About Us

Founded in 2003, StoneGate Associates (SGA) is a recognized leader providing Security, Workplace Violence, Fire Safety, Emergency Management and Health, Safety and Environmental Regulatory Compliance consulting services. Our services have helped both public and private organizations, government agencies and individuals mitigate risk, and ensure regulatory compliance with Federal and State agencies.

 SGAs clients include Fortune 100 companies, healthcare facilities, academic institutions (K-12 and College and University), Not-for-Profits (e.g. houses of worship), real estate development, government agencies, financial institutions, chemical and manufacturing environments and cannabis manufacturing/cultivation.

SGA offers a holistic approach to security and risk management services across all spectrums. Working with senior administrators and general staff, our team—applies smart practices, including Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED, to ensure that vulnerabilities are identified early; that risk analysis, monitoring and response capabilities are proven effective; that operational security planning is thorough and firmly embedded into the culture and business model.

SGA professionals possess years of law enforcement, private security, fire safety and emergency management project management experience that guide our clients as they manage risks and regulation in today's world.

Managing director

Marcus DePontes

Mr. DePontes has been the Managing Director for StoneGate Associates (“SGA”) since 2003 and is responsible for the day to day management of the consulting firm.

Prior to founding SGA, he served for twelve years as a Project Manager for the PMK Group and Manager of Public Safety & Security for Morristown Memorial Hospital (600-bed trauma center), The Atlantic Rehabilitation Institute of Morristown Memorial (ARI), The Dialysis Center of Northwest Jersey, 111 Madison Ambulatory Surgery Center and the 95 Madison Avenue Annex.

Chaired the Workplace Violence Prevention Committee, Emergency Management Committee and Occupational Health and Safety Committee.

He has developed numerous safety, fire safety, workplace violence, security and emergency management programs for a variety of industries including: Public Schools (K-12), Colleges and Universities and Healthcare facilities, Financial Institutions, Corporations, Houses of Worship and Chemical & Manufacturing environments. In addition, he has assisted dozens of healthcare facilities with Environment of Care compliance programs including Safety Committee development, training, and regulatory compliance.

He is the former Education Committee Chairman for the Morris County Emergency Preparedness Infrastructure Advisory Group. In this capacity he assisted in coordinating security and emergency response procedures and protocols for schools (K-12) and Colleges/Universities in Morris County.

Mr. DePontes is currently an Adjunct Professor at Caldwell University teaching “School Safety, Security and Emergency Preparedness For K-12 School Leaders” for the PhD Leadership Program.

His significant certifications include Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) as well as the Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP).

Vice President Strategic Planning

Errol Brudner 

Mr. Brudner is a retired Captain of Police having served 25 years with the Montclair Police Department.

Over 40 years experience in law enforcement and private security, investigations and emergency management leadership. Recently retired from Atlantic Health System serving as Director Protection and Security Services / Emergency Management responsible for security, emergency management and investigations. Chaired the Workplace Violence Prevention Committee, Emergency Management Committee and Occupational Health and Safety Committee.

Served on the New Jersey Hospital Association Emergency Preparedness Task Force, NJ Homeland Security Active Shooter Task Force, Business Executives for National Security Operating Council, New Jersey Business Force Security Council, FBI InfraGuard, UASI (Urban Areas Security Initiatives), Essex County Chiefs of Police Association, Union County Crime Stoppers and several emergency preparedness committees for local jurisdictions.

Currently an Adjunct Professor at Caldwell University teaching “School Safety, Security and Emergency Preparedness For K-12 School Leaders” for the PhD Leadership Program.

VICE PRESIDENT, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT and consultant

Sheriff David B. Shoar

Sheriff Shoar began his law enforcement career as a police officer with the St. Augustine Police Department in 1981. He served as a uniformed patrol officer for ten years until his promotion to Sergeant in 1991. Sheriff Shoar served as a uniformed Patrol Sergeant through 1997. In 1997, he was promoted to Operations Commander overseeing the Patrol and Detective Divisions. In 1999, he was assigned as the Administrative Services Commander. He served in that capacity until May of 2000, when City Manager Bill Harriss appointed him Chief of Police.

Sheriff Shoar is a 1987 Honors graduate from St. Johns River Community College. He graduated with highest honors in 1996 from the University of North Florida, earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice. In 2001, he was awarded a Master’s Degree in Public Administration with highest honors from the University of North Florida.

Sheriff Shoar is a member of several academic honor societies including Phi Kappa Phi and the Golden Key National Honor Society. He has served as an adjunct professor at St. Johns River Community College and Flagler College in St. Augustine, Florida.

Sheriff Shoar retired from the St. Augustine Police Department in 2004 after being elected to serve as Sheriff of St. Johns County. After re-election in 2008 and 2012, Sheriff Shoar was elected to his fourth and final term as Sheriff in 2016.

Shoar is a 1998 graduate of the 193rd session of the FBI’s National Academy, a 2003 graduate of the 46th session of the FBI’s Law Enforcement Executive Development Seminar (LEEDS), and a 2004 graduate of the 35th session of the Chief Executive Seminar sponsored by the Florida Criminal Justice Executive Institute. He holds memberships in numerous clubs and civic organizations, including the Veterans of Foreign Wars (Lifetime Member), Ashlar Lodge #98, Police Executive Research Forum (PERF), International Association of Chiefs of Police (Lifetime Member), National Guard Officers Association, Florida Sheriffs Association, Florida Police Chiefs Association, and the Northeast Florida Law Enforcement Executives Association.

Senior Project Manager and Consultant

Dennis Letts

In June of 1984, Dennis Letts began his career with the United States Secret Service as a Special Agent assigned to the New York Field Office, located in the World Trade Center. Early in his career, Dennis was assigned to a lead role during the 40th anniversary of the United Nations, where he directed security operations for an event hosted by President Ronald Reagan that drew over 100 heads of state and government.  While serving in the New York Field Office, Mr. Letts successfully conducted numerous transnational white-collar investigations involving organized criminal groups. During his career, he provided protection for seven US Presidents from Richard Nixon through George W. Bush.

 In 1995, Mr. Letts was selected as the lead Intelligence Advance Agent for the visit of Pope John Paul II to New York and New Jersey. In 1997, Mr. Letts became the first Special Agent to be assigned to the Technical Security Division “HAMMER” team, an elite team that provided chemical, biological and radiological countermeasures in support of the Presidential Protective Division.

 In July of 2000, Mr. Letts led the advance team for “OpSail2000” a declared National Special Security Event, where he was responsible for coordinating and leading USSS involvement with the overall security plan in partnership with the Port Authority Police, US Navy and New York City Police Department. This event drew 120 Tall Ships and more than 40 warships from around the world, the largest maritime gathering in history.

On the morning of September 11th, 2001, Mr. Letts was exiting the North Tower of the World Trade Center when the first plane stuck the tower directly above him.  He immediately started to search for survivors in the exterior plaza, eventually re-entering the North Tower. Mr. Letts initiated and directed the evacuation of the west stairwell, guiding thousands of evacuees to the safety of the underground WTC concourse. He remained in the North Tower until approximately 10 minutes before the collapse of the South Tower. A short time after the collapse of the North Tower, Mr. Letts helped organize the evacuation of thousands of civilians from lower Manhattan by enlisting the assistance of hundreds of boats in the Hudson River. The evacuation that followed was described as the largest maritime evacuation since Dunkirk. For his actions that day, Mr. Letts was awarded the US Secret Service Medal of Valor.

Shortly after September 11th, 2001, Mr. Letts was selected to lead a comprehensive security assessment of the Statue of Liberty, eventually leading to the reopening of this iconic symbol to the public.

In March of 2003, Mr. Letts was promoted to the rank of Assistant Special Agent in Charge and assigned to the Newark (NJ) Field Office.

Between 2003 and 2004, he conceived and supervised a landmark investigation described by then Director Ralph Basham as the most complex criminal investigation in the history of the United States Secret Service. Dubbed “Operation Firewall”, this case involved the first use of a Title III wiretap on a computer network.

In October of 2006, Mr. Letts retired from the Secret Service to accept the position of Vice President, Chief Security Officer for the Avis Budget Group in Parsippany, NJ. His responsibilities include global oversight and coordination of security efforts across the enterprise, including physical security, Information Security, internal and external investigations, crisis communications, emergency response, business continuity, employee training, and law enforcement liaison.

In August 2017, Mr. Letts left the Avis Budget Group to accept a position with the National Football League. He was assigned to the New York Giants as the Security Representative for the NFL.

In 2013, Mr. Letts returned to his Alma Mater, Kean University, to become a member of the Advisory Board for the College of Business and Public Management. In January 2018, he was appointed to the position of Chairman of the Advisory Board.

Senior project manager

Roger S. Terry

Roger Terry is Senior Command level law enforcement professional and executive with significant experience in command leadership, organizational management and security operations. He has special experience handling high-level security, confidential and sensitive assignments. Throughout his tenor as career law enforcement officer Roger has received training at the NJ State Academy for special services, narcotics intervention and case management and emergency response management. Roger is a reliable, focused, and respected leader with a proven record of accomplishment. He has been recognized with numerous awards and honors for leadership, achievement, and service.

Mr. Terry served as a law enforcement officer for 35 years, rising from the position of Patrolman, through the ranks to become Deputy Chief of Police for a major metropolitan region Police Department with oversight of over 110 sworn personnel and budget in excess of $11,000,000.

Upon his retirement from the Montclair Police Department in 2008, Roger Terry was elected to office of Deputy Mayor in the Township of Montclair, NJ and as Township Councilor –At-large with strong communication skills and excellent organizational capabilities.

project manager

David McCabe

Dave is a retired professional fire fighter with over 25 years of experience with the Bloomfield Fire Department. During those 25 years he achieved the rank of Captain. He is a trained self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) technician and he is fire pump and Ariel ladder operations certified.

He has served as a Fire Safety Coordinator for Mountainside Hospital and the General Hospital Center @ Passaic in Passaic, Overlook Medical Center, and Chilton Medical Center.   

He has delivered numerous fire safety training sessions and conducted life safety surveys for residential facilities, healthcare facilities, K-12 schools and colleges/universities.

Dave has also developed evacuation diagrams that comply with both OSHA and New Jersey Fire Code.

 He has received three special recognition awards for saving the lives of trapped victims.