Women in Security

YARMOUTH, Maine—As part of Security Systems News’ and the Security Industry Association (SIA) Women in Security Forum’s (WISF’s) continuing series highlighting the contributions of women in security, this month’s feature is on Nada Ebeid, Business Development Manager, Canada, Genetec Inc. As a Business Development Manager for Genetec, Nada Ebeid oversees the market growth for the Financial and Banking sector, as well as the Buildings and Industrial sectors in Canada....

YARMOUTH, Maine—As part of Security Systems News’ and the Security Industry Association (SIA) Women in Security Forum’s (WISF’s) partnership to highlight the contributions of women in security, this month’s feature is on Brigitte F. Daniel, Esq., executive vice president, Wilco Electronic Systems, Inc., which has been dedicated to providing cable television, telecom, broadband and technology services to underserved communities and various class levels of multifamily...

HAWAII—Having worked close to a decade on engineering systems aboard U.S. Navy ships (half as active duty U.S. Navy and half as a civilian), Rose “Liz” Bacus said she was looking for something new and exciting to learn about and work on. “However, I also wanted to remain in a high-paced, high-volume throughput-type industry with an opportunity to continue serving those who serve us – the military,” she explained. “The electronic security systems industry...

YARMOUTH, Maine—Security Systems News is excited to be partnering again this year with the Security Industry Association's (SIA’s) Women in Security Forum (WISF), who helped select 12 women (see list below) to be highlighted in special features throughout 2021. Expanding the partnership and coverage beyond one issue is a natural next step, and one that we here at SSN and SIA are both excited about. BCD International’s Director of Strategic Alliances, Maureen Carlo, who...

YARMOUTH, Maine—Security Systems News' 11th annual Women in Security December issue is even more special this year, as it was done in partnership with the Security Industry Association's (SIA) Women in Security Forum (WISF), with input from members of the WISF committee on who we should highlight and celebrate.This issue has grown in status and in the number of women being highlighted over the past few years, culminating in a record 14 women being profiled in this year's WIS December issue.The...

Coming from a family with many members involved in law enforcement, Joey Rao-Russell, president and CEO, Kimberlite Corporation Sonitrol got into the security industry by accident. She was working as a probation officer when she was recruited by Kimberlite to revamp their credit and collections policy.“I had no idea what Kimberlite was,” Rao-Russell admitted, “but after two interviews and a tour of the main building, I remember finding out it was a security company. This was 18...

Sometimes professionals don't pick the security industry, it chooses them. As is the case with Shanna Gray, president of Gate Logic Security, who never aspired to work in the security industry to begin with.“Circumstances in my personal life brought me to a cross-roads, of sorts, at which I was presented with an employment opportunity in the industry,” she told Security Systems News. “The experience proved life-changing for me and inspired to pursue a career, and ultimately, start...

Eva Mach of Pro-Tec Design, a 100 percent employee-owned company that specializes in security, credits her parents for instilling in her from an early age the absolute conviction that she can be whatever she set her mind to be and her husband with encouraging and supporting her all the way. And, of course, having a baby changes everything!“I started my career in accounting,” Mach said. “My first job was actually with a parent company of several temporary employment agencies, and...

When asked what it has been like to work in a primarily male-dominated industry for the past 26 years, Convergint Technologies' Kelle Shanks said being a woman actually helped her stand out.“My journey has actually been great fun,” she explained. “I was a 'unicorn' in the industry, and I used it to my advantage. My gender made me memorable in an environment with a lot of 'sameness.' I have had lifelong loyal customers, wonderful operations people and have enjoyed success. I believe...

After working with a manufacturing company for 7 years, having the opportunity to serve multiple roles, Donna Chapman, now of ASSA ABLOY, was seeking a new challenge with potential for career advancement. In 1998, she officially started a career in the security industry as a technical support specialist at Locknetics, a division of Ingersoll-Rand, supporting customers with electronic access control and architectural door hardware.“It was very demanding, fast paced, constantly evolving industry,...