Timothy Connolly:  

I am currently in my 18th and final year with the The Hartford Guides Inc .a non-profit security organization. We. will be concluding our final 1-year contract extension on June 30, 2024. At a HPA and Hartford Guides, Inc. management meeting in January, 2024, our organization was advised we will not be offered another contract extension, nor will we be invited to bid on another possible security services RFR/RFP. The HPA wanted to reduce our funding 34-percent for this last extension. Fortunately, we only had to endure an 8-perecent cut. So, our ship is sailing on its final journey and our organization will close its doors on Monday July 01, 2024 at 8:00 AM. I am very proud of what our organization did for over 33-years as a truly Hartford based non-for-profit business entity. Better to go out on the top of your game than to "BEG" for another contract from a client of whom we had over a 22-year business relationship. Time to begin a new chapter of semi-retirement and part-time work opportunities. My position as a security manager for the Hartford Guides, Inc. was to provide management oversight and direction for our security contracts with the following Hartford business entities: 1: The Hartford Parking Authority (H.P.A.): We are now reduced to a staff of two (2) full time security officers. 2: City of Hartford Housing Authority Contract: Currently working on our last 1-year extension from October 01, 2022 through September 30, 2024. With our organization being dissolved, we have sent them a 30-day notice of our intent to cancel the contract as we begin to close our organization as of July 01, 2024. As I begin to close this final chapter of my 45-years in the security industry, I want to take this opportunity to thank all of my previous employers listed below for the full and part-time opportunities I received; Full-Time employers: 1: KMART Corporation Retail Security; July-October, 1978. 2: Guardsmark Contract Security as a passenger screener at Bradley International Airport: October 1978-May-1979. 3: Travelers Insurance Corporate Security: May 1979-October 1982. 4: CIGNA Corporate Security: November 1982-January 1985. 5: Burns International Contract Security: January 1985-October-1985. 6: Travelers Corporate Security; October 1985-August-1992. 7: Phoenix Mutual; Phoenix Home-Life; Phoenix Life Insurance Company Corporate Security: September 1992-January 2003. 8: Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art Protection Services: January 2003-August 2006. 9: The Hartford Guides, Inc: Non-Profit Security Organization: September 2006-July 01, 2024. Part-time Employers: 1: J.C. Penney Company Retail Security: November 1986-September,1990. 2: Enfield Square-May Company, Center-Mark & Westfield Shopping Town Mall Security: September 1990-August, 1998. 3: J.C. Penney Company Retail Security: September 1998-July, 2000: 4: Sears Corporation Retail Security: July, 2000-March, 2007.. Every career has its ups and downs, successes and disappointments. That being said, my career journey as a security practitioner has been a fantastic experience and I enjoyed every minute of it. I want to thank the following people who gave me the chance to work in this business and are responsible for much of my success; 1: The late Mark Dysart who gave me my very first security job at KMART Retail Security in August of 1978. 2: The late Mr. Fred Burton who gave me my very first start in Corporate-Industrial Security at the Travelers Insurance Company in May of 1979. He also gave me a second chance when Tim, would on occasion, fall flat on his face in his early years of his security career. I owe this man everything and I am extremely grateful for this very first opportunity to get my feet wet in the security industry. 3: Mr. John Dewey of The Phoenix Life Insurance Company. John hired me in September of 1992 as a security officer. John promoted me as a 3rd Shift Unit Leader in January of 1995. I used this opportunity to showcase my skills and personal initiative. In return, John selected and entrusted me with a opportunity that comes once in a life time by assigning me in July of 1995 to manage and supervise the overnight security detail for the Special Olympics Phoenix sponsored softball fields, Major League fan-fest and on site facilities at East Shore Park in East Haven. This opportunity led to additional responsibilities that positioned me into my very first management position when John promoted me to Associate Security Manager in May of 1997. John's continued guidance and direction helped me tremendously as our security department experienced significant staff increases to meet the needs and growth of the company's Hartford presence along with the acquisition of the former Travelers Cliff House in Avon. This very first management experience positioned me for my future opportunities and successes at the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art and at The Hartford Guides, Inc. My sincere thanks to you John. 3: Mr. James Holley, Director of Security at the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art. Jim hired me as the incumbent Assistant Director of Security for the museums Protection Services Department. This major step allowed me to begin developing, revising and implementing security and safety programs at the museum. Many thanks to you Jim for this opportunity.. 4: Mr. Austin Jordan; CEO of the Hartford Guides, Inc. I was hired in September of 2006 as the incumbent Security Manager for the organization, I was assigned as the on-site security manager for our main client, the Hartford Parking Authority. Over the years, I assisted in over seeing client contracts, developing security programs and implementing procedures for the following clients; 1: Hartford Parking Authority Cont...Expand for more