The Pulse Employee Newsletter
October 2025: Issue 51
Our newsletter contains stories about our clients, vendors and employees. If you have a story to share, email marketing@protossecurity.com. This month, we’re excited to announce our 20th group of Unite in Action Award recipients. Read on to find out who the winners are!
GSX 2025 Recap
The Global Security Exchange (GSX) 2025 trade show in New Orleans, LA, was a huge success! As one of the largest and most influential events in the security industry, GSX brought together thousands of professionals from around the world, and Protos had a large presence on the show floor.
The connections and conversations made during the show continue to inspire our mission to deliver smarter, more adaptable security solutions. We are already looking forward to next year’s show!
Check out our recap video for more highlights about the show and continue reading for more updates and photos from the event.
The Protos Experience
The “Protos Presents” Stage in our booth drew crowds with live demos, thought leadership sessions and quick-hitting industry insights, showcasing how Protos is redefining what it means to deliver modern, data-driven and scalable security solutions.
Interactive Gratitude and Innovation Walls
Attendees engaged with our Innovation Wall, where they shared challenges and ideas for shaping the future of security, as well as our Gratitude Wall, where visitors left messages honoring military and law enforcement heroes.
Military and Law Enforcement Appreciation Day (MLEAD) Breakfast
Protos proudly sponsored the Military and Law Enforcement Appreciation Day (MLEAD) Breakfast on October 1, recognizing the vital contributions of public safety professionals. The Gratitude Wall was displayed during the breakfast.
School Security Presentation
Protos took the School Security Presentation Stage to lead an important discussion: “From Patrol to Protection: Leveraging Retired Law Enforcement for School Security.” The session explored how retired law enforcement professionals can bring experience, preparedness and calm leadership to K–12 and higher education environments.
Unite in Action Award Nomination Form
Help Us Choose Our Next Unite in Action Award Recipients: (Who do you want to nominate…?)
Any employee within the organization (yes, that includes you!) can nominate someone for the Unite in Action Award. In fact, we need your help to make this award happen. Please nominate your colleagues and peers as you recognize them aligning with one or more of our values. An explanation of each value is below:
- Stay Curious: We keep learning and discovering how to improve, which sometimes means changing the way we do things.
- Build Relationships: We value the trust between our colleagues, clients, vendors and security personnel to strengthen camaraderie.
- Take Ownership: We champion self-accountability and push boundaries to achieve shared success.
- Be Principled: We show integrity in every decision and always do the right thing.
If you feel that a team member has gone above and beyond and displayed one or more of these values, make sure to let us know! The Unite in Action Awards will be announced monthly, but we always accept nominations through the Unite in Action Award Form.
Unite in Action Award Winners
The Unite in Action Awards will be presented to up to four employees each month. These individuals will be nominated by their peers or managers as someone who embodies our values.
Recipients receive the Unite in Action Award trophy and a branded gift!
Congratulations to our winners… drumroll please…
Katie Daniels, Senior Director of Human Resources
Blue Star Security
Nominated by: Alissa Criniti
Reason: Katie consistently goes above and beyond for the whole Protos Team. She is always ready to step in and help wherever needed, never hesitating to take on a new challenge. Katie takes ownership of every task she’s given and sees it through to completion with exceptional reliability. There is never a need to follow up with her, she is always on top of it! Her deep knowledge and sound judgment make her a trusted resource for the entire team. When working with Katie, you can trust that she will get it done and done right! I am truly grateful to have her as a colleague and teammate on the Protos Team.
Aleisha Daniels, Receptionist
Protos Security
Nominated by: Keri Corkins
Reason: Aleisha immediately takes ownership of any task she is asked to do, no matter who it comes from, or which department needs support. Recently, I asked her to order cupcakes for the Roanoke viewing party to celebrate our teams’ Culture Jam video submissions. Aleisha didn’t just order cupcakes — she took full ownership of the event.
She went above and beyond by creating an experience. Aleisha built a balloon arch (which meant blowing up nearly 100 balloons!), ordered musical decorations, decorated the breakroom, arranged a popcorn machine and even created a stunning backdrop for the viewing party. What could have been a simple task became something special because she recognized that the environment we create matters.
As I stood back to take in the room, one of our employees walked by on a FaceTime call. He excitedly showed the person on the other end the balloon backdrop, the cupcakes on the decorative stand and the popcorn bags we had prepared. In that moment, he was so proud.
Aleisha didn’t settle on some cupcakes in a plastic package from Sam’s – she took ownership and pushed boundaries. This was more than the culture jam viewing party – Aleisha went out of her way to make this event an employee experience.
Amy Dreese, Manager of Payroll
Protos Off-Duty Services
Nominated by: Penny Osmond
Reason: Amy consistently goes above and beyond in everything she does. She’s always willing to lend a hand, no matter how busy she is, and her support never goes unnoticed. Amy is incredibly reliable, keeps everyone in the loop and ensures that nothing falls through the cracks. Her friendly nature makes her a joy to work with, and you can always trust her to take ownership of a task and see it through to completion.
Clayton Sanchez, Administrative Assistant
Squad Security
Nominated by: Regina Foti
Reason: Clayton epitomizes all four of our Company values to stay curious, take ownership, build relationships and be principled. He is really an unsung hero for the organization and is always willing to step up and assist where needed. He was very helpful to the Protos IT team when we relocated Squad Security to their new beautiful office in Redondo Beach taking care of several details before our arrival and during the office turn up. More recently, Clayton drove to the ODO office in Vista, CA to assist with the Windows 11 upgrade. Clayton is always on time. His actions show how he takes ownership, stays curious, builds relationships and is principled. We’re grateful for him.
OUR EVENTS
What’s been happening lately across the organization?
Recent Events
September 17-19
The International Facility Management Association (IFMA) hosted its World Workplace Conference in Minneapolis, MN. World Workplace is the premier gathering for professionals in facility management, workplace strategy and business innovation. Attendees gained actionable ideas to transform their facilities, while connecting with thought leaders and peers across the profession.
September 21-24
The Asset Protection Executive Xchange (APEX) Grocery Annual Conference was held in Nashville, TN. This event is designed for asset protection executives and gives attendees the opportunity to exchange ideas within the grocery community.
September 29-October 1
The Global Security Exchange (GSX) 2025 trade show took place in New Orleans, LA this year. This is the largest and one of the most important shows in the security industry. Protos and Securitime had a large presence at the show with many members of our Sales, EAG and Vendor teams. During the show we had the opportunity to meet with prospects, clients, vendors and more.
October 14-15
The Energy Security Council (ESC) held its Annual Energy Security Conference in Houston. ESC brings together the professionals responsible for protecting the energy sector.
October 14-16
Protos attended the International Association of Interviewers (IAI) Elite Training Days in Chicago, IL. This event was an investigative interviewing conference led by experts in the field, focusing on professional growth and dynamic training sessions.
Upcoming Events
October 19-21
The American Bankers Association (ABA) Annual Convention will be held in Charlotte, NC. Leaders from banks of all sizes will attend to explore the latest industry innovations and trends.
October 20-23
The Coalition of Law Enforcement and Retail (CLEAR) Annual Conference will take place in Orlando, FL. This conference brings together retailers, law enforcement professionals and industry professionals from across the country.
October 20
Protos is proud to sponsor the KBR Charity Golf Tournament. For nearly two decades, the KBR Charity Golf Tournament has been a shining example of commitment to being a positive force of change in our communities. Each year, funds raised through the tournament go to local and national non-profit organizations.
October 28
The Loss Prevention Foundation (LPF) Fall Meeting will be held in Delray Beach, FL.
October 28
The Mid-Atlantic Organized Retail Crime Alliance (MAORCA) second Annual Fall Conference will take place in Tysons Corner, VA. This conference brings together retail, law enforcement and investigative professionals from across the region for a full day of impactful training, collaboration and networking.
Important Observances in October
Cybersecurity Awareness Month: Although we are a company that focuses on physical security, cybersecurity is also an evolving and growing threat. This is the 22nd Cybersecurity Awareness Month and it has grown into a collaborative effort between the government and industry to enhance cybersecurity awareness. This year’s theme is “Building a Cyber Strong America,” highlighting the need to strengthen the country’s infrastructure against cyber threats, ensuring resilience and security.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month is recognized every October and is a time to promote awareness and support everyone affected by breast cancer around the world.
Fire Prevention Month: This month reminds us that fires are a constant threat our officers watch for daily. We can all take simple, proactive steps to prevent dangerous and life-threatening incidents.
FEATURED NEWS ARTICLE
Protos Security Launches New Client Portal Experience
Protos Labs and Product Marketing are excited to share the official relaunch of the Protos Client Portal! With a sleek new design, smarter dashboards and enhanced reporting tools, clients now have more visibility and control than ever before. Additionally, the portal’s capabilities have expanded to provide access to armed and unarmed guarding, as well as off-duty services.
At the center of this upgrade is the all-new Performance Dashboard – the centerpiece of a client’s day-to-day experience in the portal. This is more than a visual refresh. This update reflects what our clients value most: real-time access to actionable insights that support confident, data-driven decisions when and where they’re needed.
From budget reporting and incident trends, to service fulfillment and location-specific metrics, clients can explore data through customizable filters, toggle views and interactive visualizations that make it easy to identify patterns, risks and opportunities at a glance.
Elevating the Client Experience with New Securitime Dashboards
Additionally, the Securitime team has officially rolled out its redesigned client portal dashboards – enhancing how clients visualize performance and monitor activity. Developed in partnership with the Protos Labs team, these updates are part of a broader rollout to make the portal more intuitive, actionable and data-driven.
Performance Dashboard
The new Performance Dashboard offers a clear, visual summary of key metrics that matter most to clients – from service fulfillment and open posts to tardy hours and performance distribution. The streamlined layout and data visualization tools make it easier than ever to assess operational performance at a glance, while also allowing users to drill down into specific data for deeper insights.
Live Map Dashboard
The Live Map Dashboard, a completely new feature, provides rapid refresh updates, bringing situational awareness to the forefront. Clients can now monitor their locations across the country, view live updates on site statuses and quickly identify high-severity incidents or open posts.
Support and Additional Information
Team members are encouraged to explore the new dashboards and familiarize themselves with the updates. Your understanding of these tools ensures clients receive consistent support when navigating the redesigned portal.
For questions or additional information, please reach out to support@securitime.com.
Employee Spotlight
Ethan Bruce
National Sales Director – Protos Security
How long have you been with the company?
I started with Protos in April 2024.
What do you enjoy doing outside of work?
My family and I love being outdoors. We have visited almost every waterfall in upstate South Carolina, western North Carolina and middle Tennessee.
My personal hobbies are fly fishing and BBQ. I help my local community and sponsor BBQ catering often feeding 100-150 people either through donation or as a fundraiser. I did a hot dog dinner fundraiser in late 2024, which Protos sponsored for Hurricane Helene relief, where we fed over 300 people! I also organized a BBQ plate fundraiser in March 2025 for a family facing hardship. Through BBQ sales and donations, we raised over $7,000 for the family.
Helping the local community and breaking bread with people is my favorite way of connecting and giving back.
What is your favorite vacation spot?
Charleston, SC
What is your favorite food?
Smoked beef short ribs, birria and Mediterranean food.
What is your favorite band, artist, or music genre?
Country Music – shout out to Jelly Roll!
What is your favorite book?
I would have to say author here, who is R.A. Salvatore.
Do you have any pets?
We have five pets! Three dogs named Comet (ten-year-old Golden Retriever), Olive (one-year-old Sheepadoodle), Honey (nine-week-old Goldendoodle), a hamster and a leopard gecko.
Any interesting facts about you?
I played in several orchestras and symphonies in my teens/early 20’s as a first chair violinist while also playing as a defensive end and middle linebacker in High School.
We want to hear from you!
Interested in being the next employee featured?
Our employee recognition programs are in full swing across our different offices. The Roanoke, VA and Houston, TX offices launched the “Protos Props” program which awards employees for their contributions and hard work.
The Protos Props recipients this month are:
- Cameron Welch, Dispatch Fulfillment Agent, Protos
-
Lori Wilhide, Dispatch Intake Agent, Protos
Keep up the great work!
Green Out Wednesdays
Congratulations to our October Green Out Wednesday raffle winner!
Virtual Employee Winner: Alex Lawton, Recruiter
About Green Out Wednesdays
Every Wednesday, wear our team color, GREEN, with pride! While green represents the Protos logo, it also symbolizes growth, harmony and balance. By wearing green together, we celebrate our company spirit and our commitment to supporting one another and Protos’ success.
How It Works
Participation is optional. Each Wednesday you wear green and submit a photo you will receive a raffle entry for that week. All entries go toward both a monthly prize drawing and a special year-end prize! The monthly prize is any item from the Protos company store with a $25 limit.
How to Enter: Email your photo to Keri Corkins – kcorkins@protossecurity.com.
Let’s have fun, show off our Protos pride and continue building strong connections as a team! Stay tuned for future winner announcements!
Upcoming Transition: Expensify to Concur
We’re preparing to transition from Expensify to Concur, our new expense management platform.
Why Concur?
Concur offers a more streamlined and intuitive experience for submitting and approving expenses. A key feature is the daily automatic feed of Wells Fargo credit card activity, helping you stay on top of your expenses with less manual entry.
What You Need to Know:
-
- Expensify will sunset at the end of this month.
- All October expense activity should be submitted and closed out in Expensify.
- Do not enter any November expenses into Expensify—these should be submitted in Concur once the platform is fully live.
- Training materials and support resources will be shared soon.
- Watch for further announcements with the official switch-over date and submission deadlines.
- Expensify will sunset at the end of this month.
What’s Next?
We will also be transitioning to Concur Travel soon, which will simplify how business travel is booked and managed. Stay tuned for more updates.
For questions, please contact corporatecards@protossecurity.com.
It’s Open Enrollment Time!
Open Enrollment for the 2026 plan year will run from October 20 through November 3, 2025.
This year marks a significant change: we’ve transitioned to new vendors for Medical, Dental, Vision, and Voluntary coverage. Because of this change, we are conducting an Active Open Enrollment, meaning all benefit-eligible employees must take action to enroll in benefits to ensure coverage for 2026. If you do not enroll, you will not have coverage in 2026.
Updated benefit guides reflecting our new plan offerings will be available soon, and accessible on the ADP homepage. Our broker, AON, along with representatives from our new vendors, will host live webinars and be available to answer your questions. A recording will be provided for those unable to attend.
If you have questions or need assistance, please contact Sandra Lue, Benefits Manager, at slue@protossecurity.com.
Meeting and Event Updates
Protos Celebrates Customer Service Appreciation Week
Last week, Protos celebrated Customer Service Appreciation Week with gratitude, good food and plenty of team spirit! Our teams across the country spent the week celebrating with yummy food, thoughtful gift kits and heartfelt thank-you notes. We recognize the hard work, dedication and positivity that all of our employees bring to clients and colleagues every single day.
Site Visits to our Top 35 Customers
Protos’ leadership team continues their journey on meaningful client visits that go beyond routine check-ins. These visits focus on actively listening to client feedback and turning those insights into action to drive real value. Most recently, Mark Hjelle visited Burlington in New Jersey, and Mark and Matt Shedlock visited Giant Foods in Maryland.
Service Team Completes Companywide Knowledge Challenge
The Service Team had the highest amount of team members that participated in our Knowledge Check Contest that took place this year. Their teamwork, quick thinking and strong understanding of operations paid off. As a reward, they enjoyed a group outing and a well-deserved meal together. It was a great opportunity for the team to relax, celebrate and enjoy some time together outside the office. Way to go, team!
Tailgating Party
The Roanoke office kicked off football season with a festive tailgating lunch including wings! Everyone came dressed in their favorite jerseys, showing off team spirit from top to bottom. It was a fun way to celebrate the season, enjoy some great food and share laughs with coworkers. Here’s to a season full of touchdowns, both on and off the field!
Culture Viewing Party
Employees had a great time watching the Culture Jam entries from teams across the company! Everyone grabbed some popcorn and cupcakes and settled in to enjoy the creativity and teamwork on display. It was fun to see how each group brought our Culture Agreements to life. A big thank-you to everyone who participated and helped make it such an enjoyable event!
Accolades and Appreciation
Protos Remote Services Recognizes Robert Bray, Monitoring Supervisor
Rob is a very reliable leader who consistently ensures stability in the monitoring room and consistently delivers on assigned projects. Rob repeatedly picks up open Supervisor shifts, which has helped prevent coverage gaps and maintains efficient operations for the whole team. Rob regularly nominates employees for “Employee of the Week,” demonstrating strong leadership in recognizing and encouraging his team’s performance. Rob’s consistency in reliability and commitment to the department, as well as on investigative requests, ad hoc projects and team recognition are truly an asset to the team. Thanks for your efforts, Rob!
VENDOR MANAGEMENT
Every month, a vendor is awarded the Protos Security Vendor Partnership Award. Nominees are selected based on a critical look at vendor KPIs and their overall dedication to a mutually beneficial relationship with Protos. The winning vendor will receive a gift card to TopLine Uniforms.
This month’s winner is:
Surety Security nominated by Karyn Alfini
IT AND INFRASTRUCTURE UPDATES
New AI-Driven Phishing Platform Automates Attack Campaigns
Article Featured by KnowBe4
Researchers at Varonis warn of a new phishing automation platform called “SpamGPT” that “combines the power of generative AI with a full suite of email campaign tools.”
While previous phishing kits have automated parts of the attack chain, SpamGPT’s sophistication sets it apart from the rest.
“SpamGPT’s interface and features imitate a professional email marketing service, but for illegal purposes,” Varonis writes. “The toolkit is promoted as AI-powered, encrypted, and includes an AI marketing assistant dashboard to help create and optimize campaigns.
“The dark-themed UI features modules for campaign management, SMTP/IMAP setup, deliverability testing, and analytics — offering all the conveniences a Fortune 500 marketer might expect, but adapted for cybercrime. The creators even market SpamGPT as an all-in-one spam-as-a-service platform, blurring the line between legitimate marketing tools and weaponized automation.”
While legitimate AI tools have guardrails to curb misuse, SpamGPT includes a built-in chatbot that will happily generate convincing phishing templates.
Read the full article featured in KnowBe4.
When in doubt about an email, especially if there is a sense of urgency, links requesting credential information or requests for ACH or other financial data, click the Phish Alert Button in your Outlook application to report it. If the same type of email keeps landing in your Inbox despite you not responding, send an email attachment of that email to RSM at rsmmits@rsumus.com.
If you are unsure because an email “appears” to be from a known contact, but the ask is out of the ordinary, please pick up the phone and call your contact directly to verify. It’s up to all of us to keep the Company safe.