Leadership Team

Need immediate answers about your security, risk or compliance issue?

Call Mike Verden for a private, confidential conversation.
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G. Michael Verden

Founder and CEO

With an extensive career as a police officer, Secret Service agent, Director of Security for the NBA, and security consultant, G. Michael Verden understands how to apply security best practices to your unique setting to safeguard people, property, and assets.

Mike employs methodologies learned in a 21-year career as an agent for the United States Secret Service protecting the President, First Lady, and other heads of state and large-scale events such as the Olympics and the Super Bowl to identify vulnerabilities and implement proper risk management techniques to offer the appropriate level of protection—without adversely affecting your culture.

Throughout his career, Mike has gained unique perspectives on how to work with law enforcement, first responders, and private sector partners to evaluate physical, technical, procedural, and personnel security and conduct comprehensive needs assessments to determine what you’re doing well and where you’re exposed to risk—resulting in a best-in-class security program.

Let’s schedule a time to discuss the situation that’s exposing your people, property, assets, and investment to risk. If Mike doesn’t have the specific expertise to solve your problem, he probably knows someone who can—and he’ll connect you to his extensive network of former Secret Service agents, law enforcement professionals, and systems integrators.

With decades of experience in the security industry, Mike offers you insight from providing protective security for the private sector, such as Fortune 500 corporations, retail, high net worth, financial, healthcare, hotels, industrial, medical marijuana cultivation centers and dispensaries, casinos, and gaming and the public sector, such as government agencies, K-12 schools, higher education institutions, and hospitals.

He’s also assessed emergency preparedness and event security for venues and stadiums in professional golf, football, basketball, soccer, baseball, and horse racing.

As a Senior Vice President and Managing Director at Hillard Heintze, Mike was in charge of the Strategic Security Services for the firm, directed the security services, and provided strategic thought leadership, trusted counsel, and end-to-end services to public and private corporations as well as government agencies and major public service organizations.

In his capacity as Senior Director of Security for the NBA, Mike managed and coordinated global security, as well as designed and implemented site security measures, emergency evacuation programs, and contingency procedures. He was responsible for monitoring all NBA criminal investigations and security-related incidents throughout the league. He also implemented and supervised security for the NBA All-Star Game, NBA Finals, and the FIBA World Championships.

Mike was a Special Agent with the United States Secret Service for 21 years and finished his career as the Assistant Special Agent in Charge for the Dignitary Protective Division at USSS Headquarters in Washington, D.C. This assignment allowed him to be an event coordinator for the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City and a security adviser to the 2003 and 2004 Super Bowls. Other assignments in Washington, D.C. were to the Presidential Protective Division responsible for protecting the President, First Lady, and other heads of state and the Counter Assault Team. His major event experience provides an institutional knowledge in securing and protecting facilities and people on a large scale. Additionally, he assisted with creating security plans for the Super Bowl, Kentucky Derby, Indianapolis 500, Breeders’ Cup, and the Women’s Soccer World Cup.

Mike was born in Tipperary, Ireland, grew up in Chicago, and graduated from Western Illinois University with a degree in Law Enforcement Administration. He began his professional career with the Skokie, Illinois Police Department and then became a Secret Service agent starting his career in the Chicago Field Office. He also earned an M.S. in Criminology from Indiana State University.

By leveraging established liaisons with high-level law enforcement and international counterparts in both the public and private sector, Mike Verden and The Lake Forest Group offer you a security protection strategy to keep you safe, secure, and compliant. Contact Mike Verden at [email protected] or 312.515.8747 for your customized solution to the security challenges affecting you today.