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Pre-Paid Security Consulting Plan |
Steve Keller and Associates, Inc., an Ormond Beach, Florida-based security consulting firm specializing in projects involving museums, historic sites, libraries and other cultural properties announced to its clients in March
that it was starting a Pre-Paid Security Consulting Plan. Traditional consulting is still available but the Plan was seen as an opportunity for smaller museums to afford a consultant. At the time, the Plan was available only to clients because Steve Keller did not know what impact this program would have on his ability to serve clients and could not gauge the response
that he would receive. The plan has now been opened to non-clients after excellent response by clients joining the Plan.
Under
the Plan, plan members pay an annual payment of only $2,750 per year for three
years and receive virtually unlimited phone consultation during that time. In
addition, the consultant visits the plan member's site once every 18 months
(twice during the three year program) for one day each visit (expenses are
additional, but can be agreed to in advance of signing the
contract so they will never increase and so the plan can be easily budgeted). (Plan members may opt for a single two day visit which reduces travel costs and increases the time available during the visit).
Plan members are also invited to submit all security-related contracts and proposals for review by the consultant. These include guard manpower contracts, alarm service contracts, alarm monitoring contracts, etc. Further, Plan members are invited to submit for review all proposals for alarm system upgrades or similar work by security contractors. The consultant
will review the contract for cost appropriateness, terms, etc. Contracts are not reviewed as a legal advisor but as an industry insider. Keller noted that when he reviews contracts for clients, he usually is able to identify cost savings and ways of improving quality offered by the vendor submitting the contract.
The Plan offers other services to the plan members as well, including a password protected website with regularly updated information just for plan members. And plan members receive a 20% discount on any security consulting services purchased from Keller and Associates during the life of the project. This means that plan members who anticipate upgrading their alarm systems or building a new building during the three year life of the Plan, can save tens of thousands of dollars on that future work, just by being a member of the plan.
The Plan has other benefits as well. Several companies have agreed to offer major discounts to Plan members. Horizon Institute, for example, offers a minimum of 20% discount on all products, and guarantees that Plan members will pay the lowest price available, even on sale items. Most Horizon discounts are 40% or more. A nationally known provider of security and law enforcement books has offered Plan members a major discount on books and videos, and a dealer for five major brands of radios has also offered a discount to Plan members on radio (walkie talkie) purchases. Other firms are signing on to offer Plan members discounts on goods and services.
Interested parties can read more about the Plan by going to the Keller Associates website at http://www.stevekeller.com . A copy of the contract and full details in the form of a FAQ sheet is posted on the site. The cost is slightly higher for museums larger than 500,000 square feet. Museums willing to pay all three years in advance receive a substantial discount.
The Plan was originally only available to past clients because it is essential for Steve to have visited a plan member's site in order to offer effective phone consulting or contract reviews. But the success of this initial offering has resulted in Keller and Associates gearing up to do business this way, and they can now offer the Plan to museums that have not been past clients. This is possible because the consultant will make an initial visit of two days in lieu of the two one-day visits. This mini-survey
enables the consultant to meet the needs of the museum when they call for service. The cost of the mini-survey is included in the plan cost! Keller noted that the cost of a three year Plan for a typical museum under 500,000 square feet is just $8,250 plus the trip expenses which are less than a typical security survey by a major consulting firm.
We are reporting on this in this newsgroup not to seek advertising benefit but because this program constitutes a revolutionary new business model never before offered by any consulting firm on this scale, if ever. This is not a traditional retainer plan. This is an "all you can eat" plan where the client can call us as often as they like for our advice without ever getting a separate bill. Steve Keller reports that he has been contacted by reporters from the Wall Street Journal and other international publications because this program could become the business model for consulting of all types in the near future. Already, several security consultants including one who is internationally known for hospital consulting, has contacted Keller seeking start-up advice in implementing the model for that industry.
"Imagine needing to write a policy manual and not knowing where to begin", said Steve Keller, President of Steve Keller and Associates, Inc. "Members of this plan can call, write, fax or email us and ask what the format of a policy ought to be. We will respond in similar manner, usually within 24 hours, with an outline of a typical museum policy that the plan member can use as a guide. Now you need to write the actual policies. What should a policy on access control cover? Just call and ask us and we will give you an outline of what the policy ought to include. Call us daily. Call for every policy."
Keller noted that his staff are not employees of the plan members, and won't write the policy manual for them. "You aren't buying a full time employee for $2,750 per year." But there is no longer an excuse for not knowing how to do something. You have a consultant at your fingertips who you can consult on an unlimited basis to keep you on track and informed. Call us before you write each policy and we will tell you what the policy should say. Have a problem employee and need advice? Are you experiencing thefts or vandalism and don't know where to turn? Are you upgrading your alarm system and want to know what you need? Are you having a special exhibition and need advice? Are you writing a disaster plan or training program? Whatever the problem, you have a consultant available. You even get an after-hour phone number and Steve's
cell phone number for true emergencies like thefts, fires, and disasters, and plan members get priority response over all other clients for emergencies.
Steve Keller noted that this is like having a service contract but it is
almost sure to save you more money than it costs.
"We are pleased to be able to offer this service to our clients and to those who want to be our clients. We have limited capacity in order to assure quality service, so those interested should contact us immediately. The Plan begins July 1. Soon, maybe every security consultant--and indeed most consultants-- will offer plans like this, although it takes a substantial commitment by the consultant to be able to do the job right. We are proud that it started with us", said Steve Keller.
Keller noted that special arrangements can be made for billing museums with unusual fiscal year or budget year problems. For example, the plan begins July 1 but a museum with an October 1 fiscal year may not have funds available until October 1. Special billing arrangements can be made to meet the financial needs of Plan members.
The Plan is currently available only in North America and is limited to 100 Plan members to assure quality control. Approximately 25 more memberships are still available.