Increase Profitability. Reduce Liability. Improve Hospitality.
Our Team
Zachary Rugen
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Owner, Senior Consultant
Zachary Rugen has been in protective services and events management for over a decade. He began his security career in nightclubs & bars in 2009, and currently consults/manages security personnel for multiple venues and clients. In 2014, Mr. Rugen transitioned into domestic and international protective services, security consulting, and events management. Enhancing his understanding of the importance of customer relations between security and their clients.
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Mr. Rugen has provided protective services, personnel management, training, and consulting services for various Fortune 500 companies across the United States and internationally. Including personnel management for multiple International Touring Artists, Disaster Security operations, events management for MLB World Series, multiple NBA All-Star Weekend, and multiple NFL Super Bowl.
Mr. Rugen has molded his training fundamentals, ethics, and standards from multiple professional experiences, training courses, and continues to work side by side with security leading professionals. In 2017 Mr. Rugen founded Nightclub Security Services, to increase profits, reduce liabilities, and improve hospitality for all aspects of the nightlife environment.
Miguel DeCoste, CPP®
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Consultant
Events Management Advisor
Miguel DeCoste, CPP®, is a dedicated security professional whose accomplishments reflect a strategic mindset and the ability to work effectively under constant pressure and risk. His 20 years of security experience include domestic and international Executive Protection and Event Security assignments in the private sector – including Client and Site Protection for a Fortune 10 company during the 2012/2016 Democratic / Republican National Conventions – as well as 15 years of Public Events Management for the University of California.
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He has received advanced executive protection and security training from such prestigious organizations as R.L. Oatman and Associates, ICON Services Corporation, and the Vehicle Dynamics Institute.
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Mr. DeCoste is also designated as a Certified Protection Professional (CPP) by the American Society of Industrial Security (ASIS), the preeminent international organization for securtiy professionals. Throughout the world, the CPP designation is acknowledged as the security profession's highest recognition of practitioners.
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Mr. DeCoste is currently the Global Event Security Manager for Google and YouTube.
William Castellano
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Consultant
Crisis Management Advisor
As a retired police officer from the Chicagoland area, William knows only too well the risks individuals, communities and businesses face from criminal acts. He was also a lead law enforcement instructor with the Northeastern Illinois Public Safety Training Academy’s force-on-force training courses. Today, he puts his real-world experience to work in his current role as the Chief Training Officer for Kinetic Solution LLC.
William’s background in security and law enforcement began as a member of the US Air Force Security Forces where he was tasked with safeguarding nuclear weapons, codes and components. He also deployed to the Middle East multiple times in a force protection role. Later, as a police officer, William became an active law enforcement instructor and trainer in multiple disciplines including Firearms, Active Shooter Response and Defensive Tactics. In 2010, William graduated from the Department of Homeland Security/Illinois Law Enforcement Alarm System SWAT course.
William later deployed to Afghanistan as an International Police Advisor for the US Department of State where he spent a year embedded with the US Army in the volatile Ghazni province. His primary responsibility was to act as an advisor, mentor and trainer to the Afghan National Police. He helped establish effective policing in a rural and austere area of the country where no functional police presence previously existed. William provides Crisis Management Training, specializing in Workplace Violence Prevention and Active Shooter Response education to facilities across multiple industries and throughout the United States.
Tony O'Brien
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Safety and Risk Consultant
International Security Advisor
Mr. O'Brien has worked and trained extensively in the security, safety and conflict management fields over the past 18 years. Working across all sectors of the security industry from customer service-based roles, to medium and high-risk environments in retail, nightclub and corporate security. Tony quickly developed a reputation in the industry and moved into management and training roles in 2006. Working in these areas at both an operational and management level developing systems and procedures to enhance the safety of employees and customers experience. In 2017, Tony founded The Security Operative, an Irish based security training, consulting, and product services provider.
Tony is regarded as a subject matter expert in the security, conflict management and use of force sectors in legal circles. Tony is also a QQI (Quality and Qualifications Ireland) subject matter expert for the development of all new QQI accredited security awards. Operationally Tony has led security projects for some of Irelands leading luxury hotel chains and corporate events. Tony’s professional qualifications include certifications in the delivery of Conflict management and Physical Intervention from City and Guilds, MAYBO and The Crisis Prevention Institute. Tony also holds recognised professional qualifications in Managing Safety and Risk assessment from IOSH (Institute of Occupational Safety and Health). In addition to these Tony has trained extensively around Europe in other high-risk areas such as Aviation Safety & Security and Tactical Firearms.
Mr. O'Brien has a Diploma in Business Management from the UCD Business school and a Diploma in Training and Education from NUIG. Program's designed by Tony have been shortlisted in both 2015 and 2016 for the Irish Institute of Training and Development National Training Award. In 2017 Tony’s Suicide Awareness Programme was awarded the National Training award and Tony was awarded the National Rising Star in Learning and Development for his work in raising the professional profile of the security industry.