Contact Us for Free Consultation
Our Team
G. Michael Verden
Founder and Chief Executive Officer
G. Michael Verden, Owner and CEO of The Lake Forest Group, applies methodologies learned in a 21-year career as an agent for the U.S. 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 your environment. He’ll work with you to identify vulnerabilities and customize proper risk management techniques that protect your people without adversely affecting your company’s culture.
Jane Wallace
Director of Communications
Jane Wallace, Director of Communications of The Lake Forest Group, leverages her experiences with Write Now Communications, the St. Jude League, and Delta Communications to ensure concise, professional, value-added deliverables to The Lake Forest Group clients. As Jane translates technical security concepts and language into understandable and actionable information, our clients can improve the security environment at their locations and ensure safety for their people.
Our deliverables help you implement strategic considerations from assessments, practice recommended protocols from emergency management plans with your employees, and share security best practices with your employees through customized training sessions to improve their situational awareness.
As President of Write Now Communications, Jane dedicated herself to providing quality marketing communications services to a variety of clients, ranging from a full-service agency to a diversity procurement firm. She wrote fundraising letters and direct mail pieces, edited and proofread reports, marketing collateral, and web content, and conducted marketing research.
Prior to Write Now, Jane served as Development Manager for the St. Jude League/Claretian Publications, a non-profit devotional organization and publishing company. While at SJL/CP, she developed and implemented the direct mail budget and marketing plan, managed and produced direct mail campaigns, and wrote and edited all direct mail copy and copy for the website. With more than 100 campaigns each year in both English and Spanish, nothing was mailed without her final approval for design, edits, and consistency to brand.
As Project Manager/Copywriter for Delta Communications Inc., a publisher of business-to-business trade magazines, Jane produced sales promotional materials, special issue brochures, house ads, industry newsletters, and media kits.
Jane graduated with distinction with a double major in English and Spanish from Indiana University, where she was elected to Phi Beta Kappa.
David J. O’Connor
Strategic Advisor
With more than 34 years of experience in the security industry, David J. O’Connor has worked in a variety of public and private leadership roles. Most recently he served as the Vice-President and Chief Security Officer (CSO), Director of Global Security for Thermo Fisher Scientific, where he oversaw global security for 120,000 employees, and more than 400 sites worldwide. Prior to Thermo Fisher Scientific, David was the Senior Vice President and CSO at Bain Capital, overseeing the firm’s international security needs and 1,000 employees on four continents, as well as providing security consultancy to 40+ portfolio companies.
Prior to entering his executive leadership roles in the private sector, David spent more than 26 years with the United States Secret Service, retiring in 2012 as the Assistant Director, Office of Investigations. During his tenure with the Secret Service, he had several assignments including the Presidential Protective Division, Dignitary Protective Division, and field offices conducting and leading criminal investigations.
David graduated from Norwich University with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Government, and also completed the Harvard University National Preparedness Leadership Initiative at the John F. Kennedy School of Government.
Michael R. Novak
Strategic Advisor
Mike R. Novak has more than 34 years of security experience. In his most recent role as Senior Vice President and Chief Security Officer for News Corp/FOX, Mike had oversight of executive protection, corporate investigations, business recovery, and crisis and risk management.
Prior to his tenure with News Corp/FOX, Mike served as the Director of Corporate Security for the Comcast Corporation, the largest American multinational telecommunications conglomerate.
Before entering the private sector, Mike served in the United States Secret Service, retiring as the Deputy Special Agent in Charge of the Presidential Protective Division. Mike was then selected as the Deputy Director of the Federal Air Marshal Service before being named the Transportation Security Administration’s first Assistant Administrator of Training and Workforce Engagement.
Mike graduated from Michigan State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice and Psychology.
Andrew J. Annes
General Counsel
As the longtime President of Schenk Annes Tepper Campbell and an Illinois managing real estate broker, Andrew J. Annes has the reputation of turning legal issues into business successes. His foundation in business training, coupled with extensive experience with a vast array of business and legal matters, allows him to provide a unique perspective to clients, many of whom have sought his advice for decades.
Over the course of his career, Andy has successfully navigated every facet of commercial real estate, including closing more than a quarter billion dollars of joint venture real estate development deals in a three-month period and crafting and negotiating commercial leases for high-end retail in downtown Chicago and beyond. He has also served as the long-standing outside general counsel to successful businesses through booming financial periods, as well as guiding them through challenging times.
Andy is a leader, trusted adviser and advocate for his clients’ businesses, often working as a partner through decades of growth and opportunity. By leveraging his background in business law, commercial real estate, litigation and estate planning, he brings a holistic approach to clients’ business needs.
Andy regularly counsels on commercial real estate, including acquisition, disposition, development, joint venturing, construction, financing, leasing, management and litigation; corporate law, including business formations, succession planning, management and operational issues, employment issues, insurance, business transactions and planning; estate planning, probate, trust administration and related litigation; and commercial and general litigation in federal and state courts.
Andy graduated from Loyola University with a degree in Business Administration and with distinction from The John Marshall Law School. He is a member of the Illinois State Bar Association, Chicago Bar Association, and International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC). Andy is a frequent speaker and author on legal, business and real estate issues in formal settings, and on special request, to private companies.
Still have questions? We’re here to help.
You are committed to protecting your employees. We can help you determine next steps to create or enhance your safe and secure workplace, especially as employees return to your businesses or continue to remain at home. Contact Mike at gmv@lakeforestgroup.com or 312.515.8747 to discuss whatever is on your mind in a free 30-minute consultation and together we can create a strategy that supports and prioritizes your employees.
Professional Memberships
