G. Michael Verden, Owner and CEO – The Lake Forest Group

Being a Media Subject Matter Authority – What to Know

Session Objectives –

1) Learning how I got started and what I learned to develop my skills as an on-air security expert. What to say, what not to say, and how to prepare for each and every interview, including research and verifying sources.

2) What to know about working with a professional news anchor and knowing when to talk and when to listen. Listening to a question and thinking through an answer before speaking. Staying apolitical and not offering an opinion about political and social issues by remembering your subject matter expertise.

3) Understanding the expectations of a news program and the desired results of an interview with an expert. How their audience will benefit from the provided information. Also, how to control the topics of the interview by providing relevant questions prior to the media appearance.            

Michael’s Background

G. Michael Verden, Founder and CEO, The Lake Forest Group, has an extensive career as a police officer, Secret Service agent, Senior Director of Security for the NBA, and security advisor 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 national conventions, the Inauguration, State of the Union, Olympics and the Super Bowl.

Mike is a NATIONALLY recognized subject matter expert as an on-air contributor to the WGN Morning News, NewsNation, and Chicago’s Fox 32 News and a member of multiple security industry associations.

Mike was born in Tipperary, Ireland, grew up in Chicago, and graduated from Western Illinois University with a degree in Law Enforcement Administration and Indiana State University with an M.S. in Criminology.

Mike is regularly featured on Fox 32 Chicago, WGN-TV and News Nation nationally.

Find Mike on LinkedIn

Registration Now Open!

Registration at the door starts at 5:30pm

Meeting starts at 6:00pm