Students have likely noticed some new faces greeting them as they enter school and ensuring they are wearing their lanyards. The security guards started in early January. Some of their daily activities include patrolling the hallways, monitoring who enters the building, and practicing communication between the maintenance staff, faculty, and security team.

Students appreciate having the security guards.

“They seem like they are very nice people,” said sophomore Matt Wilder. “They look like they know what they’re doing.”

However, not many have gotten to know the security guards yet, so let’s find a little more about them:

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Brittany LaPenna

Q: When did you start thinking about becoming a security guard?

A: I actually work in the investigation side of our company [Aeroshield USA], and I just help out as a site manager for our projects.

Q: Where have you worked in the past?

A: I’ve been with this company for almost 10 years. I was a private retirement planner before I got into the compliance end of our company.

Q: What are some of your favorite things about being a security guard?

A: I like the people. I really like seeing all the different people.

Q: What are some of your least favorite things about being a security guard?

A: The cold and the long hours.

Q: When you are not at work, what are some of your favorite things to do?

A: I’m a runner, and I like playing with kids. I’m also a big zoo nerd.

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Albert “Beto” Bátiz

Q: When did you start thinking about becoming a security guard?

A: About two years ago, I first joined my company. It was a “let’s try something new” kind of deal. However I am currently pursuing a career in the Chicago Police Department, so it kind of runs parallel to what I do.

Q: Where have you worked in the past?

A:My first job was as a kennel cleaner at a dog boarding kennel. My next couple of jobs were in retail. I’m an artist, so my first job in retail was at Blick Art Materials in Wheaton, IL. Then, when I started in the private security field, I worked a multitude of different accounts from dance clubs, graduations, concerts (in the entertainment sector), to retail stores, retirement homes, hospitals, section 8 housing, and even government facilities (in the patrol sector).

Q: What are some of your favorite things about being a security guard?

A: Dealing with people. I’m a very people oriented outgoing kind of person. I love meeting and getting to know new people. I take my role serious when it comes to keeping people safe, deterring potential crimes, and remaining vigilant and reacting fast to any kind of potential danger or suspicious activity in my line of work.

Q: What are some of your least favorite things about being a security guard?

A: The hours. There is an abundance of third shift (night shifts) accounts that need guards. More often than not, you’re working alone for a 12 hour shift. I am a very sociable person, so it can get pretty boring fast. However, my job is to remain vigilant throughout the entirety of my shift.

Q: When you are not at work, what are some of your favorite things to do?

A: I’m a Graffitist (Graffiti Artist). When I’m not working on commissioned pieces or murals, I prefer to spend my time giving back to the great city I was raised in. I do this, in part, by teaching some graffiti art intro classes at community centers; however, I mainly go to inner-city neighborhoods and work with kids on community graffiti murals. I’m originally from a neighborhood on the south side of Chicago known as Little Villita, or Little Village. It was an inner-city neighborhood, so I grew up with a lot of “at risk” kids who went through daily struggles, constantly avoiding the recruitment into the gangs, or harassment from the gangs. So I use graffiti art as a way to teach and motivate the kids of these neighborhoods that art is one of the many different ways you can find your way out of the “hood”, and that wherever there is will, there will always be a way. This is a big part of what my personal life is about.

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Jeanne Funck
Q: When did you start thinking about becoming a security guard?

A: “I’ve been doing this for 18 years. I interviewed at a company in criminal background checks and became interested in this field of work.”

Q: Where have you worked in the past?

A: “I’ve worked at multiple security companies in the past”

Q: What are favorite things about your job?

A: “You get to walk around and see different things. I like keeping people safe. I don’t like surprises.”

Q: What are your least favorite things about your job?

A: “Right now, when it’s cold outside and the door is open! People can get pretty rambunctious. I’ve had issues like graffiti and drugs.”

Q: When you are not at work, what are our hobbies?

A: “Computer programming. I have a lot of pets—nine dogs and 27 turtles, so I spend a lot of time caring for my animals. My daughter wants to train dogs. So its balance between family and work.”

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Daniel Medina

Q: When did you start thinking about becoming a security guard?

A: I started thinking about being a security guard after I finished with my other job in 2014. I was working for a company that was in charge of making background checks for people, and my job was to put the private information into the system and update the cases. That job was interesting, but I was looking to do some other activities, so that is why I chose to be a security guard.

Q: Where have you worked in the past?

A: I worked in a pharmaceutical company that uses different drugs to make medicines like aspirin and ibuprofen. Also, I worked for a medical insurance company where I was dealing with records of patients that needed any treatment in a hospital.

Q: What are some of your favorite things about being a security guard?

A: One of my favorite things is that we are in touch with everybody at the site. The communication with everybody is a big key for this job.

Q: What are some of your least favorite things about being a security guard?

A: One of my least favorite things is doing an external patrol with low temperatures. It is tough when the weather is so cold outside, but if I have to do it, I will do it anyway.

Q: When you are not at work, what are some of your favorite things to do?

A: I usually like to watch soccer games or any other interesting sport. I used to play soccer.