ORLANDO, Fla. – Five long-time employees serving the Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) security division were recognized for their recent heroic actions by the Greater Orlando Chapter of American Society for Industrial Security (ASIS) International.
Security supervisor Charles Young and security representatives Urbane Caleb, Robert Estevez, Jason Norfleet, and Gerry Nunez received the 2022 SOAR (Security Officer Awards and Recognition) Award in the Critical Incident Category during an award ceremony on May 26.
The ASIS International SOAR Awards recognize leaders in the security field for a wide range of achievements, including giving back to the community, outstanding service, and life-saving decisions. Founded in 1955, ASIS International is a global community of security employees who have a role in the protection of assets, people, and property.
“It is with great pride that I recognize these five members of our security division staff,” said OCCC security director Isiah White. “Each security officer, whether supervisor or front line, were involved in a first-aid and life-safety incident at the OCCC. Their training and commitment to safety and security at the OCCC ensured they could maintain situational control until first responders arrived.”
Each award recipient has dedicated at least five years at the OCCC. The awards recognized two scenarios where teamwork and quick thinking made a major impact.
- Young recently assisted a contract service employee who was suffering a medical emergency. Norfleet activated the automated external defibrillator (AED) on the employee while Estevez and Nunez conducted crowd control measures while Young and Norfleet attended to the contract service employee. The four security team members worked together until paramedics arrived.
- Caleb performed CPR on a contracted decorator who was suffering a medical emergency until paramedics arrived. Caleb’s actions served a critical role in saving the decorator’s life.
According to a media release, The Orange County Convention Center security team’s mission is to provide a safe and friendly environment for guests at the venue, while maintaining 24-hour security, overseeing all public areas, concourses, back-of-house areas, parking lots, and exterior grounds.
“The center’s leadership team congratulates award recipients for their dedication and for their commitment to keeping guests and employees safe,” the release states.
