As climate risks intensify globally, Mastercard is committed to ensuring the safety of its people, facilities, and communities, in part by mitigating risk from extreme weather.  

Montana Eck, Ph.D., Director of Physical Climate Risk and Resiliency at Mastercard, shares how his team assesses and prioritizes climate risks across the company’s global operations. With a background in climate research and data analysis, Montana explains why prioritizing climate resilience is a business imperative. 

Listen in to learn: 

• Tips on how to evaluate, assess, and address climate risks for each business location 
• How Mastercard balances short-term business needs with long-term climate planning 
• The role of partnerships in creating more climate-resilient workplaces 
• How companies can influence climate resilience beyond their own walls 

The Employee Safety Podcast is hosted by Peter Steinfeld, SVP of Safety Solutions at AlertMedia. 

Get every episode delivered straight to your inbox by subscribing at https://www.alertmedia.com/podcast/. 

Executive Protection (EP) isn’t just about keeping leaders safe—it's about empowering them to perform at their best. Whether supporting Fortune 500 CEOs or startup founders, modern EP programs must go beyond traditional security measures to drive real business value. 

Brian Jantzen, an executive protection expert with over 30 years of experience, shares how organizations can modernize their EP programs in an evolving industry to enhance efficiency, streamline travel, and foster executive confidence. 

Listen to learn: 

• Why EP should be viewed as a productivity enabler—not just a security function 
• The most common pitfalls organizations face when implementing EP programs 
• The role of trust in building an effective EP security strategy 
• How structure, science, and technology are reshaping modern security programs 

The Employee Safety Podcast is hosted by Peter Steinfeld, SVP of Safety Solutions at AlertMedia. 

Get every episode delivered straight to your inbox by subscribing at https://www.alertmedia.com/podcast/. 

Jeff Stoll, Associate Director of Championships, Safety and Security, at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), oversees safety efforts for 90 college sports championships annually. Jeff brings 15+ years of experience in law enforcement and public safety, a love for live sporting events, and passion for ensuring the safety of staff, players, and fans.  

In this conversation, Jeff shares details about his risk assessment strategies, the importance of collaboration with venue security teams, and the challenges of scaling safety efforts based on variables like location, size, and sport. Any organization can apply Jeff’s advice and best practices to their own risk management techniques to better protect their people and business.  

Key takeaways:  

• When, where, and how effective risk assessments are conducted 
• Proper timing and cadence of after-action reporting 
• New and emerging event security challenges to consider 
• How to assess and anticipate crowd dynamics, size, and demographics 
• Collaboration and communication with local security is the key to a safe event 

The Employee Safety Podcast is hosted by Peter Steinfeld, SVP of Safety Solutions at AlertMedia. 

Get every episode delivered straight to your inbox by subscribing at https://www.alertmedia.com/podcast/. 

Kurt McKenzie, Director of Physical Security at a major global tech company and retired FBI Supervisory Special Agent, has spent decades investigating financial crimes, terrorism, and organized crime. Now in the private sector, he applies that experience to help his company detect and mitigate risks. 

Kurt shares how his law enforcement background shapes his approach to corporate security, the biggest threats companies face today, and tips for other professionals looking to improve their security programs.  

Episode highlights: 

• Why insider threats, “hacktivism,” and espionage are growing concerns for businesses 
• The current state of business travel and how to prepare traveling employees 
• Proven strategies to gain leadership and employee buy-in for new initiatives 
• How to leverage relationships with internal and external networks to share best practices 

This episode of The Employee Safety Podcast is hosted by Sara Pratley, SVP of Global Intelligence at AlertMedia. 

Get every episode delivered straight to your inbox by subscribing at https://www.alertmedia.com/podcast/.

When Hurricane Helene barreled toward North Carolina in September 2024, Johnny West, Safety Coordinator at Ingles Markets, sprang into action to notify employees and protect the company’s sole distribution center.   

In this episode, Johnny shares the compelling story of how his team responded to Helene, ensured employee safety, and got the distribution center back up and running. Hear firsthand about the critical decisions and strategies that helped Ingles Markets navigate one of the most challenging moments in its history. 

Johnny’s story highlights: 

• How Ingles Markets prepared for Hurricane Helene’s impact 
• The importance of emergency communication in high stakes situations 
• Lessons learned that informed the company’s future preparedness strategies 
• Practical tips for any organizations facing severe weather threats 

The Employee Safety Podcast is hosted by Peter Steinfeld, SVP of Safety Solutions at AlertMedia. 

Get every episode delivered straight to your inbox by subscribing at https://www.alertmedia.com/podcast/. 

Erick Anez, Head of Enterprise Risk and Resilience for Bridgestone West, explores Human and Organizational Performance (HOP)—a framework focused on reducing errors and improving outcomes by addressing systems, not blaming individuals. 

With over 16 years of experience in high-hazard industries, Erick shares how HOP principles can transform enterprise safety and resilience. From creating safer environments to turning challenges into opportunities, he offers actionable strategies for continuous improvement.  

Erick shares insights on: 

• Shifting away from a culture of blame to one of learning and improvement 
• Designing systems that anticipate and mitigate human error 
• Empowering employees to share feedback and observations 
• Applying HOP principles to drive safety in high-hazard industries 

Whether you’re in a high-risk industry or a more traditional workplace, Erick’s insights offer actionable steps to build safer, more resilient organizations. 

The Employee Safety Podcast is hosted by Peter Steinfeld, SVP of Safety Solutions at AlertMedia. 

Get every episode delivered straight to your inbox by subscribing at https://www.alertmedia.com/podcast/. 

From climate extremes to escalating geopolitical tensions, 2024 presented significant disruptions that reshaped how business leaders approach employee safety, security, and business continuity. As we enter 2025, emerging trends suggest the global threat landscape will become even more interconnected, complex, and challenging to navigate. 

In this episode, Sara Pratley, Senior Vice President of Global Intelligence at AlertMedia, breaks down the key threats likely to impact organizations in 2025 and shares her expert recommendations for navigating them. 

Sara discusses: 

• Climate Extremes 
• Rising Global Elections Tensions 
• Concurrent Wars 
• Economic Uncertainty 
• Cybercrime 
• Infrastructure Vulnerabilities 

Take a look at the full 2025 Threat Outlook Report for even more business resiliency insights and advice. 

The Employee Safety Podcast is hosted by Peter Steinfeld, SVP of Safety Solutions at AlertMedia. 

Get every episode delivered straight to your inbox by subscribing at https://www.alertmedia.com/podcast/. 

Ransomware demands and payments reached unprecedented levels this year, and the attacks themselves are more complex than ever. That’s why we decided to re-release our episode on ransomware resilience with guest Heather Engel, Managing Partner of Strategic Cyber Partners. She has extensive expertise in risk management, cyber planning, and security program development, and shares her best practices for ransomware preparedness and response. 

Listen in to learn how to: 

• Protect and recover critical systems and data 
• Train your team to stay vigilant against social engineering 
• Consider your options before paying a ransom 
• Mitigate reputational risk with effective communication 

For more information on mitigating the risk of cyberattacks, check out the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.  

The Employee Safety Podcast is hosted by Peter Steinfeld, SVP of Safety Solutions at AlertMedia. 

Get every episode delivered straight to your inbox by subscribing at https://www.alertmedia.com/podcast/. 

Winter weather can be unpredictable, and the 2024-2025 season is shaping up to be no exception. With La Niña conditions influencing weather patterns across the U.S. and beyond, organizations must stay vigilant and proactive.

Peter Steinfeld is joined by AlertMedia’s Senior Meteorologist, Jason Moreland, to discuss how global weather patterns, climate change, and historical trends shape winter weather forecasts. Jason shares insights into how organizations can prepare for unexpected cold snaps, protect outdoor workers, and educate employees on weather and safety alerts. 

Listen in to learn:

• Early season global forecast predictions
• How La Niña will impact the upcoming winter weather season
• Why understanding weather terminology is crucial for safety professionals
• The importance of flexibility as forecasts evolve

Jason encourages listeners to visit theweatherprediction.com and Comet MetEd’s site for education and training on weather forecasts. Also, visit weather.gov to better prepare yourself for this winter weather season.

The Employee Safety Podcast is hosted by Peter Steinfeld, SVP of Safety Solutions at AlertMedia.

Get every episode delivered straight to your inbox by subscribing at https://www.alertmedia.com/podcast/.

Drones are an emerging threat that can disrupt business operations and pose risks to employee safety. With the evolution of technology, there has been an uptick in bad actors using drones and other unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) with malicious intent. 

In this conversation, Ryan Wallace, Associate Professor of Aeronautical Science at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, discusses the threat implications of drones for businesses, highlighting their capabilities, the emerging threats they pose, and the challenges organizations face in addressing these risks.  

Listen in to learn:  

• Why organizations are often unprepared for drone-related threats 
• Key takeaways from real-world drone attacks 
• How laws and regulations for drones are varied and difficult to enforce 
• Why proactive measures are the key to understanding and mitigating drone risks 

The Employee Safety Podcast is hosted by Peter Steinfeld, SVP of Safety Solutions at AlertMedia. 

Get every episode delivered straight to your inbox by subscribing at https://www.alertmedia.com/podcast/.