Security Industry Association Welcomes New Leadership of RISE Community for Young Professionals

With several new members, the RISE Steering Committee, under the leadership of new chair Kelly Ann Christensen and vice chair Joey Joy, guides the SIA RISE community in fostering the careers of emerging security industry leaders.

SILVER SPRING, Md.— The Security Industry Association (SIA) has named new members and leadership of the steering committee for SIA RISE, a community that fosters the careers of young professionals and emerging leaders in the security industry. Kelly Ann Christensen of Integrated Control Technology (ICT) has assumed the role of chair, with Joey Joy of March Networks now serving as vice chair.

In these roles, Christensen and Joy ensure that RISE delivers educational content and networking opportunities to young professional employees and rising stars at SIA member companies, college students and recent graduates interested in the global security industry.

Kelly Ann Christensen is the marketing and events manager for North America at ICT, a global manufacturer of unified access control, intrusion detection and building automation solutions. In her role, she coordinates partner-focused marketing initiatives and industry events that support integrators and end users across the security ecosystem. Christensen’s work centers on building meaningful relationships, driving collaboration and enabling partners to grow through strategic marketing and engagement programs and industry events. She has been actively involved with SIA RISE for over four years, contributing to initiatives designed to support the next generation of security professionals, with a particular focus on the RISE Scholarship. As chair of the RISE Steering Committee, Christensen is focused on expanding access to professional development, increasing community engagement and creating new ways for emerging leaders to connect, learn and grow within the industry.

“RISE has had such a positive impact on my career in the security industry. From taking part in mentorship opportunities to having a platform to connect with peers, RISE has given me countless ways to grow professionally and build lasting relationships within the industry,” said Christensen. “Over the past few years, we’ve seen incredible growth within the RISE community, and I’m honored and excited to step into the role of chair this year. As I enter my fourth year on the committee, I’m especially passionate about finding new ways for the broader community to engage with RISE by creating more opportunities for young professionals to get involved, show up and fully benefit from everything RISE has to offer.”

Joey Joy is a channel and strategy focused security industry professional with over 14 years of experience building trusted partnerships and driving growth through innovative, data driven solutions. He currently serves as a distribution channel account manager at March Networks, where he supports integrators and channel partners in leveraging intelligent video, cloud technology, and analytics to enhance security, reduce loss, and improve operational efficiency.

“This role is an opportunity to give back to an industry that has provided so many professional pathways,” said Joy. “I’m passionate about creating spaces where young professionals feel welcomed, supported, and empowered to grow.”

The SIA RISE Steering Committee now includes the following members:

• Chair: Kelly Ann Christensen, marketing and events manager, ICT
• Vice Chair: Joey Joy, distribution channel account manager, March Networks
• AcceleRISE Subcommittee Chair: Constantine Tremouliaris, alliances and standards manager, ASSA ABLOY
• Content Subcommittee Chair: Sarah Webel, senior human resources generalist, SAGE Integration
• Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Subcommittee Chair: Andres Capous, territory manager, Velasea
• Scholarship Subcommittee Chair: KeShia Thomas, brand and solutions manager, Allegion
• Ghaida Alkhateeb, risk manager II, Amazon
• Krystina Beach, marketing communications manager, ASSA ABLOY
• Sarah Cassway, systems engineer, M.C. Dean
• Sahin Hoque, account executive, Evolv Technology
• Ryan Knoll, regional sales director, Motorola Solutions
• Jackie Paryz, director, sales and marketing, technology solutions, Securitas Technology
• Bryce Pinsel, multi-family sales consultant, Allegion
• Itzel Portillo, associate digital marketing manager, Allegion
• Emma Sanz, tech and tools program manager, Amazon.com Services
• Karlie Turner, digital marketing specialist, Swell Marketing, a PSA Agency
• Jon Uren, president and CEO, Cypress Integration Solutions
• Tre Washington, CEO, Integrated Information Systems

“The SIA RISE community has continued to raise the bar in its delivery of impactful programs, events and opportunities for those new to our industry, as well as for successful young security leaders,” said SIA CEO Don Erickson. “The important work of this vibrant and growing community would not be possible without the leadership of our dedicated members, including new RISE Chair Kelly Ann Christensen and Vice Chair Joey Joy and our subcommittee chairs, Constantine Tremouliaris, Sarah Webel, Andres Capous and KeShia Thomas. We welcome our new RISE committee members, we thank outgoing chair Dakota Mackie for her vision and support over the years and we look forward to collaborating with the 2026 RISE committee to build on this community’s programs and offer even more opportunities for learning, development, engagement and connection in our industry.”

SIA RISE is a community that fosters the careers of young professionals in the security industry. SIA RISE’s offerings include an annual scholarship to further young talent’s education and career goals, fun in-person and virtual networking events for young professionals, the Talent Inclusion Mentorship Education (TIME) program for early and mid-career professionals, recognition of new and emerging industry leaders through the 25 on the RISE Awards and the annual AcceleRISE conference—a one-of-a-kind event for young security talent. The SIA RISE community 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 and sign up to join here.  

About SIA

SIA is the leading trade association for global security solution providers, with over 1,600 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.