Where Security Meets People: Building a Better Industry Through Workforce and Inclusion

The security industry is facing a moment of transformation. Amid rapid technological shifts and workforce challenges, companies are realizing that talent — recruiting it, developing it, and retaining it — is now central to long-term success. At the same time, long-overdue conversations around inclusion, representation, and culture are gaining momentum across the sector. According to a 2023 SIA report, 74% of security leaders identified workforce development as a top-three business priority — a clear sign that “people” have become the strategy.

But as the industry evolves, how do we ensure that its culture, leadership, and opportunities evolve with it? What will it take to build a more inclusive, sustainable, and future-ready workforce?

In this episode of AMAG Asks, host Kyle Gordon, EVP of Sales, Marketing and Commercial Excellence at AMAG Technology, sits down with Candice Aragon, Chief Experience Officer at PSA Network, and Elli Reges, Director of Learning and Development at the Security Industry Association (SIA). Together, they dig deep into the people side of the business — what’s changed, what’s still broken, and what’s next for workforce development and representation in the security world.

Key Conversation Highlights:

• Progress and pain points in developing a stronger, more inclusive industry workforce. While progress is undeniable, challenges like retention, onboarding, and mentorship persist — especially for women and underrepresented groups.

• The rise of industry-led initiatives and grassroots communities. From SIA’s Women in Security Forum to PSA’s peer committees and the Security LeadHer conference, the conversation highlights the power of network-driven change.

• Tangible ways new talent can engage and grow. Candice and Elli share resources, career pathways, scholarship programs, and how even small players in the industry can plug into the broader ecosystem.

Candice Aragon is the Chief Experience Officer at PSA Network, where she oversees education, events, and marketing strategies that serve PSA’s community of integrators. A former credit union marketing leader, Candice brings a cross-industry lens to security and is a champion for DEI and career development initiatives across the space.

Dr. Elli Reges is the Director of Learning and Development at SIA, where she spearheads certification programs, training initiatives, and community-building efforts like the Women in Security Forum. With over a decade in the security field — including a background in public safety and sports security — Elli has become a go-to voice on how the industry can support and elevate its people.