Allied Universal, a global security and facility services company, is proud to announce that two company leaders, Caress Kennedy and Floria Chiu, were selected as inaugural honourees for the Security Industry Association (SIA) Women in Security Forum Power 100.
This initiative, presented by the SIA Women in Security Forum, honours 100 women in the security industry each year who are role models for actively advancing diversity, inclusion, innovation, and leadership in the community.
Prestigious security network
“Congratulations to Caress and Floria! Thank you for your meaningful contributions to Allied Universal and for your dedicated mentorship and leadership,” said Steve Jones, Global Chairman and CEO of Allied Universal. “On a daily basis, our more than 85,000 women employees in North America continue to inspire and lead with passion and enthusiasm.”
As President of Allied Universal’s Northeast Region, Kennedy has oversight of more than 33,000 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. She was honoured with City & State New York’s Above & Beyond Award for Outstanding Women in Business for exemplary leadership in 2017 and was appointed as a member of The Committee of 200 (C200)--a prestigious network of top-level women entrepreneurs and corporate innovators.
Customer facing responsibilities
Chiu is currently an Enterprise Account Executive for Allied Universal Canada
“I am honoured to be recognised by SIA and truly proud that I work for a company that continues to cultivate leadership roles for women and works every day to ensure that our security professionals represent a diversified and inclusive team,” said Kennedy.
Chiu is currently an Enterprise Account Executive for Allied Universal Canada and has been in the security industry for more than 20 years. She supports Allied Universal’s business in different capacities, from customer facing responsibilities to supporting the business in customer retention. She also has been a guest speaker at industry events to share her experiences and encourage young professionals to find a career in security.
Find rewarding careers
Throughout her career, she has mentored and guided women within the industry including one-on-one coaching. As a mentor, she encourages self-discovery by asking questions geared toward women's passions, strengths as well as fears and insecurities, to help them grow.
“Over the years, I have worked with women and young professionals to find rewarding careers in security and encourage their participation at industry events,” said Chiu. “I am proud to represent Allied Universal, be recognised by my industry peers, and look forward to continuing to contribute as much as I can.”
