Our People and Leadership

Eric McGarty

Skills and experience: Eric McGarty has been with Allied Universal since 2002. Since joining Allied Universal, Eric has held various roles in the Northwestern Region. In his current role as Regional President of the Northwest Region, Eric is responsible for all operational, financial, and administrative functions in his region.

Career experience: Before joining Allied Universal, Eric was the Fire Protection and Construction Specialist with HILTI, and was the General Manager with Aramark Uniform Services.

Current external commitments: Eric earned his Certified Protection Professional (CPP) security management designation from ASIS in 2002. He is also a certified trainer for both CPR/EAD, First Aid, and Times Mirror for customer service. Eric is an active member of the American Society of Industrial Security (ASIS), Building Owners Management Association (BOMA), and IFMA.
 

Deborah Tate Pecci

Skills and experience: With more than 25 years of experience, Deborah serves as the company’s in-house attorney, leading all labor and employment law functions for Allied Universal.

Career experience: Before joining Allied Universal, she served as a partner with Duane Morris LLP for nearly 10 years, where she counseled and serviced a large client base of various sized employers in every aspect of labor and employment-related issues and litigation.

Current external commitments: Deborah serves as Chairperson of the Legal Forum of National Association of Security Companies. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Accounting from the Philadelphia College of Textiles and Sciences and a JD from the University of Pennsylvania. She is a member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association.

Nancy Peterson

Skills and experience: Nancy leads the North America legal team, with responsibility for all legal matters affecting the company’s U.S. and Canada operations, including transactions and integrations, regulatory compliance, contracting, and licensing. Nancy joined Allied Universal in 2005, and has been instrumental in building the legal department’s capabilities to support the company’s growth, particularly in regulatory compliance and transactions.

Career experience: Previously, Nancy served as Assistant General Counsel for Aramark, representing and advising executives on employment matters, intellectual property, franchise arrangements, and licensing. She also served as General Counsel to Frankford Candy and developed its in-house legal department.

Current external commitments: She is professionally affiliated with ASIS International, the Forum of Executive Women, and the Association of Corporate Counsel. She is a board member of the Mural Arts Program.

Jim Haugsland

Skills and experience: Jim has more than 25 years of experience in sales, marketing and operations with vast expertise in growing market share across diverse platforms and geographies.

Career experience: For more than 23 years, Jim worked for KONE — a global market leader in the elevator, escalator and smart building solutions industry. He joined KONE in 1996 and quickly distinguished himself as one of the top sales producers in the U.S. A few years later, he joined a group of emerging leaders in Brussels, Belgium, to develop and implement a new global operating model and led several strategic development projects focused on sales innovation and creating new sources of revenue. As Vice President of the Pacific Southwest for KONE, Jim was responsible for strategic direction, sales transformation, profitable growth and customer satisfaction for a multi-division business in California, Arizona, New Mexico and Nevada where he was recognized nationally for record increases in sales and profitability.

Michael Kirkman

Skills and experience: As the Executive Vice President of Operations, Michael Kirkman is responsible for operational excellence efforts across the North American regions, executing the operational integration of acquisitions and procurement.

Career experience: Prior to joining Allied Universal, he was a Principal at the Boston Consulting Group and served as a Captain in the U.S. Army. He received a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Wharton and a Juris Doctor from the University of Pennsylvania Law School.

Mark Mullison

Joined Allied Universal: 2017

Appointed to Current Role: 2023

About:

In his role as Allied Universal’s chief technology officer, Mark Mullison is responsible for technology innovation and operations, including the company’s ongoing artificial intelligence-powered transformation. Under his leadership, Allied Universal’s technology teams have built award-winning solutions (including HELIAUS®, Mercury and LISA) that improve outcomes for clients; support and connect employees; and make Allied Universal the most robust, efficient, technologically advanced security provider in the world.

With more than 25 years of experience in product development, software engineering, information technology and global operations, Mullison has a proven track record of creating and operating successful tech-powered solutions that offer great experiences and measurable business value. Prior to his current position, Mullison served as Allied Universal’s chief information officer. In his career, he has successfully managed more than $300 million in global technology solutions – from concept to operation – for companies including Sprint, Alcatel, Orange Business Services and CenturyLink.

Education: Mark holds a Bachelor of Science degree in computer science from the University of Michigan and a Master of Science degree in computer science from the Georgia Institute of Technology with a specialization in interactive intelligence.

Ron Rabena

Skills and experience: Ron Rabena’s security career spans more than 45 years—first beginning as an entry-level security officer and working his way up to several senior-level management roles at various regional security companies. As Chief Client Officer, he interacts with the company’s Presidents in the field and works with hundreds of clients every week. He is responsible for client retention, employee relations and building the company culture at the local level.

Career experience: Prior to joining Allied Universal, Ron served as Division President, National Security Operations, for AlliedBarton Security Services from 2012 to 2016. There, he oversaw approximately 55,000 employees in 120 offices throughout 48 states. Additionally, he played an instrumental role in the merger of SpectaGuard and Allied Security, after leading operations of over 88,000 account hours as Regional Vice President for SpectaGuard.

Current external commitments: Ron has several certifications such as Georgetown University Certificate for ISMA Executive Leadership; and Kellogg School of Management Certificate – ISMA Senior Executive Leadership Program. He received the Philadelphia Crime Commission 2013 Civilian of the Year Award; Police Athletic League of Philadelphia 2013 PAL Award; and Heroes Among Us Foundation 2015 Community Hero Award.

Ken Woodlin

Skills and experience: Ken Woodlin has been the Chief Risk and Safety Officer for Allied Universal since 2020. He leads the global risk management functions and safety for North America.

Career experience: Ken previously served in officer level roles with Walmart, Inc. - most recently as a Vice President leading a supply chain division of 10,000 associates, having an operating budget of $300 million with $23 billion in internal sales. Due to his large-scale supply chain, compliance and safety background, Ken was selected to lead the start-up and continued leadership of Canopy Growth’s US Operations team – supply chain, fulfillment, manufacturing, enterprise resource planning, quality assurance / quality control and integrated business planning.

He holds two bachelor’s degrees from the University of Delaware and a J.D. from Widener University Delaware Law School.

Deanna Steele

Joined Allied Universal: 2024

Appointed to Current Role: 2024

About:

As Allied Universal’s chief information officer for North America, Deanna Steele creates substantial business value by delivering exceptional customer experiences, supporting growth, integrating acquisitions and optimizing artificial intelligence across the company’s North American operations.

Steele is a seasoned executive with more than two decades of leadership experience in global and domestic consumer and digital business, retail, B2B, product and professional services. She served as chief information officer for Advantage Solutions, J. Jill and Ingram Content Group, leading technology teams through growth, transformation and product innovation. Most recently, she served corporate clients at consulting firm AlixPartners, focusing on technology operating models, process efficiency and cost optimization. Steele also has led technology initiatives in organizations with highly distributed workforces emphasizing automation and scalability via technology enablement.

Education: Steele earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business management from Pepperdine University in Malibu, Calif. She also graduated with distinction from the Harvard Business Analytics Program.

Involvement:

• Women Leaders In Data & AI (WLDA): Founding Member
• TechBridge Inc.: Board Member
• Women in Technology of Tennessee: Board Member
• Nationwide Children’s Hospital: Fundraising Guild Member
• The Lighthouse Guild of Olive Crest: Past President
• Olive Crest: Board of Trustees Member

William J Walker

Mr. William J. Walker brings over 30 years of distinguished service in security, law enforcement, and military leadership to his current role as Vice President and Corporate Security Director, Enterprise Accounts, Allied Universal® Security Services. Mr. Walker was a Special Agent of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and served as the 38th Sergeant At Arms, U.S. House of Representatives, 117th Congress.

As a former Drug Enforcement Administration Criminal Investigator and Deputy Assistant Administrator, Mr. Walker's expertise spans national and international investigative operations, intelligence analysis, and regulatory compliance. With promotions to the Senior Executive Service and appointment as a Senior National Intelligence Service Officer by the Director of National Intelligence, he has held positions of increasing responsibility and significance.

Previously, Major General Walker served as the 23rd Commanding General of the District of Columbia National Guard, overseeing Army and Air National Guard operations and providing military support to civilian authorities. In the aftermath of the January 6, 2021attack on the U.S. Capitol, he was tasked with implementing critical security enhancements and prosecuting threats against Members of Congress and their families. A Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), Mr. Walker is skilled in uncovering fraud and insider threats.

Mr. Walker was educated at the University of Illinois (BA), Chicago State University (MS), the National Intelligence University (MS), and American University (MA). He completed the Executive Leaders Program at the Center for Homeland Defense and Security, and National Security Programs at George Washington, Harvard, and Syracuse Universities. Mr. Walker is a Massachusetts Institute of Technology, International Relations Fellow, a National Academy of Public Administration Fellow, and life member of the Council on Foreign Relations. He is also a life member of the Fraternal Order of Police and the International Association of Chiefs of Police, reflecting his commitment to excellence in security and public service.