At the 101st Annual Conference of the World Association of Detectives (W.A.D.), held in Cannes from September 1 to 6, 2026, Alexey Solomanidin, Executive Director of Vlasta Consulting, was awarded the highest professional honor — the Neal Holmes Sr./J.D. Vinson, Jr. Security Professional of the Year Award.
The conference, which traditionally brings together private detectives and security professionals from around the world, was held this year at the Hôtel Le Gray d’Albion on the French Riviera. During the six-day international forum, participants exchanged experience in modern methods and practices of corporate and personal security.
The Neal Holmes Sr./J.D. Vinson, Jr. Security Professional of the Year Award is presented to W.A.D. members working in the security field who have demonstrated excellence, leadership, and business acumen in entrepreneurial endeavors. The award was renamed in 2003 in memory of Life Member Neal Holmes, Sr., and in 2015 in honor of Past President J.D. Vinson, Jr.
Alexey’s recognition is connected, among other things, to the fact that Vlasta Consulting provided corporate security for Franklin Graham — the son of the famous evangelist Billy Graham. Since 1995, Franklin Graham has led the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA).
Notably, the 2026 award is not the first high honor for Alexey Solomanidin: in 2018, he already received the W.A.D. “Investigator of the Year” award.
“It is a great honor for me to receive this award,” noted Alexey Solomanidin. “This is recognition not only of my personal work, but of the entire team at Vlasta Consulting, which for many years has set the standards of professional security in Russia and beyond.”
