40 under 40: Kathryn Schultz, United Central Control

YARMOUTH, Maine—Safety and security have been Kathryn Schultz’s main focal point for two decades.

Currently the Marketing and Sales Coordinator for United Central Control (UCC) in San Antonio, Texas, Schultz, 40, has worked her way up through the UCC ranks during her 20-year career at the alarm monitoring services provider, having celebrated her work anniversary in May of this year.

“Along with being the Marketing and Sales Coordinator, I am also a member of the UCC executive management team,” she explained. “The majority of my day-to-day responsibilities include promoting and maintaining UCC’s company image and brand through events, advertising and online presence as well as supporting the UCC sales team with presentation preparation, educational events, and high-level dealer and prospect meetings.”

The 40-year-old Schultz began her UCC career in May 2001 as a Data Entry/Customer Service Rep/Dispatch Supervisor and has also served as Marketing Assistant and Marketing Supervisor before taking on her current role in 2015.

“I began my career as a dispatcher on graveyard shift and I found that I was inspired to help people,” Schultz said. “As I moved through different positions and departments within UCC, I found I had a Servant’s Heart and that inspiration followed me no matter my role or job responsibility. Being able to be a part of a team that provides security and peace of mind for homes and businesses, while also helping dealers grow their business and succeed continues to be a major source of my inspiration and job satisfaction.”

Home Automation and Video

Schultz cited continued advances in home automation and video as among the exciting trends and technologies in the security industry today.

“Neither is new per se, but I think their constant evolution and application keeps them fresh and in demand,” she noted. “Both continue to excite not only dealers but end users as well, and they create new awareness for customers of their home and business environments. Customers can take one look at their phone and understand what’s happening and are able to make more informed decisions based off of what they can see. I think it will be interesting to see how these technologies continue to evolve and what role the monitoring center will play with new features and services.”

Adaptability and Compassion

As we continue to navigate through the COVID-19 pandemic, Schultz emphatically pointed out two keys to success during these unprecedented times, both personally and in business.

“Hands down I feel like it’s adaptability and compassion,” she stated. “Day to day it seems like there are so many changes and obstacles that come up for all businesses and in our personal lives, and that was before the influence of COVID. Being able to quickly adapt to our constantly evolving environment and staying positive and compassionate to others around you while working through those challenges is the key to succeeding and thriving in a personal and professional environment.”

Investing in the Future

When asked about her views on the future of the security industry, Schultz noted that the industry is “always going to have a need for well-run, service-oriented security providers. Our roles may evolve a bit with technological improvements, but professional security and monitoring centers will never become outdated.”

She added that the key to attracting new and diverse talent is to offer a challenging, nurturing, and welcoming work environment with flexible schedules, competitive compensation plans, and great benefits.

“You also need to create educational programs that identify a clear career path and provide opportunities for advancement,” she said. “In my experience, most people want to feel that they are needed and that they belong to a team, and the best way to show them they matter is to invest in them.”