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INTERVIEW WITH THE OWNER |
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Approaching our 20th consecutive year of securing South Florida businesses I am often asked how we are able to survive such a competitive business.
“First and foremost I reside in Miami-Dade County and we remain a family owned and operated company. Recently my son has entered the business and I hope to keep the business family operated into the next generation. The edge we have kept over the large national companies is the ability to interact directly with our employees and with our clients. Rather than a layered level of management we have been able to react immediately with clients from an owner to client relationship. This relationship has afforded clients the immediate resolution of problems or the need to amend security measures. If and when my cell phone rings my clients know that I will react immediately.
We have taken a different approach from the “cookie cutter” method of securing our clients. Over the past 5 years I have been trusted by the Department of Homeland Security, US State Department, US Department of Defense, the World Customs Organization, Organization of American States and major US companies such as Pepsi, Quaker Oats, Gatorade, Hanes Brand and the Lear Corporation to conduct comprehensive security assessments and training throughout the United States and over 30 countries. In many cases when we negotiate to take over a security contract the client advises us as to what they require based on the previous security companies procedures. What this equates to, on many occasions, is a continuation of procedures that failed with the previous company. We encourage each client to allow us to conduct a comprehensive security assessment in order to maximize the ability to provide excellent service and in many cases save the client money by streamlining the security operation.” |
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-Gary L. Heffner, President & Founder |
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| GARY L. HEFFNER RESUME' |
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| SUMMARY |
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| A successful former United States Customs Service official with extensive experience and knowledge in anti-terrorism initiatives, global supply chain security and international training. |
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| EXPERIENCE |
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Global Customs Security Consulting, Inc.
www.globalcustomssc.com
Chief Executive Officer |
2004 - Present |
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Manage a team of former U.S. Customs officials with over 250 years of U.S. Customs experience and travels to over 50 countries. Global Customs Security Consulting, Inc. offers “subject matter experts” in areas such as C-TPAT, global supply chain security and international training/assessments. Services have been provided to governments, law firms, aviation, maritime, manufacturers, international associations and the international trade community. |
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- Conduct Export Border Control Security (EXBS) training to Slovakian, Bulgarian and Macedonian Customs Officers to include mobile X-Ray training.
- Awarded Department of Homeland Security (US Customs and Border Protection)
- World Customs Organization Capacity Building contract. Traveled to the Dominican Republic to conduct assessment of DR Customs.
- Conduct C-TPAT validations for major US companies.
- Traveled to Belize on an Organization of American States (OAS) seaport assessment.
- Conduct post seizure analysis for major Mexican manufacturing company.
- Speaker & panelist at Secure Port 2005 focusing on efficiency through security systems enhancements.
- C-TPAT assistance to international airlines and international manufacturers.
- Assist in technology awareness to transportation industry
- Provide contraband detection training to maritime and aviation companies
- Traveled to Cartagena, Colombia on a US-TDA project to assess Colombian Customs (DIAN) and Anti-Narcotic Police seaport operations.
- Traveled to Kenya, Africa to conduct an assessment of the Kenya Customs Agency as part of the US Customs/World Customs Organization Capacity Building Framework.
- Speaker at OAS-BASC conference in Guatemala
- Conduct C-TPAT site assessments and training awareness seminars throughout the United States, Brazil, Mexico, Guatemala, Canada and Honduras
- Conduct OAS Customs and Port Assessments and Training in Grenada
- Conduct OAS Customs and Port Assessments and Training in Haiti
- Conduct OAS\ Customs and Port Assessments and Training in Belize.
- Conduct OAS/ Customs and Port Assessments and Training in the Bahamas.
- Conduct OAS Customs & Immigration Training in Dominica.
- August 1, 2009 - Conducted Border Security Training to Pakistan Customs Officials in Karachi, Pakistan on behalf of United States Military (Central Command). Training included classroom and practical exercises at Karachi Jinnah Airport and The Port of Karachi Seaport.
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Heffner Security, Inc.
www.heffnersecurity.com
President |
1990 - Present |
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| Provide highly trained security officers to international aviation, maritime, commercial and industrial environment. Offer aviation, maritime, commercial and industrial clients with comprehensive training, site surveys, threat assessments, government liaison and other pertinent security issues. |
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- Provide security officers to over 30 (past and current clients) international airlines, steamship lines and bonded warehouses. Focus of work is to assist clients comply with US Customs, TSA, FAA and other pertinent government agencies rules, regulations and initiatives.
- Provide security officers for industrial, commercial and residential sites.
- Steering Committee member to Miami Business Against Smuggling Coalition (BASC)
- Conducted training or site surveys to airlines, steamship lines and manufacturers in over 20 countries and throughout the United States.
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U.S. Customs & Border Protection
Intermittent Contractor |
2003 - Present |
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Subject matter expert in anti-terrorism and contraband security training and assessments. |
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- Conducted interdiction of WMD training at border crossings in Slovakia. Instructed Slovak Customs at POE with the Ukraine.
- Conducted mobile X-ray training to Bulgarian Customs at borders Serbia and at the Port of Varna on the Black Sea.
- Conducted mobile X-ray training to Macedonian Customs and Border Police at borders with Serbia, Kosovo and Bulgaria.
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General Electric (G.E.) Security
Consultant |
2004 - 2005 |
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Assist General Electric Security division in areas of aviation and maritime security. Liaison with US Customs and Border Protection, TSA and Coast Guard with a focus on electronic trace detection (ETD) for explosives and narcotics. |
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- Conduct training on ETD to US Customs and Border Protection field office in Miami, Florida.
- Conduct training on ETD to US Coast Guard in Miami and Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
- Represent GE at 5 major security conferences and exhibitions featuring ETD and walkthrough Trace Portal.
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United States Customs Service
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1979 - 1990 |
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Inspector - Miami International Passenger Operations
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1980 - 1982 |
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- Assigned to contraband rover team
- Conducted training in 15 cities in the US, Canada, Bahamas and Bermuda on Observational Techniques
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Senior Inspector/Supervisory Inspector
Contraband Enforcement Team (CET)
Miami International Airport – Miami Seaport
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1982 - 1989 |
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- Received 4 Commissioners Unit Citations for contraband seizures
- Conducted training to aviation and maritime companies
- Conducted a one month training class in Venezuela to the Venezuelan National Guard
- Assigned to mobile response team and conducted enforcement activities in New Orleans, Bahamas, New York, Charleston and Tampa
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Program Officer – Customs Headquarters, Washington DC
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1989 - 1990 |
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- Assigned to Office of Inspectional Enforcement Liaison
- Authored “Air” Super Carrier Initiative Agreement
- Assisted in “Sea” Super Carrier Initiative Agreement
- Addressed full assembly of ICAO in Montreal, Canada
- Authored (Federal Register) Air Carrier Smuggling Prevention Program
- Conducted Super Carrier site surveys in Venezuela, Ecuador and Brazil
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| EDUCATION |
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Old Dominion University
Norfolk, Virginia - Bachelor of Sciences,
Criminal Justice Administration
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1980 |
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| ASSOCIATIONS |
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- Association of Former Customs Special Agents
- Miami Air Cargo Association
- Miami Airport Managers Council
- Miami BASC Steering Committee
- Florida Cargo Security Council
- Florida Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association
- Florida Foreign Trade Association
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