striking workers often depends on whether they worked the first few days of the month. “Typically, they’ll be dropped off of their health insurance” if a strike extends into the next month, he says. Union dues determine whether any strike benefits apply; some cover healthcare, while others do not. For Huffmaster, ensuring their operations during strikes is a specialized field.“There’s technically only one other company in the country who is allowed to do what we do,” Fandale notes, referring to vehicle crossings at picket lines. Huffmaster maintains rigorous safety protocols, and most field personnel are former military or law enforcement personnel, trained to de-escalate tense situations. “We don’t get claims that often,” Fandale adds.“But we do have protections. Clients have to indemnify us.” PREPARED FOR WHAT’S NEXT The following 18 to 24 months hold major plans for Huffmaster. “We are in the process of opening up a home healthcare division, starting in one region specifically, and then we’ll be expanding across the country,” Fandale shares. They are also targeting more industrial clients with high-skill needs and are increasing their presence in government contracts— both disaster-related and for general physical security. Cybersecurity is also an increasing concern. “We bring on our technology solutions group and we look at everything,” Gane says.“They put all this effort into the tightest firewall with the latest encryption, but a simple pen knife can open the closet to the computer room.” For Gane, security is never just digital or physical; it’s both. 115 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 12, ISSUE 08 HUFFMASTER
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