EXECUTEK - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Director, Security Specialist
Ian MacGregor is a Security Specialist who has over thirty years of service with the Ontario Provincial Police, which have been characterized by continuous learning and diversification of skills including Close Protection, Advanced Firearms and Anti Ambush Driver Training.
Ian has worked extensively to build a broad spectrum of knowledge and experience in the policing and security community which includes assignments involving national and foreign dignitaries within North America and abroad, as well as supervision of international events such as the 2015 PanAm Games.
Invictus Games Toronto 2017 - Senior Security Advisor (honoured to be invited to serve as the security advisor to the Invictus Games Toronto 2017 - 14 months)
Job Titles:
- Director, Backgrounds & Screening
As the owner and President of Cancheck Background and Screening, Karen Layne brings years of invaluable experience to the Executek International team as a strategic partner responsible for delivering unbiased screening solutions that enable clients to initiate smart hiring solutions and informed choices.
Kim was a veteran investigator with the Toronto Police Service.
Leo Manos is a career security professional, having managed security operations for numerous high profile venues and facilities over the course of his career.
His security management expertise stratifies numerous areas including government, Class A commercial properties, 5 star hotel properties, and major special events across the Greater Toronto Area. His portfolios have included oversight of large security teams, implementing new security programs, and ensuring compliance with rigorous security standards.
Prior to Executek International, Leo's most recent experience was as the Director of Security & Loss Prevention for the St. Regis Hotel & Resorts, previously known as the Trump International Hotel & Tower Toronto - the second tallest skyscraper in the City of Toronto. In this role, he was responsible for the overall creation, implementation, and management of the security program at the hotel from inception to current practice. Responsibilities included security procedures, business continuity planning, management of the security workforce, and executive protection details relevant to the hotels stakeholders. This included the oversight of corporate standards, policies and procedures and implementing and adhering to thorough industry standards and internal auditing processes. Over his career, Leo was the Director of Security for other top tier hotels in Toronto including the Royal York Hotel, and The Hazelton Hotel & Residences.
Leo has participated in key security roles for some of Canada's largest special event portfolios including the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games, where he was responsible for security for Team Canada and Fortune 500 companies partnered with the Olympic Games. This role and the many others like them require intense security planning, risk assessment development, liaison with local law enforcement entities, and balancing the needs of clients against the guest experience. His experience also includes oversight of security programs in critical infrastructure properties including the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, Government of Canada, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, and the Air Canada Centre.
Leo is the holder of over 40 certificates of training related to the fields of security, law enforcement, and life safety. In 2006, Leo was first runner up to the Security Director of the Year award for his substantial work in upgrading his facilities physical security and response strategies. Over his career, he has been highlighted or contributed to industry literature including Canadian Security Magazine, Hotelier Magazine, and Security Management Magazine. He is currently the Vice Chair of the Toronto Association of Police and Private Security and is an active participant in industry events and association activities.
Respected author, highly sought-after educational speaker, and currently a Professor and Chair of Computer Science at California State University Channel Islands, Michael Soltys brings state-of-the-art knowledge and experience to Executek International's Information Technology (IT) sector.
In addition to journal and conference publications, Michael has written two computer science books, one on algorithms from an engineering perspective which is currently in its second edition: An Introduction to the Analysis of Algorithms.
Job Titles:
- Executive Protection Specialist
Sean Blackmore is a seasoned law enforcement professional with 41 years of combined policing and intelligence experience.
Retiring from the United States Secret Service (USSS) as the Canadian Liaison to the Toronto Resident Office, Sean was responsible for investigating cases and obtaining intelligence on matters of pertinent interest to the United States of America. As the principle point of contact between the US Secret Service and Canadian law enforcement groups in Southern Ontario, Sean was vital in establishing strategic partnerships and embedding US law enforcement personnel in local agencies to combat fraud, counterfeiting, and organized crime with US connections. He was responsible for conducting background checks, protective advances, and personal security on persons of US interest.
Prior to his role with the US Secret Service, Sean was an investigator for the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) obtaining Top Secret Canadian security clearance. During this period he was responsible for conducting investigations and preparing reports for government agencies and the Department of National Defense.
Sean's policing career spanned 30 years with the Toronto Police Service where he served in a number of critical positions in the Emergency Task Force including SWAT Team Leader, First Officer for negotiations, and providing critical incident management for hostage and barricaded suspect situations. Sean specialized in explosive detection and defusal, bomb threat management, improvised explosive devices and suspect packages - extending his expertise to other law enforcement and government bodies as a guest lecturer at the Canadian Police College. While working within the Intelligence Division's Security Section, he received extensive training from numerous law enforcement agencies in all aspects of intelligence consisting of; major event planning, close protection, counter surveillance, threat and risk assessment, anti-terrorism, and crime analysis. Sean's responsibilities encompassed providing security to world leaders and political figures, royal families, corporate executives and high profile entertainers. He was responsible for entire protection programs from visit and event planning, close protection, motorcade details, site security, counter surveillance and risk assessments - performing security operations for high level Internationally Protected Persons including; Her Royal Highness, George Bush Sr., and Margaret Thatcher.