Proud to be Security

Jeff Karpovich, CPP, CHPA, is proud to be Chief/Director, Security and Transportation for High Point University (HPU) in High Point, NC. Not only is he affiliated with an outstanding university: it was named number three among Regional Colleges in the South in “America’s Best Colleges” 2011 edition, published by U.S. News & World Report, and has been ranked as one of the top 610 colleges and universities across the country in the list, “America’s Best Colleges,” created by Forbes.com. In addition, Parade Magazinehas listed High Point University as one of the top 25 large private schools in the nation in the magazine’s annual “College A-List.” But Karpovich truly enjoys his role. Securitymagazine is also thrilled to have Karpovich as a member of our editorial advisory board.

How and why did you get into the security industry?

I became interested in public safety as a teen. I shared a bedroom with my older brother who became a police officer at 19, and I admired the pride he took in his profession/appearance.

What do you like about your position?

The diversity. Since I am responsible for so many facets (security, transportation, executive protection, emergency management, safety and parking), no two days are alike. Couple these responsibilities with the dynamic, meteoric campus growth, I am challenged each day. But it’s rewarding, because I am able to draw upon more than 30 years experience to not only tackle issues, but to share my knowledge with my staff.

What are the elements of your leadership style that you help make you successful?

My ability to multitask is definitely a plus. I can switch gears on a dime; a must at HPU. Also, I enjoy teaching verses telling, and most folks prefer that.

Who in your organization do you respect and take time to interact with and why?

The top two, not surprisingly, are my boss, VP & Chief of Staff, Chris Dudley, and his boss, the President, Dr. Qubein. Both are very intelligent with an acute attention to detail. They are great motivators because, in part, they have a powerful work ethic, plus they are visionaries.

What’s a typical day like for you? How do you start and end your day?

A typical day hopefully begins with a well-organized schedule, though rarely the case. My day starts around 6:15am with a check of my Droid for the night’s incidents and emails. I triage those, and then I get moving. My office is no longer on main campus, so I try to keep enough room on my calendar to get to main campus, to see and be seen, and to ride our mass-transit buses. Once I accomplish most of what needs to be done that day, I head home, generally around 6:00-6:30 pm. After my girls are in bed, I get on the home PC and remote into my office PC. I work another 30-60 minutes, then try to read or watch a little TV. Then just before sleep, I check the Droid again, handle those emails, then try to go to sleep while pondering the day’s events along with tomorrow’s expectations.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

I have several investment properties, so that takes up some of my “spare” time. And, we have two young girls, so I try to devote most of my spare time to them.

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Diane Ritchey was former Editor, Communications and Content for Security magazine beginning in 2009. She has an experienced background in publishing, public relations, content creation and management, internal and external communications. Within her role at Security, Ritchey organized and executed the annual Security 500 conference, researched and wrote exclusive cover stories, managed social media, and authored the monthly Security Talk column.