Boon Edam’s Lyndell Kline Goes From Security Pro to Manufacturer
Kline has gone from joining her father for “bring your daughter to work” days to inspiring a generation of women to join the security space.
SECURE Perspectives is a column by the Security Industry Association (SIA) profiling women in the security industry. This column is part of SIA’s Women in Security Forum (WISF), an initiative to support the participation of women in the security field.
How did you get into the security industry?
Lyndell Kline: I’ve been involved with the security industry almost my entire life. I started shredding paper and stamping envelopes as a child for a security reseller in eastern Pennsylvania where my father was the general manager. I used to go to work with him on school holidays and on “bring your daughter to work” days. After college, I returned home and worked for what was then, and still is today, a family-owned security reseller and service provider for several years. An opportunity arose to enter the manufacturing side of the business, and I accepted a position with General Electric Security, which was then sold to United Technologies. In 2016 I had the good fortune to be introduced to Boon Edam.
How does your organization serve the industry?
LK: Boon Edam USA is primarily focused on providing best-in-class secured entry solutions, including security revolving doors, interlock portals (mantraps), optical turnstiles, full-height turnstiles and waist-height turnstiles and gates. One of the positive effects of the pandemic is the realization that organizations need to adopt better security solutions and procedures to combat future unforeseen events. This has transformed the perception of security entrances from being a specialized solution to a new security imperative across all vertical markets.
What types of job functions do women fill in your company?
LK: Women play a prominent role in management at Boon Edam, as is best exemplified by Valerie Currin, president and managing director at Boon Edam Inc. There are many women in prominent positions, in addition to Valerie and me, in executive management, sales, marketing and manufacturing throughout Boon Edam’s international operations.
What trends are you seeing in Boon Edam’s space of entry solutions?
LK: Physical security entrances have evolved far beyond physical doors and barriers and now offer a much higher level of sophistication for integration across myriad enterprise security, safety and business intelligence operations. In addition to their intrinsic physical characteristics, security entrances provide a new source of data to improve security operations in real-time and for future security processes, procedures and system enhancements.
What are the top challenges your company has faced in the past year?
LK: Unlike most manufacturers, supply chain issues had little to no impact on Boon Edam, as we were able to maintain manufacturing and delivery schedules without interruption. The biggest challenge we faced was on the sales front, as sales and procurement approval cycles seemed to take longer than in previous years. This too seems to be improving as more organizations have key personnel back in the office or have implemented more defined hybrid work schedules.
Who or what was the strongest influence in your career?
LK: The most influential people who have contributed to my career growth and success include my father, who got me started in the industry and taught me strong business ethics; Ken Nelson, who hired me at GE and brought me into the manufacturing world; Kelly Bond from Davis Mergers & Acquisitions Group, who introduced me to Boon Edam; and last but not least, my mother, for instilling the value of networking with women during my childhood and teenage years through her involvement with the American Business Women’s Association.
What would you say to new upcoming women in the industry?
LK: Don’t try to blend in. Find and cultivate a network of mentors. Visualize your success in the industry and then make it happen. Set realistic but challenging goals and celebrate when you succeed in reaching them. And stay in tune and in touch with your peers who will prove to be an invaluable source of support throughout your career, as you will also be to them.
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