Sean Mulholland is the sole proprietor of Mulholland Investigation and Security Consulting. He has owned the business since 1996.
WHAT DO YOU DO AS PRESIDENT OF THE COMPANY?
“A lot of my work is administrative, running the business. I do some investigating, some consulting, interview witnesses, clients and suspects. I also teach interviewing skills at FCCJ, security management at Webster University and I’m an adjunct at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center.”
WHAT DO YOU INVESTIGATE?
“Our niche is corporate and legal background screening. The majority is pre-employment or for those that are involved in litigation. The security side has increased since Sept. 11. My business has been affected by the raise in corporate security consciousness, financial fraud and internal controls.”
WHO ARE YOUR CLIENTS?
Major employers, private schools and attorneys. “My firm has two very interesting contracts. We act as security consultants for the Jacksonville Airport and Jaxport.”
HOW ARE THINGS GOING AT THE AIRPORT?
“It’s going very well. The Transportation and Security Administration has a prominent presence now. They have significantly improved the security.”
WHY LOCATE YOUR OFFICE DOWNTOWN?
“The ability to be able to walk to my clients’ offices is a real attribute. It’s the signature of my business to be associated with downtown.” Mulholland first opened where the Supervisor of Elections Office is currently located. He moved to Forsyth Street, the Blackstone Building, Independent Square and an office on Newnan Street before moving back to a location on Bay Street in September.
HOW WILL THE INFLUX OF DOWNTOWN RESIDENTS IMPACT YOUR BUSINESS?
“As downtown becomes more vibrant, my business will improve. It will attract more corporate businesses. There will be more attorneys that find it advantageous to be downtown. The one thing downtown lacks is a nightlife. People are concerned that it’s dangerous downtown at night, but that’s just not true. Basically, there’s nobody here. Having a limited amount of activity leads people to feel that they’ll be a victim of crime.”
WHAT’S REWARDING ABOUT YOUR WORK?
“When we get results for a client from the successful completion of an investigation. On the consulting side, it’s rewarding when we can make people feel more secure.”
WHAT’S MOST CHALLENGING
FOR YOU?
“The administrative side of the business: trying to get people to pay bills, educating people who have unreasonable expectations and, like any small business, the daily rigors of cash flow, payroll, finding quality people and sales.”
HOW MANY are on the STAFF?
Ten, including his office manager, receptionist, director of research and seven licensed field investigators. The investigators take photographs, locate witnesses, conduct interviews, administer drug tests and perform surveillance duties.
HAVE YOU EVER BEEN A BODYGUARD?
“Here, the police do the bodyguard work. The off-duty policemen are in uniform and use their marked police cars, so it is not a large part of our business. We refer to it as executive protection. It’s an area I would love to do more of, but it’s not a big market. Here, people feel secure. Big executives in big cities are chauffeured, often with security guards.”
EVER PROTECTED SOMEONE FAMOUS?
“While with the police department, I was assigned at the Statue of Liberty Centennial Celebration to guard President [Ronald] Reagan’s helicopter. I ate a few of his jellybeans.”
BORN
New York City.
HOW DOES
JACKSONVILLE COMPARE?
“As far as the quality of education and quality of life, I love it. The thing about Jacksonville is the accessibility of people of importance. If you write the mayor, City Council or the School Board, you’ll get a response. Plus, the people that participate in the community are accepted and the community is very amenable to people interested in networking. If you volunteer, people are quite accommodating.”
GETTING INVOLVED?
“I’m a member of 15 different associations, including the Sheriff’s Advisory Committee, the Police Council, the Chamber of Commerce, Jacksonville Claims Association and Rotary. I’m past chair of the American Society for Individual Security and the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners. I also mentor four boys at Eugene Butler Middle School. My real passion is youth basketball. I’m on the board of the Jacksonville Basketball League and have coached for the Police Athletic League.”
HOBBIES
“My biggest hobby is coaching kids basketball at the Jacksonville Basketball League, Amateur Athletic Union or PAL. I like water-related things like fishing, boating, waterskiing and going to the beach.” Mulholland also enjoys an occasional round of golf.
EDUCATION
Catawba College in North Carolina is where Mulholland studied political science. He also earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from John Jay College in Manhattan.
IN THE PAST
Mulholland retired after serving as a police sergeant for the New York Police Department for eight years.
WHY QUIT THE FORCE?
“Police work started to make me cynical because of the constant involvement with people in negative situations; investigative work is intriguing. Coming from a police background, I had an interest in security. I felt there was an opportunity in the security industry. There are some sad situations, but many are to people’s benefit.”
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE MOVIE?
“The Godfather.” Mulholland also enjoys televised sports and thumbing through magazines.
— by Monica Chamness