About Sam Hoffner — HBG Advisory Partners

Sam Hoffner

Founder & Managing Partner

"I'm at my best helping leaders navigate complexity, scale responsibly, and build organizations that perform under pressure — while never losing sight of the people they serve."

Sam Hoffner is a communications technology and operations executive with a rare combination of credentials: the depth of someone who has operated at massive scale, the specificity of someone who has lived inside the school safety and emergency communications ecosystem, and the strategic orientation of someone who has led organizations through fundamental transformation.

His work sits at the intersection of three forces that are reshaping how institutions protect the people in their care: the rapid evolution of AI-enabled safety platforms, the growing urgency of emergency communications modernization, and the operational complexity of deploying these systems at scale across schools, public safety agencies, and enterprise environments.

Today, Sam advises organizations navigating that intersection — through HBG Advisory Partners, board leadership with Make Our Schools Safe, and direct engagement with the policy and technology communities shaping the future of institutional safety.

Career

The work that
built the expertise.

2019–2025

Quicklert

Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer

Princeton, NJ

Led the transformation of Quicklert from a traditional communications platform into a unified safety ecosystem — integrating mass notification, AI-driven situational awareness, intercom, panic alerts, video, digital signage, visitor management, and emergency response workflows across schools, public safety agencies, and enterprise environments.

Reduced implementation costs by 40% while improving deployment quality and client outcomes

Cut deployment cycle times by 25% through unified product, engineering, and service operations

Introduced KPI-based governance that improved delivery predictability by 22% and reduced client escalations by 30%

Advanced policy and technology standards through direct advocacy on Alyssa's Law implementation

2019

Computer Aid Inc. (CAI)

Vice President, South Operating Portfolio

Fort Lauderdale, FL

Led technology-enabled transformation across enterprise and public sector clients. Closed a $40M government engagement by aligning stakeholders around a transformation roadmap. Designed associate training pipelines that reduced onboarding costs by 50% and time-to-productivity by 30%.

2014–2018

Wholesale Carrier Services

Chief Operating Officer

Fort Lauderdale · Syracuse · Manila

Led global operations for a telecommunications infrastructure company delivering mission-critical voice, messaging, and carrier services worldwide. Managed engineering, IT, customer operations, service delivery, and carrier relations across three continents.

Consolidated 14 legacy systems into a unified ERP platform, reducing rework by 40%

Built a Philippines-based BPO from zero to 125 employees, converting unprofitable service lines to positive margins

Improved SLA performance by 35% through process re-engineering and accountability systems

Oversaw design, construction, and operation of data centers and corporate offices

2004–2012

Kaplan, Inc.

Vice President, Operations & Facilities

Chicago · Fort Lauderdale · New York

Spent nearly a decade scaling with Kaplan as the company grew from $200M to $2.6B in revenue — progressing from marketing leadership into enterprise infrastructure and operations. Led the physical and operational systems supporting 135,000 students and 30,000 employees across 600+ locations.

Directed design, construction, and operation of 625 facilities including campuses, offices, and data centers

Managed a $54M budget and national emergency communications systems serving 90,000+ users

Delivered 17% service improvement while cutting operating expenses 18% through Lean Six Sigma redesign

Restored South Florida operations within 12 hours of Hurricane Wilma while competitors remained offline for weeks

2012–Present

HBG Advisory Partners

Founder & Managing Partner

Fort Lauderdale, FL

Advisory practice focused on emergency communications modernization, safety technology integration, and operational resilience. Works with schools, public institutions, and private organizations navigating the intersection of Alyssa's Law compliance, technology deployment, and real-world safety outcomes.

Board & Community

The work beyond
the organization.

Make Our Schools Safe (MOSS)

Advisory Board Chair

September 2024 — Present

Leads the Advisory Board for the national school safety organization, shaping policy conversations around emergency preparedness, technology implementation, and Alyssa's Law adoption. Works with policymakers, school leaders, public safety professionals, and technology providers to advance practical, scalable safety strategies. Chairs the Legislative, Safety, & Technology Subcommittee.

Community Security Services

Team Lead & Trainer (Volunteer)

2024 — Present · Parkland, FL

Leads volunteer security operations supporting community institutions. Develops SOPs and response plans, oversees operational drills, coordinates with local law enforcement, and trains volunteers in situational awareness, threat prevention, and emergency response readiness.

Community Guilds / STE(A)M Truck

Founding Contributor, Board Member & Secretary

2013–2021 · Atlanta, GA

Co-launched STE(A)M Truck, a mobile maker lab bringing hands-on STEAM education to underserved communities. Provided early-stage operational guidance, served on the Board of Directors, and helped transition the concept from pilot to scaled regional non-profit.

Leadership Broward Fellowship

Fellow, Class XXV

South Florida

Alumnus of South Florida's premier leadership development program for emerging regional leaders — building cross-sector relationships and deepening civic engagement across Broward County's business, government, and non-profit communities.

Built at the
intersection
of what matters.

The work that
built the expertise.

The work beyond
the organization.

Grounded in
discipline.

Built at theintersectionof what matters.

The work thatbuilt the expertise.

The work beyondthe organization.

Grounded indiscipline.

Built at the
intersection
of what matters.

The work that
built the expertise.

The work beyond
the organization.

Grounded in
discipline.