Homeland Security & Defense Business Council Honors U.S. Secret Service Director Mark Sullivan and Awards Corporate & Small Business of The Year

WASHINGTON, Dec. 10, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Last night, at the Homeland Security & Defense Business Council's Annual Dinner the Council honored Mark Sullivan, Director of the U.S. Secret Service for his outstanding leadership and public service; issued a challenge to its members to further promote private sector thought leadership and honored its corporate and small business members of the year.

"Director Mark Sullivan is the consummate 'CEO' of an agency constantly 'on the clock' to protect the President, his team and family, as well as countless dignitaries, and overseeing the complex 'behind-the-scenes' work in protecting our financial networks," said Marc Pearl, Council President & CEO.

The event, attended by 120 leaders in homeland security from both the public and private sector, was opened by a challenge from the Chairman of the Council, Jack Mayer, Executive Vice President of Booz Allen Hamilton to marshal the thought leadership and innovation of the private sector to generate ideas and solutions for the challenges on the nation's southern border, "How can industry help in this situation?  First, we should not just market our capabilities against client needs but also seek to bring our best thinking to bear on core problems… We bring unique perspectives – not just technical solutions and business acumen, but also policy and operational views that can help formulate approaches and courses of action."  Mayer challenged members of the Council to increase thought leadership work on critical challenges in homeland security and to continue building a reputation as a true, value-added resource for the Department of Homeland Security and other public organizations.

The Council also honored Optelecom-NKF, Inc. as the 2010 Small Business Member of the Year for their tireless efforts for the Council's thought leadership program, its 9/10/11 Project and for building stronger partnership with the public sector.  IBM received the Council's 2010 Corporate Member of the Year award for its commitment to business excellence, visionary leadership and Council involvement.

About the Council

The Homeland Security & Defense Business Council is a not-for-profit, non-partisan organization of the leading companies that bring homeland security solutions to the marketplace. It works to ensure that the perspective, innovation, expertise and capabilities of the private sector are recognized, respected and integrated with the public sector. For more information, please visit www.homelandcouncil.org.

SOURCE Homeland Security & Defense Business Council