OPTICS Advisory Board

Paul Sarnese, MSE, MAS, CHPA, CAPM
Chairman of the Board
Paul is the owner of Secured & Prepared Consulting, LLC. He is a Certified Healthcare Protection Administrator, a Certified Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design Specialist, and the Past President for the International Association for Healthcare Security and Safety. In 2024, Paul was recognized as a Security Industry Innovator for his approach and process for conducting healthcare workplace violence program assessments. In 2022, he was recognized as the Campus Safety-Healthcare Security Director of the Year and a Finalist in the ASIS Outstanding Security Performance Award. He has had leadership positions directing and managing safety, security, emergency management and operations in large health systems. Paul has a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Rowan University, a master’s degree in safety engineering from Warren University and a master’s in administrative science from Farleigh Dickinson University. In 2020, Paul was presented with the Russell L. Colling Literary Award for making a significant contribution to the healthcare security, safety, and/or risk management professions. He has published over forty articles and has been a keynote speaker nationally and internationally. He is often featured on national and international news media discussing current events involving workplace violence and healthcare safety and security.

Eric Sean Clay
Board Member
Mr. Clay is the Vice President of Security Services for a large Texas health system, overseeing 450 security and law enforcement officers across 17 hospitals and 250 care sites. He also owns Fairfield6 Consulting and is the Immediate Past President of the International Association for Healthcare Security and Safety (IAHSS). Previously, Mr. Clay was a homeland security advisor to Missouri's Governor and worked as an overseas security consultant, traveling to over 35 countries. He holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, a master’s degree in Criminology, an MBA, and a graduate certificate in Police Leadership. He also has the IAHSS Certified Healthcare Protection Administrator certification and the ASIS "Triple Crown."

Ben Gollotti
Board Member
Bernard Gollotti, CPP is a founder/Owner & Principal Security Consultant that works with educational institutions and organizations nationwide, to help make places wherever people work, live, learn, and play safe. He specializes in identifying and implementing modern public safety principles and best practices in physical security. Bernard’s experience across multiple industries gives him a full 360-degree perspective. He has held positions with SpectaGuard (now Allied Universal), Professional Security Bureau, Drexel University, University of the Sciences, Unlimited Technology, and LARGO Consulting Services. He is also the force behind www.yoursecurityspace.com, a social networking platform for security professionals.

Jim Kendig
Board Member
Jim Kendig is a Vice President for ProEdgeFM - a consulting firm specializing in preparing for accreditation surveys from TJC, DNV, ACHC, and others. He was the first and original Field Director for the Life Safety Code Surveyors for The Joint Commission, overseeing both domestic and international surveys focusing upon the Environment of Care, Life Safety, and Emergency Management chapters and oversaw the hiring and education of the Life Safety Code Surveyors for more than a decade. Prior to the promotion to Field Director, Jim served as a full-time and per-diem Life Safety Code Surveyors. Prior to joining The Joint Commission, Jim was a Vice President and Safety Officer for a four-hospital system on Florida’s Space Coast. Jim holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree from West Chester University, West Chester, PA.

William S. Marcisz, JD CPP CHPA
Board Member
William “Bill” Marcisz is a board-certified Security & Workplace Violence Consultant. For the past ten years, Bill has served as the President of Strategic Security Management Consulting, (SSMC), a full-service security consulting firm serving private businesses, hospitals, attorneys, and insurance providers across the United States. Bill is often consulted for his expertise in security matters and has contributed to developing industry standards. His work with SSMC has involved developing comprehensive risk assessments, drafting security protocols, and overseeing large-scale implementations of security programs, have guided numerous organizations in transforming reactive security measures into proactive strategies that prioritize prevention and resilience.

Barbara Marusiak, DHsc MS CRM
Board Member
Barbara Marusiak, DHsc MS CRM, is the Director of the DPP in Regulatory and Clinical Research Management at ASU’s Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation, where she has guided more than 500 students in significant projects in clinical research and regulatory science. She is a member of the Mayo/ASU Health Accelerator (as ASU Managing Director), the ASU Graduate Education Leadership, and the Consortium of Academic Programs in Clinical Research (CoAPCR) (Chair of Bylaws). She was selected to be a Graduate College Dean’s Fellow for 2025-2026. In 2023, Dr. Marusiak received the Arizona Bioscience Educator of the Year award.

Jennifer Schmitz
Board Member
Jennifer Schmitz is an accomplished nursing leader with more than 20 years of experience in emergency nursing and healthcare leadership. She has served in key executive roles, including Chief Nursing Officer, President of the Emergency Nurses Association (ENA), and now Chief Clinical Officer with ENA, where she has championed clinical excellence, professional development, and organizational improvement. Jennifer is widely recognized for her commitment to creating healthy work environments, advancing nurse-led innovation, and fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and respect. With a deep understanding of the challenges facing today’s healthcare workforce, she leads with clarity, compassion, and a commitment to nurses.

Lori Severson
Board Member
Lori Severson is the Vice President and Healthcare Team Lead for Lockton, one of the largest employee benefits and risk management companies in the world. As a seasoned safety professional with over 25 years of invaluable experience spanning across diverse industries, her mission is healthcare safety that is simple and effective. Her imprint on the healthcare safety landscape includes extensive contributions to the body of knowledge of the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP Healthcare practice) for 15 years. She has left her mark as a contributing author of numerous safety articles, standing as a testament to her commitment to shaping healthcare safety industry standards.