40 under 40: Nicole Black, VP of finance, COPS Monitoring

YARMOUTH, Maine—Nicole Black, 40, is the vice president of finance at Lydia Security Monitoring, Inc. d/b/a COPS Monitoring, one of the largest providers of professional monitoring services in North America. Find out what inspired her to pursue a career in the security industry, what being a "40 under 40" winner means to her, what appeals to her about the security industry, and more. 

SSN: Describe your roles, duties, and tenure at your current job.

BLACK: I’ve been with the company for seven years, during which time my role has changed and grown considerably. I started as an accounting manager, but I now oversee a team of 16 and my responsibilities include accounting, finance, human resources, and other administrative functions.

SSN: What inspired you to pursue a career in the security industry?

BLACK: While I did not set out to join the security industry, I’m thankful that my career path led me to it. I worked in the telecommunications industry after leaving public accounting and the security industry felt like a natural progression in my career journey.  I love that the industry is always changing and growing, which allows me to do the same professionally. 

SSN: What does being named a winner of SSN's 40 under 40 mean to you?

BLACK: It’s an honor and I’m grateful to be recognized among such an accomplished group of individuals!

SSN: As a young leader, what appeals to you about the security industry?

BLACK: At Lydia, we provide a human lifeline to people in some of their most vulnerable moments. It’s gratifying and important work and I’m proud to be part of a company and an industry that provides such a valuable service. I also love the challenge that comes along with working in such a dynamic industry and workplace. There’s always something new to get involved in or learn so I’m constantly honing my skills and growing professionally.

SSN: With the hiring, recruitment and retention challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, how can the security industry engage young talent?

BLACK: Something that has come up consistently in my recruiting efforts over the past few years is flexibility. The younger generation is putting even more emphasis on work-life balance, and they want a workplace that respects the fact that they have lives outside of work. We’ve had to adjust to accommodate that desire for flexibility in some ways and I think that’s something the industry will have to contend with to continue to be competitive in the employee marketplace.