Dr. Nancy Zarse, a world-renowned clinical and forensic psychology expert, will help guide SafetyPIN in its efforts to keep people safe in the growing “gig” economy.

SafetyPINTechnologies Inc., a company devoted to helping consumers safely meet individuals on online platforms -whether it is for babysitting, dating, home sharing or other local services-has named clinical and forensic psychologist Dr. Nancy Zarse to its board of advisors.

Dr. Zarse, who has decades of experience in clinical and forensic psychology, is full professor in the Forensic Department at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology. She joins a growing team of law enforcement officials and business executives who are advising the Baltimore-based startup.

“We are thrilled to have Dr. Zarse join our advisory board as SafetyPIN continues to grow,” said Jenny Thompson, founder and chief executive of SafetyPIN. “She has a wealth of experience and brings a unique perspective that will have a measurable impact on our work as we expand our base of SafetyPIN approved service providers.”

For more than 30 years, Dr. Zarse has provided expert psychological consulting for government agencies, prisons and universities. She served as a forensic psychologist at several federal prisons for 12 years and from 1999 to 2001 was Director of Inmate Administration at the U.S. Disciplinary Barracks at Fort Leavenworth, the maximum-security military prison.

During her career, Dr. Zarse was responsible for performing psychological evaluations, assessing risk of violence, providing individual and group therapy, leading hostage negotiation teams, and conducting violation hearings for maximum security prisoners.

Dr. Zarse consults with law enforcement agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigations, Chicago Police Department, U.S. Army Military Police, and Crisis Negotiations Associations. She serves as a resource staff for the FBI Hostage Negotiation Certification Course and FBI Interview and Interrogation Course. She has also presented at many national and international forums on violence risk assessment, terrorism, school violence, survival mindset, post-traumatic stress disorder, hostage negotiations, and stress management.

At the Chicago School of Professional Psychology, Dr. Zarseis the course lead for Violence and Risk Assessment, Psychology of Terrorism, Hostage Negotiation, Psychology of Law Enforcement, and the Evaluation and Treatment of the Adult Offender.

Dr. Zarse has published nearly a dozen of article on hostage negotiation, security, occupational stress and political assassinations. She has also served as forensic psychology expert in more than 50 media interviews, most recently in the Washington Post.

SafetyPin’s Thompson launched the company to take the risk out of hiring individuals via the internet.

SafetyPIN conducts comprehensive reviews of individuals and contractors who apply. SafetyPIN’s proprietary process includes an assessment of more than 10,000 sources of criminal, financial, and personal data, as well as a behavioral evaluation developed by law enforcement professionals and a clinical psychologist.

“Consumers who hire service providers, rent their homes, or arrange dates via the web are rolling dangerous dice if the people they’re interacting with haven’t been thoroughly vetted for reliability and safety.” Thompson said.“A bad actor can cause financial and even physical harm.”

SafetyPIN performs the vetting in a way that consumers on their own cannot, relying on law enforcement professionals and technology. Plus, if someone has a SafetyPIN, they are authorized to work in the US.

The service is a benefit not only for buyers, but also for sellers. Approved service providers receive a virtual badge that they can use to promote their businesses, and the same goes for those looking for dates, renting a room, or trying to buy or sell a car online.

Individual service providers on sites and apps like Rover.com, Care.com, and Taskrabbit, and others can apply for a SafetyPIN by providing some basic information and answering a few short questions on the company’s website, www.getasafetypin.com. The data they furnish will be encrypted for their protection and will never be disclosed publicly. Applicants who secure a SafetyPIN can share it with anyone they choose online and offline, giving them an invaluable selling point. Consumers will understand that their prospective service provider has met SafetyPIN’s strict requirements and earned its trusted seal. 

About SafetyPIN Technologies Inc.

SafetyPIN is a privately held, Baltimore-based firm that has developed a proprietary, four-pronged process to screen applicants’ criminal, financial, and personal histories. The evaluation, which combs through 10,000 sources of data, also includes individual behavioral profiles and assessments by experienced law enforcement professionals. Individuals who meet the company’s criteria are awarded a unique SafetyPIN that they can share with people they meet on sites for babysitting, dating, home sharing or other local services. To learn more, visit:https://www.getasafetypin.com.