When it comes to professional security services, proper training can mean the difference between life and death, a fact that Jack K. Byrd III is well aware of. As CEO of Solaren Risk Management, he has positioned the firm as a leader in professional security education. Drawing from his law enforcement background and understanding of modern security challenges, Byrd has developed a comprehensive training program that sets new standards for the industry.
Training is the cornerstone of Solaren's operations, as Taylor Pepper, the company's Director of Communications, explains: "One of the most important aspects of any industry is the level of expertise required to be successful. In the security field, training courses aren't just mandatory by state law—they're essential for learning how to effectively secure people, places, and assets."
High-Caliber Training
Solaren's training program is led by experienced professionals, including active law enforcement officers. "We have our training coordinator, Darrell Webb, he's phenomenal. He's active law enforcement and he knows his stuff for sure. He does a lot of the training through the law enforcement agency, the department that he works in," Pepper notes. This connection to active law enforcement ensures that training remains current and practical.
The company's game plan reaches beyond basic security certification. "We have regular report writing classes, because not everybody knows how to write a report. Not everybody knows what categories on their report mean," Pepper explains. This attention to detail extends to specialized courses like the Tactical Emergency Casualty Care (TECC) course, which Pepper describes as "a three-day course talking about how to use tourniquets, how to do CPR, all that kind of stuff."
This commitment to training has proved its value in real-world situations. Pepper shares a striking example: "One of our guards, a guy ran up to him while he was working at one of the bars; he was on the street doing ID checks. A guy ran up to him, he had been stabbed in the arm. And this officer that we had applied a tourniquet, not everybody knows how to apply a tourniquet. So, the fact that he had that know-how, and he was trained in that capacity, and he actually used that knowledge in the field to help save a life."
Jack Byrd: Recognizing Employee Achievements
Jack Byrd has implemented a comprehensive recognition system for training achievements. "At the end of the year, we have a Christmas party. If somebody based on those performance evaluations throughout the year has just done an exceptional job, they'll get an award, which usually correlates with some kind of pay boost," Pepper shares. This encourages continuous professional development among staff.
Technology training also plays a crucial role in Solaren's program. "Usually what we do, we spend months in advance preparing for an event," Pepper explains. "We make sure that everybody knows where they're going to be, knows what equipment they're going to be issued." This includes training on radio protocols, surveillance systems, and other advanced security technologies.
The impact of this training philosophy extends beyond individual security officers. "We definitely try to give them the resources that they need to be able to solve their own issues," Pepper notes.
For Jack Byrd and Solaren, training represents more than just meeting regulatory requirements—it's about building a professional security force capable of handling modern challenges. As Pepper emphasizes, "We want to make sure that they can do things mainly themselves and solve their own problems because we want to give them that capability rather than a teach-a-man-to-fish kind of situation."
As security challenges evolve, Byrd's commitment to comprehensive training positions Solaren to meet future industry demands. The firm's success in developing skilled security professionals demonstrates how investing in training can transform both individual careers and the entire security industry.
In an industry that faces increasing scrutiny and ever-evolving challenges, Jack Byrd's emphasis on comprehensive training and professional development has not only built a more capable security force but has also created a model for how security companies can better serve their communities while encouraging the growth of their personnel.
