United Risk Partners protects your business, secures your critical assets, and mitigates risk by means of a comprehensive, critical methodology. We identify your physical, financial, and technological vulnerabilities, then design and implement efficient, cost-effective counter measures. We protect your human capital, reduce your financial exposure, and secure your competitive edge.
United Risk Partners......Protecting Your Business
For more information, please visit our website at www.unitedriskpartners.com or contact us at 847-593-9995 or info@unitedriskpartners.com
- Status
- Private Company
Company History
LEADERSHIP
EDWARD WIDMER – EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Edward Widmer has spent his career supervising Global Risk, Executive Protection and International Terrorism issues. Mr. Widmer served abroad during his tenure with the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Diplomatic Security. During this time, he directed security for the construction of one of the most advanced, high-tech U.S. Embassies in Georgetown, Guyana.
The United Nations, the Inter-American Development Bank and twenty sovereign state governments including Israel, Iraq, Canada, Brazil, and China have contracted Mr. Widmer for their security needs, including diplomatic protection, executive protection services, ambassadorial residence security, and physical security consulting. Mr. Widmer has also secured executive protection contracts with the United States Secret Service, including the safe guarding of President Jimmy Carter and the Carter Center while they promoted free elections worldwide.
Commercially, Mr. Widmer has provided security consulting and protective services for Chase Manhattan Bank, Esso Standard Oil, and IBM, among others, as well as four international Airlines.
He serves on the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms committees dealing with domestic and international Terrorism.
Mr. Widmer’s life and work have been global in nature. American born, he attended High School in the Netherlands, University in Guyana, S.A. and Graduate school in Switzerland.
Mr. Widmer has been a frequent presenter at international security conferences, such as the ASIS International Conference and the Interpol (International Criminal Police Organization) Global Conference. He has also lectured on social issues at the University of Beijing, China. He has been in 76 countries, including, most recently, North Korea, where he was a televised commentator on U.S.- North Korean relations for CNN.
DANIEL R. DEVINE, CPP, CFE, CHS – DIRECTOR OF CONSULTING
Daniel Devine has been involved in security and law enforcement for over thirty-five years. Mr. Devine’s career began in the United Stated Marine Corps where he served as a Corrections Supervisor and Military Policeman. As part of his duties, Mr. Devine was a part of a special response unit that provided security for the Subic Bay (Philippines) Naval Base. Mr. Devine’s unit was instrumental in the capture of 269 Islamic extremist and Communist insurgents, and received the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation as well as the U.S. Marine Corps Meritorious Unit Commendation.
Since successfully completing his military service, Mr. Devine has held a variety of positions in the management, supervision, and training of security and law enforcement personnel. Mr. Devine has served as the Director of Security for two Fortune 1000 companies, and has consulted in loss prevention and security for hundreds of private clients.
Mr. Devine has conducted in-depth risk analyses and security vulnerability studies, and developed and implemented security policies and procedures as well as training programs and standards for several organizations, including the Holiday Inn Corporation, Northern Illinois University and Illinois Armored Car Corporation. In addition, he has designed complex access control, CCTV, intrusion detection and alarm systems for large industrial sites, schools and building complexes.
Mr. Devine developed and implemented a 300-hour state and federally certified training program for a national security training school.
Mr. Devine is an Illinois state certified security instructor, an A.S.I.S. board Certified Protection Professional (CPP), a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) and is certified in level III Homeland Security (CHS). For the past 20 years, Mr. Devine has been an Illinois state licensed private detective and private security contractor.
MATTHEW MCNAMARA – DIRECTOR OF TRAINING
Matthew W. McNamara is presently a Deputy Chief with the Cook County Sheriff’s Department in Chicago, Illinois, the second largest Sheriff’s Department in the United States. He is also a Director with the Illinois Tactical Officers Association and within this organization he is the Chairman of the Physical Skills Committee.
During his career, Mr. McNamara has served as an investigator in the Internal Affairs Division, Detective in the Criminal Investigations Division Undercover Narcotics Unit, and an Assault Team Leader on his department's Tactical Response Team.
Mr. McNamara is certified by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board (ILETSB) as an instructor in the following disciplines; Assault Rifle Instructor, Hand to Hand Physical Skills and Tactical Combatives, Use of Force, Mental Preparation for Confrontation, and Rapid Deployment to Armed Confrontation. Mr. McNamara is recognized by the ILETSB as having instructional expertise in the areas of trigger manipulation, shooting and moving, weapons nomenclature, hand to hand combat, hand to hand fighting principles and applications, physical skills/tactical combatives for law enforcement officers, and use of force.
Along with teaching for the State of Illinois and providing training to dozens of police departments throughout the Midwest, Mr. McNamara has been a guest instructor for the U.S. Department of Defense Undercover Investigation School in Meridian, Mississippi. Mr. McNamara has also been invited to teach Use of Force and Mental Preparation for Confrontation at the Texas Tactical Police Officers Association's annual conference, which is attended by over 600 law enforcement officers from across the United States.
Mr. McNamara has been called to testify as an expert in the use of force and mental preparation for armed confrontation on behalf of law enforcement agencies involved in federal law suits and has been published in numerous magazines. He has been awarded dozens of awards and letters of recognition, including an Award of Excellence for Superior Performance and a Departmental Commendation for Valor.
CRAIG LAWRENCE, CPP – DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
Craig Lawrence brings a unique set of skills and experience to United Risk Partners’ clients. Having served as a Corporate Security Director for a national manufacturer, his responsibilities encompassed the creation of a corporate security department, including the design and implementation of access control, CCTV and intrusion detection systems, comprehensive security policies and procedures, as well as the hiring, development and training of a multi-site, 3 shift guard force.
Prior to joining United Risk Partners, Mr. Lawrence was the Vice President of a security consulting and investigations firm. He has handled large-scale criminal, civil and corporate investigations, and provided investigative services for clients such as Motorola, AT&T, Pepsi-Cola and the Illinois Police Reserves. He has also successfully conducted numerous identity theft investigations, and recently provided consulting services and commentary for CNBC and CNN on investigative reports concerning the subject.
As an industry expert on risk management and corporate security issues, Mr. Lawrence’s commentaries and published articles have been featured in various publications, including The Chicago Tribune, The Daily Herald, The Illinois Manufacturer Magazine, and Surgicenter Magazine. He has also appeared on various radio and television programs including the WGN Morning News and “Viewpoints” nationally syndicated radio show.
Mr. Lawrence earned his B.S. degree in Criminal Justice with an emphasis in Security Management from Loyola University
Chicago. He serves as the Chairman of the Illinois North Shore chapter of the American Society for Industrial Security (A.S.I.S.), and has been a speaker at the A.S.I.S. national conference on Emerging Trends in Security Practice and Technology. It was during this conference that Mr. Lawrence unveiled United Risk Partners’ innovative “Organic Security” concept.
Mr. Lawrence is a licensed Private Detective, a board Certified Protection Professional (CPP), a state-certified Private Security & Detective Instructor, as well as a nationally certified law enforcement firearms instructor and Tactical Operations Specialist. Fluent in Spanish, Mr. Lawrence has coordinated investigative and security assignments in many Latin American countries, including Mexico, Puerto Rico, Costa Rica and Colombia.
For more information, please visit our website at www.unitedriskpartners.com or contact us at 847-593-9995 or info@unitedriskpartners.com