Who is Bob Soderberg?

Family

Common Sense - Proven - Thought Leader

I was born and raised in the far west suburbs of Chicago. I have been married to Sue for the past 36 years and have three beautiful children: Matt, Kimmy and Becky. We have also been blessed with two beautiful granddaughters: Marlow and Penny.

We have lived in Germantown going on 18 years and moved here from the Detroit area where we lived for 12 years.

Kimmy and Becky both graduated from the University of Wisconsin - Madison. And, while at Germantown High School, they participated in Golf, Softball, NHS, Spanish Honor Society and Yearbook.

Matt also graduated from the University of Wisconsin – Madison and works in Detroit, MI. While at Germantown, Matt participated in Golf, Hockey and NHS.

Sue, when she is not volunteering for our church (Rise MKE) or for other organizations, recently left Children’s Hospital as an Ortho Nurse.

I love spending time with my grandkids as well as traveling, working in my yard, and serving my community.

Professional Summary

I am an Enterprise risk management professional who has traveled to and worked in over 88 countries in varying degrees of risk.

I have global experience in manufacturing, transportation, supply chain, multimedia, retail, public (k-12) and higher education and corporate settings.

I am a thought leader who is business minded, risk based, customer focused and results orientated with diverse experience in areas to include: public speaking, Return to Work Readiness, mergers & acquisitions, cyber & information security, intellectual property protection, governance, compliance, environmental, health & safety, security, training & awareness, auditing & risk assessments, executive protection, investigations, kidnap, ransom & extortion, travel risk management, crisis management response & recovery, business continuity, emergency management, criminal justice, loss prevention, school & campus security (K-12 and Higher Ed).

I have held senior level positions that include Chief Security Officer (CSO), Vice President and Director level positions in companies such as Ace Hardware, Kmart, Thomson Multimedia, Visteon, Johnson Controls and Adtalem.

I am a former volunteer leader as a Vice Chair, Secretary and Director of the International Cargo Security Council. Past member of the World Customs Organization, Supply Chain Security, Trade Facilitation & Anti-Terrorism task force. I was a past adviser to the White House Office of Homeland Security and the U.S. Department of Transportation.

I am currently serving as the CSO for Adtalem Global Education overseeing the enterprise wide EHS and security program and founder & CEO of Safe Schools Wisconsin, a non-profit.

I am a past member of the board of directors of Johnson Controls Navy Systems, LLC, and past principal at Soderberg Global, LLC a global risk management consulting.

I was previously an elected official for 12 years with the Germantown School District (WI) as Board Director, and past Board President for nine years.

I was invited by then U.S. Department of State Secretary Kerry to become a Council Member of OSAC) and am past Chair of the Threats & Risk to Personnel & Assets committee. I currently serve on the Senior Advisory Group.

I am Board certified in security, as a Certified Protection Professional (CPP), with a BS degree in Law Enforcement Administration and Minors in Security Administration & Sociology from Western Illinois University. Additional education was obtained by attending the Domestic Security Executive Academy, held at the FBI Academy, Quantico, VA and Supply Chain Security management at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, NY.

While going to Western IL University, I worked for four years at the Kane County (IL) Highway Department on the sign, road, mowing and road marking crew.

I was also a police intern at the Lombard (IL)Police Department as part of my education requirements.

I currently possess a Secret U.S. government clearance.

To learn more about Bob’s background click Bob Soderberg LinkedIn Profile.

Experience

Director (Seat #5), Germantown School District, April 2011 to April 2023
President, Germantown School Board, April 2012 to April 2021
Founder & CEO, Safe Schools Wisconsin, Inc., a 501c3 non-profit, August 2022 to Present
Council Member, Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC), U.S. Department of State, November 2015 to Present
Vice President, Enterprise Safety & Security, Adtalem Global Education, October 2018 to Present
President & CEO, Soderberg Global, LLC, August 2018 to October 2018
Vice President & Chief Security Officer, Johnson Controls, April 2011 to August 2018
Chief Security Officer Leadership Committee, National Law Enforcement Museum, January 2011 to 2018
Executive Director, Enterprise Security, Johnson Controls, 2009 - 2011
Director, Corporate Security, Johnson Controls, 2007 - 2009
Director, Security & Fire, Visteon Corporation, 2003 - 2007
Vice Chairman, Secretary, Executive Committee & Director, International Cargo Security Council, 2000 - 2007
Vice President Worldwide Loss Prevention, Technicolor SA, 2002 - 2003
Director, Security, Safety & Food Safety, Kmart Corporation, 1996 - 2002
Vice President & General Manager, Loss Prevention Services, Inc. (a wholly owned subsidiary of Ace Hardware), 1995 - 1996
National Loss Prevention Manager, Ace Hardware Corporation, 1985 - 1996

Honors & Awards

Recognized by Security Magazine in 2023 as Most Influential People in Security.
Security Magazine profiled our safety and security team in a November 2021 article on best-in-class programs.
Best Managed Security Organization, #9 Ranking, Higher Education Sector, Security Magazine, 2019
Certificate of Appreciation, U.S. Department of State, November 2018
Certificate of Appreciation, U.S. Department of Labor, May 2018
Distinguished Service Award, Employee of the Year, Germantown School District, 2016-2017
Chairman's Award for Integrity, Johnson Controls, 2012
10 Year Marker Excellence Merit Award, Johnson Controls, 2011
Best Managed Security Organization, #1 Ranking, Industrial & Manufacturing Vertical Market, Security Magazine, 2010
10 Year Marker Excellence Merit Award, Johnson Controls, 2010
Customer Satisfaction & Employee Ingenuity Merit Award, Johnson Controls, 2009
Certificate of Appreciation, Automotive Industry Action Group, 2007
Summit Award, Visteon Corporation, 2005 (Visteon’s Highest Award)
Leading the Way Award, Visteon Corporation, 2004
Exceptional Service in the Public Interest Award, Federal Bureau of Investigation, 2000
Humanitarian & Heroism Award, Ace Hardware Corporation, 1995

Associations

Germantown Kiwanis
Germantown Area Chamber of Commerce
Germantown Community Scholarship Fund – Financial Supporter
Germantown Diamond Club (Girl’s Fastpitch U-14 Softball) – Past Volunteer
Germantown Ice Bears High School Co-Op Hockey Club – Past Volunteer
Spring Lake Homeowners Association (Clarkston, MI) – Past President & Director
RISE MKE Church, Brown Deer, WI – Member
United Way of Greater Milwaukee – Financial Supporter, Leadership Society
UPAF – Financial Supporter
National Law Enforcement Museum – Chief Security Officer's Leadership Committee
International Association of Chiefs of Police – Associate Member
American Society for Industrial Security – Member
U.S. State Department, Overseas Security Advisory Council – Member
FBI, Domestic Security Alliance Council – Member
International Security Management Association – Member
PGA Tour, Buick Open – Past volunteer member, Evacuation Team, Grand Blanc, MI
American Red Cross – Past volunteer Disaster Services Technician
Moose International, Batavia Chapter – Member
National Rifle Association - Life Member
HOG - Life Member

Certifications & Licenses

Certified Protection Professional (CPP), Professional Certification Board, American Society for Industrial Security
PADI - Basic Diving

Education

Domestic Security Executive Academy, held at FBI Academy, 2010
Western Illinois University, BS, Law Enforcement Administration, Minor, Security & Sociology
Supply Chain Security Management Certification, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, 2002
Food Safety Certification, American Institute of Baking, 2000

Photos of Interest

Meeting President Reagan

Back in the day, I met with President Reagan in Phoenix, AZ and spent the day with him. In this photo, we are standing in front of actor, Arnold Schwarzenegger's jet whom the President flew on from Los Angeles, CA.

Attending White House Ceremony

Invited by President Bush to attend the Homeland Security Act signing ceremony at the White House. After the ceremony, I met with Secretary Tom Ridge.

State Department Recognition

I was recognized by Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo for my service on the Overseas Security Advisory Council. .

Domestic Security Alliance Council

I had the pleasure of chatting again with 100-year-old Judge Webster, the only person to be both the CIA and FBI Directors. He still remembered our conversation about the Cubs and his St. Louis Cardinals.