Universal Services of America - Experts & Thought Leaders

Allied Universal, a renowned security and facility services company in North America, announces the reappointment of Caress Kennedy to the New York board supporting the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), which is part of the U.S. Department of Labour. The Board, in partnership with the Mayor, provides overall policy guidance and oversight on the implementation of WIOA in New York City. A member since 2014, Kennedy was reappointed to the board for the remainder of WIOA’s three-year term. Public workforce system “I am very excited to be reappointed as part of the executive committee of WIOA in New York City and look forward to working with fellow members to strengthen and improve the city’s public workforce system and help get New Yorkers, including youth and those with significant barriers to employment, into high-quality jobs and careers,” said Kennedy, Regional President, Northeast Region, Allied Universal. “My work with WIOA is truly rewarding because the organisation provides the opportunity for people to find careers through training, education and support services which gives them the ability to succeed in their lives and to care for their families.” Support services The Board represents a vital link to improve the City’s workforce to meet the needs of the industry The WIOA is designed to help job seekers access employment, education, training, and support services to succeed in the labor market. It also aims to match employers with the skilled workers they need to compete in the global economy. WIOA was signed into law on July 22, 2014. The work of the Board represents a vital link to improve the City’s workforce to better meet the needs of business and industry. As President of Allied Universal’s Northeast Region, Kennedy has oversight of more than 26,000 security professionals in eight states. Kennedy previously was Managing Partner for the Northeast Region at AlliedBarton Security Services, which merged with Universal Services of America to form Allied Universal in 2016. Responsibility and position Prior to joining the company in 2011, Kennedy held senior-level positions where she was responsible for regional and national operations at COMSYS, Global Employment Solutions, Norrell Corporation, Thomson Financial and Xerox.

Allied Universal, a facility services company, and the largest security force in North America, marks its one-year anniversary after forming a year ago via the merger of AlliedBarton Security Services and Universal Services of America. "Thank you to all of our employees and clients for their continued support and commitment that contributed to a phenomenal first year as our new company!" said Steve Jones, Allied Universal CEO. "I look forward to our continued success in the security and services industries." Organisational achievements Here are some additional organisational achievements since the merger: Became the unequivocal leader in guarding services throughout North America. Our security professionals and our company play a major role in keeping the U.S. and Canada safe and secure. Provided service to over half of the Fortune 500 companies and nearly every major retail mall in the U.S. From healthcare facilities, commercial office buildings, manufacturing and industrial plants, residential communities, transportation facilities and government services, Allied Universal has a significant security presence. Managed the integration of a workforce of over 150,000 security professionals to perform our jobs on a daily basis and serve our growing customer base. Implemented a world-class training program, the AU Institute, which offers over 1,000 training assets and professional development programs to enhance our security professionals' delivery of service and protection. Introduced several technological innovations to expand our physical and operational security solutions and service offerings to enhance the protection of client properties and assets.

The new organisation is the largest security services company in North America AlliedBarton Security Services and Universal Services of America have finalised the merger to form Allied Universal, a security services and solutions company. The new organisation, with more than 140,000 employees, is the largest security services company in North America. Allied Universal will maintain headquarters in Santa Ana, California, and Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, and is expected to have annual revenues of approximately $4.5 billion. Serving, securing and caring Allied Universal provides service, systems and solutions to serve, secure and care for the people and businesses of our communities. A commitment to understanding clients' needs and aligning solutions with their goals will position Allied Universal as a resource for clients and integral element of their operations. Allied Universal's new tag line – There for you. – is representative of this deep client commitment and also the organisation's dedication to creating better environments for clients' stakeholders and every community where Allied Universal operates. Shared commitment "Allied Universal brings together two industry leaders, and combines best practices, leadership and expertise to provide even greater support to our clients and employees," said Steve Jones, CEO, Allied Universal. "Our shared commitment to the success of our clients and the development of lasting partnerships has created a seamless melding of purpose and cultures." "The growth of this industry and the expanding need for safer and more secure environments in response to emerging threats is tremendous," said Bill Whitmore, Chairman of the Board, Allied Universal. "Through the continuous evolution of our business, we are positioned to help our clients succeed. Allied Universal combines high quality people and technology to deliver customized solutions to meet clients' specific needs." "Allied Universal is poised to make an even more significant contribution to the advancement of the security and facility services industries," Jones added. Jones had served as CEO of Universal Services of America and Whitmore had served as CEO of AlliedBarton. Additional service lines Along with Allied Universal Security Services, additional service lines include Allied Universal Security Systems, Allied Universal Janitorial Services and Allied Universal Staffing Services. Warburg Pincus and Wendel will be lead investors in Allied Universal with equal voting rights and Board representation; Partners Group and members of management will also have ownership interests in the combined company. The majority of the integration is expected to be completed by the end of first quarter 2017. David Darmon, Managing Director and CEO of Wendel North America, commented, "We see a very compelling opportunity in the creation of Allied Universal. Two best-in-class companies, distinguished by strong leadership talent, have been combined to provide unmatched service and support to their clients and advance the security industry." Chandler Joel Reedy, Managing Director of Warburg Pincus, commented, "We are excited to bring together two best-in-class management teams distinguished by strong leadership talent and proven track records. We look forward to our continued partnership with management to support the growth of the business."

How do you get all of your various vendors, services, resources, manpower, and technology to integrate and work together? Creating an efficient operating environment in physical security is no small feat - especially when the organisation undertaking such an endeavour has a nationwide presence. How do you get all of your various vendors, services, resources, manpower, and technology to integrate and work together? How do you aggregate all of the data being recorded into information that can be acted upon? These questions, among others, are the current challenges faced by industry leaders on both the security provider and end user side of the equation. Since the security requirements for organisations vary according to the size, it is important to have a proper objective in place before implementation. Solid operational process One common theme in the industry is a push is to consolidate vendor services. The "one-hand- to-shake" model is a value- add to many organisations. It often streamlines communication, creates cost efficiency and also promotes strategic collaboration. But simply signing a contract with a one-stop-shop won't enhance your operations, in much the same manner using the term "big data" doesn't mean you are instantly tech savvy. So be mindful that your one- stop- shop doesn't turn into a "one size fits all." Even more important than choosing the right vendor is the process by which an organisation implements a strategic security design. The process to implement an effective physical security design is crucial. Because not every potential security need is equal. And instead of simply signing a new contract in the hope of obtaining a better provider, having a solid operational process will be more beneficial in building efficiency on a large scale. Here are three steps to follow: Step 1: Identify your key objectives At this point, the only goal should be to formalise what it is that you're trying to accomplish. In other words, what is the problem or perceived risk? Is it protecting a fixed asset and securing a perimeter? Is it securing workspace and personnel safety? A combination of both? Is it ensuring appropriate data is recorded when shipments enter and exit a facility? It may sound elementary, but until you identify what you need and why you need it, you can't begin to rethink operational flow. Diagnosing the present operations will aid in illuminating the pathway to achieve your key security objective Step 2: Diagnose the present Now that the objectives have been identified, what are you doing today that is working or not working to meet them? What are the bottlenecks that are severely limiting the ability to succeed? Remember, we're not talking about revenue producing operations. We're talking about security operations, which in many ways is revenue preservation. But isn't it interesting that the same supply chain methodology that applies to widget production or service can also be used to thoughtfully consider a holistic, managed security operation? Diagnosing the present operations will aid in illuminating the pathway to achieve your key security objectives. Step 3: Focus on convergence Once the pathway is illuminated, you'll have a much better understanding of what you need to build a strategic and operationally efficient security design. The convergence of different technologies, services, and manpower will facilitate improved performance and response time, often in addition to cost reduction. To be clear, this does put a burden on the end user (or their CSO) to stay educated about innovative improvements that can augment or replace existing services. But it also promotes a continuing spotlight on efficient security operations. Which, interestingly enough, seems to be the prevailing complaint of executive teams when asked about their physical security design. In an industry like security that is rapidly shifting from single service applications to more comprehensive designs, it’s imperative that both vendor and end user employ a simple, yet effective process to enhance operational efficiency. And, ultimately, the beauty of the process is that it builds trust and communication by design, which also develops loyalty with your customers. I'd call that a win, win, win.