Principal Officer for Security Consulting & Initiatives, LLC

Maria began her career as a law enforcement officer in 2004, serving a Township of 10,000 residents, as the only female officer assigned to regular street patrol duties. Maria served as her police academy class squad leader, which was assigned by the Police Academy Commander.  Maria has received several professional commendations from the command staff within her department for excellent service as a police officer. Maria also played a significant role in developing the current mission statement for the police department.

Prior to her career in law enforcement, Maria spent nine years in public service as an investigator for Crawford County, Ohio, Children Services being designated by Juvenile Court as an expert witness in child abuse and neglect cases.  Maria also worked for Holmes County, Ohio, Children Services and solved two of the largest, chronic child abuse cases in the county, which resulted in a life prison sentence for one offender.  As an administrator for Pathway Caring for Children, a non-profit group, she was responsible for quality service delivery and improvement for the children in long term foster care. 

While in high school and college, Maria volunteered for the American Red Cross and taught swimming lessons to children and adults.

Maria started Security Consulting & Initiatives LLC as a way to continue helping others, by providing personal protection and organizational security training and services.  Maria is the principle administrative officer of her business. 

Keith R. Lavery, M.A., CMAS

Keith began his law enforcement career on 23 November 1988 when he joined the U.S. Army Military Police Corp, ultimately fulfilling his commitment as a member of the Ohio Army National Guard, 135th Military Police Company.  Honorably discharged in 1994, at the rank of Sergeant, Keith continued his civilian law enforcement career working for numerous police agencies that provided him with a broad spectrum of policing experience.  Keith faithfully discharged his Oath of Office duties by working for: 

• Medina Township Police Department
• Ohio Department of Mental Retardation & Developmental Disabilities (Special Police)
• The Cleveland Clinic Foundation Police Department
• Medina County Park District – Law Enforcement Ranger
• Villages of Briarwood Beach and Chippewa Lake (joint police service) Police Department
• The University of Akron Police Department
• Copley Township Police Department

Within the policing profession, Keith worked assignments in Patrol Operations, Traffic Safety Unit, Patrol Supervisor, Special Response Team, Community-Oriented Policing, General Assignment Criminal Investigations, Executive Protection, Training, and HIDTA Task-Force Undercover Assignments. 

Keith has received numerous awards for faithful service to include:  State of Ohio Attorney General Distinguished Law Enforcement Group Award, U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, Summit County (Ohio) Sheriffs Department and the Akron, Ohio, Chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving. 

Keith has lectured as an adjunct, and developed courses of instruction, at Cuyahoga Community College (Law Enforcement), The University of Akron (Criminal Justice) and ITT Technical Institute (Criminal Justice). 

Academically, Keith earned an A.A.S. in Law Enforcement from Cuyahoga Community College, B.S. in Technical Education and Master of Arts in Urban Studies from The University of Akron.  Keith has also completed over 20 hours of post-graduate work at Kent State University that is earmarked for his pursuit of a Doctorate in Education.  Professionally, Keith has been awarded the designation of “Certified Master Anti-Terrorism Specialist” from the Anti-Terrorism Accreditation Board.  

A life-long student of the martial arts, Keith has studied the various indigenous combative disciplines of American Kenpo Karate, Okinawian Karate, Korean Karate, Korean Hapkido, Japanese Jujutsu, and Israeli Krav Maga, among others.  Keith holds advanced self-defense/combative certifications in Control & Compliance Holds, Armlock Academy, the CLAMP, STRMS, and has personally developed his own course of study for police, security and civilian self-defense that is called the “TALON Apprehension & Control System”, or T.A.C.S.

Currently, Keith teaches criminal justice studies, within secondary education, full-time at the Polaris Career Center, and further develops and delivers advanced training (including Ohio “CPT” requirements) to police and security personnel.  Keith is an Ohio certified police academy instructor, and a state security academy instructor.   

Keith is also a monthly contributor to Officer.com and LawOfficer.com where he pens articles that address private and public security issues.