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Holiday season is here! As Floridians, we are no strangers to stressful traffic conditions.

Holiday season is here! As Floridians, we are no strangers to stressful traffic conditions.

  • Posted: Dec 05, 2019
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Holiday season is here! As Floridians, we are no strangers to stressful traffic conditions. Those everyday conditions combined with holiday shopping and increased tourism can unfortunately lead to an uptick in auto accidents. Here is some helpful information in case you or a loved one is involved in an auto accident this season. As always, if you need us, give us a call at 407-478-4878

 

Important Legal Tips To Protect You After An Accident

By Brett Sahm, Esq.

What do you think the number one tactic is that an at-fault driver’s insurance company will use against you?

ANSWER: If you are injured in the accident, the other driver’s insurance company will try to make the case that you were injured before the accident.

Even if you were feeling completely fine before the accident, the insurance company will attempt to blame some portion of your injuries, pain, suffering, and medical bills on something that happened in your past.

You might be saying to yourself:

“If I didn’t feel pain, or seek medical treatment, for several months or years before this car accident, why would they claim that my injury wasn’t solely related to the car accident?”

The answer resides in Florida standard jury instruction 501.5, entitled “other contributing causes of damages.” Under 501.5, a judge instructs Florida jurors to determine which percentage of a plaintiff’s injury was due to a pre-existing condition, and which percentage of the injury was due to THIS accident (the exacerbation of a pre-existing condition and/or a brand new injury).

If an insurance company can point to anything which may have contributed to your current injury – such as, a prior car accident (even a fender bender), a prior sports injury, a prior fall of bike accident, lifting heavy weights, working a tough job with manual labor, a prior surgery – the insurance company will do everything they can to shift blame to those prior occurrences.

Why?

Because their goal is to persuade the jury to attribute a smaller percentage of the blame to this accident. If the jury only assigns 50% of the blame for the injury to this accident, the insurance company saves thousands of dollars and you lose thousands of dollars.

So, knowing that this is ALWAYS the insurance company’s main strategy, what can you do to help yourself after an accident?

Here are my main tips.

 

1. Watch what you tell your doctor and watch what you put on your medical intake forms.

Everything you tell your doctor is subsequently put into your medical records. Medical records can make or break a case. If you talk about prior injuries, prior pain, strenuous work, lifting heavy weights, that all goes into the medical records.

If it goes into the medical records, the insurance company will see it, and they will use it as a sword against you. Do not give them ammunition to use against you!

 

2. In certain instances, you will not be able to keep prior medical conditions out of the medical records.

For example, if you had prior lumbar/lower back surgery, you will need to tell that to your chiropractor or orthopedic. Also, the fact that you had surgery is obvious from the MRIs. However, be sure to tell your doctor how long you were pain free prior to this accident.

How long was life sailing along smoothly before this accident? Tell that to your doctor. Also, and this is extremely important, get the actual films from your previous MRIs and make sure to give them to your attorney. If your prior lumbar MRI shows two bulging discs and one herniated disc, and your new MRI shows five herniated discs, then you have clear evidence of exacerbation of the previous injury and also a brand new injury.

Therefore, the most important thing is to have all your MRI films so that a radiologist or orthopedic can compare what was going on before with what is going on now. If something new is going on now, then the insurance company can’t blame it on some past event(s).

 

3. Photographs matter!

Although someone can get seriously injured from a minor impact, perception matters to a jury. If you have a small dent in your bumper, no matter how hurt you may be, do you really think that your average juror will believe that your injuries are solely from this accident? Probably not.

So what can you do about it?

Well, first off, if there was major damage to the vehicles from this accident, make sure to get a lot of photographs of both vehicles (and your body if there is bruising, cuts, etc.). The more damage in this accident, the easier for a jury to believe that this was the accident that caused all your injuries.

Second, if you have been in prior accidents, and they were fender benders or minor, give your attorney photos of the damage from those accidents. As I said about comparing the MRI films to show an exacerbated or new injury, we can show pictures of both accidents for the proposition that this accident was markedly worse than the last one.

 

4. Do not offer up information to any insurance company.

Sometimes, the at-fault driver’s insurance company will want you to give a recorded statement after the accident, or they want you to sign a medical record release.

First off, get an attorney. Once you are represented, everything has to go through your attorney, and your attorney will be keen to the game the insurance company is playing. You might say to yourself: well, it’s clear that the other person is at-fault, maybe I can save money by just working with the insurance company myself instead of retaining an attorney.

The problem is: you don’t know the game, and they are masters of the game. Chances are, they will find something out about your past medical history, or they will be sneaky and find out that you played high school football, and then they won’t offer you money for your claim because they’ll say your injuries arose from your prior accidents or activities.

Don’t do this. Don’t do recorded statements. Don’t offer them any information without seeking counsel.

 

5. Gather all of your prior medical records

Be sure to include routine primary care physician records for the last 10 years and provide these to your attorney. Chances are that the latest records before the accident will show reduced, diminished, or non-existent pain levels.

Perhaps the visit was for something completely unrelated, and you had no pain. This is good. It shows that this accident caused the pain, and you weren’t seeing a doctor for this pain for an extended time prior to THIS accident.

Prior medical history can actually be used by your attorney to help your case.

 

6. Think about what you could do before THIS accident versus WHAT you could do after the accident.

Was life limited in some way? How?

Here’s an example: could you work at a certain occupation before the accident that you can’t work at now because of extended standing or sitting?

I had a client get in a serious accident after having just received a job offer which would have been a substantial increase in pay. She had to decline the job because she was not able to physically perform it. But she could have performed it before the accident. Proof of things like this can help with the current injury versus pre-existing injury argument.

 

7. How you present yourself matters, whether it’s online or at a deposition.

Ultimately, a jury will decide your case. Either that, or the insurance company will make an offer to settle before trial. You often are the most important factor in your case!

Are you believable? Are you likeable? Do you come across as genuine and honest? Do you dress professionally? Are you making an attempt at growth in your life? All of these things matter.

That’s why your deposition is so important. It is your opportunity to relay the truth to opposing counsel. While a prior injury will be targeted by opposing counsel in his/her questioning, you can make it clear that you were pain free before and you are impaired now. You can state all of the things you could do before the accident that you can’t do now. You can tell opposing counsel all of your friends and family who will testify regarding your condition before and after the accident.

 

But the most important thing is whether the opposing counsel thinks a jury will believe you. Do you come across as someone who is genuine and likeable? Or, do you come across as someone who is exaggerating her symptoms? My biggest pre-suit settlements are those where opposing counsel has taken the deposition of my client, and my client comes across as educated, hard-working, disciplined, and eloquent.

People have sympathy for those who are truly trying to improve their situation (routinely going to doctors, independently seeking knowledge of how to help themselves), but simply cannot because of the injury. Your attorney will help you prepare for the deposition.

There’s one important point that your attorney will likely tell you: if you can’t truly remember seeking prior medical treatment for any prior injuries, don’t simply offer up what you think.

Along the same lines, if you can’t specifically remember doing anything strenuous which could cause injuries, don’t simply say you “think” you did something. Remember, the opposing attorney is trying to discover a prior medical history of similar injuries, or a prior history of things you did that could have contributed to an injury (even if you didn’t specifically seek out treatment).

Do not offer up information unless you are certain about the information. Everything, and I mean everything, from your past will be used against you in an attempt to get reduced damages from a jury. So, be careful what you offer up freely.

 

 

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Sponsorship for Our “Industry News Blog”

Sponsorship for Our “Industry News Blog”

  • Posted: Nov 19, 2019
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Starting today, We have 10 spots open for sponsors to advertise your company in our Email Blasts!

Weekly News Feed: Sent on Tuesday and Friday @9am

Our Offer:

– Your logo is placed on the Mailing linked to your website.

– What you get is your companies logo is sent in the Blog “Industry News Blog”  2x each week to over 127,000 Emails.

– Pricing is: Paid yearly Act today and get this @$500.00 for the full year) save 200.00

-You will get to send us articles or announcements we will place in the blog news and send to everyone. these are articles we feature for all advertisers.

We Send every Tuesday and Friday @9am weekly.
There are only 12 spots open for this. Sent via our Mail Chimp Acct to our industry.

Call and lock your company in and sponsor these sent to our industry readers and subscribers:

561-756-3540
Email us: membership@sfpma.com

SFPMA

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We are Running a Florida Rising Magazine – Cover Picture Contest.

We are Running a Florida Rising Magazine – Cover Picture Contest.

  • Posted: Nov 13, 2019
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We are Running a Cover Picture Contest.

Submit to this page Florida Pictures for consideration. We will select the winner to be the DEC 2019 Cover

– If your picture is Selected We will Place your company on a Full Page ( With a Great Bio and Article, Letting our industry know more about You!)

  • Think of Pictures showing Condo & HOA along with Property Management In Florida!
  • With Voting Season coming – December we will learn more about Voting for Officers, How it is Accomplished, Some stories on how things go bad, and new companies ready to help with Voting for your Condo and HOA’s
  • Please include your Info: so we can contact you, most will be from a FB, LI or Email – we can IM you with our decision..

This closes on 27, November 2019. So we can have a few days to place the company information

You can also send the pictures in an Email: FloridaRising@sfpma.com

 

   

   

   

Best of Luck to the Winner..

SFPMA

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Please make a lifesaving donation to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

Please make a lifesaving donation to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

  • Posted: Oct 26, 2019
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Please make a lifesaving donation to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

Every single penny counts in fundraising for this lifesaving organization. Whether you can donate $1 or $1,000, be certain that your generous contribution will change, and hopefully even save, lives in your community.

To make a lifesaving donation, click here:
https://pages.lls.org/ltn/ncfl/Orlando19/CohenLawGroup

 

My family, my team at Cohen Law Group, and I sincerely thank you for your continued support and lifesaving generosity.

Many of you know how important the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) is to me, my family, and everyone here at Cohen Law Group. For years, you have aided our efforts in raising funds to give back to this lifesaving organization for which we are eternally grateful.

My own family was affected by Leukemia. We are not the only family to experience this journey but we hope, that through supporting LLS, we will be one of the last. This year we were honored to receive artwork from Kay Colton who, at only age 11, is a Leukemia survivor. Kay’s family and my own are just two examples of the thousands upon thousands of lives LLS has impacted.

Last year, we raised over $8,000 for LLS! Today we are asking for you to join us once more in our goal of raising $10,000 and beyond.

With the Utmost Gratitude,
Harvey V. Cohen, President

Here’s how your donation to LLS helps.

  • LLS is committing $25 million to childhood cancer research over the next five years.
  • LLS helped advance 34 of the 39 blood cancer treatment options approved by the FDA in 2017 and 2018.
  • In 2018 alone, LLS provided over $2.5 million in direct financial assistance, helping more than 900 patients in the North & Central Florida Chapter.

This lifesaving work is possible because of the generosity of communities like ours across America. There is still so much to accomplish in defeating blood cancers once and for all and so we hope that you are able to make a donation of any amount to our fundraiser today.

 

Supporting our Members

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Don’t have your guard gate operate like a congested mess – Let ZUUL Systems help you speed up the process

Don’t have your guard gate operate like a congested mess – Let ZUUL Systems help you speed up the process

  • Posted: Sep 18, 2019
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Don’t have your guard gate operate like a congested mess, Let ZUUL Systems help you speed up the process

What is ZUUL?

ZUUL is a modern way to deal with the age-old hassle of entering a gated community. It’s an app that enhances existing guest registry and entry systems within a secured neighborhood.

We saw a need to improve the efficiency of entry into gated communities and created ZUUL. The app provides improved mobility, accessibility, and functionality to the residents and visitors of gated communities.

 

WHO BENEFITS FROM ZUUL?

Communities that use ZUUL are safer and operate more efficiently. Residents enjoy peace of mind that no one will enter the community unless they have authorized permission. In turn, guests gain easy access without frustration or hassle.

Planning a Party?

In the past, living in a gated community meant granting guests access to your home for a party or gathering was stressful. With ZUUL, the process of welcoming guests to your get-together is seamless.

To enter, residents of a gated community will send a passcode to an approved visitor. This passcode will allow the visitor to easily enter and pass the security perimeter. The code can be for a single, one-time visit or a recurring pass.

Why wait? ZUUL makes living in a gated community much easier and safer than ever before.

Signing up for ZUUL is simple. Just click the button below to download and start using the system. For more information, click the other button to view a “Residents’ Guide.”

 

 

Community Beta Test Criteria
* 100-500 homes/condos
* 24-hour manned security
* Wifi and Internet at guard house
* Located in Broward and Palm Beach counties (Florida)

What’s in it for your community? Your community can experience shorter wait times at the entrance gate and improved security all throughout your community. ZUUL’s gate access system will be provided by ZUUL Systems at NO COST for the first six months. This will include the software and hardware necessary to operate the security system. All that we ask in return is residents and guards provide feedback to our development team.

SFPMA Members: View our Membership Page

Contact (561) 501-3539

Adam Lucks
CEO
sales@zuulsystems.com
ZUUL Systems
http://zuulsystems.com

 

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Help Wanted: Some of our members are seeking Employees for their Companies!

Help Wanted: Some of our members are seeking Employees for their Companies!

  • Posted: Aug 28, 2019
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Help Wanted

Positions available

Help Wanted: Some of our members are seeking Employees for their Companies!

 


 

Chuck’s Painting Inc.- Looking for Professional Painters

Job Description

Professional Painters Only
Requirements for this position are:
A minimum of 5 years experience in the painting industry
Your own hand tools
Your own transportation
Proof of legal working status
Active Florida drivers license
Must speak English
References if Available.

Job Type: Full-time

Salary: $31,200.00 to $40,000.00 /year

Application Questions That Will Be Asked:

Requested that candidates answer the following questions:
  • How many years of painting experience do you have?
  • Do you have the following license or certification: Driver’s License?
  • Do you speak English?
  • Are you authorized to work in the following country: United States?
Please send resume and answered questions to A1Chuckspainting@yahoo.com

Lighting of Tomorrow – Motivated team member to help us manage projects

Job Description

L.o.T. is looking for a motivated team member to help us manage projects.
If you or anyone you know might be interested
please email us your resume at info@lightingoftomorrow.com
840 E. Oakland Park Blvd #117 (4.80 mi)
Oakland Park, Florida 33334
(800) 538-4446
info@lightingoftomorrow.com

 


CJE SERVICES –  is now hiring experienced Window Cleaners.

Job Description

CJE SERVICES is now hiring experienced Window Cleaners. Must have previous experience in Residential & Commercial.

Our team provides a Professional and Friendly work environment with competitive pay and opportunity for growth.

Pay rates depend on experience. If interested, DM, text or call 
(561) 493-4609

 

 


 

Brothers Backflow Specialists

WE ARE LOOKING FOR LONG TERM EMPLOYEES AS OUR FAMILY CONTINUES TO GROW WE WANT YOU TO GROW WITH US!

Brothers Backflow Specialists, a family owned Plumbing & Gas contractor is seeking EXPERIENCED plumbers to work within Miami-Dade and Broward County.

Brothers Backflow Specialists offers a competitive salary.

OPENINGS FOR THE FOLLOWING POSITIONS:

2-BACKFLOW PREVENTER TECHNICIANS

  • Experienced in testing and repairs (with current and valid certification)

1- COMMERCIAL SERVICE PLUMBERS

  • Service plumber: Full time employment as well as should be ready and able to be on call for emergency services. – Requirements include a clean background, good driving record, passing a drug test and the ability to assess emergencies and take corrective actions. Additionally applicants should be hard working, highly motivated and have a neat and clean appearance, great customer skills and an overall great attitude. Must have their own basic plumbing tools, larger tools and equipment will be provided. Brothers Backflow Specialists takes pride in its exceptional customer service and requires the same from its staff and employees. Gas experience a plus.

 


 

 

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Before Storms hit Florida, Building Owners and Managers should have their Storm Drains cleaned.

Before Storms hit Florida, Building Owners and Managers should have their Storm Drains cleaned.

  • Posted: Aug 20, 2019
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Before Storms hit Florida, Building Owners and Managers should have their Storm Drains cleaned

 

Clearing this helps with parking lot, loading docks and your building flooding and causing damage to your properties.

Generally speaking, you’re usually responsible for drains inside the boundaries of your property, while the sewerage company is responsible for lateral drains, which are outside of property boundaries, and sewers.

How to Maintain a Drainage System, find member companies on SFPMA 

  • Allow rain to help settle the loose soil before working the field
  • Driving directly on the tiles can crush the pipe and ruin the tile. Straddle the pavers instead for the first year.
  • Back-fill the open trenches carefully, so as not to damage the pipe
  • Clean up unused pieces of pipe and do not use the open trench for garbage disposal
  • Do not work the land if wet or moist with excess water
  • Rotate the location of cattle hay feeders
  • Clean drainage boxes once a month if present. Drainage boxes trap sediments

 

 

From Pipe Repairs to Cleaning of your storm Drains. You can find members of sfpma.com ready to help!

 

https://sfpma.com/listings/storm-drain-cleaning-repair/

 

 

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Have your Storm Drains Cleaned is a must before the Storm Season brings it full force!

Have your Storm Drains Cleaned is a must before the Storm Season brings it full force!

  • Posted: Jul 01, 2019
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Have your Storm Drains Cleaned is a must before the Storm Season brings it full force!

Storm drains in Miami after several days of rain and it’s become apparent why they weren’t working properly. Check out all that debris, dirt and rocks

Brothers Backflow are members of sfpma –  https://sfpma.com/listing/brothers-backflow-specialists/

BROTHERS BACKFLOW SPECIALISTS

Broward: Ph. 954.382.2099 | Dade: Ph. 305.267.3992

Brothers Backflow Specialists is state licensed and insured in the plumbing and gas industry. Our technicians specialize in plumbing, backflows, propane, natural gas, medical gas and water restoration including everything from installing gas lines, testing backflows and repairing broken plumbing pipes. We provide services for commercial, residential, industrial & farm properties from Monroe to West Palm Beach County as well as backflow services in Orlando, Florida. Brothers Backflow Specialists is here to serve you 24 hours a day / 7 days a week and no job is too big or too small.

 

 

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Hurricane Preparedness

Hurricane Preparedness

  • Posted: Jun 15, 2019
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Hurricane Preparedness

 Steps that should be taken for hurricane preparedness?

Keep informed – Read the Hurricane Help page

SFPMA.COM / State of Florida Property Management Association, Be Safe.

Most things are usually on hand but should be stocked up and easily accessible. If it turns out the hurricane has changed its path, at least you will have known you were ready.
If your city or town is in imminent danger of a hurricane, most likely evacuation announcements have been made, and should be taken seriously. Here is a checklist to consider before you leave: 

 

  1. First, get important papers and special photos in order and secured in plastic. Identification is difficult and time-consuming to replace: so be sure to include social security cards, birth certificates, high school diplomas or GED certificates, titles or deeds to property, as well as your hurricane insurance policy. Photos of special occasions or loved ones cannot be replaced, so including these is important as well.

 

  1. Think ahead and take video or photos of your property before you leave. This will help later on with any insurance checklist claims for damage that may need to be filed.
  2. If staying with relatives is not an option, consider booking a room in a hotel or motel in another nearby town or state. Make sure to get directions and put them in the car ahead of time. It is easy to forget that piece of paper in the rush out the door. A cheaper route might be to find temporary hurricane shelters. Usually nearby towns not in the direct path of the hurricane will provide these for people in need.

  3. Unfortunately, it is unlikely that your pet will have a place in a motel or hotel. Keep this in mind, and try to find alternate housing like pet-friendly hotels and motels or dog boarding kennels in areas out of the path of the storm until it is safe to return home.

 

 

  1. Designate a spot, in the hall closet, to keep a bag of clothes for each person in the household. Make sure to include sleeping gear if you plan on going to a temporary shelter.

  2. Along with overnight clothes, consider stocking your Hurricane Kit with the following: extra cash, generator, batteries, flash lights, battery operated radio/television, bottled water, toilet paper, non-perishable foods such as cereal or crackers, canned goods, a can opener, a small cooler, candles, prescription medicines and any over-the-counter remedies you use regularly; and if you have small children – diapers, baby wipes, formula, baby food.

7. Count on the power being out for at least a day or two. Remember that ATM’s will benon-operating, so have at least some hard cash in your Hurricane Kit (see no. 6, above) to see you through the storm.

When TV and computer games no longer operate, board games or a deck of cards come in handy! Arts and crafts, crayons and downloadable coloring pages are always great distractions for the kids – so make sure you’ve stored some of these supplies in a tote bag or in the car trunk.

8. If you decide to tough out the storm, stay downwind in your home. This means if the wind is hitting the living room windows, go to the room opposite the living room.

9. Plywood is a ‘hot’ commodity for those of who decide to stay. Boarding up windows that will take the brunt of the wind and rain is a wise decision. If board is not available, protect your windows from the wind by criss-crossing them with layers of duct or packing tape. This will be enough protection for light-to-medium winds, but learning how to build and install plywood hurricane shutters is your safest bet. If you can afford it, have them installed by a professional.

10. Finally, STAY INSIDE. However tempting it may be to videotape or take photos of the storm, be sure to shoot from indoors – where it’s safe, and dry!

Hurricanes are serious business. Weather forecasters can only predict so much. Educate yourself and stay on top of hurricane updates in your area. There is no harm in being overly cautious. In most cases where a hurricane is concerned, it truly is better to be safe than sorry.

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In House or Contract Security, That is the Question

In House or Contract Security, That is the Question

  • Posted: Apr 07, 2019
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In House or Contract Security- That is the Question

 

Mike the right decision with your security company

Do the terms FLSA, ACA, HIPPA, E-Verify or I-9 scare you? They should if you have in-house security, maintenance or housekeeping staff. These terms are just some of the federally mandated employment laws that HOA’s, condo boards and property managers must contend with. If you are not fully compliant with any of these it can cost you and your organization hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines, penalties and yes, even back wages.

What can you do to eliminate these HR compliance headaches and ensure the safety and security of your business, building or property in the real world?
Outsourcing may provide the solutions you’re looking for.

Outsourcing can provide a viable and affordable solution for many businesses, condominiums, planned communities, office and professional complexes. The security provider you choose will take on the costs
and hassles of hiring, scheduling, HR administration, insurance, liability, training and outfitting employees.

If you’re looking for trained security officers, you’ll find that hiring your own staff can be extremely expensive. The last thing you want when it comes to security is less-than-qualified workers. A reputable security provider will have the money and resources to properly recruit and hire highly qualified officers. In other words, outsourcing can give you access to security resources of a caliber unavailable to you on your own, and save you money in the process.

Condo associations and HOA’s may not have the resources to properly vet security experts in their employ. The officers who fill these crucial positions, must be stable, reliable, trustworthy, and well-trained. A failure on any level could spell disaster.

 

 

By outsourcing or on-boarding your current in house staff to a firm that makes security their business, you can rest easier knowing that anyone they send your way has been properly vetted, trained, and held to the highest standards. After all, the security provider that hired them has a reputation to uphold, just as you do.

HR Costs/Bill Rate

According to the US Department of Labor legally required benefits such as social security, workers compensation insurance, unemployment and Medicare costs can add an additional 14.5% to your payroll costs.
If you provide other benefits such as health & life insurance, 401K contributions, and/or paid leave time those costs can add an additional 24% to your payroll and operating expenses.

What does this mean to you?

Let’s say your annual in-house security payroll is $75,000 per year. Factoring in the mandated benefits and your actual payroll costs leap to $85,875, that’s over a $10,000 increase. If you offer benefits your actual costs skyrocket to over $105,000. That’s $35,000 additional dollars you’re spending on payroll without any additional personnel or job tasks being performed.

Insurance Savings

You more than likely currently have general liability insurance coverage that protects you and any governing board from losses resulting in accidents or injuries that occur on the property. Risk is the single biggest factor in determining how much coverage costs. No one anticipates accidents or mistakes. The rising cost of general liability insurance is another area of concern for managers, board members and residents.

If you’ve had accidents or faced lawsuits in the past then expect to pay more.

A reputable security contractor will carry sufficient liability and workers compensation insurance which will provide you indemnification from losses and employee injuries and illness, thereby reducing your overall insurance costs and risk factors.

Better Training, Oversight and Supervision

As a board member or property manager how much time out of your day do you have to check on and provide oversight to your security personnel? Do you even know what to look for or what questions to
ask?

Any reputable and reliable third-party security provider should provide comprehensive supervisory and managerial oversight to its guards including random and periodic unannounced inspections of the site and the personnel assigned there.

Outside of showing your in-house team where to put packages, which contractors are allowed access and what the pool hours are, what training has your team received. Does your team have the expertise or resources to provide that training? A professional security company does.

At a minimum any professional security officer should be trained in emergency first aid, CPR and fire suppression.

“But we love our in-house staff and don’t want to lose them!” is something we hear very often when talking to property managers, condo board members and HOA presidents about on-boarding in-house staff. In a properly structured transition you retain your current staff. Pay rates and benefits remain unchanged as does seniority ranking.

As your operation grows, so too will your needs where support is concerned. You may acquire additional facilities that require additional physical security. Either way, flexible security solutions that easily adapt to the changing needs of your business or property are a must.
All of these factors are where outsourcing can really ease the transition process as your needs change, while you grow and expand. You have plenty on your plate already without having to worry about increasing on-site security teams. A reputable and reliable third-party service provider can handle these concerns for you.

 

 

Choosing the Right Provider

The south Florida contract security market is one of the most competitive in the nation. There are currently over 1,200 licensed security agencies in Broward and Miami-Dade counties alone.

These agencies range from huge national companies to one or two man agencies working out of someone’s home garage or spare bedroom. So choosing the right security provider is crucial.

When evaluating security firms you need to ask the following questions.

  1. Does the agency provide general liability insurance and do they indemnify you in the event of a
    loss from any incident or accident caused by any negligent, grossly negligent, willful act or
    omission or intentional act, of their guard?

  2. Are their guards actual employees of the company or are they paying them as sub-contractors?
    Some less than reputable security providers will do this to avoid the high costs of workers
    compensation insurance, payroll taxes and social security contributions.

  3. How responsive is their management team to problems, issues or concerns of yours?

  4. Do they utilize the latest technology to provide you officer accountability and transparency?

  5. Do they have an actual brick and mortar corporate presence or footprint?

  6. Do their supervisors or manager conduct periodic unannounced inspections of the sites and staff?

  7. What training have your guards had? First Aide, CPR, Fire Suppression?

  8. Do they conduct random drug tests of their employees?

 

Way back in the fifteenth century English satirist Gabriel Bell recognized that, “You get what you pay for;” which Webster defines as meaning “a thing that can be bought for a very low price probably isn’t very good”, and that’s especially true when evaluating security companies.
Any security provider that quotes you a bargain basement bill rate in the low teens ($14 per hour or less) is probably NOT going to provide suitable answers to these questions nor will they provide you the level
of service and support you need or want. They’re going to be using sub-contractors or paying their employees minimum wage to stay profitable. What caliber of officer are they delivering at that pay rate?

 

The Trident Ground Protection Difference

Dependability, discipline and dedication to the client are the hallmarks of being a member of the Trident Ground Protection team.

The principles of Trident Ground Protection have over 80 years of military, law enforcement, private security and special ops experience in both field, command and executive level positions. We pride ourselves in helping our clients – large or small. We have the expertise, knowledge and ability to secure and protect your property, business or event. Trident Ground Protection was established with one  goal in mind, to provide our clients with more than simply a security guard. Our team consists exclusively of true security professionals.

Trident Ground Protection actively recruits and hires our military veterans and former or retired law enforcement personnel. By hiring this caliber of employee, we provide our clients with a more disciplined, dedicated and focused security officer.

Our management and field staff are solely dedicated to providing you a level of service, awareness and discipline far above that of any other security provider. A member of our corporate management team is available to you 24/7 by way of either our corporate headquarters in located Oakland Park or after hours from our Global Security Operations Center located in downtown Fort Lauderdale.

When you contract your security functions with Trident Ground Protection we assume the liability for any incident or accident caused by any negligent, grossly negligent, willful act or omission or intentional act, of one of our team members up to one million dollars per occurrence. Our officers are employees of our company, not sub-contractors and are fully covered under our workers compensation insurance coverage.

As part of our commitment to provide the highest level of professional security services, every new client receives a vulnerability analysis, comprehensive threat assessment and crime statistics report for their site, building or property. We then use the results as the basis for designing a comprehensive and cost effective security program and post orders specific to your needs and desires.

We work with and build relationships with your local law enforcement agency to maximize leveraged law enforcement services g=for your property. Technology within the security industry has greatly advanced from the days of the old Detex Watch Clock Stations. © Trident Ground Protection deploys the latest and most advanced web-based applications for officer accountability and activity. As part of our commitment to transparency the systems allows you the client and TGP management to see in real time an officer’s location and review their current and past activity.

The system can also be configured to send instant e-mail alerts regarding incidents occurring at your property.

Personnel management has also accomplished via a web-based portal which only allows an officer to “clock in” once he or she is on site. It also can be set up to provide you, the client with e-mail notifications about late employees or personnel and scheduling changes. So whether your looking to develop a comprehensive security program, out-source your in-house security program or just in the market for professional and dedicated security services, you can be assured that Trident Ground Protection is the best solution.

We’re committed to providing you with top notch local support and knowledge. We approach every client with a focus on support, integrity, advocacy, and understanding.

Find out more about Trident Ground Protection

 

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Lake Management: Don’t Feed the Wildlife!

Lake Management: Don’t Feed the Wildlife!

  • Posted: Mar 26, 2019
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Lake Management: Don’t Feed the Wildlife!

by: SOLitude Lake Management   |   Mar 26, 2019

Written by Industry Expert Gavin Ferris, Ecologist

A few years back in the spring, residents of South Hampton, NH found six dead deer in a suburban lot. Several biologists and a game warden then investigated the site and found six more. The deer had not been shot or killed by predators, nor had they starved or died of exposure. They had been fed to death. With their stomachs and digestive systems used to their winter diet of woody browse, a sudden bounty of corn from a well-meaning human can be a shock to the system, in this case resulting in fatal enterotoxemia.

This example is dramatic, perhaps even extreme, but it illustrates the potential consequences of feeding wildlife. Certainly, not every animal that gets fed by a human will inevitably suffer a gruesome and untimely death. All the same, it usually isn’t good for the wildlife, it might not be good for the aquatic environment or its human inhabitants, and in the vicinity of a lake or pond it can be extremely bad for the water. It is perfectly natural, even admirable, for people to want to help the wildlife that they share their surroundings with. Unfortunately, there are several major consequences to feeding wildlife that make anything more than a backyard bird feeder quite unhealthy for all involved.

 

 

Don't Feed the Ducks - SOLitudeThe foods we provide to wildlife are not the foods they are adapted to eat. Corn, bread and other grain-based foods are high in carbohydrates, which few natural foods are. Wildlife that eat these foods may become unhealthy as a result of taking in too many carbohydrates in a short time, or it may interfere with their ability to process the rest of their more natural diet. Some aquatic animals, such as pond turtles, may become reliant on food provided by humans. As a result, they may stop eating aquatic plants and decaying matter, which can negatively affect the balance of the ecosystem.

The feeds provided by humans to wildlife also generally amount to junk food, and can cause excessive weight gain. This is particularly true of waterfowl in areas where bread feeding is popular. In addition to the direct effect on their health, this weight gain can inhibit migration, and affect their long-term fitness.

Access to feeding sites also alters animal behavior. Animals that are typically dispersed over a wide area in order to find food will instead congregate near the food source. This increased population density makes disease transmission more likely. It also goes against the natural territoriality present in many species, and the inevitable altercations may result in injuries or even death. Higher densities of animals also equates to higher densities of those animals’ parasites. In the case of deer this means ticks, including the deer ticks that transmit Lyme disease, and the dog ticks and lone star ticks that transmit a number of other pathogens.

The feeding of waterfowl, in particular, has an additional environmental impact, as the practice affects nutrient levels in lakes and ponds. Whether from bread that is missed by the ducks and geese being fed, or from their resulting droppings, feeding waterfowl can be a significant source of excess pond nutrients. As an undergraduate, I was involved in a study of Pymatuning Reservoir, a man-made lake located on the border of Pennsylvania and Ohio. We found that people feeding bread to the carp and waterfowl that congregate by the spillway was the largest single source of phosphorus going into the reservoir. Excess phosphorus is the leading cause of algae blooms and, ultimately, fish kills in freshwater ponds and lakes.

It is perfectly natural to want to help the wildlife that shares your environment, and I encourage you to do so. You can provide food for wildlife by planting native plantsthat support the food chain. You can provide habitat by leaving areas unmowed to provide cover, and by installing nest boxes and bat boxes. In short, the better your efforts to aid the wildlife in your community mimic the resources that animals would make use of under natural conditions, the more successful they will be.

https://www.solitudelakemanagement.com/blog/lake-management-dont-feed-the-wildlife

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