Annual Bill Zalud Memorial Award for Professional Excellence Previous Recipients


2021 Award Recipients

Garry Bergin & Paul Kellett

Bill Zalud Award winners Garry Bergin and Paul Kellett, two prominent figures in the Irish security industry, were honored recently by Lord Mayor of Dublin Alison Gilliland.

"It was my pleasure to acknowledge Garry's and Paul's most prestigious achievement," Gilliland. said. "It gives our city great joy to see two of its sons rise to the pinnacle of their profession and to be recognized among their global peers. We are very proud of them."

Congratulations to Garry and Paul, and here's to many more years of excellence in the security industry!

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Garry Bergin, PC; MSc; CSyP®; CPP®, CPOI®, FSyl; F.ISRM

Garry Bergin PC; MSc; CSyP®; CPP®; CPOI®; FSyI; F.ISRM is a highly-qualified and experienced security professional, with over two decades of security operations management experience across a variety of security industry sectors where he has managed some of the largest multi-national security contracts in Ireland. Garry holds an MSc in Security Management and is currently studying towards a Professional Doctorate at the University of Portsmouth focusing on the development of training programs for the security industry internationally. He is a Chartered Security Professional (CSyP) and an ASIS Board Certified CPP®.

A Peace Commissioner appointed by the Irish Minister for Justice and Equality, he is a Fellow of both the Security Institute and the Institute of Strategic Risk Management (ISRM) as well as an IFPO Certified Protection Officer Instructor CPOI®. He is the current Vice-Chair of both ASIS Ireland Chapter and the ISRM Ireland Chapter. A Director, Board Member and Lecturer with the Security Institute of Ireland, Garry also serves as an Advisory Board Member to IFPO UK & Ireland. In 2021, Garry was ranked #11 by IFSEC in the Commercial Security (Thought Leader/ Academic/ Association Figure) category. Garry has also been selected as a judge for the Irish OSPA’s for 2021/2022

Paul Kellett DSM, PC, MSc; CPP®, CPOI®

Paul Kellett DSM, PC, MSc; CPP®, CPOI® is a highly-skilled and experienced security professional with over 33 years front-line uniformed service, including 15 years of strategic management experience in a leadership role. He also has 14 years military experience, during which he was decorated for bravery, awarded the Distinguished Service Medal (DSM) and the Spanish Cross of Naval Merit with White Distinction by the Spanish Ambassador to Ireland, on behalf of the King of Spain. He holds a MSc in Emergency Management from Dublin City University (DCU), ASIS Board Certified CPP® and an IFPO Certified Protection Officer Instructor (CPOI®).

Paul was appointed by the Irish Minister for Justice and Equality as a Peace Commissioner. He is the current Secretary of the ASIS Ireland Chapter, a Director and Lecturer with the Security Institute of Ireland and a Director of the Emergency Management Institute of Ireland (EMII). Paul also serves as an Advisory Board Member to IFPO UK & Ireland. Paul has also been selected as a judge for the Irish OSPA’s for 2021/2022.


To view the full awards release, please check back soon.

2020 Award Recipient

Saudi Aramco - Industrial Security Operations Academy

Each year, one security professional or an organization is recognized for professional excellence and/or outstanding service/acts in the security profession by the International Foundation for Protection Officers.

"The nominations submitted were all outstanding supporters of professional excellence," Sandi Davies, executive director of the IFPO said.

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The  Bill  Zalud  Memorial  Award  was  established  in  2015  to  recognize  professional  excellence  or outstanding service in the security profession. “Saudi Aramco – Industrial Security Operations Academy is one of those organizations that is a strong advocate of professional excellence and has been an exceptional resource of professional development for employees” said Sandi Davies, the IFPO’s Executive Director.

For almost two decades, Saudi Aramco – Industrial Security Operations Academy has made available IFPO, ASIS International, and various other educational programs to their officers. Combinations of hands-on, practical, and written assessments are used to measure training efficacy, including a 360 degree feedback mechanism from the trainees, instructors, mentors, and supervisors implemented during and after each program is delivered. The Academy’s efforts have produced diversity of over 6,000 male and female security professionals, who play crucial roles in protecting Saudi Aramco’s assets and people across Saudi Arabia.

“As a premier security training institution in the Middle East, Saudi Aramco – Industrial Security Operations Academy is fully committed and couldn’t be prouder of our staff and mutually beneficial partnerships, such as with the IFPO, that have helped achieve such a big success” said Kevin Brown, Senior Trainer/Subject Matter Expert (SME).

In conclusion, Ms. Davies said “We are very proud to have a continued partnership with Saudi Aramco – Industrial Security Operations Academy. Their long dedication and outstanding service to our organization and the industry has made a significant and measurable difference because of the strategic direction they strive for in becoming a world-class security academy.”


To view the full awards release, click here.

2019 Award Recipient

Tom M. Conley & The Conley Group, Inc., Des Moines, Iowa

Each year, one security professional or an organization is recognized for professional excellence and/or outstanding service/acts in the security profession by the International Foundation for Protection Officers.

"The nominations submitted were all outstanding supporters of professional excellence," Sandi Davies, executive director of the IFPO said.

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“Mr. Conley is one of those few extraordinary and truly remarkable global security leaders who has not only attained the very pinnacle of professional success and achievement, but he is one of the very small, select group of security professionals who has been a strong and consistent leader in shaping the present and future direction of the security profession worldwide,” IFPO Executive Director Sandi Davies said. Similarly, The Conley Group is globally recognized as a truly professional security services organization whose cadre of highly dedicated security professionals exemplify the modern, well-trained, experienced security professional.

“Given the magnitude of today’s unparalleled global security challenges, the need for security professionals to operate at the highest possible level of operational effectiveness has never been greater nor have the consequences of a security failure ever been more ominous than they are now," Davies said. "That is why is it essential for security professionals at all levels to acquire the necessary professional education and skills they need so they can successfully confront and triumph over the many dangers that exist in the threat landscape of today’s world."

In conclusion, Davies said, “We were very proud to have had Bill Zalud serve on the IFPO Board of Directors for more than a decade. His long and outstanding service to our organization and the security profession as a whole, has made a significant difference. Bill had given strategic direction and vision to the IFPO. As an industry insider, Bill’s steadfast leadership and boundless passion for excellent were instrumental in making the IFPO as well as Security Magazine the  successes they are today."


Award Honorable Mention Recipient

Jeff Hauk, MSA, CPP, PEM, CAS, CPTED

Jeff Hauk is the Director, Public Safety and Police Authority Services at Memorial Healthcare, in Owosso, MI, where he is responsible for providing leadership, strategic planning, and administrative direction for all protective related functions. He is responsible for conceptualizing and building their nationally-recognized and comprehensive protective program. Hauk has been involved in corporate security and public safety for more than 20 years.
Davies and the Bill Zalud Review Committee were impressed with the significant advancements Hauk introduced to his department. He quickly laid the foundation and established a vision that guided the members and standards of the nationally recognized department.
Prior to Memorial Healthcare, Hauk served as the chief security officer for the El Paso Water Utilities, located in El Paso, Texas, as well as for Emergent BioSolutions, a multinational biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Rockville, Md. Emergent’s portfolio of products in development includes preventative and therapeutic products for anthrax and botulism, two top priority bioterrorism agents. EBSI is the sole FDA approved manufacturer of the anthrax vaccine and supplies the Department of Defense, Health and Human Services and SNS (Strategic National Stockpile), among others. Over his decade with Emergent, Hauk was afforded the opportunity to build and develop a leading edge and nationally-recognized private police authority and corporate security risk management department. Under Hauk's leadership, Emergent's Global Protective Services Department developed a reputation for its high level of organizational professionalism, its consistent ability to effectively deal with emerging security challenges, creativity in employing
best industry practices, as well as itsability to develop critical public-private partnerships with federal, state and local first responders.
Hauk is a graduate of Central Michigan University (BS; 1994 and MSA; 2016) and R.L. Oatman and Associates (2007), a highly regarded and respected executive protection academy, where he was designated an executive protection specialist. He is a certified protection professional from ASIS International, as well as a certified anti-terrorism specialist by the Anti-Terrorism Accreditation Board, and Professional Emergency Manager (PEM) by the State of Michigan Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division. Hauk is a certified Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED) Practitioner and as a PPCT (Pressure Point and Control Tactics) Defensive Tactics and Ground Avoidance/Ground Escape instructor.
In addition, he has gained further education and certification in various security, emergency management and law enforcement specialties from the University of Louisville (National Crime Prevention Institute), Michigan State University (Criminal Justice Department), Louisiana State University (Academy of Counter Terrorism), New Mexico Tech (EMRTC), Department of Homeland Security, Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC), El Paso Community College Police Academy, Wayne County Regional Police Training Academy, Oakland Community College Police Academy, and the Emergency Management
Institute.


To view the full awards release, click here.

2018 Award Recipient

Grant Lecky, MSc., CSyP, CBCP, CMCP, CORP – Security Partner’s Forum and the Department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada

Each year, one security professional or an organization is recognized for professional excellence and/or outstanding service/acts in the security profession by the International Foundation for Protection Officers.

"The nominations submitted were all outstanding supporters of professional excellence," Sandi Davies, executive director of the IFPO said.

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Grant Lecky is the co-founder of the Security Partners' Forum, the first-of-its-kind agile network of the global security community, with the purpose of building security and resilience capacity globally. Initiated in 2011, the SPF facilitates and enables enhanced communication and collaborative opportunities among its networked associations, across state jurisdictions, all levels of government, bridges the public sector and private sector and crosses the multitude of security and resilience domains and disciplines.

Lecky is also the business continuity and strategic planning officer at the Department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship in Canada. In this role, Grant oversees the business continuity and crisis management programs and the strategic departmental security plan. Grant is also part of the World Economic Forum’s Expert Network in Risk and Resilience.

Lecky’s contribution to the global security community has resulted in numerous awards, honors and accolades including the Leader of the Decade Award by the Women Economic Forum and inclusion into the Canadian Who’s Who.  Lecky also currently sits on the editorial boards for both the Journal of Business Continuity & Emergency Planning, and the Cybersecurity Journal (Henry Stuart publications) and has professional certifications in security management, business continuity, crisis management, risk management, organizational resilience and critical infrastructure protection.

Lecky has an extensive educational background which includes a master of science degree in Security and Risk Management from the University of Leicester UK, a diploma in Security Management from Algonquin College, and a series of executive level certificates from the Burrill Green Corporate Security Business School, and the International Security Management Association.

In 2011, the IFPO factored heavily into Lecky’s master’s thesis on organizations that were vital to the further professionalization of security across Canada and worldwide.  Since then, the IFPO has continued to evolve in its contributions to global security and in many cases, worked alongside the Security Partners’ Forum.


Award Honorable Mention Recipient

Gary Kuty - Kuty Associates, LLC

Gary H. Kuty, president & CEO of Kuty & Associates, LLC, is a 40-year-veteran of the law enforcement and private security.  Gary is a graduate of Youngstown State University, in Youngstown, Ohio, with a bachelor of science degree in Law Enforcement Administration. Kuty’s past is a well-balanced mix of public and private law enforcement and security.  After a 12-year career in public law enforcement in northeastern Ohio, Kuty spent the next 20 years in the private security industry, holding a variety of positions across the country, including owning a security company in Columbus, Ohio.  In 2002, Kuty fulfilled his lifelong dream and formed Kuty and Associates, LLC, a professional security consulting agency based in Dayton, Ohio.

Kuty has provided high level management, marketing and sales expertise to the industry over the years.  Highly regarded by his peers on a national basis, he is past president and chairman of both the Ohio Association of Security and Investigation Services and the National Council of Investigation and Security Services.  After 20 years as council chair, vice chair and member, Kuty now serves on the prestigious Security Services Council and ASIS International as a lifetime member.

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Currently winding down his career as a consultant, Kuty is an mentor to young security professionals and believes in giving back to the profession which has been so rewarding to him. Kuty has had numerous security and sales-related articles published in several trade association journals and has lectured on a variety of topics to several professional security organizations. Kuty and his wife Liz reside in Dayton, Ohio and spend time enjoying their second home in Cape Coral, Florida.  Their daughter, Annie, resides in New York City and their son Gary Jr. and his wife Katy live in Columbus, Ohio.

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Davies said she has worked closely with Kuty in various volunteer leadership capacities over the years and always found him to be extremely driven and willing to help others succeed.


2017 Award Recipient

Amalgamated Security Service Limited from Macoya, Trinidad

Amalgamated Security Service Limited have been huge proponents of professional excellence over the last several decades.  This agency, which employs on average 3,500 individuals, is committed to providing all levels of education to their employees. Click here for the official award newsletter.


Award Honorable Mention

SecTek, Inc. from Reston, VA

SecTek, Inc. is also very committed to making available educational opportunities to its employees.  Ms. Davies said that initially Senior Vice President Ann Trinca kicked off her program initiative with the IFPO by enrolling and successfully passing the programs herself.  Ms.  Davies recalled  a statement once made by Ms. Trinca who said, “It was clear from the beginning the IFPO certifications presented an excellent professional development opportunity for SecTek’s security officers.” Click here for more information.


Both of these organizations will be featured in an upcoming issue of Security Magazine. Additionally, the IFPO will host a very special place for them on the IFPO website. Achievement plaques will be presented as well as complimentary annual IFPO Corporate Memberships.