Mark Mereness is founder and CEO of M2 Safe Solutions, a consulting firm that focuses on improving the safety and security of its clients, from business and schools, to families and individuals.

A retired 30-year veteran of law enforcement and a former U.S. Army combat infantryman, who served in Iraq during Desert Storm, Mark understands the importance of safety. Throughout his distinguished career Mark has served as an instructor in multiple police academies across New York State, teaching recruits’ defensive tactics, physical fitness, situational awareness and how to properly respond to an active shooter.

As a school resource officer, Mark received specialized training to meet the safety needs of the school community. He has customized training and drills for several schools to prepare students and staff in situational awareness, threat assessment, and responding to an active shooter. While most schools now conduct safety exercises to prepare students and faculty to respond during emergencies; companies too, should prepare their employees with actionable steps to quickly and safely respond in the event of a crisis.

His years in the military and in police work, being placed in dangerous situations, made Mark realize that it is not only first responders who need to be situationally aware. Safety preparedness is essential for everyone; learning to observe, identify and react properly to a potential threat are skills necessary to maximize safety. Training and practice are critical in being prepared during emergencies. With this in mind, Mark created M2 Safe Solutions so he can share his knowledge and training with businesses, schools and families so everyone can have procedures in place and know how to respond quickly during an emergency situation.

Mark is a certified instructor in responding to an active shooter. He is Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) certified and a New York State Police certified defensive tactics instructor. Mark holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and numerous specialized training that includes physical fitness instructor, ground fighting instructor, oleoresin capsicum (OC) instructor, baton instructor, school resource officer, elementary and middle school Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) officer and Gang Resistance Education and Training (GREAT).

M2 Safe Solutions prepares and empowers workplaces, schools and individuals to react quickly and effectively to any emergency situation. M2’s training seminars raise awareness and provide valuable skills and techniques needed to maximize safety for everyone. These seminars are customized to the needs of individual businesses and schools. Please contact us for more information.

Recently M2 has partnered with Keep Fit in Schenectady, NY and developed several SAFE (Situational Awareness of Everyone) classes for different situations and individuals.