SILVER SPRINGS, Md. — Security Industry Association (SIA) CEO Don Erickson is hitting the road to raise money for the Foundation for Advancing Security Talent (FAST). That’s an industry initiative that helps newcomers find opportunities in the sector — and employers to hire them.
Erickson, a veteran marathoner who has about 150 races of various lengths, including 10 marathons, under his belt, has committed to running 14 races, culminating with the 50th Amsterdam Marathon in October to celebrate the city’s 750th anniversary in an effort he’s calling “The Race for FAST.”
He already topped his goal of raising $10,000 for FAST through his effort and is now targeting $26,200 as his goal, a number that will be familiar to marathon enthusiasts as those races cover 26.2 miles.
“One of the chief goals for FAST is to increase its awareness and increase its resources, so we could put those funds into programs such as college outreach, developing collateral and perhaps virtual or in-person, career fairs and meetings with students and career services offices but that does require some resources,” says Erickson.
“I thought this was a great way for me to show that everybody can do their part, so to speak,” he says. Erickson emphasizes that he’s paying all entry fees and associated costs for the events on his Race for FAST itinerary by himself. The money is not coming from SIA dues, he says.
SIA members or others across the security industry are invited to sponsor a mile in one of the races Erickson will be running or the whole race if they choose. All of the money generated from donations for the Race for FAST will go directly to the foundation to help with security industry career advancement and awareness.
SIA and the Electronic Security Association launched FAST as a way to find security industry talent. Even with FAST in place, the problem hasn’t gone away yet, says Erickson.
“Regardless of the size of the company, it’s a challenge,” he says. “The purpose of FAST is to address that challenge.” The foundation published a security industry compensation survey last year and is working with the PSA Security Network on a coordinated college ambassador outreach plan to “evangelize the industry,” says Erickson.
FAST Raises Money to Support Security
Erickson is sharing his Race for FAST schedule not only so supporters can come out and cheer him to the finish line while raising money for a great cause but also to encourage others, both in and outside the security industry, to join him in the races that are closest to where they live.
He’s already completed the Palm Beach Half-Marathon in December and New Year’s Day 5K in Montgomery County in January. Next on the docket is the Austin Half-Marathon in February, the Little Rock Half-Marathon and DC Half-Marathon in March, the Cherry Blossom Ten-Miler and Brooklyn Half-Marathon in April, the Cleveland Marathon in May and Minneapolis Ten-Miler in June.
Erickson will continue his run across America with the San Francisco Half-Marathon in July, the Annapolis 10-Miler in August, the Charles Street 12 in Baltimore in September and the Urban Bourbon Half in Louisville, Ky., in October before wrapping up his quest in Amsterdam at the end of the month.
“It’s about the community or their family members, what have you,” says Erickson. “Then maybe we grab some drinks or we get together afterwards and just celebrate the industry and FAST a little bit.
“I’m not trying to do this alone. We’re inviting anybody to participate and be a part of it as best they can. I think the biggest thing is hoping that this is an example of people realizing that every person could have some role,” he says.
“If you’re not a runner, no problem. Maybe there’s something else you want to do,” says Erickson. “Maybe you’re a walker or maybe you want to golf or maybe you donate something for a silent auction. We have a fundraiser for FAST each fall. It’s really just to increase awareness and get the community to step up a little bit.”
Erickson, who runs 15 to 18 races of various lengths per year, expects his preparations for the Race for FAST to be slightly different, even though the number of races is about the same.
“I think it’s definitely going to require some more core training and cross training and things like that just to stay healthier throughout the year so I don’t disappoint people who are committed to supporting these races,” he says. “That changes a little bit with more enhanced training.”
If you participated in Security Industry Community Service Day or are involved in other service-based initiatives, contact SSI digital editor Craig MacCormack at [email protected] to be part of our ongoing Security Gives Back series.
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