Cummings has been in the security field since 1973. Having spent the first 12 years of his security career in the retail sector, he has practised in the health care field since 1985. At present, Cummings is director of loss prevention services for Aurora Health Care in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (a post he has held since 1987).
Cummings sees both challenges and opportunities for ASIS International and the security profession in 2009. He told SMT Online: “In addition to responding to the protection needs of our organisations in light of the macro economy, a growing reality is the overall complexity of the world we live in relative to security.”
To meet the needs of the ASIS members, Cummings sees the need to be creative in partnerships and development of resources. “Establishing both formal and informal relationships with like-minded organisations is one approach,” added Cummings. “Continuing with the initiatives to address specific needs of various constituencies of security professionals is also necessary.”
Cummings lists the ongoing development of standards and guidelines, the growth of the CSO Roundtable and creative approaches to educational offerings – including manner of delivery, topics and location – as being particularly germane to the global outreach efforts of ASIS International as an organisation.
Election to the Board of Directors
A member of ASIS since 1978, Cummings has served many years in various capacities in the Milwaukee Chapter of the organisation. He served as a member of the Standing Committee for Health Care Security between 1989 and 1999, chairing the Committee in 1997, 1998 and 1999. Cummings was appointed to the ASIS Board of Directors in 2000, and subsequently re-appointed in 2001 and 2002. He was elected to the Board of Directors in January 2003.
Cummings is a senior member of the International Association for Healthcare Safety and Security (IAHSS). He holds a bachelor’s degree from Marquette University, and has completed course work for a Master’s in Security Management and Human Resources Development from Webster University. Cummings received the Certified Protection Professional (CPP) designation in 1986, and has recertified for this designation every three years since.
Cummings has also served on several boards, including the Southeast Wisconsin Homeland Security Partnership, the Editorial Advisory Board for Corporate Security and the Board for the Avenues West Association (which included responsibility for safety and security functions).
He has lectured on a variety of security topics over the years at the local and national level, and has had numerous articles published in Security Management, the Journal of Healthcare Protection Management and the Security Business Practice Reference.