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Our Future is Secure: Senator Murphy Honors Security Expert as Part of Black History Month
February 23, 2018
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Yorktown, NY - Bernard Thombs considers himself a "technologist," because he provides security information to federal housing authorities and municipalities across the country.
Senator Terrence Murphy and Thombs' associates consider him an outstanding citizen because of his volunteer work in the community. For the past 14 years, Thombs has been an instrumental part of the Business Skills Olympics, a competition that helps high school students gain valuable judicial experience by challenging them to litigate a current issue before a panel of experts.
As part of Black History Month, and in recognition of Thombs' business and community work, Senator Murphy presented Thombs with a proclamation at a ceremony held at the Senator's District Office on February 22.
"Bernie has shown a talent for nurturing and getting the best out of students who have an interest in technology," said Senator Murphy. "He has taken on the responsibility of providing future generations with the technical skills and tools they will need to thrive in the workforce. We are fortunate to have a man with his talent and foresight working to keep our communities secure and help educate our children."
Thombs said, "We recently had the award ceremony for this year's Business Skills Olympics. When the winner was announced, the hall erupted. You could see the pride on the faces of the parents. The expressions on the faces of the students said, 'I get it. I understand how important this is.' Being recognized by Senator Murphy for my professional success and volunteer work means the message is getting through to people and I am helping to make a difference."
A resident of Valhalla, Thombs designs systems based on placement, management, and usage. He is the owner of two security companies, Bernard Raymond, Inc. (BRI), and Surveillance Café. Founded in 2000 and based in New York, BRI specializes in providing consulting services to corporate, governmental and non-governmental agencies, including information related to Housing Urban Development (HUD) funds and community block grants. Established in 2011, Surveillance Café is a service that utilizes emerging technologies to provide businesses such as residential facilities, healthcare organizations and utilities with the ability to provide a safe and secure environment.
Thombs worked on Wall Street for 15 years, lending his technical expertise to Citibank, Morgan Stanley, and Solomon Brothers, among others. He has worked with many municipalities, including Peekskill, Greenburg, and Yonkers to design security systems for use in common areas, such as stairwells, lobbies, and garages. He has also worked with police departments to provide the technical tools that can help them identify criminals.
Thombs is most proud of his association with the Business School Olympics. This year, 17 schools from throughout the County participated, with Peekskill High School placing first (Gold Medal), Valhalla High School second (Silver Medal) and Yonkers High School third (Bronze Medal).
Among Thombs' other community projects, he served as President and co-Chairman of the White Plains Juneteenth Heritage Committee in 2013. The festival commemorated the actual end of slavery in 1865, two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. Thombs was responsible for many of the festival's logistics, including bringing in food and entertainment, including an appearance by black cowboys. The first Juneteenth Awards dinner honored Earl Graves (publisher of Black Enterprise Magazine) and then White Plains Mayor Joseph Delfino.
Thombs attended the Wharton School for security executive management and Fordham University. He is a member of the African American Men of Westchester, which provides educational and social services to youth and adults across the County. He is also the regional chairperson for the Regional Association of Electronic Business.
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