The Security Industry: A Place for Problem-Solvers

As part of our blog, we have created a space for our team to voice their thoughts, insights on their technical expertise, and trends in the industry. Team members are encouraged to provide their points of view and let their voices be heard through content submissions.

This article was written by Breanna Sieferman, CPP, Associate Principal, located in Sacramento, California. Breanna has over seven years of experience designing and implementing integrated enterprise physical security systems for Fortune 500 companies all over the world. Tapping into a diverse array of project experience, she effectively captures the unique needs and expectations of her clients, and ensures that implementation efforts are executed smoothly and successfully.

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I am often asked how I got into the security industry, and I always respond jokingly, asking if they want the short or long answer. The short answer is: I have always had a knack for improving inefficiencies; the long answer is a bit more interesting.

I grew up in a farming family located in Northern California where problem solving with minimal available resources was an everyday occurrence, and creative solutions were always appreciated. Raising livestock and crops is a delicate balance between science and nature, while the industrial aspects of farming, including milling and processing, are where construction and engineering play a significant role. These integral aspects of agriculture were always of great interest to me and I consider myself lucky to have the exposure to them at such a young age, as it sparked a curiosity in me that is still burning today.

Throughout my young life, all of the people that I considered to be successful impressed upon me the need to understand business. So naturally, when it came time to go to college, I chose the most business sounding major that I could find and earned a degree in Managerial Economics from the University of California, Davis.

After graduating, I entered the workforce with high hopes of solving the greatest of inefficiencies in production agriculture. Through my work, I developed a knack for finding the most efficient, or what an economist would likely call it, the least inefficient path to resolution for a given situation.

Through friends and colleagues, I became known as a problem solver for people in need of solutions to their business problems. I soon found myself helping a variety of businesses get out of some sticky situations. From restaurant owners to construction companies, I was enjoying my time spent helping others solve their trickiest and most invasive problems.

It didn’t take long to develop a niche in the construction industry, where inefficiency and contract disputes are commonplace. At the same time, physical security systems were rapidly advancing and converging with door hardware and network infrastructure. I saw that there was a lot of opportunity for improvement in the grey area created between the traditional scopes of work and the associated contracts. I was happy to take on the task of sorting out discrepancies and errors before project completion.

While handling projects in the construction industry, I came to learn that the greatest challenge was finding people with the right skills to complete the work. Those with the necessary skills were few and far between and often overtasked on existing projects. They typically did not have the time to effectively communicate or personally address all of the roadblocks to their project’s success. It was painfully obvious that the industry was rapidly outgrowing the available resources and it was easy to insert myself to help solve that problem.

At first, I wasn’t much more than a voice for those who needed it. But throughout my career I have been extremely lucky to meet some great people who were particularly proficient in my chosen field and were willing to share their own knowledge and expertise with me. As my exposure to these industry mentors grew, I found I had developed a useful and valuable skill set that I continue to work hard to grow.

The long answer to how I found myself in the security industry and why I have chosen to stay is credited to those who have inspired me, taught me, and mentored me, combined with the relationships that we have developed along the way while solving complex problems and building critical systems. There are great people in this industry and working with them adds to the fun and makes our work so much more impactful. I look forward to solving tomorrow’s problems with the people I work with today, at TEECOM!