SIA's 'power women' – “We are strong, unique, and incredibly capable!”

SILVER SPRING, Md.—As we celebrate International Women’s Day, and the announcement of the Security Industry Association Women in Security Forum (SIA WISF) Power 100 for 2023, Security Systems News and SIA WISF would like to recognize the “Power Women of SIA” as they talk about what it means to work for SIA, as well as what their journey has been like as a woman in a primarily male-dominated, non-diverse security industry.

Katie Greatti, Associate Director, Learning and Development

Katie Greatti holds a Master of Arts in legal and forensic psychology from Marymount University and has more than seven years of experience working in associations. She has lived in the DMV (District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia) area for 10 years and has worked with a variety of nonprofit organizations. Greatti continues to enjoy serving the community as much as possible.

Key responsibilities:

• Certification program management

• Certification development and maintenance

• SIA RISE community and AcceleRISE conference

• Student outreach

• SIA education course sales and customer outreach

“For me, working for SIA means creating community and helping all members find their niche. Being a woman in this industry is powerful. While it is historically male dominated, women have built an incredible community amongst us. We are strong, unique, and incredibly capable.”

Kara Klein, Manager of Communications

As manager of communications at SIA, Kara Klein creates, advances and manages communications and content programs that effectively articulate SIA’s mission and objectives and promote the organization and the security industry. She is responsible for media relations, social media, content contributions, web content, communications plans and tactics and other communications and marketing efforts and manages SIA’s newsletters and blog.

Before her time at SIA, Klein served as director of digital strategy at the National Cyber Security Alliance, where she led the day-to-day operations of the organization’s key online safety awareness campaign, managed online strategy and creation and acquisition of content for blogs and oversaw all web and social media properties. Klein has also held communications and marketing roles at the George Washington University and National Geographic. She holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism and mass communication and a master’s degree in media and public affairs from the George Washington University.

Key responsibilities:

• SIA Update and SIA community newsletters

• Media relations and partnerships

• SIA blog and social media channels

“I came to SIA and the physical security and life safety industry in 2018 from the world of cybersecurity and privacy awareness, and I feel drawn to it for the same reasons I enjoyed my previous role – that this industry is in the business of protecting people and is helping to make our communities safer. In the last few years, we’ve seen so much growth in the areas of diversity, equity, and inclusion in our industry, and I am inspired by seeing the changing, diversifying makeup of our SIA communities and the attendees at SIA’s events and conferences. I look forward to seeing even more progress to come!”

Ozzie Kocak, Manager of Marketing and Member Engagement

Ozge “Ozzie” Kocak is the marketing and member engagement manager for the Security Industry Association. In this role, she is responsible for managing SIA events and supporting marketing programs to drive awareness, growth, and member engagement. Kocak also oversees the National Capital Region Security Forum, SIA’s D.C.-area security community who connects monthly to promote government and commercial security. She has a passion for strategic communications, integrated marketing, and issue advocacy. Before joining SIA, she served as a communications specialist for a federal cybersecurity contractor. Kocak graduated summa cum laude from Marymount University with a degree in political science.

Key responsibilities:

• Content creation

• Member outreach marketing

• Events

“What does it mean to work for SIA? Two things primarily give me a great deal of job satisfaction at SIA: the immediate and positive impact of our work and the ability to gain a 360-degree view of the security industry. What drew me to SIA initially was the exposure to hundreds of security companies, experienced people, and a variety of emerging technologies. What I’ve found since then is that it’s a privilege to work for SIA because I get the chance to connect with a diverse membership base, collaborate with the best minds in the business, and deliver for the good of the industry. Whether it’s facilitating a large industry conference, organizing a networking event, helping to advocate on behalf of our members, or releasing a new publication, seeing that our members find value and enjoyment in what we deliver drives me to want to do more and strengthen the quality of our work.

“Anytime our members recognize and appreciate the important services SIA provides, it serves as a reminder that my effort is contributing to a positive industry impact and we’re all working on something that is bigger than ourselves.”  

When asked about her journey as a woman in the security industry, Kocak responded, “Any line of work involves a blend of positive and negative experiences. But I tend not to focus on those obstacles and instead turn my attention to things that are in my control – my performance, my output, and my attitude. From my experience, people start taking you seriously when you show up with a can-do attitude, produce results and contribute to positive outcomes. As a woman in this industry, I've seen how important it is to exert my ability to learn quickly, bring results to the table, and always be a good team player. Fortunately, my male co-workers have empowered, encouraged, and inspired me to do better. Throughout my career thus far, I have not been shut down or hindered from contributing. Instead, this industry has presented me with the chance to be entrusted with an increasing amount of responsibilities and opportunities to make an impact and grow.

“Additionally, as an immigrant, a multicultural, multi-lingual woman, I am an example of the diversity that the industry is committed to fostering. As I look around, I see that it’s not just talk, the efforts to create a more inclusive, diverse industry are happening every day and both men and women are contributing to that change. I expect this momentum to continue, and I’m excited to see the increase of women and a diversified workforce in the security industry in a few years.”

Kimberly Landgraf, Senior Manager of Design and Production

Kim Landgraf is the senior manager of design and production for the Security Industry Association. In this role, she oversees the design and production of all of the marketing materials and defines the overall look and feel of the association. In addition, she launched the Women in Security Forum in 2018 and is currently the staff liaison for the community.

With a solid command of marketing principles build upon a strong design foundation, Kim has extensive experience delivering design solutions and executing a creative vision that helps drives growth. Previously Kim has served as a design manager for Arnold & Porter and as a graphic designer at the American Association of Physics Teachers.

Key responsibilities:

• SIA Women in Security Forum

• Design and production

• Marketing support

“In the nine years I’ve been in the security industry, I’ve seen lots of change and progress is moving forward. When SIA asked me to help launch the Women in Security Forum, I didn’t hesitate. Since its inception in March 2018, I’ve learned a lot from working with so many inspiring women.”  

Dr. Elli Reges, Director of Learning and Development

Dr. Elli Reges is the director of learning and development (L&D) for the Security Industry Association (SIA). She is responsible for the development and ongoing management of SIA’s expanding portfolio of education and workforce development programs and initiatives. Her key responsibilities include developing certification and training programs that serve the security industry, overseeing content development and conference program management for the SIA Education@ISC events and identifying and designing L&D initiatives of strategic value to SIA’s members and their channel partners.

For 10 years, Reges has worked with security organizations to develop successful methods to effectively mobilize human capital assets and promote organizational L&D strategies that support bottom-line objectives in quality, efficiency, and performance. She serves as a strategic planning partner to various SIA committees and stakeholder groups to identify, assess and implement learning interventions that address critical knowledge and skills gaps within the security industry. She specializes in assessment-based certification and training program development and is among the inaugural group of learning professionals to earn the Certified Credentialing Professional (ICE-CCP) designation.

Reges was recently recognized by Security Systems News among the “40 under 40” Class of 2021 and is an active speaker at industry events on workforce development and training. Elli holds a Ph.D. in human capital development and a master’s degree from the University of Southern Mississippi, as well as a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Mississippi.

Key responsibilities:

• Leads content development for the SIA Education@ISC conference programs for ISC West and ISC East

• Direct SIA’s education, training, certification and career development programs and initiatives

• Collaborates with industry experts to strategically identify and design programs of value to SIA’s members and their channel partners

“Coming from a practitioner-facing security organization to SIA has afforded me the opportunity to learn about many different facets of the industry and work collaboratively with a wide variety of thought leaders across the profession. Early on in my career, I developed a certification program with a focus group where men outnumbered women about 10 to 1. There wasn’t much focus on the need to diversify the room (or industry for that matter) but they did cultivate a mindset of inclusion that allowed me to learn and grow which, ultimately, helped propel my career forward. Hard work, persistence, and building strong relationships with a network of supportive people all play an important part in achieving your own personal goals and succeeding in the security industry.”

Robin Smith, Managing Director of Finance and Operations

Robin Smith is the managing director of finance and operations for the Security Industry Association (SIA). She is responsible for managing the association’s operations, human resources, and financial activities, including budget oversight, financial reporting, and planning. Prior to joining the SIA team, Smith served as vice president of finance and administration for the National Business Officers Association, and as director of finance and administration for the American Political Science Association. She received her B.S. in business management, management studies and accounting from the University of Maryland University College.

“I was fortunate early in my career to have worked for two women association leaders, Dr. Debra Stewart at the Council of Graduate Schools, and Carole Rogin at Clarion Management Resources. Both of these CEOs were amazing mentors and role models from whom I learned to work hard, be accountable, maintain a positive attitude, respect others, and demonstrate my commitment to organizational goals. These women gave me the opportunities to grow professionally that led me to my current role.

“At SIA, it’s a privilege to work under [CEO] Don Erickson’s leadership to support our staff and serve our members, who are shaping the future of the security industry through the WISF and RISE communities.”