A trusted staff member gets a call: someone close to them has been killed—broad daylight, cartel-linked, blocks from your headquarters. Panic spreads. Staff stop showing up. Rumors of retaliation surface. You don’t have time to convene a task force. You need to move—calmly, but now.

This case study is especially relevant if you are:

• A regional director operating in high-threat or cartel-adjacent environments

• A founder responsible for staff safety in volatile jurisdictions

• A board member overseeing crisis decisions from afar

• A program lead navigating trauma, morale, and operational continuity

• A stakeholder who knows that how you respond defines what happens next

When the ground shifts, the real risk is hesitating.

This case study details how Pholus helped a Latin American client respond after a staff member’s close friend was murdered near their operating hub. We paused field operations, conducted fast-turnaround location analysis, relocated the office discreetly, and restored operations without staff attrition or donor panic. The original site has since deteriorated—validating the decision to exit permanently.

If you’re working in an area where security is fragile and fear spreads faster than facts, this case study may offer the clarity you need.

Download it now and read it quietly. You’ll know if it applies.