The Best Advice Q&A series continues today with Kathleen Ford, chief executive officer of scDataCom and the mother of Alaina Meyer, from whom we heard earlier in the series. In this edition, Ford shares the best advice she’s ever gotten, how she elevates others in the security industry and whose words lift her up most.
Security Sales & Integration: What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
Kathleen Ford: As a relatively new entrepreneur, I was given the fundamental advice to cultivate a “BAIL” team: a banker, accountant, insurance professional and a lawyer who I could trust to assist me as we built the foundation of our business.
While it took a couple of years to actualize this advice, I can happily say we have a top-rate BAIL team now and use them regularly to navigate the many challenges that come our way. They have helped keep us informed, educated, compliant and protected.
SSI: What advice would you give those looking to achieve success in the security industry?
Ford: Make many friends along the way. Competitors can become teaming partners, manufacturers and suppliers can become lifelines and like-minded business owners of all types can become trusted sources of support and advice on things that extend well beyond the core business of security.
SSI: If you could point to one person in the security industry and tell up-and-comers “make sure you listen to what they have to say” whom would you pick and why?
Ford: I’ve been fortunate to have many mentors over the last 10 years; however, when contemplating this question, the first name that popped into my head was Derek Greenland, senior director, federal government solutions, LenelS2.
Derek is a consummate professional with decades of experience in the security industry both on the integrator side as well as the manufacturer side. He has deep expertise in access control, specifically in the federal sector with FIPS/FICAM requirements to meet rigorous government standards.
Despite his technical chops, he always keeps it real – explains, supports, and assists whenever asked. He is proud and loyal to his profession, his customers and his partners and travels the globe to provide in-person support.
He has provided instrumental assistance to our company’s growth trajectory by facilitating our onboarding as a Lenel Federal VAR, recommending that we join PSA Security, and through countless thoughtful acts big and small along the way. I respect and trust Derek and encourage up-and-comers to “find their Derek.”
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