FRESNO, Calif. — Joey Rao-Russell has worked in the security industry for 16 years, working in all aspects of the business, including operations and sales, up to her current position as the president and CEO of Kimberlite Corporation, the world’s largest independent Sonitrol franchisee.
Here’s more from Rao-Russell, an SSI editorial advisory board member since 2021, in her own words as we continue our celebration of International Women’s History Month.
Security Sales & Integration: How did you get into the security industry?
Joey Rao-Russell: By accident 😊 I was recruited to revamp their credit/collections policies and contract management. I didn’t even realize it was an alarm company. Little did I know what was supposed to be a temporary job would turn into my life’s passion and I would be here 23 years later.
SSI: Have you encountered any difficulties or obstacles in your security industry career?
Rao-Russell: I was blessed to be in a company that never held me back from anything I wanted to pursue. I was able to grow on our technical and operations side of the business. My biggest obstacle was when I became a technical project manager, working primarily with fire alarms. This was 17 years ago and most contractors and architects didn’t trust a woman knew what she was doing.
The worst was a general contractor that would only listen to my lead tech even when I said the same thing. The industry has come a long way and I don’t see this type of bias as often. The most important thing for any person pursuing new challenges or a new career in security is to find mentors to help you. The security industry is unique in everyone’s willingness to help.
SSI: Whom would you point to as the most influential and helpful mentors in your career? What did they do to help you?
Rao-Russell: I have been blessed with many mentors in my career. My earliest was one of our founders and first president, Barbara Nicolino. She was a force to be reckoned with and always helped people attain their goals. She created a company where I was encouraged to follow any paths of interest including learning our technical side and operations.
Larry Folsom was one of my leadership mentors when I entered the C-suite. He and Don Young helped me look at how we can influence our industry and companies in the next five to 10 years. Their willingness to listen, mentor and challenge me helped me grow into a leader who appreciates that there is no growth without challenge and the challenges are what makes us grow beyond what we thought possible.
SSI: What is your proudest career accomplishment?
Rao-Russell: My proudest career moment was leading our team to 100% employee ownership. It is a privilege to have had a small hand in helping our employee owners achieve security and ownership.
SSI: What do you love most about working in the security industry?
Rao-Russell: I love that we help protect people and property. Our services help to create safer communities, what better calling can there be. Our industry is the most welcoming, even competitors are always willing to share a best practice or help a colleague. This is truly unique to security.
SSI: How can the security industry become even better?
Rao-Russell: Our industry continues to get better through new technology, developing partnerships with law enforcement to provide better outcomes to the communities we serve and continued collaboration with integrators, manufacturers and central stations to provide greater services in a more efficient manner.
Click here to check out the complete Women in Security Q&A series!
