Debby G. Levy
Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer
Debby G. Levy, along with her husband, Barry W. Levy, co-founded Levy Security Consultants Limited in 1979. Ms. Levy served the corporation as Executive Vice President, Secretary, Officer, and Director.
Today, Debby Levy owns both Levy Security Corporation and Premier Security Corporation in Chicago, Illinois, and serves both organizations as Chairperson and CEO
Ms. Levy is active member in the Women's Business Enterprise National Council ("WBE"), the National Association of Female Executives, NAWBO, and the ASIS International.
Ms. Levy is active in several community related programs. She volunteers and actively supports the American Diabetes Association and the American Heart Association.
James C. Taff, CPP
President and Chief Operating Officer
Mr. Taff is President & Chief Operating Officer for Premier Security Corporation. Mr. Taff, with 22 years of security experience, has held positions of increasing responsibility to include President, Executive Vice President of Administration, Senior Vice President, Vice President of Operations, Assistant Vice President of Operations and Director of Public Safety.
In his role of President & Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Taff is actively involved with the many leadership facets of this fast growing security company. These responsibilities include field operations, client retention and customer relationship management, training initiatives, policy development, liability mitigation, sales development and security assessment. His expertise ranges across a broad scope of property and facility types – to include commercial, retail, residential and hospital related security.
Mr. Taff holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Iowa in Sociology with an emphasis in Criminal Justice. He is licensed by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) as a Private Security Contractor and Private Detective.
Mr. Taff is actively involved in various security related organizations to include the Greater North Michigan Avenue Association (GNMAA) and Building Owners Management Association (BOMA). He is also a contributing council member of the Private Security Services Council (PSSC) of ASIS International. Mr. Taff has authored several security articles and continues to be a recognized expert in the security field.
Rich Stampanato, CPP
Executive Vice President - Operations
Mr. Stampanato is Executive Vice President of Operations for Premier Security Corporation. He has been employed with the Levy and Premier organization since August of 2000. In his current role, Mr. Stampanato oversees all aspects of operations for Premier Security.
Mr. Stampanato has a Bachelor of Science degree in Law Enforcement Administration from Western Illinois University, and has a Master's of Science degree in Criminal and Social Justice from Lewis University. In 1984, he became a Police Officer with the University of Tennessee-Knoxville and graduated from the Tennessee State Law Enforcement Training Academy.
In 1991, Mr. Stampanato enhanced his campus law enforcement expertise when he joined the Northwestern University Police Department, eventually earning the rank of Lieutenant where he successfully managed the Evanston Campus police force until becoming an employee of Levy Security.
Thomas G. Johnson, M.A., CPP, CHS-III
Vice President - Operations
Mr. Johnson has 20 years of proven leadership and management in the security industry. Mr. Johnson has been employed with Levy Security Corporation for a total of 16 years. He has been consistently promoted to lead in the capacity of Director of Public Safety for several prestigious clients locations, with each position growing in responsibilities. In 2005, he was promoted to Assistant Vice President of Operations. In 2009, he was promoted to his current position of Vice President of Operations.
Mr. Johnson holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminology from Northern Illinois University, as well as a Master of Arts degree in Management from Webster University. He has been awarded the designation of "Certified Protection Professional" (CPP) by the Professional Certification Board of ASIS International. In addition, he is board certified in homeland security at level 3 (CHS-III) by the American Board for Certification in Homeland Security.
Mr. Johnson is a member of the American College of Forensic Examiners International, and ASIS International.
Tim Madigan
Vice President - Operations
Mr. Madigan is Vice President for Premier Security Corporation. Mr. Madigan has been with Levy and Premier Security Corporations for over 14 years and has held various management positions for both organizations encompassing a wide variety of security programs such as residential, educational, corporate, and high rise commercial facilities.
Mr. Madigan holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Western Illinois University with an emphasis in Criminal Justice. He is currently pursuing the designation of "Certified Protection Professional" (CPP) by the Professional Certification Board of ASIS International.
Mr. Madigan is a City of Chicago registered Fire Safety Director and has served on the Greater North Michigan Avenue Association and the Building Owners and Management Association Security Committee.
Paul M. Wilson, CPP
Vice President - Operations
Mr. Wilson is Vice President of Operations for Premier Security Corporation. He joined the Levy/Premier Security organization in February 2003.
Mr. Wilson's career with Levy began with managing site security and safety operations. Paul was promoted to Assistant Vice President of Operations in 2007, responsible for managing security operations, client relationships, fiscal planning and performance, and security manager development at ten different contract sites in the Chicago area. In 2009, Paul was promoted to Vice President of Operations, where he works with clients throughout the Chicago region on security issues such as theft and crime prevention, VIP and dignitary protection, and ongoing building and facility security concerns.
Paul achieved the industry certification of Certified Protection Professional (CPP) in 2006, issued by the American Society for Industrial Security (ASIS).
Prior to joining Levy Security Corporation, Mr. Wilson served as a police officer in Bedford Heights, Ohio, for seven and one half years, where he was a certified Peace Officer Instructor and Field Training Officer. Paul was a member of the Southeast Area Law Enforcement's Hostage Negotiation Team and active in impaired driving enforcement training.
Mr. Wilson holds a Bachelor's Degree with Senior Honors from Valparaiso University in 1994, where he majored in Sociology and Criminal Justice.
Paula Hickey
Vice President - Human Resources
Ms. Hickey leads the human resources initiatives for Premier Security. She and her team ensure that Premier has world-class talent, and the people strategies and work environments needed to drive business results.
Ms. Hickey has several years of progressive Human Resource experience in both the manufacturing environment and service industry. Her background includes experience in staffing, training, benefits, compensation, safety, workers' compensation, and employee relations.
She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Management from North Central College. She also received her Professional Human Resources (PHR) certification from the Human Resource Certification Institute of the Society of Human Resource Management in 1999.