Planning for Emergencies with Katonah's Ten91 Group

Every local business has a story worth sharing with the community. This series is as much about supporting companies as it is about celebrating the places and faces that make our community special.

Our spotlight today is on Christopher Zaberto of The Ten91 Group.

Business: The Ten91 Group, LLC
Owners: Christopher Zaberto
Website: www.Ten91.com
Address: Cortlandt Manor Road, Katonah
Contact_Info: Chris Zaberto czaberto@ten91.com

How did you come up with the name?
10-91 is a police and fire radio code for “condition corrected” As a company that will draw up emergency plans for clients and conduct training with them, we are confident that any emergency situation that arises, our clients will be able to “correct the condition” quickly.

Why choose that location? Why start a business in this town?
Katonah is strategically located near a large corporate client base in Westchester, Connecticut and New York City, as well as destinations in Upstate New York

Briefly, what business are you in?
Emergency Management and Contingency Planning

What’s the most difficult moment or challenge you’ve faced as a business owner?
Despite daily news stories about emergencies, crisis, disasters, computer security breaches and unpredictable times, it has been difficult to get the message to other business owners and corporate executives that “it can happen to them.”

Were there any challenges that made you second guess your decision to be an entrepreneur?
Yes. I still look at job postings in this field and think it would be easier to just work for someone else.

What’s been your favorite moment or proudest achievement since opening?
Just following through with the start up. I’ve had the idea for a while, and as soon as I retired from public service, I went for it.

What’s the most innovative idea your employees or customers have had that you put into practice?
I had a contact in the aviation industry enlighten me as to how Sky Caps are potentially the first line of security at airports. The see and watch everyone that comes into the terminal and not just at scure checkpoints. I am currently working on an security awareness program that will target non-security personnel at airports like Sky-Caps and concierges.

How do you deal with difficult customers?
My training in verbal judo, psychology and crisis negotiations comes in handy when these situations arise.

How does your business give back or get involved in the community?
I am a member of the Town of Somers Energy and Environment Committee and have been actively involved with environmental issues that can ultimately effect all of our County residents. In addition, I am an adjunct instructor at several teaching instutions and Universities, teaching first responders and students the importance of safety and emergency planning.

The plan behind this series at Patch is to shine the spotlight on all our favorite local businesses, and to learn a little about the ones we may not know that well.

This is as much about supporting local businesses as it is about celebrating the places and faces that make our community special.

Click here to get to a simple form where local business owners can answer a few quick questions to be part of this ongoing feature.