Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Matthews.
Hi Jennifer, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My journey began more than two decades ago in law enforcement, where I developed a strong foundation in public safety, leadership, technology, accountability, and community relations. Throughout my career, I served in leadership and technology-focused positions, including as a Deputy Sheriff and Body Worn Camera Coordinator with the Cook County Sheriff’s Department and Police Digital Services Manager with the Metra Police Department. Those experiences gave me a firsthand understanding of what it takes to create safe, professional, and accountable security environments.
As I progressed in my career, I saw an opportunity to bring that experience into entrepreneurship. That vision led me to establish Paramount Security Analytics, a private security company providing professional security services to businesses, organizations, churches, and other clients. Through Paramount, we employ security professionals and provide trained officers to help protect people, property, and communities.
As the company grew, I recognized another important need within the industry: having access to well-trained, prepared, and professional security officers. I wanted to do more than simply hire people—I wanted to help create the talent pipeline. That realization led me to establish Paramount Security Analytics Training Academy, a vocational training school designed to prepare individuals for careers in the private security industry.
At the Academy, we provide training in areas such as basic security operations, armed and unarmed security, de-escalation and crisis prevention, report writing, active shooter awareness, and other essential skills for security professionals. The goal is to give students practical knowledge and the confidence they need to enter the industry and succeed.
What makes the connection between my two organizations especially meaningful is that the pathway can extend beyond the classroom. Paramount Security Analytics Training Academy prepares individuals for the industry, while Paramount Security Analytics creates opportunities for trained security professionals to put those skills into practice. For me, that represents entrepreneurship with a purpose—training people, creating employment opportunities, and strengthening the private security workforce.
My entrepreneurial journey has allowed me to combine the different areas of my professional life: law enforcement, education, technology, leadership, and community service. I believe strongly that education should create opportunity, and that public safety is strengthened when professionals are properly trained, prepared, and held to high standards.
That philosophy also extends to my nonprofit, DJM Community Outreach NFP, which I founded in 2023 to support youth and communities through education, workforce development, and community-focused initiatives.
Today, I see everything I do as part of a larger mission. My law enforcement career gave me the experience, my academic journey gave me the knowledge, entrepreneurship gave me the platform, and community service gave me the purpose. Through Paramount Security Analytics and Paramount Security Analytics Training Academy, I am building more than businesses—I am building pathways to careers, creating opportunities for others, and contributing to safer and stronger communities.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It definitely has not been a smooth road, and I think that is an important part of the entrepreneurial story. When I first started Paramount Security Analytics, I had extensive experience in law enforcement and public safety, but I was still learning the business side of the private security industry. I had to learn how to price services, negotiate contracts, understand what clients were looking for, and, most importantly, figure out how to actually obtain and compete for security contracts.
One of my early challenges was undervaluing my services. In the beginning, I accepted contracts at rates that were too low because I was focused on getting the opportunity and building the company. Over time, I learned that being competitive does not mean undervaluing your expertise, your employees, or the quality of the service you provide. I had to become much more intentional about understanding the true cost of delivering professional security services and making sure our contracts were sustainable.
Another major challenge has been finding and retaining good security personnel. In the security industry, having reliable, professional, well-trained officers is critical. Hiring people is one thing; finding individuals who are dependable, professional, capable of handling difficult situations, and who represent your company well is another. Staffing continues to be one of the biggest challenges in the industry.
Those challenges actually helped shape the direction of my business. I realized that if I wanted to build a strong security company, I needed to be part of developing the workforce—not just hiring from it. That realization was one of the reasons we created Paramount Security Analytics Training Academy. The Academy allows us to help individuals develop the knowledge, skills, and professionalism needed to enter the security industry, while also helping address the workforce challenges I experienced firsthand as a security company owner.
Looking back, some of the hardest lessons have also been some of the most valuable. I had to learn the industry, learn the business, learn how to advocate for the value of my services, and learn how to build a team. Entrepreneurship has taught me that you don’t have to know everything when you start—you have to be willing to learn, adapt, and keep moving forward.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Paramount Security Analytics is a private security company built around one simple belief: security should be professional, proactive, and tailored to the environment it serves. We provide trained security personnel and security solutions for businesses, organizations, churches, events, and other clients who need dependable protection for their people, property, and operations.
What sets Paramount apart is the experience behind the brand. My background in law enforcement, public safety, technology, and digital security has shaped the way I approach private security. I understand that security is not simply about having someone standing at a door. It is about situational awareness, communication, de-escalation, professionalism, accountability, and understanding the unique risks of every environment.
One of the experiences I am particularly proud of is that Paramount Security Analytics was one of the security vendors who recently had the opportunity to provide security services for the Presidents Cup in Medinah, Illinois, an internationally recognized sporting event that drew more than 20,000 attendees. The event brought together a high-profile audience, including President Donald Trump and celebrities and sports figures such as Bill Murray, Tiger Woods, and Derrick Rose. Being trusted to provide security in an environment of that size and visibility was a significant milestone for our company and a reflection of the professionalism and preparation of our team.
I am especially proud of how Paramount has grown from an idea into a company capable of taking on opportunities of that magnitude. For me, it represents more than securing an event—it demonstrates that a company built from the ground up can compete, earn trust, and perform at a high level.
Another part of the brand that I am extremely proud of is our connection to Paramount Security Analytics Training Academy. I didn’t want Paramount to simply be a company that hired security officers; I wanted to be involved in developing them. Through the Academy, we train individuals who want to enter the private security profession, giving them the knowledge and practical skills needed to become professional security officers. That creates a unique connection between education and employment within our organization.
Ultimately, I want people to know that Paramount Security Analytics is about more than security—it is about professionalism, preparation, opportunity, and trust. Whether we are protecting a major event with thousands of attendees, providing security for a local organization, or helping someone take their first steps into a security career, we take the responsibility seriously.
My goal for the Paramount brand is to continue building a company that people recognize not only for the security services we provide, but for the standard we set in the industry. I want our clients to feel confident that when Paramount is there, they have a professional team that is prepared to protect their people, their property, and their reputation.
What does success mean to you?
I define success as setting meaningful goals, achieving measurable outcomes, and consistently exceeding the expectations of the people I serve.
For me, success is not simply about revenue or how large a company becomes. It is about being able to look at what we set out to accomplish and demonstrate that we actually accomplished it. Whether that means successfully securing a major event, providing a client with dependable and professional service, growing our team, or helping someone complete our security training and begin a new career, I want to see tangible results.
I also believe success is measured by the trust you build. When a client chooses Paramount Security Analytics, they are trusting us with something extremely important—the safety of their people, property, and organization. When we can deliver beyond what they expected and have them come back to us or recommend us to others, that is success to me.
Ultimately, success is growth with purpose. It is meeting the goals I set for myself and my businesses, measuring the impact of what we do, learning from what doesn’t work, and continually raising the standard for what we can provide to our clients and our community.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://psecurityanalytics.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drjennifermatthews
- Other: https://djmcommunityoutreach.org
