Press Release
For Immediate Release
February 27, 2008
Contact: Meredith Craig
(972) 906-7441
Meredith.craig@iaam.org
www.iaam.org
IAAM Academy for Venue Safety & Security Welcomes New Trustees with
Long Resumes
Coppell, TX—The International Association of Assembly Managers,
Inc. would like to welcome Mark Hamilton, FdA, Managing Director of Rock
Steady Group and New York City Fire Department, Chief Peter Hayden,
retired, as the newest members of the Academy for Venue Safety &
Security Board of Trustees.
"We are privileged to have individuals with such exceptional experience
as new trustees. The breadth of knowledge that Mark and Peter bring to
this organization is unmatched. We look forward to their contributions
to our constituency,” said Mark Camillo, Chair, Academy Board of
Trustees.
Hamilton, who has been involved in the security and crowd management
industry since 1973, is the Managing Director and Chairman of Rock
Steady Group of Companies, an organization that provides security,
safety, crowd management, and training throughout the UK and world-wide.
For the past 18 years, Hamilton has also taken responsibility for all
security related issues on behalf of Sir Paul McCartney, in addition to
touring with many other artists and serving as a security advisor to
various business leaders and celebrities. He is involved in the
development of training and education in the crowd management and event
security sector, is an instructor for IAAM’s European Academy for Venue
Management (EAVM), and is the Head of Centre for Crowd Management and
Security Studies at Buckinghamshire New University.
Hayden was the Division Commander of the 1st Division at the time of the
World Trade Center attack. As the incident commander, he led the rescue
and recovery operations at Ground Zero. After September 11th, Chief
Hayden was designated Assistant Chief of Operations for the FDNY in
November of 2001. That assignment included serving as FDNY Project
Manager for The McKinsey Report Recommendations, which is a
comprehensive review of operations at the World Trade Center on 9/11/01
and post-collapse operations. On June 27, 2004, Peter E. Hayden was
promoted to the 32nd Chief of Department. He served in this position as
the highest-ranking uniformed member of the FDNY until his retirement on
June 17, 2006. Hayden currently serves as Vice-Chairman to First
Responders Financial, a new company designated solely to meeting the
financial and insurance needs of America’s first responders and he has
also served as the Keynote Speaker at IAAM’s Academy for Venue Safety &
Security (AVSS).
Director of Life Safety & Security, Harold Hansen, CFE, said, “We hold
safe and secure events as a top priority; therefore, having Mark and
Peter as experts from various events and situations will be priceless.
They each represent an aspect of this industry that is essential to
hosting a successful event. We are pleased to have them join the Academy
Board of Trustees.”
About the International Association
of Assembly Managers (IAAM)
The International Association of Assembly Managers is the world’s
largest professional association dedicated to issues relevant to the
management of public assembly facilities. Members of the association
manage public assembly facilities such as arenas, amphitheaters,
convention centers/exhibit halls, performing arts venues, stadiums and
university complexes; or provide products, services or attractions to
support the industry. IAAM has more than 3,700 members worldwide. More
information is available at www.iaam.org.
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