he ongoing case of Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of NBC's Today show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, highlights how the absence of pre-established protocols can complicate an already critical situation. Nancy disappeared from her home in Catalina Foothills, Arizona, in the early hours of February 1, 2026. Initial concerns over a missed virtual church service soon escalated, revealing forced entry, doorbell camera footage of a masked individual, discarded evidence such as a glove with potential DNA, and a ransom demand involving cryptocurrency.

f you have ever held a security clearance, conducted advance work, managed a GSOC, or served as EP for a Fortune 50 principal, you probably know the frustrating truth: mainstream job platforms like LinkedIn and Indeed are not designed for our specialized field.

In today’s security landscape, decisions are rarely made with perfect information. Whether handling executive protection, global risks, or crisis management, leaders must make quick judgments in the face of ambiguity and pressure. What sets high-performing security leaders apart isn’t access to more intelligence, but the ability to think critically and reduce cognitive bias in the decision-making process.

The assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson on December 4, 2024, outside a Hilton hotel in Manhattan was a stark reminder of the increasing dangers faced by corporate leaders and high-profile individuals.

For over 15 years, I've worked as an executive consultant, helping organizations navigate the complexities of global security, intelligence, and travel risk management. I've seen what distinguishes those who excel in high-risk environments like conflict zones, emerging markets, or disaster-prone regions from those who falter.

In this practical webinar, Pete Morton (Principal Consultant, Morton Executive Decisions) and Kervin Aucoin (CEO of Aucoin Analytics, Army veteran with extensive hostage rescue and personnel recovery experience) break down the rising threat of kidnapping and hostage situations for small- to mid-sized organizations, nonprofits, humanitarian groups, and faith-based entities operating internationally.

It happens almost every time and has become extremely predictable. A high-profile violent event occurs, receives widespread media coverage, and eventually fades from the news cycle. Soon after, a suspiciously similar event takes place, followed by another and then another. It seems that bad ideas spread just as quickly (if not faster) than good ones. This phenomenon is known as copycat crime.

In our present digital culture, we are inundated with vast amounts of data, an endless stream of videos, and news from every corner of the globe. If anything, we may be the most information-saturated generation in history. Our information is often tailored to our preferences, sometimes without our awareness.

In our present digital culture, we are inundated with vast amounts of data, an endless stream of videos, and news from every corner of the globe. If anything, we may be the most information-saturated generation in history. Our information is often tailored to our preferences, sometimes without our awareness.