Eddie Sorrells has spent his entire career with one company – DSI Security Services – which is a testament to his dedication and passion for what is now one of America’s largest and most respected security providers.

The current President’s journey with DSI began 34 years ago when he worked as a part-time security officer while he was studying at college.

“I fell in love with the security business and was fortunate to be with a company that poured into me, mentored me and allowed me to progress my knowledge of the industry. It really refined management skills that I would need in the future,” Sorrells tells The CEO Magazine.

But it was another passion – law, inspired by his father, who was a local prosecutor – that would forge his future trajectory. While he was at DSI, he pursued his dream to study law at night school; this cocktail of legal and security expertise led to the role of General Counsel and COO at DSI.

After rising through the ranks of field supervision into branch management, he became President last year, a role overseeing the operations of over 5,000 employees across the country.

“The legal part has been invaluable to me in this industry, as there are a lot of components that are legally sensitive. So that has served me well,” he says.

Culture and stability

The attraction of DSI has been its unique culture, philosophy and leadership stability – traits that truly distinguish the company from its competitors, Sorrells believes. These have been cultivated and maintained by a long-serving leadership team.

“There’s something to be said for long-term stable relationships, and our team brings that to the table,” he explains. “So it’s not just the owners of the company; it’s our collective team that leads with stability and is also willing to be flexible and customize whatever that customer needs.

“The DSI that you can rely on today is the DSI you can rely on in five years and in 10, 20 years down the road.”

This culture and philosophy is reflected in Sorrells’ personal leadership style – grounded in empathy, respect, collaboration and service.

Describing himself as a ‘servant leader’, he explains, “I’ve learned over the years that leadership is not just about managing; it’s about serving. It’s not about me as the President; it’s not about our owners as owners; it’s about the employees that get things done, day in and day out.”

This strong internal culture has also become a cornerstone of its talent retention strategy amid the security industry’s competitive labor market. The company recently launched the Served Initiative, with ‘Served’ being an acronym for support, environment, relationships, value, empathy and dignity.

“We want to foster an environment where, when people come to work every day, they are excited about walking through the door because the environment’s going to be collaborative, welcoming and respectful,” he says.

Embracing technology

Like most industries adapting to the giant leaps of the digital age, DSI has also been embracing technology and exploring the power of innovation. Sorrells acknowledges the importance of staying ahead of the curve by integrating cutting-edge technologies into DSI’s offerings and remaining flexible in its approach.

“DSI wants to be known as a services and solutions provider, not to be put in a box,” he says. “We want to solve whatever problem you have, either through an officer or through technology or both.”

For example, DSI uses mobile technology, video surveillance analytics, robotics and AI to enhance security solutions.

Security officers are now equipped with smartphone apps that allow them to perform various tasks – such as incident reporting and security rounds – more efficiently. Furthermore, the company leverages remote video monitoring technology that integrates with AI to detect potential security breaches in real-time.

“AI is already proving to be a valuable tool in incident reporting, collecting data trends and knowing where to position security assets to mitigate risk,” he says. “Utilizing AI is going to be revolutionary.”

Looking ahead, Sorrells is optimistic about the future of DSI, explaining that the company is well-positioned to continue leading the security industry. But he reveals that it’s one company trait that underpins it all.