With an extensive career as a police officer, Secret Service agent, Director of Security for the NBA, and security consultant, G. Michael Verden understands how to apply security best practices to your unique setting to safeguard people, property, and assets.

Mike employs methodologies learned in a 21-year career as an agent for the United States Secret Service protecting the President, First Lady, and other heads of state and large-scale events such as the Olympics and the Super Bowl to identify vulnerabilities and implement proper risk management techniques to offer the appropriate level of protection—without adversely affecting your culture.

Throughout his career, Mike has gained unique perspectives on how to work with law enforcement, first responders, and private sector partners to evaluate physical, technical, procedural, and personnel security and conduct comprehensive needs assessments to determine what you’re doing well and where you’re exposed to risk—resulting in a best-in-class security program.

Let’s schedule a time to discuss the situation that’s exposing your people, property, assets, and investment to risk. If Mike doesn’t have the specific expertise to solve your problem, he probably knows someone who can—and he’ll connect you to his extensive network of former Secret Service agents, law enforcement professionals, and systems integrators.

With decades of experience in the security industry, Mike offers you insight from providing protective security for the private sector, such as Fortune 500 corporations, retail, high net worth, financial, healthcare, hotels, industrial, medical marijuana cultivation centers and dispensaries, casinos, and gaming and the public sector, such as government agencies, K-12 schools, higher education institutions, and hospitals.

He’s also assessed emergency preparedness and event security for venues and stadiums in professional golf, football, basketball, soccer, baseball, and horse racing.

As a Senior Vice President and Managing Director at Hillard Heintze, Mike was in charge of the Strategic Security Services for the firm, directed the security services, and provided strategic thought leadership, trusted counsel, and end-to-end services to public and private corporations as well as government agencies and major public service organizations.

In his capacity as Senior Director of Security for the NBA, Mike managed and coordinated global security, as well as designed and implemented site security measures, emergency evacuation programs, and contingency procedures. He was responsible for monitoring all NBA criminal investigations and security-related incidents throughout the league. He also implemented and supervised security for the NBA All-Star Game, NBA Finals, and the FIBA World Championships.

Mike was a Special Agent with the United States Secret Service for 21 years and finished his career as the Assistant Special Agent in Charge for the Dignitary Protective Division at USSS Headquarters in Washington, D.C. This assignment allowed him to be an event coordinator for the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City and a security adviser to the 2003 and 2004 Super Bowls. Other assignments in Washington, D.C. were to the Presidential Protective Division responsible for protecting the President, First Lady, and other heads of state and the Counter Assault Team. His major event experience provides an institutional knowledge in securing and protecting facilities and people on a large scale. Additionally, he assisted with creating security plans for the Super Bowl, Kentucky Derby, Indianapolis 500, Breeders’ Cup, and the Women’s Soccer World Cup.

Mike was born in Tipperary, Ireland, grew up in Chicago, and graduated from Western Illinois University with a degree in Law Enforcement Administration. He began his professional career with the Skokie, Illinois Police Department and then became a Secret Service agent starting his career in the Chicago Field Office. He also earned an M.S. in Criminology from Indiana State University.

By leveraging established liaisons with high-level law enforcement and international counterparts in both the public and private sector, Mike Verden and The Lake Forest Group offer you a security protection strategy to keep you safe, secure, and compliant.

Mr. Gibb is the President of Global Physicians Alliance and has extensive experience in the healthcare and business industry spanning the past 25 years. This experience includes starting and managing his own businesses both in the private sector as well as the public arena. Mr. Gibb has authored and created several small business educational programs, which have been successfully marketed throughout North America. He has had articles published in newsletters and magazines addressing specific areas of concerns to small businesses. He and his wife Amy have been married for 23 years, and are the parents of 5 children. Mr. Gibb has spoken to thousands of people nationally and internationally, including healthcare professionals, helping them understand how to maximize the benefits of small business ownership.

Health Care Executive with over 25 years of experience in the following areas (Cannabis-Hemp Investing, Operations, Laws, Regulation, Compliance, and Management, Skilled Nursing, Assisted Living, Home Healthcare, Therapy Management, Laboratory, Pharmacy Management, and Health Care Analytics).

Michael is a subject matter expert in the Global Cannabis Industry with Gerson Lehrman Group (GLG.it) and Guidepoint. He has spoken at numerous conferences including the 2019 UBS Global Consumer and Retail Conference in Boston, FBI National Academy convention in Orlando, and CBD East Convention 2018 in Orlando.

Upcoming speaking engagements include ONE Senior Place in April 2019, June 6, 2019 at the Cannabis Banking Summit in Pittsburgh, PA, June 22,23 in Atlanta, GA at the US Cannabis-Medical Cannabis Society sponsored Georgia Medical Cannabis Licensure and Education Seminar, and July 12-13 at Europe CBD Expo in London, England.

Mr. Patterson is an Editorial Board Member for the American Journal of Medical Cannabis (AJMC), medical cannabis contributing writer for the Orlando Medical News Magazine and Florida MD Magazine, member of the Board of Directors for the Tourette Syndrome Awareness Foundation, and licensed Occupational Therapist and Nursing Home Administrator in 4 states.

Russell Cersosimo Jr. is the founder of Pittsburgh-based Miradati Technology, which is currently developing enterprise software that creates standardized data for medical cannabis research. Integrating both legacy and proprietary technologies, Miradati helps facilitate this rapidly developing field of study, producing quantifiable data that more accurately measures patient outcomes, reduces prescribing errors, and lowers patient costs.
In 2015, Russ founded the nonprofit organization, the Pennsylvania Medical Cannabis Society (PAMCS), the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s largest organization for professionals, educators, and leaders in the industry. Since its inception, PAMCS has been involved in over 45 educational events throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. PAMCS and Cersosimo’s advocacy efforts were instrumental in 2016’s successful legalization campaign.
Today, Cersosimo is committed to forging partnerships that improve the capture and analysis of medical cannabis data. Russ sits on the ASTM D37 committee for writing cannabis industry standards and is passionate about developing solutions that will shape the industry. In addition, in 2018, the Pennsylvania Medical Cannabis Society converted to a national model and launched the Medical Cannabis Society with the mission to educate, lead, and further medical cannabis research throughout the United States.
A serial entrepreneur as far back as his days studying Psychology at West Virginia University, Cersosimo founded Webbula, a data-centric technology company. As its CEO, Cersosimo generated high-profile clientele including Google, Yahoo, T-Mobile, Neustar, and Epsilon. Mr. Cersosimo also serves as CEO for marketing firm Optimal Reach Media. He currently sits on the Board of Directors of the Tourettes Syndrome Awareness Foundation.

Abigail is a licensed attorney with a Master of Business Administration. She has been active in the political arena since graduating with high honors from the University of Pittsburgh with a double major in both Political Science and Communication Rhetoric. After graduating magna cum laude from law school, she started her career into the practice of law. Abigail left firm life for the cannabis industry after spending a significant amount of time working with plaintiffs suing “big pharma” for their negligent release of harmful drugs. She has also worked with high-powered political officials, which has given her a first-hand look at the intersection of law and politics – a vital component of securing any cannabis license.

Abigail is a strong promoter of medicinal marijuana, and her years of advocacy for cannabis legalization have allied her with global connections in both the political and business sphere.

With nearly a decade of experience spanning all facets of the legal cannabis industry, Mr. Visher brings a wealth of knowledge in cultivation technology, processing, distribution and retail to US Cannabis. In 2009, he organized the launch of Tender Healing Care, one of Colorado’s first dispensaries. Upon merger, Tender Healing Care became one with Green Man Cannabis, creating one of the largest cannabis operations in Denver.

Mr. Visher has been involved in every aspect of dispensary startup and operation, including operational planning, POS development, security procedures, corporate structure and the coordination of tax payments. His knowledge of cannabis genetics, cloning and growing contributed to several first-place awards for best sativa and indica strains developed at both Tender Healing Care and Green Man Cannabis, and his entrepreneurial expertise helped propel Green Man to gross revenues of $6 million in 2014, $7 million in 2015 and a projected $8 million-plus in 2016.

Tom Perko is currently the managing partner of Keystone Integrated Care, which has 3 dispensaries in southwestern PA. In 2015, Mr. Perko was awarded the Business of the Year by Butler Downtown, a state-certified Main Street program following the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Main Street Four-Point Approach to revitalization for his USDA meat facility.

Tom is an expert in competitive application development. Previously working in the design and construction industry with a focus on Operations Management for the Department of Defense and Federal Programs for STEVENS Engineers & Constructors, Tom was responsible for ensuring they were in position to deliver the design and construction of projects to public sector clients on time and under budget.