Security Industry Association Launches Mentorship Program for Early and Mid-Career Professionals

The Talent, Inclusion, Mentorship and Education program will promote diversity, equity, inclusion and empowerment through valuable learning and development opportunities.

SILVER SPRING, Md. – The Security Industry Association (SIA) and the SIA RISE Steering Committee are launching Talent Inclusion Mentorship Education (TIME) – a new mentorship program for early and mid-career professionals in the security industry. The TIME program is designed to promote diversity, equity and inclusion and empowerment of underrepresented identities in the security industry by creating a well-defined pathway for learning and development.

“SIA’s new TIME mentorship program seeks to build a security industry full of diverse perspectives, people and cultures,” said Pierre Trapanese, chair of the SIA Board of Directors. “Through the program, we look forward to creating valuable learning experiences for both mentees and mentors, giving back and helping to grow an inclusive, talented security industry.”

SIA’s TIME mentorship program aims to offer meaningful developmental opportunities for participants. Key components of the TIME mentorship program include:

• Career development: Connecting early and mid-career professionals and students with established industry professionals to further career growth and talent development
• Skill enhancement: Building a sustainable community of support through collaboration, networking and skill building
• Recruitment: Attracting students to the security industry by providing insights on the wide array of career opportunities available
• Executive leadership development: Promoting leadership development opportunities that will encourage diversity within the ranks

TIME is guided by volunteers from the SIA RISE Diversity and Inclusion Subcommittee – including Bobby Louissaint, technical operations solutions manager at Facebook; Erin Mann, strategy and marketing manager, multifamily at Allegion; and Eddie Reynolds, CEO of Iluminar Inc. – and with the support of SIA staff. The program will run for 12 monthly sessions and have semiannual orientations. 

SIA is seeking seasoned security industry professionals to serve as mentors in the TIME program; learn more and apply to become a mentor.

SIA RISE is a community that fosters the careers of young professionals in the security industry. Membership in SIA RISE  – which offers fun networking opportunities, career growth webinars and education tracks at ISC West and East, scholarships and the annual AcceleRISE conference – is open to all employees at SIA member companies who are young professionals under 40 or have been in the security industry for less than two years. Learn more about RISE and sign up to join.

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.