Companies shouldn't wait for official word on how the Democratic National Convention may affect daily work life.

That was the message behind a Thursday workshop attended by nearly 50 representatives of various businesses at the Harris campus of Central Piedmont Community College. The session was sponsored by The Treadstone Group Inc., a security management firm based in the Lake Norman area.

Businesses were told they should take steps now to prepare for a range of scenarios, especially if their business is uptown - from employees needing to work from home, to delivery vehicles undergoing security checks, to the possibility of protesters near work sites.

The firm's president, Ross Bulla - who cites years of experience in corporate security and training civilian and law enforcement personnel during the 1996 Atlanta Olympics - addressed an audience representing banks, event planning, security personnel, property management, tourism, health care and other sectors.

Many businesses - especially uptown ones near Time Warner Cable Arena - have said they are eager for specific word from city leaders and DNC organizers on how the convention will affect them. Details such as accessing work parking lots and buildings, or the availability of public transportation to get to work, are still unknown.

Owners of venues that could host parties and other gatherings also have voiced concerns about security, getting deliveries and building access.

The convention, which officially runs Sept. 3-6 but will draw visitors days before that for special events, is expected to draw 35,000. That's not the largest event Charlotte has ever seen, Bulla said, but it is the most complex, with an expected 15,000 members of the media and more than 10,000 demonstrators.

"The big point to take away is if businesses are problem free, that causes the DNC to be incident free," said Bulla. His Treadstone Group conducts reviews for private groups who want to assess their security risks. "We're trying to lend our support by generating citywide success.

"If you don't call on us, call on somebody with knowledge and expertise."

Some tips and possible scenarios offered at the workshop:

On protesters: Businesses should keep track of whether their building name or tenant name is being mentioned on Facebook or Twitter as possible gathering spaces.

And be wary if you're renting your house, Bulla said. There have been cases in other cities where people rented their house to people they thought were donors, but the renters subbed out the house to a protest group.

Show some business savvy: Check your insurance, said speaker Lori Keeton, attorney for Parker Poe. Do you have enough of it, and the right kind? "Event interruption" insurance helps you recover a portion of profits.

If you are signing contracts with convention organizers for services or space, check the indemnification provision, Keeton said. Who is on the hook if something happens?

Hire an outside consultant to conduct a safety audit of your building. And if anything bad happens, Keeton said, hire an attorney quickly.