At PalAmerican, we're all about helping our team members grow and reach their full potential. The first value of PalAmerican’s CARE culture is to be “Curious” by seeking opportunities to learn and improve. We believe that investing in our employees is the key to building a strong, successful team. Through our promotion-from-within philosophy, employees can plot their career paths within PalAmerican. Our goal is not just to fill shifts; it’s to nurture careers and professionalize the security industry.
In our Proudly PalAmerican feature, we showcase the inspirational journeys of PalAmericans rising through the ranks. This month, we're featuring Marisol Guitierrez, Program Manager at Children’s Hospital Anshutz in Colorado.
How it started
Marisol was born and raised in Bakersfield, California where she was a correctional officer before deciding to make the move to Colorado in September of 2019. She was looking to be closer to family, which resulted in an unexpected career change. After receiving an invite to a hiring fair across the street from Children’s Hospital Colorado, where PalAmerican recently earned the security contract for, Marisol decided to go for it and was given a conditional offer for a Master Security Officer (MSO) on the spot.
When she accepted, she didn’t realize she was jumping into a career rather than a job. She went all in and made the most of her opportunity, slowly realizing that the sky was the limit.
“All everyone spoke about at the time was that this is a new company, with a new contract and we had to prove we were an upgrade!” Marisol said.
How a career in healthcare surprised her
The MSO job was her first experience in healthcare, and it was an environment she immediately fell in love with. To her surprise, it was the people that made the difference. She loved who she worked with and for, and excelled when helping others, especially parents in need.
The position also helped her grow as a person. Since joining the team, she has learned that she is stronger than she thinks; easily handling more than she thought she could and working well under pressure.
PalAmerican’s CARE Culture
Marisol has been awarded multiple CARE awards for her strong work and leadership skills. She is known for also being a great mentor to her team and someone who can be relied on. Being awarded came as a surprise to Marisol, who feels her efforts are just part of the job.
“I was doing some hard work for a while and just when I had the thought of nobody noticing, I was awarded twice! I thanked my leadership at the time for the kind words that they had put together,” Marisol said.
“I can say that the CARE Culture really does make a difference and pushed me into where I am today! I have nominated several officers and supervisors because of what they do, and the difference they make by being on our AMC team. Our team here at AMC takes pride in what they do, and it’s always noticeable.”
Promotion from within philosophy
“If you would have asked me where I see myself with PalAmerican a year ago, I would have never guessed it to be a Program Manager for one of the biggest contracts PalAmerican has,” Marisol said.
When Marisol started five years ago, she wasn’t aware of the company’s promotion from within philosophy. Today, she has worked her way up to Program Manager at Children’s Hospital Anshutz through hard work and perseverance, but also through teamwork.
“PalAmerican has shown me what teamwork truly looks like. They have shown me what it is to plant a seed and watch it grow. Meaning, investing in the right people, and having the outcome you expect when you just mentor and take care of your team,” Marisol added.
She’s also found a few mentors along the way, including fellow Security Program Manager Zach Blair.
“Zach goes above and beyond for all of us here in Colorado,” she said. “He never misses any of my phone calls, even when he’s training at the range. He always lets me know he is always one call away. He is PalAmerican’s biggest asset!”
Advice to others
“If ‘paying it forward’ was a job, the security industry would be it,” Marisol said. “I would tell them to give security a shot. No matter who you are, or where you come from, your path to grow only stops when you stop paving your path. The possibilities are endless in security.”
Thank you for your example and professionalism, Marisol!
If you were inspired by Marisol’s story and are interested in starting a meaningful career in security, check out our careers page for all our opportunities within PalAmerican.
Need help submitting a strong resume for a security position? Here is a free downloadable template to write the ideal Security Guard resume, and be sure to read our blog to learn more about us and the exciting world of security.