The Vision InSites Podcast
11 Super Bowl Events, 45 Years of Security: The Ed Garner Story
Ed Garner has worked 11 Super Bowl events and built a career around large-scale security operations. His experience offers a real look at what it takes to manage high-pressure environments.
The Vision InSites Podcast
11 Super Bowl Events, 45 Years of Security: The Ed Garner Story
Ed Garner has worked 11 Super Bowl events and built a career around large-scale security operations. His experience offers a real look at what it takes to manage high-pressure environments.
The Vision InSites Podcast
11 Super Bowl Events, 45 Years of Security: The Ed Garner Story
Ed Garner has worked 11 Super Bowl events and built a career around large-scale security operations. His experience offers a real look at what it takes to manage high-pressure environments.
PES Security | August 19th, 2025
PES Security | August 19th, 2025
When most people think of the Super Bowl, they picture the lights, the halftime show, and the roar of the crowd. But behind the scenes, a different kind of team is at work — one that doesn’t get a second chance if something goes wrong.
In the latest episode of the Vision InSites Podcast, host Chris Anderson sits down with Ed Garner, Founder of PES Security, to talk about his incredible 45-year career in private security, including leading security for 11 Super Bowl events. From rowdy barroom brawls in the 1970s to coordinating 800+ staff at massive venues, Ed’s stories reveal the grit, preparation, and leadership it takes to succeed.
Ed Garner is the founder of PES Security, a veteran of more than 45 years in private security who has led operations for 11 Super Bowl events and countless large-scale venues. From his early days in 1970s bar security to managing teams of 800+ staff, Ed built his company on preparation, accountability, and leadership under pressure — earning trust across Arizona and beyond.
Security at the Super Bowl isn’t practice — it’s game day
When Ed talks about managing security for events the size of the Super Bowl, the stakes couldn’t be clearer. There are no do-overs, no second nights to “fix” mistakes.
| “It’s not like a hotel contract where you get six more days to correct things — you’ve only got one night, and everything has to go right.”
That kind of high-pressure environment demands flawless coordination, real-time accountability, and instant communication. For modern security leaders, achieving that level of precision means equipping teams with the right security guard management software — tools that ensure schedules, reporting, and incident response are reliable when it matters most.
Building and Leading Teams of 800+
Throughout his career, Ed has been tasked with mobilizing, training, and leading hundreds of guards at once.
| “What’s always amazed me about you and your skillset,” Chris notes in the episode, “is being able to put five to eight hundred people together for an event.”
Coordinating a team of that size demands more than experience — it requires structure, documentation, and accountability. That’s where modern technology can play a huge role for companies today.
From Roadhouse Fights to National Events
Ed’s early years in the business sound more like a Hollywood script than a corporate career path. In the late 1970s, working bar security meant bare-knuckle fights, holes in walls, and quick decisions without backup.
| “You’re throwing guys through walls and then just putting your signature on it, because it kind of fits the bar, right?”
Those wild nights taught Ed lessons in adaptability, situational awareness, and conflict resolution — skills that later helped him scale into running event security for some of the biggest stages in sports.
Why Today’s Security Leaders Need Smarter Tools
While Ed’s career spans decades, the challenges he faced — accountability, communication, staffing, and reporting — are still the same ones security companies and property managers face today.
The difference? Today, leaders don’t have to rely on clipboards and guesswork. With security guard management software, companies can:
Track guard activity in real time
Automate shift scheduling for large teams
Document incidents instantly and share with property managers
Improve accountability through transparent reporting
Build trust with clients by providing professional, share-ready reports
As Ed’s stories remind us, preparation is everything. And in 2025, preparation starts with having the right technology to support your team.
Watch the Full Episode
Want to hear the full story — including bar fights, home invasions, and behind-the-scenes moments from the Super Bowl? Don’t miss this powerful conversation with Ed Garner on the Vision InSites Podcast:
About Vision InSites
Vision InSites is built for private security operators who need visibility, accountability, and clarity as their organizations grow.
As companies scale, leadership can’t be everywhere at once. Vision InSites helps bridge that gap by centralizing reporting, activity tracking, and operational insight — enabling security teams to maintain standards, communicate clearly, and make informed decisions across multiple sites.
Whether you’re managing a single community or a multi-site portfolio, Vision InSites supports the systems and visibility required to scale without losing control.
Book a demo to see how Vision InSites supports modern security operations