Venue Safety & Security: A Q&A with John Siehl, CFE, and Mark Herrera

IAVM’s Academy for Venue Safety & Security (AVSS) is a two-year school built to train venue and event managers, security professionals, and other key personnel involved in every aspect of venue safety and security. The new 2015 curriculum, developed and taught by a diverse team of experts, is designed to equip each and every attendee with the best practices, resources, and tools needed to face the evolving challenge of providing a safe venue for everyone.

Tremendous collaboration and effort has gone into developing AVSS 2015, and we took a moment to talk with a few people working behind the scenes on this year’s academy.

John Siehl, CFE
chief operating officer, VenuWorks
chair, AVSS

With your involvement over the years as an AVSS faculty member and now as the chair, what do you feel is timeless about AVSS, and what do you see evolving to address emerging threats and challenges? 

Siehl: AVSS equips the industry professional with information, techniques, and resources that will enhance any position that they progress to in the sports and entertainment industry. The concepts and awareness that are the focus of AVSS are timeless. For many of the attendees, the basic principles are utilized in everyday management, and the ability to plan for the next “legitimate threat” is inherently built into the concepts and curriculum at AVSS. We cannot determine the exact nature of any threat for the future—the key is training, planning, and preparation.

To someone that attended AVSS in the past, what should they know about AVSS 2015? 

Siehl: The 2015 AVSS is being approached with a slightly different perspective, as we’ve refined delivery methods while maintaining the content that AVSS has become successful with. Experts from the safety and security industry will continue to present relevant and timely information, techniques, and practices. The curriculum has been thoroughly reviewed and refined with input from faculty and advisory personnel.

Mark Herrera
director of education, IAVM

AVSS 2015 is a story of collaboration. Who has contributed to the focus and curriculum for the Year 1 and Year 2 programs?

Herrera: AVSS 2015 is exploring new territory and has been collaboratively built to meet the current and emerging needs of venue and event professionals involved with safety and security. AVSS is bringing together a collective of experts, each recognized and respected for their expertise in safety and security. Our faculty is simply exceptional, and every 2015 student will experience a great environment to develop and refine skills, discuss critical concepts and issues, and identify best practices to implement. (See the AVSS 2015 faculty.)

As someone with a background in safety and security, what does it mean to you to be a part of such a significant program focused on the safety and security at venues and events?

Herrera: It is a true honor to be a part of a program that supports venue and event professionals in protecting people and infrastructure. My own background in safety and security, and exposure to life-threatening situations, has instilled a passion for supporting a high quality of life, and it is very rewarding to work with the AVSS faculty to ensure that our 2015 students return home much stronger, more self-aware, and better equipped to be leaders when it counts.