Building a multi-state security operation from a two-person startup requires more than industry connections and entrepreneurial ambition. Jack K. Byrd III’s approach to scaling Solaren Risk Management demonstrates how systematic investment in personnel development and technological infrastructure can create sustainable competitive advantages in the private security sector.
Byrd’s expansion model prioritizes training programs as the foundation for operational growth. Rather than pursuing rapid hiring to meet demand, Solaren maintains rigorous certification requirements and continuous education standards that ensure service quality remains consistent across all locations. This approach reflects Byrd’s law enforcement background, where professional competence directly impacts public safety outcomes.
Training coordinator Darrell Webb leads programs that span basic security certification through specialized emergency response techniques. Webb’s active law enforcement status provides current knowledge of industry best practices and regulatory requirements. “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,” explains Bethany Gill, Solaren’s Director of Operations.
The Tactical Emergency Casualty Care (TECC) program exemplifies Byrd’s commitment to advanced skill development. This three-day intensive course teaches officers tourniquet application, CPR administration, and emergency medical response techniques that extend beyond traditional security duties. The program’s practical value became evident when a Solaren guard successfully treated a stabbing victim during a downtown Nashville incident.
“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,” Gill recounts. The incident demonstrates how comprehensive training creates value beyond immediate security functions.
Technology integration serves as the second pillar of Byrd’s expansion approach. Solaren’s partnership with LiveView Technologies enables deployment of AI-powered mobile surveillance trailers that operate independently while providing 24-hour monitoring capabilities. These solar-powered systems detect unauthorized individuals and broadcast customized warning messages without requiring constant human oversight.
“A lot of our clients have loved having that option because they may have an expansive parking lot and you don’t either want to pay for a guard to be out there patrolling it, or you just don’t have that kind of concept in your mind,” Gill explains. The technology allows Solaren to serve clients who might otherwise forgo security services due to cost considerations.
Database management systems enable centralized coordination of distributed operations across multiple states. Contractors access unified platforms containing schedules, documentation, and qualification records. This technological infrastructure allows Byrd’s relatively small headquarters staff to manage hundreds of personnel efficiently while maintaining oversight of licensing requirements and performance standards.
Communication infrastructure modernization reflects Byrd’s systematic approach to operational efficiency. Solaren abandoned traditional landline systems for mobile-based platforms that accommodate field operations teams who rarely work from fixed office locations. “Everything that we use for our phone and communication and all that stuff is mobile based because all of our operations team is out in the field almost all the time,” Gill notes.
The combination of training excellence and technology integration creates operational scalability that supports geographic expansion. Solaren’s growth into North Carolina and other southeastern markets relies on standardized training programs that ensure consistent service delivery regardless of location. Technology platforms provide coordination capabilities that enable headquarters oversight of remote operations.
Recognition programs reinforce the culture of excellence that drives both training participation and technology adoption. Annual performance evaluations identify exceptional personnel for awards that correlate with compensation increases. “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,” Gill describes.
Emergency response capabilities demonstrate how Byrd’s dual focus on training and technology enables rapid deployment for crisis situations. During Hurricane Milton, Solaren coordinated Florida operations that required establishing command centers, coordinating patrol vehicles, and managing personnel logistics. The response succeeded because of established training protocols and communication systems that functioned independently of local infrastructure.
Quality control measures ensure that expansion maintains service standards rather than diluting operational effectiveness. Post-event reviews analyze both human performance and technology effectiveness to identify improvement opportunities. “Following the festival, we conducted a thorough post-event review with an in-person after-action report involving all leadership team members,” according to company materials describing evaluation procedures.
Cybersecurity service development represents Byrd’s latest expansion into technology-driven security solutions. Research into devices that can detect and automatically shut down digital intrusions reflects the company’s evolution beyond traditional physical security services. This diversification creates new revenue streams while leveraging existing client relationships.
Staffing strategies balance growth objectives with quality maintenance through selective recruitment and internal promotion practices. Many supervisory positions are filled by field personnel who demonstrated exceptional performance rather than external candidates. “Nine times out of 10, it comes from people who have worked for us out in the field and have really done a good job,” Gill explains regarding advancement opportunities.
Interview processes for management positions reflect thorough evaluation methods that assess both technical competence and cultural fit. Panel interviews involving administrative and operations staff ensure that promoted personnel can function effectively across different company departments and operational requirements.
Market positioning leverages both training reputation and technology capabilities to differentiate Solaren from competitors who emphasize either human resources or technological solutions exclusively. This dual focus creates client value propositions that address diverse security needs while providing cost-effective service delivery.
Revenue diversification across multiple service lines reduces dependence on any single market segment while creating cross-selling opportunities within existing client relationships. Training programs, technology deployments, emergency response services, and traditional security operations each contribute to overall company growth while supporting the others.
Byrd’s approach to building Solaren demonstrates how systematic investment in personnel development and technological infrastructure can create sustainable competitive advantages in fragmented industries. The model provides lessons for other service-based businesses seeking to scale operations while maintaining quality standards and client satisfaction levels.
