Ashlee Cervantes Thomas On Building Security For A Rapidly Changing World

Security is no longer confined to a single dimension. For Ashlee Cervantes Thomas, CEO of Guardian Protection Force Inc., and founder of Guardian Secure Solutions, this realization shaped a clear purpose to build security solutions that are as dynamic as the risks they are designed to prevent.

Cervantes Thomas' journey into the security sector did not begin on the front lines. "I started out in retail loss prevention. I worked closely with teams responsible for safeguarding assets and maintaining order. I wanted to be a teacher back then. But when I joined Security Services as an admin and worked my way up into HR, it was like I found my purpose. I fell in love with this field," she recounts.

According to Cervantes Thomas, she is creating a unified security ecosystem that protects individuals and organizations both on the ground and in the digital space. She believes that security should be comprehensive, human-centered, and built to evolve with the times.

"I didn't come from law enforcement or the military," she reflects. "For a long time, I questioned whether I truly belonged in this space. I felt like I had to prove something before I had even begun." That self doubt, shaped by a sense of imposter syndrome, became a catalyst for her.

"I realised that I did not need to live the exact same experience to respect it," she says. "I listened. I paid attention. I witnessed firsthand the long hours, the high expectations, and the sacrifices made by these people. And that helped me."

Over the years, these efforts paid off. Cervantes Thomas was a Sacramento Business Journal 40 Under 40 honoree, and was also the 2025 recipient of the NAWBO Sacramento Valley Owl Award, Woman Innovator of The Year, for being a trailblazer in innovation and leadership within the security industry.

She serves as a Vice President of the California Association of Licensed Security Agencies Guards and Associates (CALSAGA), contributing at both executive and board level, advocating for betterment of the industry.

Under Cervantes Thomas' leadership, Guardian Protection Force Inc. has grown into a trusted provider of professional security services. What sets the organization apart, in Cervantes Thomas' opinion, is its philosophy. "If you take care of your people, they will take care of everything else," she says. "That is not a slogan. That is how we operate every day."

Over the years, Cervantes Thomas has focused on building a security culture rooted in respect, accountability and alignment. "This industry has seen people treated like they are replaceable," she says. "I wanted to build something different from that."

Cervantes Thomas believes this commitment extends to fair compensation, thoughtful onboarding, continuous education, and ongoing support. "Retention is the result of how you treat people from day one. The goal is to cultivate professionals who feel valued and empowered in their roles. It is a strategy that has helped us sustain the company's longevity and reputation over more than a decade," she explains.

"Not everyone is right for every role, and not every company is right for every person," she adds. "We hire with intention, not urgency. The right fit matters more than filling a gap."

In 2024, Cervantes Thomas launched Guardian Secure Solutions, a venture focused on technology driven security, addressing risks that emerge in an increasingly digital world. "The risks have changed," she says. "So the way we protect people has to change with them."

From real-time protection to human-backed precision, the company reflects Cervantes Thomas's forward-thinking mindset. "You cannot separate physical security from digital security anymore," she notes. "The future of security has arrived and its complexity is compounding."

Guardian Secure Solutions is designed to offer clients the tools and expertise required to safeguard their operations in a connected environment. "This was never about starting something new for the sake of it," she says. "It was about completing the picture."

While each company operates within its own domain, the true strength of Cervantes Thomas's work lies in how they complement one another. "Security should not feel fragmented," she explains. "It should feel seamless."

Cervantes Thomas' rise in the security industry is defined by conviction. "I stopped focusing on what I was not," she reflects. "And started focusing on what I could build. You can build a strong business without losing your values."