Former DHS chief Ridge hangs out shingle

WASHINGTON, Oct. 2 (UPI) -- Former U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge has launched a worldwide consulting business; clients include the Albanian government led by Sali Berisha.

The launch of Ridge Global LLC was announced in a statement Monday that named Ridge himself as president and CEO and an eight-member advisory council made up of former senior homeland and national security officials.

The Washington-based outfit “assists clients with a range of needs, including strategic business generation, global trade security, risk assessment and contingency planning, crisis management and communications, leadership guidance and change management, special event security and technology innovation and integration,” says the statement.

The government of Albania has hired Ridge to lobby and prepare for NATO membership, attract private investment and help create a “roadmap” for reform of the country’s political and judicial systems.

“We value his forward-leaning wisdom and input,” Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha said of Ridge.

Ridge Global also advises accountancy giant Deloitte & Touche USA LLP on state government issues.