Vice President HR, Nicole Fredericks and Vice President of Sales Manager, Tammy Wood reflect on women in security and being named to the Security Industry Association (SIA) Women in Security Forum Power 100
Earlier this year, SIA announced its Women in Security Forum Power 100. The award recognizes women who are leaders and role models in the security profession. The list included eight women from Securitas. Among the eight recognized were the Vice President of HR, Nicole Fredericks, and the Vice President of Sales, Tammy Wood. Both have storied tenures and have built successful careers with Securitas USA. They have witnessed the industry changing, including the role and influence of women. Honorees were invited to ISC West to network with other Women in Security Forum (WISF) members and participate in a special keynote address and be recognized at a breakfast event for their achievements. Upon returning from the event, Nicole and Tammy reflected on the experience and eagerly shared their thoughts.
For Nicole, it was her first time being recognized at this level and an indication of how much the security profession has progressed. She observed that the women being celebrated were all playing an active role in shaping the industry and changing the culture of the security profession through their commitment to diversity, inclusion, innovation, and leadership.
“Being included in this group of inspirational individuals is not only a personal achievement but also a testament to the collective effort of all those who have supported and empowered me along this journey,” Nicole said.
As a top salesperson, Tammy is no stranger to recognition but shared that the WISF Power 100 event was her first time being at an event in a room where most of the attendees were women. “Many women share the misconception that the security profession is geared towards men,” she said adding that she found it worth noting how often security was an accidental rather than purposeful career choice. “Many women get started in other career fields, not realizing how their skills, talents, and experience translate meaningfully in the security industry,” she explained.
Still, despite the diversity in backgrounds and career paths, Nicole and Tammy found that the attendees had more in common than differences. “It was a great networking opportunity. There were common themes that echoed through the conversations,” Nicole explained, noting that chief among them were resiliency, hardworking leaders, and being committed to making a difference. These are characteristics shared by Nicole and Tammy. Though they had met before, the event allowed them to see each other in a new light. They also had the opportunity to get to know women whom they might not ordinarily encounter.
Two of the women Nicole and Tammy met, were Securitas USA security officers who were also among this year’s honorees. Their attendance, like that of the other Securitas USA award recipients, was sponsored by the Securitas USA Women Business Resource Group. Spending time with the officers was one of the event highlights for Nicole and Tammy who see being role models as part of how they can make a difference for others building a career in the industry. They felt privileged to witness the officers’ excitement and passion in the novel experience and share in the pride they take in their work. Nicole and Tammy found it equally important to encourage the generation of leaders by reframing the security officers’ perceptions and helping them understand the breadth of opportunities available with Securitas USA beyond their current positions.
In addition to the networking opportunities, attendees benefitted from hearing perspectives from several leaders in the WISF organization and learning valuable insights about artificial intelligence from the keynote speaker. “It was refreshing to take an hour and invest in ourselves,” Tammy said of the opportunity to be not exclusively focused on her clients while attending an event. She also saw her participation as an investment back in Securitas USA, as the connections and knowledge gained were valuable resources for the company. Both she and Nicole were appreciative of being given the opportunity provided by Securitas Women.
Region Training & Development Manager and Securitas Women Chair Laura Cusick was thrilled that multiple women from Securitas USA listed among the WISF Power 100. “There are so many creative, dynamic, and innovative women who are driving initiatives within Securitas. The Securitas Women Business Resource Group is committed to creating opportunities for our members to be recognized for their impact and contributions. I hope that next year even more colleagues will be recognized,” she said. She also previewed that for the second year, the Securitas Women BRG will sponsor the LeadHER Conference, citing the value of the programming and the industry networking opportunities it provides.
