I am the security manager for the Frisco campus, and my role is to ensure a safe environment for the staff and visitors.
What do you do on a daily basis or what sort of duties do you have at work?
Observe, react, respond, listen, train and fix if I can. I try to be alert to anything out of the ordinary that may be going on inside or outside our facility. I’m always busy making rounds through clinics and departments, checking live and recorded camera footage, listening to staff concerns, making employee badges and assigning proper access clearance and a lot of other little but important things that are semi-top secret.
What was your first job? What path did you take to get here or what led you to Scottish Rite? How long have you worked here?
My first job was a mail clerk for an insurance company. Before coming to Scottish Rite, I was a bank fraud investigator, which allowed me to learn and work alongside the FBI, Secret Service and several other areas of law enforcement. I loved the job, but I had to deal with dishonest individuals and criminals. Coming to Scottish Rite provided an atmosphere better for my heart. I’ll be coming up on my 22nd anniversary this year.
What do you enjoy most about Scottish Rite?
I love the family feel I get from the staff, and I could feel it when I first arrived. Times have changed, but it’s still there! Even the grumpy staff, which only makes it more like a family. Throughout the years I’ve worked alongside all levels of staff, including our trustees. The one common theme is the way we care for the kids and each other.
Tell us something about your job that others might not already know.
I actually get a lot of security and safety improvement ideas from the staff and my officers by just listening to their concerns or asking questions. Some are a bit over the top. I’m a semi-perfectionist, so I’m constantly trying to improve every aspect of security for our facility.
Where is the most interesting place you’ve been?
Pebble Beach Golf Course. Two years ago my best friend and I made a pact to play a PGA golf course every year. It was an extremely beautiful course and to know that you are playing the same course that Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus played was amazing. That was last year. This year we played TPC Sawgrass and had the same “WOW” feeling.
What is your favorite game or sport to watch and play?
Football is always first on my list. I still enjoy playing catch with the kids in the neighborhood. I love watching my Dallas Cowboys, when they are winning, and any Texas college team, but I do lean more toward the UT Longhorns. Golf became my sport because of the individual challenge it provides. Also, I can yell at myself instead of my teammates. I’m kind of competitive. Ok, I’m competitive!
What’s one fun fact about yourself?
For one month I was an actor. The opportunity came up when I was transitioning from banking to Scottish Rite. I was an assistant coach in the movie Any Given Sunday that was filmed at the old Texas Stadium. I was only a glorified extra, but I did get to meet Al Pacino, Jamie Foxx, Cameron Diaz, Jim Brown, the greatest NFL running back of all time, and several other stars. It was one of those once-in-a-lifetime things.
