C. Cory Ballew, CPO, CHS-III, CLSS, SSI, CIPS
Hospitality: Security | Surveillance | Safety | Risk Management
Exceptionally versatile, personable, responsible surveillance and security manager with more than 15 years of experience ensuring the safety and comfort of guests, associates, vendors, and visitors at a major hotel, casino, and resort complex, and providing security for numerous clients including apartment complexes, hotels, motels, nightclubs, and restaurants. Has overseen projects with budgets up to $656K; manages departmental budget of over $1 million. Has handled camera surveillance of up to 30 monitors and over 1000 cameras. Possesses strong skills in team building and leadership; has hired, trained, scheduled, and managed up to 26 associates at all levels.
Quick learner who excels in providing rapid, effective response in emergency situations and in generating clear, concise reports. Possesses outstanding people skills and is adept at calm, tactful conflict resolution. Seasoned professional, able to adapt readily to changing situations, investigate and resolve violations, initiate corrective action, while maintaining strict compliance with company policies and procedures. Personally dedicated to maximizing guests’ security, comfort, and satisfaction.
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Employment History |
| Surveillance Manager (Direct Report to CEO) | Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Albuquerque, NM | 2006-Present |
As head of Surveillance Department reporting directly to the CEO, ensure safety and security at resort and casino complex.
- Responsible for ensuring safety and security, via CCTV, of all hotel guests, staff members, celebrity performers, presenters, vendors, outside visitors, vehicles, and equipment throughout entire, very extensive hotel and resort complex. Complex includes:
- $124-130 million in gross revenues
- 1000-1100 associates
- 201-room hotel
- 30,000 sq. ft. of meeting space
- 100,000 sq.-ft. casino with 1700 slot machines and 26 table games
- 27-hole golf course and club house
- 12 food and beverage venues
- 3 retail outlets
- Spa including beauty salon; massage, Jacuzzi, and outside therapeutic treatment areas
- Three convenience stores, bowling alley, 2 lakes
- Manage team of 26 associates, including shift supervisors, dual-rate supervisors, agents, and CCTV technicians; totaling more than 1000 man-hours per week. Duties include hiring/firing, training, empowerment, coaching, correcting, disciplining.
- Ensure integrity of electronic and live gaming and cash assets at casino including:
- Protected cash assets of up to $40 million
- Electronic gaming at 1700 slot machines
- Live gaming at 26 tables
- Ensured compliance with National Indian Gaming Commission – Minimum Internal Control Standards
- Investigate and resolve incidents of internal/external loss. Examples:
- Direct investigation into thefts of $50,000 and $45,000, from two areas of casino
- Analyze different methods used in each theft, by performing audits and researching discrepancies between video, electronic, and written records
- Identify perpetrators and provided evidence for arrest
- Develop revised procedures to prevent thefts in future
- Investigate incidents of loss related to accidents and provided evidence to risk management facilitator
- Manage complex projects for surveillance and security throughout resort complex:
- Planned, designed and directed the successful installation and implementation of CCTV systems for a multi-million dollar golf-course clubhouse, RV park convenience store, and separate bowling alley/arcade facility, including the development and successful management of a $200,000 project budget.
- Designed and directed the successful installation and implementation of CCTV systems for a $120-million hotel/convention center facility, including the development and successful management of a $656,000 project budget.
- Identified need for, analyzed, designed, and successfully directed the upgrade and successful installation and implementation of an IP-based proximity access control system, replacing an outdated panel-based proximity system.
- Identified need for, specified, and successfully directed an incident reporting/logging software database system installation and implementation.
- Took over implementation and successfully completed project to upgrade comprehensive casino and hotel/resort surveillance operations system in accord with shift to new technology. Components included cameras, cabling, monitoring and recording equipment, computer operating system, and personnel management.
- Develop and enforce compliance with company policies and procedures:
- Served on the company SOP Committee, researching best industry practices and developing company-wide policies and procedures.
- Create and implement policies and procedures for the successful management of the Surveillance Department on ongoing basis.
| Various Positions | Isleta Casino and Resort, Albuquerque, NM | 2002-2006 |
Began career at the Isleta Casino and Resort as a Security Officer, then transferred into the Surveillance Department as a Surveillance Agent; was promoted to Assistant Supervisor, then Shift Supervisor, before being promoted to the position of department head, titled Surveillance Manager.
| Supervisor: Armed Security Patrol | Western Elite Security, Albuquerque, NM | 1999-2002 |
Supervisor in charge of armed security response for various properties throughout Albuquerque, including apartment complexes, hotels, motels, nightclubs, and restaurants. Managed security crew of up to 10 associates.
| Various Positions, including Post Supervisor; Security Specialist; Armed Patrol Sergeant | Security firms in Albuquerque, NM, including: Employers Protective Services; Regulator Protective Services; Rodden Security Services, Inc.; and National Security Services, Inc. | 1995-1999 |
Provided security services including post supervision, post orders creation, guard force scheduling and supervision, and armed patrol and surveillance for properties including apartment complexes, hotels, motels, nightclubs, and restaurants.
