This Head of Security Wears High Heels

By Rose Catalano

How has it been possible for Rose Catalano to thrive with grace and power in a mans world? Wherever you are located in the world, the Security Industry sees few women at the top, and this author has reached that pinnacle through determination and plain hard work. She has developed her own strategies for success, unorthodox as they might sometimes be, and she has made them work.

In this book Rose paves the way for more women to join her at the top by telling, in her own inimitable style, the story of her uncommon choice of lifestyle and how she made it. She shows you a way: Roses way.

For anyone who enjoys the extraordinary, this is a must read.

From dealing with the personal problems of her mostly male staff, to challenging incompetent tax auditors and dishonest suppliers, Rose tells it like it is. Her stories will provoke laughter, and sometimes tears, as she outlines her philosophy and strategy, and builds her blueprint for you through a kaleidoscope of daily events.

If you are curious to find out how you, too, could grow your fledgling security business from a handful of employees, to hundreds then join Rose in this journey of courage and perseverance. She is a true pioneer in a lifestyle as unique as her story.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Balboa Press
• Release date: Mar 4, 2016
• ISBN: 9781504350990

Rose Catalano

Rose Catalano is a successful businesswoman. She has been honored by the International Women’s Leadership Association as a woman of outstanding leadership and is listed in the current Worldwide Who’s Who Registry of Executives, Professionals and Entrepreneurs. A Child’s Voyage to New Life is her second book. She currently lives with her family in Canada.

Book preview

This

Head of

Security

Wears High

Heels

Rose Catalano

41658.png

Copyright © 2016 Rose Catalano.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

4000 Steeles Avenue West #29

Vaughan, Ontario. L4L 4V9

Phone: [phone] Fax: [phone]

Websites www.gemstarsecurity.ca and www.gemssecurity.ca

Balboa Press

A Division of Hay House

1663 Liberty Drive

Bloomington, IN 47403

www.balboapress.com

1 [phone]

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

The author of this book does not dispense medical advice or prescribe the use of any technique as a form of treatment for physical, emotional, or medical problems without the advice of a physician, either directly or indirectly. The intent of the author is only to offer information of a general nature to help you in your quest for emotional and spiritual well-being. In the event you use any of the information in this book for yourself, which is your constitutional right, the author and the publisher assume no responsibility for your actions.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

ISBN: 978-1-5043-5101-0 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5043-5100-3 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-5043-5099-0 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2016903055

Balboa Press rev. date: 03/04/2016

Contents

Foreword

Preface

Introduction

The Story of Gems

Gems Security Systems

Gemstar Security Service

Who am I anyway?

My Introduction to Security

A Man’s World

Decision and Action Plan

Early Beginnings in Security

Ignored by my colleagues

Aptitude and Attitude

Moving Forward

Surround yourself with experts but make your own decisions

Following my own instincts – the Female Advantage

Financial Issues

Tax Issues

All Auditors are not created equal

What Skills Do You Need to run a Successful Business?

Everybody has something to say about Rose

My Quick Business Philosophy

Management Team

Communication with staff

Field Support Staff

High Level Delegation.

Trusting my Delegation

Communications with Dispatch

Gems Security Systems Technical Staff

Know what you sell

Prospecting

How do you find your customers?

If never comes

Explain, Educate, and Assure

Deviation from plans

Unfinished business.

Ongoing Delivery of Service

A Better Way - working up through the ranks.

Gemstar Security Service

HR and the value of a well-written memo

A different staff situation

Regulations

Guard Training

Further security roles

Request to the Ministry - Expanding Guards’ Roles

Security Guard Pay Issues

Why do people join the security industry?

Cost of Doing Business

How you treat your staff

Drinking on the job

Preparation for Emergencies

A tragic event

A guard on a crusade

Standards of Uniform Guards

Technicians

Selecting your staff

From the collection of excuses I have heard

Will a mediocre performance improve?

Expansion and moving

Outgrowing the Expansion

Serving on the Board of Directors

Giving back to the community

Children’s party

Student Scholarships

In search of superlative product

The R and D project

A Word to the Ministry on abuse of the system.

Some things to remember when you are considering the security industry

Regular Company Review

Today …

(Almost) The Last Word

My place in the Industry

Dedication

I dedicate this book to all young women who aspire to take entrepreneurship to a new place.

I also dedicate it to my loyal staff who have stood by me through all my years in this business.

Rose Catalano

Acknowledgements

My first debt of gratitude goes to Rene Diamante for introducing me to the complexity of physical security systems. You made it possible for me, as the new entrant in the technological security market, to hold a position different from the status quo. You have been my tutor and my mentor and continue to give me your unwavering support. Thank you does not seem to be enough.

To Don Sebire (no longer with us), I will always cherish his foresight, encouragement and the perseverance that got me interested and involved in the security guard business.

His stories of his field experiences and his love for the industry will never be forgotten.

I say thank you to my son, David Catalano, for being the #1 member of my fan club, and to him I owe my sense of purpose. David, it means so much to me that you believed in this concept and in my ability to deliver.

I am grateful to my husband for his continued support and for being my sounding board. Thank you for preparing excellent meals when the going gets hectic for me.

To my daughter, the external HR critic, I say thank you for putting your best foot forward and not shying away from our discussions as I challenged you on some requirements regarding labour structures/laws. You make an excellent adversary, and you are always ready to lend a helping hand.

I owe great thanks to my staff for their many years of dedication and loyalty. I value your enthusiasm and the steadfastness you show as we work together to achieve our goals. I say thank you, and I know that this would not have been possible without you. I also extend my heartfelt appreciation to all of you who gave me the opportunity to grow and gave my company a chance without reservations. I will always cherish your trust.

Finally, I extend many, many, thanks to Ann Jordan-Mills (writer/editor) for her support, guidance and enthusiasm in making this story come alive.

Foreword

How has it been possible for Rose Catalano to thrive with grace and power in a man’s world? Wherever you are located in the world, the Security Industry sees few women at the top, and this author has reached that pinnacle through determination and perseverance. She has developed her own strategies for success, unorthodox as they might sometimes be, and she has made them work.

In this book Rose paves the way for more women to join her at the top by telling, in her own inimitable style, the story of her uncommon choice of lifestyle and how she made it. She shows you a way: Rose’s way.

For anyone who enjoys the extraordinary, whether or not you are planning your own company, this is a must read.

Prepare to be inspired!

From dealing with the personal problems of her mostly male staff, to challenging incompetent tax auditors and dishonest suppliers, Rose tells it like it is. Her stories will provoke laughter, and sometimes tears, as she outlines her philosophy and strategy, and builds her blueprint for you through a kaleidoscope of daily events.

If you are curious to find out how