Dine Like A DiplomatDinner

One of the most exciting etiquette assignments I’ve ever had involved being guarded by 16 top secret security agents as they prepared for Executive Protection Training for the Republican National Convention Tampa 2012.

John Goldsboro of S1 Executive Protection and Bill Ferrell III, President & CEO of ASI Consultants & Associates asked me to teach their executive protection students about navigating all things business and social from rules of conduct in foreign countries, to formal and informal events for celebrities, politicians, and C-level business professionals.

We ended our Executive & Professional Etiquette seminar with a Dine Like A Diplomat dinner tutorial.

After working with John, Bill and the students in our Business & Professional Etiquette Training, they invited me and my friend Sylvia to be part of the graduation training. We got to pretend we were famous Hollywood actors, foreign politicians, or world class business executives that needed protection while going about their daily life.

The International PlazaThe International PlazaSigning autographsIt was an exciting 8 hour intensive live training. We were picked up by 3 armored cars (a lead car, a middle car and a follow up car) and driven to all kinds of public places. Whether it was business/work places, dining, shopping, travel to the airport or anywhere your day might take you where executive protection would be needed.

It was so amazing to watch them secure a public place in preparation for our arrival. Eight members of the security protection team walked with us everywhere. Some were visible while others were in plain clothes, constantly securing the areas we ventured to. Wherever we went, the security team went ahead checking out every square inch of where we were going from elevators, to airplanes, to restaurants…yes, even the restrooms we might frequent. It was a blast to be protected by the security team.

We stopped by The International Plaza in Tampa on a recent Sunday afternoon and the crowded mall’s patrons soon became intrigued by the men in the dark suits and sunglasses. Soon, one store had over 100 curious people outside wanting to know who my friend and I were and could they have our autograph.

People followed us through the mall and into stores trying to speculate who we were. It was great fun having that protection all day.

They didn’t miss a beat and would alert my friend and me to situations and people that I wasn’t even aware of. I’m so happy I was invited to be a part of the Executive Protection Training and so appreciate being invited to be part of the final training and graduation. I made many new friends that day that I will forever be grateful for. Thank you John Goldsboro and Bill Ferrell III for inviting me to take part in your executive protection training and good luck at the upcoming Republican National Convention.

For information about their services please go to www.S1ExecutiveProtection.com and www.ASITeam.net