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Universal
Guardian Holdings, Inc. (UGHO) |
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CEOCFO Current
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This is a printer friendly page! Universal Guardian’s integrated,
interoperable harbor and port security system is the U.S. Navy’s exclusive choice to
protect its most important assets around the world BIO: International's services include
international corporate development, joint venture and strategic partnership development,
corporate re-structuring, financial services, as well as product and program development
for military, government and commercial organizations. Shanghai Bank Corporation's HSBC Technology
Conference, and HSBC's Asian Mutual Funds Conference. Mr. Skellern served in the United
States Army in Asia and Europe from 1967 to 1971. He holds a MBA from Knightsbridge
University. Universal Guardian is the leading provider of
both defensive and offensive systems applications. Their SAVE™ (Security Assessment
and Vulnerability Evaluations) is designed to identify areas of vulnerability and can be
applied to both physical and virtual assets. With its UniGuard Mobile Distributed Command
and Control System and its UniGuard Waterside Security System, Universal Guardian provides
automated surveillance, threat detection, assessment, and immediate response for both land
and sea. The Universal Guardian Systems are coordinated by their separate divisions. The Technology and Engineering Group develops surveillance, vulnerability assessment, detection and response solutions for military and commercial clients. The Maritime Group provides proprietary integrated UniGuard Security Systems specifically designed to protect ships, docks, harbors and waterways from a multitude of possible threats. And the Company’s Security Products and Systems Group provides integrated and innovative tactical security solutions for law enforcement, military and commercial operations. CEOCFOinterviews:
Mr. Skellern, where was Universal Guardian when you became its CEO? Mr. Skellern: “The company was founded in March of 2001, in response to a growing terrorism threat in the United States and abroad. We began a development process to develop proprietary integrated security solutions for marine and other security environments. The company is positioned to be a key player in the defense and Homeland Security market today. Our core expertise includes harbor, port and coastal security as well as facility and event security, including military, government and commercial organizations worldwide.” CEOCFOinterviews: When you approach a project, what is it that you are actually doing? Mr. Skellern: “We have a proprietary methodology that encompasses the entire security process, beginning with a threat and vulnerability assessment from an offensive perspective, risk analysis report to establish a baseline, and then, from a defensive perspective, develop a comprehensive security solution to mitigate terrorist and/or other security threats identified from our Threat and Vulnerability Assessment. This methodology is incorporated in our unique SAVE system. At this stage, our special operations team members transition the process to our engineering group, who then develop the design and engineering drawings. The engineering group then integrates Universal Guardian cameras, thermal imagers, RADAR and SONAR, explosives detectors, weapons detectors and/or other security sensors into our interoperable UniGuard platform. Universal then tests, stages, ships and installs the system. Internationally, the Company utilizes local communications and infrastructure partners in each country, and our international “localization” business model provides in-country integration and distribution to their domestic military, government and commercial organizations in a variety of market sectors. This scaleable global business model allows Universal Guardian to rapidly penetrate foreign markets and drive additional revenue from product and systems sales, as well as recurring revenue from maintenance and service contracts. Our international strategy also supports our installation efforts with the U.S. Navy in host country bases around the world.” CEOCFOinterviews: Is it the technology that is patented? Mr. Skellern: “We have a number of different proprietary products and services. We have applied for a process patent on our SAVE methodology. We have also applied for a number of different patents, which are either co-developed or developed internally, that directly relate to our core systems component requirements. The components are either contract manufactured or supplied through OEM agreements with selected manufacturers in the U.S. and overseas.” CEOCFOinterviews: Will you give us an example of a project that you have done, and what you have brought to the table that someone else has not? Mr. Skellern:
“First of all, let me address our differentiation in the marketplace. Universal
Guardian’s UniGuard security platform delivers a Shared Virtual Common Operational
Picture (SVCOP) that provides automated surveillance, tracking, threat identification, and
importantly, the development of coordinated response and interdiction plans, and secure
communications interoperability, among decision-makers and tactical responders nationally,
regionally and locally.” “Secondly, we are the exclusive provider of Harbor Security Systems for the U.S. Navy in its eight most important ports around the world. I believe that our participation with the U.S. Navy speaks to our credibility in this critical environment.” CEOCFOinterviews: What sets your company apart from your competitors? Mr. Skellern: “We are relatively unique, especially when it involves being able to integrate and provide a common operating picture allowing real-time knowledge sharing between security operators, regional commanders, or headquarters facilities anywhere at any time using our web-based multi-dimensional visualization technologies. Universal Guardian’s management and board members have held positions of CEO and COO in the private sector, as well as senior military, intelligence, White House and law enforcement assignments.” CEOCFOinterviews: What about the arrangement you have with Total Impact? Mr. Skellern: “Our UniGuard platform provides a shared virtual common operating picture for surveillance, tracking, threat identification, and coordinated response. Because of the computing power required, we searched for a cost-effective yet powerful computing platform. Total Impact’s briQ, a PowerPC-based computer housed in a chassis the size of a hardback book, allows us to provide tremendous computing power in a very compact space. Multiple briQs can be clustered together to form massively-parallel computing engines, giving us the power and flexibility to scale UniGuard into any size application.” CEOCFOinterviews: Once you install one of your systems, do you continue to maintain it? Mr. Skellern: “We install the system, train the operator, maintain and service the system with long-term maintenance agreements. A key component of this system is its scalability and the fact that it is based on a sensor-neutral platform. As the requirements change, that allows the port, navy or petroleum industry to be able to cost-effectively expand and scale according to their needs.” CEOCFOinterviews: How long does it take to do a project; do you have much of a backlog and can you gear up as the demand becomes greater? Mr. Skellern: “The key to responding to greater demand is having a flexible, modular platform that allows you to scale. We can meet the requests and needs of a multitude of customers very effectively. We have the ability right now to provide our advanced command and control systems for harbor, port facility, shipboard and cargo security, embassy security systems, petroleum and oil field management systems as an example. This allows Universal Guardian to leverage our proprietary platform without having to spend significant additional resources to enter additional markets. Our modular security platform allows us to scale, easily and quickly.” CEOCFOinterviews: What are your biggest challenges going forward and how are you ready for them? Mr. Skellern: “I think the biggest challenge is the multitude of market opportunities that are being presented to us from around the world, from a number of different governments and commercial organization. We need to effectively manage rapid growth, balanced with a proper capital requirements strategy.” CEOCFOinterviews: Is cost a major factor for people who are purchasing your systems? Mr. Skellern: “I think cost is always a factor, but we are delivering a tremendous value proposition. When you look at the assets that we protect, the cost is relatively nominal. Customers…whether government or commercial entities, still look at cost vs. system performance and deliverables. Universal Guardian delivers tremendous value.” CEOCFOinterviews: Are people coming to you at this point or do you still have to pursue customers? Mr. Skellern: “We have a number of different countries, military and government agencies as well as commercial agencies that have been contacting us to provide threat assessments and security systems to protect a number of different areas and threat environments around the world, including the Olympics. In addition, we are proactively generating prospective customer interest in multiple market sectors.” CEOCFOinterviews: What should shareholders and potential investors know about Universal that might not be apparent on the surface? Mr. Skellern: “Investors should look at the growth opportunity of not only the company but the sector itself. This is not a new sector…it’s not a ‘blip’ on the radar screen either. The unfortunate likelihood that the U.S. will sustain another terrorist attack at home or abroad will require more comprehensive and effective security solutions. Universal Guardian is uniquely positioned to provide the products, technology and solutions to be able to help protect critical military, government and commercial assets and infrastructures around the world. The President has a thirty-year plan to combat terrorism, and Universal Guardian and this sector will continue to be here in support of that plan for many years to come.” CEOCFOinterviews: Are there many other companies out there that run that whole gamut the way you do, or is that what sets you apart? Mr. Skellern: “That is really what sets us apart!”
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