Interested parties can learn more about Henry’s current book and upcoming second edition, at http://www.SchoolSecurityPrimer.com/

Read more…

ConsultantRegistry.Org is back from a busy week at the ASIS Conference and Tradeshow held in Anaheim, CA this year.  At this year’s show, our main emphasis was to promote the value of the organization to manufacturers, and to meet some of our members.  It was great to meet some of you face to face and hear your input and ideas.  We have plans in the works for our next organizational meeting at ISC West, so stay tuned.

The goal of the trip was to further awareness of the organization and start promoting some of the new initiatives of CRO.  Many manufacturers have agreed to use the new CRO Open ID platform that will roll-out sometime during the month of October.  We received great response to the organization as a long needed resource and a great value for the industry.  It is our design to generate more value for our members and thereby for our advertising sponsors.  By producing greater sponsorship, the organization has more revenue for future CRO projects like Open ID, and the upcoming iPhone application give away of Security Surveyor (stay tuned for this one as well).

Time was tight while we were in Anaheim, so we made good use of our time there. Our meetings literally started in the airport on Sunday and ran non-stop through Wednesday.  A special thanks to the folks at Salient Systems for allowing us to use their meeting space free of charge during the show as a place to meet with our members.

What we observed at the show….

I have to say, the attendance was the lightest we have seen in any of previous years (15 for me and 25 for my business partner).  However, I think most vendors would agree when I say, with this depressed economy, the people who attended had a purpose in being there.

ASIS is one of the two times a year (ISC West being the other) when most of the Security Industries’ vendors demonstrate their new products.  While we did not see anything to shift our design paradigms, there were a couple of notable pieces parts.  Axis had a notable modular camera mounting system that caught our eye.  Pelco’s new Sarix line demonstrated much improved contrasting light sensor technology.  TimeSight Systems was exhibiting a new way of recording video that optimizes the recording and minimizes the storage hardware.

Thinking forward to next year’s ASIS, we noticed that they are changing their dates and venues a bit. Perhaps they are noticing a change in the industry and are beginning to mix things up to promote more interest and attendance.  Next year’s conference is now almost 13 months away, scheduled for mid October.  We are excited that ASIS will be in Dallas next year since it gives CRO an opportunity for greater presence and visibility.  (For those that don’t know, Dallas is home to CRO’s offices.)  Read more…