I just returned from the 2003 American Society for Industrial Security
(ASIS) national
conference in New Orleans and thought you might be
interested in some of the highlights.
a. Attendance was down,
maybe by a third to 12,000. The exhibit
floor activity was OK on Monday, not real busy, but some activity.
It
slowed down dramatically from there until on Wednesday the floor was
mostly empty. On the other hand,
I did not hear a lot of complaining
about the lack of traffic from those who were exhibiting. So, in spite
of
the volume of activity, everyone was in a good mood. [Maybe they
just liked be in the wide open city of New Orleans!
or maybe the economy
is really getting better and all those sales people were making more
money from the accounts they
closed in 1999-2002 and therefore were just
glad to be out in the sales world feeling good]
b. 21 companies
had exhibits that were offering background checks as
their primary or a main product offering. In addition
there was a drug
test kit provider, two drug TPAs, a company offering a multi-state
database, a company offering
a Locate Database, and a couple of
Personality Profile/Assessment testing companies.
c. The National Association
of Professional Background Screeners had
a hospitality suit (sponsored by BRB Publication's Mike Sankey. Thanks
Mike)
on Tuesday evening. It made for a great networking opportunity
for all. For more information go to www.napbs.com.
News (including acquisition news since SHRM):
a. First Advantage (formerly HireCheck,
formerly CIC) is very busy
making acquisitions and the word is they plan several more yet in 2003
and continuing at
that pace into 2004.
1. 8/7 First Advantage Acquires Manhattan-Based Liberatore
Services, Inc.
2. 8/20 First Advantage Acquires San Diego Substance Abuse Testing
Program Administrator
3.
8/26 First Advantage Announces Latest Acquisition With
Agreement to Acquire Employee Information Services,
4. 9/8 First Advantage Acquires Omega Insurance Services
b. USIS
1. Did not exhibit at the show.
2.
Jim Collins (former ChoicePoint) now heads USIS's Commercial
market efforts).
3. Top two marketing
people at USIS Commercial are "seeking
greener pastures", Chris Bourne and Lance Hursh.
4.
The very capable Ms. Billie Lee is running their Commercial
Operations
c. InfoMart has signed a very major deal to provide background
checks
to a security company.
d. Verifications, Inc. continues to grow and picked up another long
term sales
rep, Judy Butler who joined CIC in 1996.
e. ChoicePoint
1. David Cook has left as CEO of Choicepoint
backgrounds and David
Lee has been promoted to that position.
2. 9/9 ChoicePoint(R) Purchases
MVR Business from TML Information
Services, Forms Relationship for Rental Market.
f. Kroll Background America continues to grow through acquisitions.
1. 8/18-Kroll buys Intellifacts, Houston, TX.
g. Multi-state data bases.
a. Rapsheets had a booth at the
show
b. NBD did not, but they were there talking with their resellers.
c. Most
background checking companies are offering someone's
multi-state database search and a few have developed their own
(ChoicePoint,
FirstAdvantage). Most are offering this search as an
adjunct search.
Did You Know:
a. At least one background screening company has taken a fresh
approach
to adverse actions by taking care of all aspects of this
responsibility for the client and doing it with a smile and a
most
professional attitude and process. Sounds like a great program.
b. There is still debate going on as to whether the multi-state
databases and
address verification tools (SSN search) are considered
consumer reports under the FCRA.
c. My non-compete has expired and I am expanding my consulting
services to include
all kinds of help including Marketing/Sales/Business
Planning/etc. Also, I can help you with your costs and do so
on a
no-risk-to-you basis by taking a percentage of savings.
Special thanks to
a. John Long for lunch.
b. John Peterson, President
of Kroll Laboratory Specialists, for the
very nice tour of his drug testing operation.
c. Frank Slaton and Security
Services for their Hospitality Suite.
d. NAPBS and Mike Sankey for their Hospitality Suite.
e. Tammy
and Blair Cohen.
f. Harrah's casino for allowing me to come out a net winner (a grand
total of $3.00, but I
was a winner!)
g. My wife, while she did not attend, but just for her being the great
person she is.
If you have any specific questions about the show, please give us a
call.
Disclaimer:
I am just reporting what has been published or what I have
heard, that I have not been asked to keep confidential.
No claim is
made to the accuracy of the statements made in this email.
