Allied Security Names Laura Cerar to Head Western Division; Security Veteran's Career Took Her From Security Officer to Company President.

Business Editors

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 10, 2003

Allied Security, the nation's largest independently held contract security firm, today announced that Laura J. Cerar, a top executive in the security industry, has joined the company as Senior Vice President of the Western Division.

Cerar, who began her career in 1983 as a security officer for Allied Security in Pittsburgh, rose to President of Pinkerton's, Inc. She will be responsible for overseeing all phases of Allied Security's operations in the west.

"Allied Security is extremely pleased to have Laura Cerar join our senior management staff to head one of our most important geographic divisions," said William C. Whitmore, Allied Security President and CEO. "Laura's accomplishments and leadership abilities blend right in with the quality approach to services and people that Allied considers prime factors in our daily relationships with employees and clients."

"Allied Security is a company committed to providing quality services," Cerar said. "I am pleased to be joining a management team that not only believes in quality, but delivers on it through their actions and supporting programs."

Prior to joining Allied Security, Cerar in 2001 was Executive Vice President of Pinkerton in Los Angeles where she oversaw all aspects of a large division, and lead the consolidation activities following their many acquisitions. From 1997 to 2001, she was President of Pinkerton's domestic operations where she oversaw 70,000 employees.

Earlier, she also served as a Regional Vice President, Regional Manager and District Manager.

She was a Security Director with Allied Security in 1983-86 and 1987-88. Joining Allied was her first job after graduating from Pennsylvania State University in 1983 with a BS degree in Administration of Justice. She is a member of ASIS International.

A resident of the Los Angeles area, Cerar will direct the Western Division from Allied Security's office in Los Angeles.

Allied Security is the largest independently held contract security firm in the US and third overall. With almost 20,000 employees, Allied has more than 60 offices serving 2,000 accounts in over 250 cities from coast to coast.

The company, based in King of Prussia, PA, provides security services to regional shopping malls, high-rise office buildings, hospitals, universities, corporate complexes, financial institutions and other commercial facilities.