EDGY GAZELLE

WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT & SELF DEFENSE CLASS SCHEDULE

Outpace the Threat.

To register, email edgygazelleconsulting@gmail.com and Venmo $37.50 to @edgygazelle

The Unknown.

The Unknown is the stretch of shadow between where we stand and what we cannot yet see—the dim parking lot after a late shift, the uneasy silence in a meeting, the moment a stranger’s footsteps fall too close behind us, the fear of violence in our lives. 

It matters because one in three women will meet violence in that uncertain space, and every organization that employs, serves, or welcomes women or vulnerable populations carries the moral weight of that statistic. By learning to read the subtle cues of threat, ground fear in clear choices, and claim the simple tools already in our hands, we turn The Unknown from a field of vulnerability into a frontier of prepared confidence. 

This shift not only safeguards bodies; it protects focus, creativity, and community trust, allowing individuals and teams to move through work and life with the same awareness and assurance as a gazelle that grazes beneath an open sky and trusts its instincts to sense danger and protect itself.

The Purpose.

Violence, whether it targets women, men, or any other member of our shared human herd, is never just a line on a spreadsheet. The possibility of harm shapes the routes people take to work, the tone of their conversations, and the confidence with which they speak up. Left unaddressed, it siphons attention, creativity, and talent from organizations that can least afford the loss.

At The Edgy Gazelle, we convert that burden into forward momentum for every body in the herd.

Safety without spectacle
We craft practical safeguards and best security practices - clear sight lines, layered access control, and trauma-informed protocols—that welcome all ages, identities, and abilities. The space stays open and inviting, yet everyone moves freely and securely.

Strength through knowledge
Our trainings build muscle memory and mental frameworks that settle deep into the body and mind. Long after the workshop ends, people can access those reflexes the instant instinct propels them to act, whether that means a confident verbal boundary or a coordinated emergency response.

Community over fear
Isolation feeds anxiety; connection breeds resilience. We nurture collective vigilance and compassionate care so every participant watches the horizon for the entire herd. Threats are spotted sooner, responses are stronger, and no one stands alone.

RAISING AWARENESS

Security Management.

Security Leadership When You Need It, Not When You Don’t.

Regulators, insurers, and everyday headlines all insist that a credible security program is no longer optional. Yet hiring a full-time security director can feel impossible when budgets are tight, staff plates are already full, and no one on the org chart speaks the language of risk. The result is a quiet dread: you know you should be doing more, but you are unsure where to start or how to keep the momentum.

The Edgy Gazelle closes that gap with fractional security leadership tailored to your rhythm. Think of us as an on-call Chief Security Officer who steps in exactly when you need guidance and steps back once your team is running smoothly. On a temporary project or subscription basis, we design policies, shape training, audit vulnerabilities, and coach your people until best practice becomes everyday practice. You gain the expertise of a seasoned Diplomatic Security Service Special Agent veteran without the overhead of another salaried position, and every safeguard we introduce is woven into your existing culture, so it feels like it has always belonged.

Peace of mind should not be reserved for organizations with deep pockets. With The Edgy Gazelle in your corner, you can satisfy mandates, calm stakeholders, and sleep better knowing that a living, breathing security program is quietly protecting the mission you worked so hard to build.

Physical Security.

Every Building Tells Would-Be Threats Where to Walk In.

Walls, doors, and windows all look solid, yet most facilities leak threat vulnerabilities at the seams: a side door left ajar for deliveries, a lobby desk with no clear sight-line to the entrance, a service corridor where no one established access control. Landscaping gives prowlers cover, outdated cameras hide blind spots, and a single failed lock can turn a quiet night into a headline. Before alarms, security guards, or crisis drills can be effective, you must know exactly where the cracks are. That knowledge starts with a comprehensive physical security survey.

The Edgy Gazelle was built on this discipline. Founder Rhonda “RJ” Bent spent two decades dissecting U.S. embassies, consulates, overseas schools, churches, residences, and public gathering spaces, mapping every weakness from parking lot to rooftop and enacting solutions. Her surveys combine the rigor of diplomatic-grade risk assessment with a keen eye for how people actually flow through a space. She identifies vulnerabilities others miss—sight-line gaps, lighting disparities, access-control loopholes—then turns the findings into practical security upgrades that fit your budget and preserve your building’s character.

A solid survey gives you a blueprint: step-by-step recommendations for physical barriers, electronic systems, and human procedures that close the gaps without turning your workplace into a fortress. It is the foundation on which every other safeguard stands. When The Edgy Gazelle hands you that blueprint, you receive not only a list of fixes, but the confidence that every brick, pane, and hinge is working for you, not against you.

Crisis Management.

Plan to Prevail.

When we fail to plan, we plan to fail. Crises will come—whether a sudden act of violence, a natural disaster, or an unexpected systems breakdown—and the only real advantage is foresight and planning. Even cities once deemed “safe,” including Buffalo, have learned that a lone security guard cannot stop a massacre, untrained staff cannot shield themselves, and schoolchildren must be ready for the unthinkable.

The Edgy Gazelle turns that hard truth into action. We design operational playbooks that fit your culture, rehearse them with every stakeholder, and weave people-first training into daily routines so preparedness becomes second nature. The result is an organization that responds as one—calm, coordinated, and already in motion the moment a crisis begins.

How we fortify your readiness

  • Craft crisis-management plans that address your specific risks and concerns

  • Conduct realistic drills with employees, volunteers, and end-users

  • Integrate or enhance physical security measures without creating a fortress feel

  • Deliver education, training, and awareness that transform staff into force multipliers

  • Build community partnerships and resource networks that reinforce your security program

Training Courses.

Training that transforms into action.

Training is where apprehension turns into assurance and a scattered crowd becomes a coordinated force. Each session with Edgy Gazelle is designed to reach deeper than policies or checklists, touching the instincts that surface when everything is on the line. We lead your people to detect risks sooner, choose wisely under pressure, and move together with calm resolve—because the greatest shield any organization can wield is a team that already knows, in its bones, exactly what to do when the moment arrives.

Drafting Crisis-Management Plans

A crisis begins long before the alarm is sounded. It starts the moment a risk goes unspoken or a responsibility is left fuzzy. This multi-week engagement knits every voice—from senior leaders and board members to front-line staff, first responders, volunteers, and community partners—into one living security blueprint. Together we map worst-case realities, rank priorities, assign clear roles, and build decision trees that hold firm when emotions run hot. The result is a cohesive plan that reflects who you are, how you operate, and what you value most, so when the unexpected strikes, every person already knows the next right move. (Ideal for leadership and boards; delivered across several working sessions and feedback loops.)

Crisis-Management Exercise

Plans gather dust unless they are practiced. Our table-top simulation turns theory into muscle memory for groups of twenty or less. Over a single intensive session, your team will walk through a realistic disaster scenario, pressure-testing communication flows, resource allocation, and command hierarchy. Participants leave with heightened confidence, sharper reflexes, and an action list that tightens any gaps uncovered in the heat of play. (Suitable for executives, staff, and board members.)

Human-Resource Empowerment

Buildings do not keep people safe—people do. This one-hour class turns your existing workforce into force multipliers by teaching every employee or volunteer how to spot anomalies, report concerns, and respond decisively without stepping outside their everyday roles. Attendees discover how small observational habits compound into a culture where threats struggle to take root. When people feel trusted and prepared, security becomes a shared instinct rather than an outsourced expense. (Perfect for leadership, employees, and volunteers at all levels.)

Self-Defense and Awareness

Your most powerful weapon is your intuition. This dynamic two-hour class teaches participants to recognize early warning cues, set verbal and physical boundaries, and deploy practical escape or counter moves using body mechanics rather than brute strength. Class concludes with hands-on practice and an Edgy Gazelle self-defense keychain that reinforces skills long after the session ends. (Designed for all ages and ability levels.)

Travel Safe

Travel the world with confidence. From airports to city streets, this class unpacks real-world security tips, explores cultural signals and highlights resources available before and during your trip. Learn to recognize risks, avoid danger and use simple strategies to keep yourself and your belongings secure while exploring the world. Private country/city-specific security briefings are also available upon request. (Relevant for every audience.)

Unconscious Bias and the Security Nexus

Bias shapes who we trust, who we question, and how we respond under stress—often without our awareness. This interactive hour helps participants surface their own blind spots, understand how bias can both aid and hinder threat detection, and adopt strategies that keep personal filters from obscuring critical cues. The session builds psychological safety, sharper observation, and more equitable decision-making across the organization. (Beneficial for all teams and community groups.)

How to Better Survive a Crisis

Why do some individuals walk out of disaster zones while others freeze? The answer lies in mindset, readiness, and resilience. In sixty focused minutes we break down the survival psychology proven in emergencies worldwide. Participants learn how preparation rewires the brain, how simple stress-management tools protect clear thinking, and why personal recovery plans speed both physical and emotional healing. Every attendee leaves with a pocket guide to turn fear into forward motion. (Applicable to any audience.)

NOTE: ALL the services we provide are quoted based on your unique needs and outcomes. Most quotes will be provided in a 48-hour turn-around once your needs are determined and defined.

The leader of our herd.

Retired Supervisory Special Agent, Diplomatic Security Service, U.S. Department of State
Founder & Empowerer, Edgy Gazelle, LLC

Retired Supervisory Special Agent, U S. Department of State, Diplomatic Security Service
Founder & Empowerer, Edgy Gazelle LLC

For twenty-one years, RJ stood between U.S. diplomats and danger on five continents, engineering the quiet routines that keep embassies open when streets erupt and nature turns hostile. She has:

  • Protected ambassadors, diplomats and senior officials in more than 30 countries

  • Commanded embassy crisis-management teams through coups, civil unrest and natural disasters

  • Ran global threat assessments, fraud investigations and emergency evacuations

  • Trained and mentored law-enforcement officers, U.S. Marines, and Foreign Service diplomatic personnel world-wide

  • Earned trauma-informed credentials in psychological first aid and grief support

Today RJ channels her frontline expertise into people-centric security for Buffalo and beyond. Non-profits, faith communities, and youth organizations—including Ronald McDonald House of WNY, Stitch Buffalo and Erie Niagara Health Education Center—have all called on RJ to replace worry with readiness. When tragedy shook a local neighborhood last winter, she designed and led an empowerment-plus-memorial gathering that helped residents reclaim both safety and hope.

RJ’s mission is simple: give every member of the “herd” the skills and confidence to move freely, wisely, and together—because true security is measured in human resilience, not razor wire.

  • Certified Instructor, International Law Enforcement Academies (ILEA) El Salvador, Gaborone and Guatemala

  • Hiring and Promotion Panel Member, & Recruiter, U.S. State Department and Diplomatic Security Service

  • Protected the Secretary of State, ambassadors, diplomats and senior officials in more than 30 countries

  • Certified EEO Counsilor

  • Published author of multiple articles in the Foreign Service Journal and the Citizen

Meet RJ.

  • Published Author, Foreign Service Journal and The Citizen

  • Certified EEO Counselor

  • Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, Criminal Investigator Program

Recognition.

  • Diplomatic Security Training Center, Basic Agent Course and Personal Protection

  • Remote Emergency Medicine, CPR and AED Certified

  • Basic Field Firearms and Safety Officer Certified

  • Anti-Terrorist Driving and Post Blast Trained

“Nothing is more important than learning how to be aware and really participate in your own rescue.”
— RJ Bent

  • Crisis Management Speaker, Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC), Cape Town, South Africa and NY Women in Law Enforcement

Testimonials.

  • Rhonda (RJ) at the Edgy Gazelle is user-friendly and an absolute pleasure to work with. From the onset, RJ invested significant time learning our campus, our mission and our goals. She helped pinpoint our priorities and walked us step by step through our security upgrades. She delivered easily digestible, real-world solutions to mitigate our risks. A recent real-world security issue validated and reinforced her recommendations. Thanks to RJ’s thorough assessment, approachable nature and follow through, the Ronald McDonald House of Western New York is well on our way to a well-rounded, fully adopted security plan.

    Lisa Booz, Executive Director Ronald McDonald House Charities of Western NY

  • RJ‘s unique approach to self-defense is next level. RJ is a highly- experienced retired law enforcement officer, mother, runner and world traveler, the architect and designer of the Edgy Gazelle self-defense keychain, and the creator and presenter of the Edgy Gazelle women empowerment and self-defense program. If you are a woman who is concerned for her or other women’s safety and security, this program offers a simple and inexpensive solution to self-defense by teaching women how to use the tools they naturally possess.

    James Murphy, III, Founder and Owner, Criminal Justice Professionals Training and Consulting, LLC

  • RJ, the Edgy Gazelle, has been an incredible support in helping Stitch Buffalo navigate the best path forward for the safety and security of our new facility. RJ combines hardcore compassion with intense physical security scrutiny to provide the best solutions for human safety. She is thorough and patient when exploring options that best suit the organization and the people in it. Stitch Buffalo now has a comprehensive plan of action to ensure safety for all in and around our new facility. We are thrilled to have a final written report to help guide our efforts forward. RJ is invested in both your organization’s success, as well as the success and security of the Buffalo community.

    Dawne Hoeg Executive Director, Stitch Buffalo

  • RJ spoke at our annual conference and shared valuable information in her presentation, “Are You Prepared for a Crisis?” Her expertise enabled attendees personally and professionally better prepare for a crisis. On behalf of our Board of Directors, I would like to personally thank RJ for sharing her knowledge and positive attitude with our membership.

    Meredith L Kaiser, Immediate Past President, New York Women In Law Enforcement

Safety First.

The Edgy Gazelle begins with a simple belief: the heartbeat of every security plan should match the heartbeat of the people it protects. Before we suggest a single lock, lens, or alarm, we walk your corridors, listen to your worries, and map the real-world risks that keep you up at night. Then we translate those findings into safeguards that fit seamlessly into daily routines—policies, physical security enhancements, and practiced responses that feel as natural as swiping an ID badge or nodding to a colleague on the morning walk-through.

Our approach rejects the two extremes that so often fail: the intimidating fortress that smothers culture, and the bargain shortcut that leaves gaps large enough for trouble to stroll through. Instead, we deliver clear, logical countermeasures that respect budgets, preserve welcoming spaces, and quietly elevate confidence across your entire herd. Employees move with greater freedom because they understand exactly how each layer of protection works and where they fit inside the plan.

The result is an organization that meets uncertainty with poised resilience. Vulnerability becomes strength, worry transforms into assurance, and peace of mind fuels the forward momentum needed to serve your mission without hesitation.

We Are Ready. Are You?