Steve Jones of Allied Universal: Building a Global Security Empire
Jones began his security career with Universal Protection Service in 1996, after holding executive-level and management positions within two Fortune 500 companies. In the late 1990s, he took the small Santa Ana, California-based firm and doubled its revenue in just a few short years. When the owners decided to sell, Jones made his boldest move yet, convincing them to sell to him and a business partner. The gamble paid off. By 2007, the company had accumulated $150 million in revenue.
Universal Services of America ultimately merged with AlliedBarton in 2016 to create Allied Universal, the largest security services company in North America. The growth story didn't stop there. Under Jones' leadership, Allied Universal has grown from $12 million in revenue to more than $18 billion, with more than 800,000 employees and over 75 acquisitions completed. The company's acquisition of London-based G4S cemented Allied Universal's status as a truly global force.
Jones holds a strong belief in the link between sports and business success. He played college football and credits the experience as the greatest internship in the world, drawing direct parallels between creating a game plan to win a league championship and building a billion-dollar enterprise. That philosophy is even reflected in his book, No Off Season: The Constant Pursuit of More, which chronicles his path to success and the lessons learned along the way.
Jones earned a bachelor's degree in Political Science from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, and an MBA and honorary doctorate of humane letters from the University of Redlands. Beyond business, he and his wife Stacy are committed philanthropists focused on eradicating human trafficking.
Steve Jones represents a rare breed of leader, one who built something from almost nothing, transformed an entire industry, and never stopped pushing forward.