Occupation?
Corporate Security Manager

College/University attended?
Southern New Hampshire University

Tell us a little about you (short bio ~150 words).
I grew up in the Tennessee Valley area, but returned from El Paso, TX, in 2009. I have worked at BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee in the Corporate Security field for 12 years. Starting as a Security officer and moved up through various positions to my current role as a Manager. I have a B.S. in Criminal Justice with a concentration in Homeland Security. I’m trained in Threat Assessment, Executive Protection and Private Investigations. The proud mother of a very active and adventurous 5 year old, who keeps me on my feet. A member of the Security Organizations ASIS and ATAP (Association for Threat Assessment Professionals), where I continue to learn and train about Physical Security Practices and trends.

What motivates you?
Keeping people safe and helping them feel safe while they are working keeps me going. I work with people who are victims of domestic violence, helping them get resources or assistance in effort to keep them safe. Learning more about the field in effort to help them as they navigate their way through a difficult situation and seeing them to a better place.

When you’re not working, where and how do you spend your time?
I spend my free time outdoors with my son hiking and camping in the surrounding areas.

What advice do you have for women aspiring to be leaders in their field?
Look for a mentor in the field that you can learn from while you are developing and finding your way. I believe in learning from others, especially those who have been down a similar path.

Can you name a person who has had a tremendous impact on you as a leader? Why and how did this person impact your life?
Tangela Johnson has had a major impact on my career. She gave me advice and guidance that led me into the next level when I was not sure that I could get there. She made me feel comfortable going after and moving into the next chapter of my career. She prepared me with the tools and confidence to step into my current role and to continue to grow within my field.

What has been your proudest moment in your career?
The proudest moment in my career was being promoted to a manager role that oversees the very department I started in as a contractor.

What strides do you think members can take to make more of a difference in women’s leadership issues in the local community?Have a mentorship style program that allows women to match up with a member that is in the field they strive to be or grow in the organization for support, guidance and help when needed. Or maybe even could be a chat room style messenger board.

How would you best describe the benefit found in joining this organization?
Learning from those who are on a similar journey and gaining skills from those you may not meet any other way.