40 under 40: Danny Goodpaster, vice president of sales, Bates Security

YARMOUTH, Maine—Danny Goodpaster, 39, is the vice president of sales at Bates Security, a locally owned and operated commercial and residential security company based out of Lexington, Ky. Find out what inspired him to pursue a career in the security industry, what being a "40 under 40" winner means to him, what appeals to him about the security industry, and more. 

SSN: Describe your roles, duties, and tenure at your current job. 

GOODPASTER: I started with Bates Security nine years ago as a residential consultant, and have since held positions as commercial consultant, sales manager for Kentucky, and now vice president of sales, currently overseeing sales across five offices in Kentucky and Florida.

SSN: What inspired you to pursue a career in the security industry?

GOODPASTER: I first met the team at Bates after cold calling on the office in my previous role with another company. When the opportunity to interview at Bates Security arose, I initially did not think I would be interested. My wife encouraged me to interview, and after meeting the Bates family, I had done a complete 180. I could see they were building something special in Lexington, Ky., protecting its residents and businesses.

SSN: What does being named a winner of SSN's 40 under 40 mean to you?

GOODPASTER: It is humbling to be named to SSN’s 40 under 40 list alongside so many impressive leaders in our industry. I think it speaks to the leadership within our organization over my nine years at Bates, that our company seeks to develop more great leaders and put them in position to succeed. Our company takes great pride in building a great company while enabling personal success, and I am just one of many examples of that within our organization.

SSN: As a young leader, what appeals to you about the security industry?

GOODPASTER: Throughout our industry, there are so many people that seek to share best practices and build up each other. The people I meet from other organizations, much like our employees, all genuinely care about the customers they serve and share ways to continue to provide the best services possible. With the knowledge and expertise of industry veterans, young talented individuals taking on leadership roles, and rapid advancements in technology, the future of the industry appears to be as bright as ever.

SSN: With the hiring, recruitment and retention challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, how can the security industry engage young talent?

GOODPASTER: I think we need to find unique ways to attract talent and look for individuals in ways we may not have in the past. Being involved in the communities we serve, networking, and generally being aware of folks we interact with in other industries as well may lead us to find talent in places we least expect. Some of our best employees have come from outside of the industry and brought the skills they developed in other arenas to our company, resulting in fresh ideas, and different perspectives, leading to overall improvement of our organization.