Security is big business and there is a reason why organisations place such a high value on experience; because when you’re dealing with the protection of people’s property, possessions and wellbeing, experience counts for a bundle.

WRITTEN BY JACK SLATER

WIDENING THAT GAP

www.littlegatepublishing.com

G4S GUAM & CNMIWWW.GU.G4S.COM001 671 646 8341

G4S GUAM & CNMI

Born in Bacolod City, Philippines, he is a graduate of the University of St. La Salle and has a degree in business management. Now, with 20 years of executive management

expertise under his belt in finance and administration, marketing, engineering and project management, business development and sales and marketing management, he was kind enough to speak with Endeavour Magazine regarding his involvement in G4S Guam.

As CEO for Guam and Saipan, Chris’ territory extends to Palau, which is an independent republic in Micronesia. “ Guam is home to US Naval Facility Guam and Andersen US Airforce Base.”

According to Chris, G4S started operations here in 2004, when they acquired several companies within the area, “The first company we acquired was Securewest, a company focussed upon guarding merchant marine vessels.”

These vessels, Chris explains, were the propositioning vessels that were sent out prior to operations such as Desert Storm in Iraq and were support logistic vessels based in Saipan.

“We also acquired PSA Pacific Security Alarms,” he adds, “And in 2004 we acquired Armoured Express the CIT – cash in transit- company and since then we have consolidated the companies here in Guam and done the same in Saipan.”

Through this consolidation, altogether the company had 600 guards, including those in Saipan, “By 2012 I was CEO, President and Country Manager of Marianas and wanted to start looking into new areas for development and growth,”

Chris adds that by then they also had approximately 1090 employees in his territory, with a market share of 90% in Guam and Saipan. Furthermore, now, G4S are in almost all hotels in the regions, providing 80% of the security systems found

on the islands and are the premier security systems integrator. “We also have a central monitoring station and about 3500

residential customers. If you look at the market in Guam, the population is about 165,000, while Saipan is 55,000 and Palau is 45,000. If you look at the size of market share, we’re actually the one of largest employer in this part of the pacific. We are probably the one largest private sector employer too.”

What is unique about the business is that while G4S may be considered first and foremost as a security company, the scope and coverage of the services offered are wide and all encompassing, indicating a keen eye for diversification and opportunities.

Along with the technology company, the cash in transit company and the armoured truck company, they also process cash and replenish the islands ATMs and have expanded into Systems Integration focusing on fire and communications systems.services. Having created an impressive lead between them and their nearest competitors, Chris highlights that this gap is dependent on their ability to offer their clients particularly and directly relevant services, “Other security companies may only provide manned services, but we offer cash services, guarding, alarm monitoring, protective systems and security consulting evaluations, we are also starting to provide facility management services and we are working with the judiciary branch of government to provide electronic monitoring system for detainees we are currently doing a beta program with Guam’ Judiciary and the probation courts

Chris is also very proud of the management team that he has carefully put together over the years as it boasts some most respected individuals, The Manned Services Division is managed by Clarence Heath, former officer Major in the US Army retired

G4S GUAM & CNMI

Chris Garde, CEO of G4S Guam and Country Manager, has been enjoying regular promotions and successes. Starting as General Manager in the Philippines, he was then promoted to Vice President for ESS and IT in 2008 and in 2010, after completing the G4S Global leadership training program in the UK, he was assigned as the G4S Security Systems (Guam) Inc. General Manager for Systems Marianas, while concurrently holding the position as Vice President for ESS and IT, Philippines.

after 20 plus year of service. Operations Director for Guarding is Paul Suba, former Chief of Police of Guam Police Department, former GPD Swat Commander, retired last year after 30 years with GPD to join G4S. The Cash Solutions Business is headed by Vince Walker retired US Marine. The Care and Justice Division is managed by Frank Ishizaki, Former Senartor of Guam Legislature, Former Homeland Security Advisor, Former Chief of Police GPD and is a retired FBI Special Agent 30 years with the Bureau. The Electronic Security System Division is managed by a former US Marine Ed Bitanga who was also the former Director for Guam Department of Correction.

The list of accolades and titles truly illustrates the level of quality that Chris has included into his business and creates an almost frightening catalogue of professional expertise. He explains that these different skill sets have proved invaluable for the protecting of customers. Crime is a fast moving industry, one of the fastest to develop and the only way to forestall it, Chris explains, is to think and act faster, with better resources.

“It is the depth of management and our experience which allows us to provide a stellar quality of service,” he says, “Intrinsic ‘know-how’ is required. We have longevity in contracts, with some spanning ten years and more. This is because of our available management and services and our ability to understand the customer’s needs.”

STATE OF THE INDUSTRYChris explains that as he has a finite territory and that the

market itself cannot be expected to grow, but what is growing is the sector in which they provide services, an example would be the hospitality industry.

“Saipan has passed a gambling law allowing hotels to offer casinos and there is a plan to break ground on US $7 billion worth of casino hotel projects” Chris explains, “Best Sunshine is a major gaming company in Makau who operate VIP lounges and gaming tables. They are looking at constructing five hotels, with a 2000 rooms total and a theme park.”

This is a massive investment and Chris says that when you pour that kind of money into such a small island, there is a multiplying effect throughout all the supply industries that form the foundation for such developments to run on. Chris believes that Saipan will represent the next growth area, not just for G4S Guam but for the entire Micronesia chain because they may be small islands but they are all very closely interconnected.

HURDLES, CHALLENGES AND FOREIGN WORKERSOne of the challenges immediately faced is that Saipan and

Guam are predominantly dependent on foreign workers, in a number of industries. Guam is dependent on foreign engineers and

G4S GUAM & CNMI

construction workers while Saipan is equally as reliant on foreign hospitality professionals, “When they were federalised, the federal government took over the immigration,” Chris explains, “There was a special Visa that was given, allowing them to stabilise their economy because it was predominantly a garment industry back then.”

But, with gambling being legalised, business and investment is pouring in, which means more workers are required. Hospitality and gambling require specific skills, specific work titles and fields of experience and while this is a good problem to be facing, the rub is that the CW Visa runs out in 2019, meaning the current foreign workers will no longer be able to work in the country, creating a void. Concurrent to this, they are expecting a major demand for hospitality workers, to the tune of 14,000 workers in total.

“These are for five star hotels and casinos and the industry is very competitive, skills-wise,” Chris indicates, “You need front of desk, slot machine and house-keeping workers. Thankfully, as G4S is not only a security company but also handles facility management in several different sectors, we were able to take advantage of this growth area.”

They have built a training centre and become an associate member of the American Hotel and Lodging Association, which sets the standard for hotel changes, “We created and built a facility in Saipan to start looking at training the local workforce to become highly skilled and qualified enough to fill that employment gap and in three or four years, all of that investment will pay off.”

The first hotel will start operating this year and three others will open in two to three years, offering the opportunity to upgrade the islands from a foreign dominated workforce to one that is highly skilled and locally trained. This will not only affect G4S Guam and Micronesia, but the industry as a whole.

Chris sees the hospitality industry as being one of the main focusses for the foreseeable future and as a spring from which many revenue streams, that will help bolster the economy of the islands, will flow. Cash flow and the movement of cash is a fundamental point within the casino industry.

“We see our cash transit business growing as well,” he predicts, He continues, “We are extremely optimistic that our future

growth will be found in our Manned Services catering to the hospitality Industry and our Cash Solutions Business.

This is not the only area that they are looking to for new revenue of course, as they are also working hard to position themselves to play a significant role in the military build-up and projects on the island and have, accordingly, set a small business aside to capitalise from them.

One of the things happening in the US, is that Guam has become

one of the predominant strategic bases for the military. President Obama’s administration calls it the ‘tip of the spear’ and marines are coming back to Guam and rotating, “When you move marines, you’re moving people, support, machinery and logistics,” Chris tells us, “They are prepping the base at the moment, which means a great deal of infrastructure and construction projects.”

Chris mentions that it is difficult sometimes, as most of the US base companies are angling for the same part of the pie and the military has always been very competitive, but when you align yourself with big partners you need good partners to work with.

Generally, there is a lot of excitement but a lot of hard work remains, “We have the market, but you have to keep ahead of the game and the competitors,” he says, “It’s all down to quality and being constantly kept on our toes. It’s difficult enough because there is always someone out to take the customer, but you have to keep widening the gap between you and the competition. Keep five years ahead of the next competitor, keep innovating, keep moving.”

You’re only as good as your next business move, so you have to remain innovative and you have to stay adaptive.

G4S GUAM & CNMI