Security Industry Association Announces Winners of the 2020 SIA Women in Security Forum Scholarship

Twelve security professionals and students will be awarded scholarships to be used toward continuing education, repayment of student loan debt and professional development in the industry.

SILVER SPRING, Md. – The Security Industry Association (SIA) has selected 12 recipients for the inaugural SIA Women in Security Forum Scholarship – a program developed  by the SIA Women in Security Forum designed to further educational opportunities and promote advancement for a diverse security workforce.

Through this new scholarship – open to SIA members and student members – each awardee will receive $6,650 to use toward continuing education and professional development courses, conferences or webinars, SIA program offerings, repayment of student loan debt and/or other academic or education programs.

“The SIA Women in Security Forum continues to break new ground, inspire me and many others and provide unique opportunities for the widest spectrum of people possible to thrive in this field through initiatives like this new scholarship offering,” said SIA CEO Don Erickson. “We congratulate this talented and historic first class of SIA Women in Security Forum Scholarship winners and look forward to celebrating their many accomplishments to come.”

The winners for the 2020 SIA Women in Security Forum Scholarship are:

• Ryane Burke, partner marketing and events manager, Identiv
• Margurie Evans, SIA student member; event security lead, Phoenix Suns
• Antoinette King, key account manager – end user, Axis Communications
• Kavya Madhusudhan, senior project engineer, Allegion
• Erin Mann, customer experience and strategy marketing manager, multifamily, Allegion Canada Inc.
• Daphne Navarro, SIA student member
• Sheethal Rao, mechanical engineer, Allegion
• Jenna Rolfe, SIA student member; junior readiness and security policy officer, Global Affairs Canada
• Joneka Russell, security officer, Allied Universal
• Holly Sanson, marketing manager, ADT Commercial
• Kerri Sutherland, human resources business partner, Axis Communications
• Rachel Wyatt-Swanson, director of business development, Cherokee Nation Security & Defense

These honorees were selected with the help of SIA’s Scholarship Selection Committee – a group comprised of volunteers from the SIA Women in Security Forum and SIA’s Human Resources Committee. SIA thanks the scholarship committee and its chairs for their work in evaluating the 2020 scholarship applications.

SIA’s Women in Security Forum works to engage all security professionals to promote, recruit and cultivate the leadership of women for a more inclusive and diversified industry. The forum’s key efforts and activities – in addition to the scholarship – include the SIA Progress Award, which celebrates individuals who advance opportunities and pave the way to success for women in the security industry; a quarterly virtual education series; collaborative projects with other organizations that seek to empower women in the security and technology fields; sponsorship of the Women in Biometrics Awards, which recognize distinguished female leaders in the biometric identity and security industry; thought leadership opportunities; and engaging networking and professional growth events. The SIA Women in Security Forum is open to all employees of SIA member companies; learn more and get involved here.

The 2020 SIA Women in Security Forum Scholarship is generously supported by Diamond Level donor Axis Communications; Emerald Level donors Alarm.com, Allegion, Altronix and BCD International; Ruby Level donors Integrated Security Technologies, Brivo and Securitas; Sapphire Level donors Maureen Carlo, director of strategic alliances at BCD International, Ted Curtin, president of Repworks, Martha Entwistle, Women in Security Forum member, SIA CEO Don Erickson, John Gallagher, vice president of marketing at Viakoo, John Nemerofsky, chief operating officer at SAGE Integration, GSA Schedules Inc., SAGE Integration, Security Specifiers, SoundSecure and Imperial Capital; and scholarship program affiliates SDM, SecurityInfoWatch, Security Matters, Security Sales & Integration and Security Systems News. Please visit the scholarship page for more information.

About SIA

SIA is the leading trade association for global security solution providers, with over 1,100 innovative member companies representing thousands of security leaders and experts who shape the future of the security industry. SIA protects and advances its members’ interests by advocating pro-industry policies and legislation at the federal and state levels, creating open industry standards that enable integration, advancing industry professionalism through education and training, opening global market opportunities and collaborating with other like-minded organizations. As the premier sponsor of ISC Events expos and conferences, SIA ensures its members have access to top-level buyers and influencers, as well as unparalleled learning and network opportunities. SIA also enhances the position of its members in the security marketplace through SIA GovSummit, which brings together private industry with government decision makers, and Securing New Ground, the security industry’s top executive conference for peer-to-peer networking.