A successful homeland security plan for New York includes the expertise, intellect and innovation of New York businesses and entrepreneurs in the homeland security field, Governor Eliot Spitzer’s deputy secretary for public safety, Michael Balboni, told participants at The Business Council’s Homeland Security Council conference Jan. 17 in Albany.

“I see my role, and the role of this government, to be cheerleader, coordinator and ambassador from Washington to the local fire chief,” Balboni said.

Balboni said that the private sector in New York helped government realize ideas proposed by the state’s academic institutions. He pointed to a new homeland security training center in Oneida and an innovation center sponsored by Northrop Grumman as examples.

“Businesses should be leveraging those assets,” Balboni said.

Businesses interested in homeland security should be able to provide products that “meet an immediate need, but are cost effective," he added.

Regionalism is the key to success in the field, Balboni said, pointing to new federal laws governing regional security grants and reformatted FEMA regions.

Balboni spoke during the conference’s luncheon on January 17. The conference attracted more than 150 participants, representing more than 100 companies and government agencies.

Participants also heard from the director of the New York State Office of Homeland Security, Brigadier General F. David Sheppard, as well as Josh Filler, president of Filler Security Strategies, Inc.; Michael Relyea, executive director of NYSTAR; and Linda Shkreli, with the New York State Office of Homeland Security.

Richard Cooper, a partner with the Washington, D.C. based government relations, law, and public affairs firm, Olive, Edwards and Cooper, talked with participants about private sector opportunities and challenges for doing business in homeland security.

“We were very fortunate to be able to retain these speakers,” said Maribeth Riley, the Council’s manager of homeland security. “Many of our conference participants told us how valuable the information was to them and their companies.”

The conference was sponsored by ADT Security Services, Inc., Meridian Technologies, Inc., and Northrop Grumman Corporation. Exhibitors at the conference included the Canadian Consulate General of New York/Homeland Security Industries Association; MAC Source Communications/Avaya; Retlif Testing Laboratories; and Welch Allyn, Inc.

More information on the Council’s Homeland Security Council is available at www.homelandsecuritynys.org/.