The Ontic Connected Intelligence Podcast

More data and more technology don’t automatically translate into better security decisions. Host Manish Mehta speaks with Bill Udell, CEO of Control Risks, and Luke Quanstrom, CEO and Co-founder of Ontic, about why technology and human expertise must work together to turn intelligence into action. They explore how disconnected systems and organizational silos slow decision-making, and why AI needs human judgment and a more complete picture of risk. The conversation also examines the convergence of physical and digital risks, rising expectations for security teams, and the growing importance of AI fluency. Throughout the discussion, they connect these changes to a larger challenge: translating security insights into business-relevant decisions that resonate with the C-suite and board.

You'll learn:
• Why better security requires technology and human expertise working together
• How disconnected systems limit AI insights and slow decisions
• Which skills security teams need as physical and digital risks converge

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Keeping a major event safe means protecting more than the stadium. Robert Gummer, Deputy Chief of Emergency Management and Security at LA Metro, joins Fred Burton to discuss lessons from the World Cup and how they’re informing preparations for the 2028 Olympics. He shares how integrating security across business units and strengthening partner relationships helped support safe transportation and fan events. The conversation explores how teams cut through threat-reporting noise, prioritize resources across transit hubs and fan zones, and connect intelligence to operational decisions. Looking ahead to the Olympics and Paralympics, Gummer explains why security deployments must become more flexible as the event footprint expands.

• Scale event security beyond stadiums to transit hubs and fan zones
• Build the partnerships and coordination that major events demand
• Use actionable intelligence to prioritize event security resources

Cyber threats don’t stay online—and insider threats don’t stop at the employee roster. Former FBI Deputy Director Paul Abbate joins Fred Burton to explore what these shifting boundaries mean for corporate security. Drawing on nearly three decades at the FBI and his advisory work at FTI Consulting, Paul discusses cyber-physical convergence, the expanding scope of insider threats, and the importance of connecting intelligence across teams. He shares why building trusted relationships before a crisis, getting security fundamentals right, and turning information into action are essential to protecting people and organizations.

Protection is most effective when it enables the mission rather than simply restricting it. In this episode, Fred Burton speaks with Jonathan Wackrow, managing director of Sentinel Resource Group, former U.S. Secret Service special agent, CNN law enforcement analyst, and co-author of The Protector’s Edge. Drawing on his experience with the Presidential Protective Division, Jonathan explains how leaders make consequential decisions with imperfect information, adapt plans as threat conditions change, and establish clear thresholds before a crisis. He also explores the shift from tactical protection to strategic leadership, including the importance of trust, cross-functional coordination, and understanding the principal’s objectives. The conversation closes with a powerful view of Connected Intelligence as the link between people, functions, context, and decisions that creates real decision advantage.

You'll learn:

• How protective leaders make consequential decisions with imperfect information

• Why adaptability, predefined thresholds, and trusted relationships matter in volatile environments

• How Connected Intelligence turns siloed information into decision advantage

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AI is creating new possibilities for corporate security, but readiness depends on far more than adopting a new tool. Ontic CEO and co-founder Lukas Quanstrom joins Manish to explain why connected, governed data and clearly defined workflows are essential for trustworthy AI outcomes. They discuss the difference between using AI for efficiency and using it to achieve foresight at scale, where systems continuously identify patterns and surface risks before teams think to ask. Lukas also shares practical steps security leaders can take now, from choosing a focused use case to measuring whether teams can reach evidence-backed decisions faster. Their conversation offers a grounded look at how generative and agentic AI could reshape security operations while keeping governance, accountability, and human judgment at the center.

You'll learn:

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A mature GSOC does far more than monitor alarms. Manish speaks with Nick Saroka, Vice President of Operations at Exlog Global, about turning the GSOC into an enterprise nerve center that supports decisions across the business. Nick explains how teams can connect threat monitoring to organizational objectives, determine when to escalate with incomplete information, and earn credibility through relationships and repeated performance. He also explores AI’s role as a force multiplier for intelligence collection and dissemination while keeping human validation and judgment in the loop. The conversation closes with practical career advice for analysts who want to understand the businesses they protect and create greater organizational value.

You'll learn:

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Frank Rodman, CEO and co-founder of Torchstone Global, joins Fred Burton to discuss what it takes to protect people, events, and organizations in an increasingly complex threat environment. Drawing on more than 30 years of experience across the Diplomatic Security Service, corporate security, executive protection, GSOC operations, and major global events, Frank shares lessons from the 1993 World Trade Center bombing investigation, the Tokyo subway sarin attack, Olympic Games, and Super Bowls. The conversation explores why private-sector security depends on influence, coordination, and clear communication, not just authority. Frank also explains how Connected Intelligence helps teams turn fragmented information into the context needed to make better security decisions before risk becomes crisis. 

You'll learn:

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Modern executive protection requires far more than a physical presence. In this episode, Fred Burton speaks with Bryan Niederhelm, Senior Vice President of Threat Assessment and Management at Gavin de Becker & Associates, about the evolving landscape of protective intelligence, threat assessment, and violence prevention. Bryan shares why the fundamentals of human behavior, preparation, and disciplined observation remain critical, even as AI and emerging technologies reshape the security conversation. The discussion also explores how protectors can avoid over-reliance on tools, build curiosity into their work, and better communicate risk to the people they protect.

What you'll learn:

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The risk landscape facing corporate leaders has changed dramatically. In this episode, Fred Burton sits down with longtime security executive Ken Senser to discuss how threats have evolved from large-scale physical attacks to today's digitally enabled, grievance-driven risks. Drawing on decades of experience with the CIA, FBI, Walmart, and Corporate Security Advisors, Ken shares his perspective on executive protection, protective intelligence, AI, and the growing convergence of cyber and physical security. The conversation explores what security leaders must do to protect executives, strengthen organizational resilience, and prepare for the future of risk. 

You'll learn: 

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A growing culture of incivility is reshaping the corporate risk landscape, and security leaders are being forced to adapt quickly. In this episode of the Connected Intelligence Podcast, Fred Burton sits down with Security Executive Council founder Bob Hayes to discuss the research behind rising workplace aggression, executive targeting, activist-driven threats, and the long-term implications for corporate security programs. Bob shares lessons drawn from decades of research and leadership experience, including why organizations often overlook their most probable risks and how security teams can better align intelligence with business action. The conversation also explores the evolution of executive protection and the importance of actionable intelligence in today’s environment.

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