Michael R. Cummings, CPP, has advanced to the presidency of ASIS International, the preeminent organization for security professionals worldwide. Cummings has been in the security field since 1973. He spent the first 12 years in retail and has practiced in health care since 1985. His current position is Director of Loss Prevention Services for Aurora Health Care in Milwaukee , Wis.
Cummings sees both challenges and opportunities for ASIS International and the security profession in 2009. "In addition to responding to the protection needs of our organizations in light of the macro economy, a growing reality is the overall complexity of the world we live in relative to security," he says.
To meet the needs of the ASIS members, he sees the need to be creative in partnerships and development of resources. "Establishing both formal and informal relationships with like-minded organizations is one approach," he adds. "Continuing with the initiatives to address specific needs of various constituencies of security professionals is also necessary."
Cummings lists ongoing development of Standards and Guidelines, growth of the CSO Roundtable, and creative approaches to educational offerings, including manner of delivery, topics and location, as particularly germane to the global outreach efforts of ASIS International.
A member of ASIS International since 1978, Cummings has served many years in various capacities in the
He is a senior member of the International Association for Healthcare Safety and Security (IAHSS). He holds a bachelor's degree from
Cummings has served on several boards, including the Southeast Wisconsin Homeland Security Partnership Inc. (SWHSP), the Editorial Advisory Board for Corporate Security, and the Board for the Avenues West Association, which included responsibility for safety and security functions. He has lectured on a variety of security topics over the years at the local and national level, and has published in Security Management, The Journal of Healthcare Protection Management and the Security Business Practice Reference.
Cummings lives in