November 13, 2024 – Grand Rapids, Michigan – DK Security announced today the appointment of Joe Budnik as the company’s new Chief Operating Officer. Formerly West Michigan’s Vice President of Operations, Budnik will now oversee security operations for the entire company. 

As Chief Operating Officer, Budnik will oversee all company operations across corporate offices in Grand Rapids, Lansing, and Detroit, with clients spanning the whole of Michigan as well as Ohio and Indiana. Budnik will supervise every service division at DK and is respected especially for his knowledge of armed security, executive protection, threat assessments, and emergency preparedness training. 

Budnik joined DK Security in 2001 and has spent the past 23 years gaining experience in security operations management. Starting as a K-9 handler, he spent time rotating between surveillance posts, strike security assignments, and HR support before being promoted to Operations Manager in 2003. Since then, Budnik has served at all levels of security operations leadership, most recently as Vice President of Operations (North & West Michigan, Indiana).  

Among Budnik’s accomplishments is the role he played in securing one of the largest inland oil spills in U.S. history. During the summer of 2010, in coordination with federal agencies, Budnik successfully helped manage a contract of 24 thousand weekly security hours as DK Security officers were deployed over vast stretches of remote riverbanks along the Kalamazoo River.  

Budnik was also heavily involved in the company’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. DK deployed security teams to support West Michigan vaccine developers, healthcare systems, and various of other clients with new or altered security needs. Notably, DK was able to continue employing all staff interested in security work throughout the pandemic due in part to Joe’s operational leadership, even as some existing clients cut their security budgets.  

With over 20 years of experience, Budnik is one of the company’s longest-tenured employees and “has mastered every aspect of our operations,” per CEO Sindia Narber. “His institutional knowledge is unmatched, and I can’t think of a more qualified candidate for this position.” 

About DK Security: DK Security is a security guard company based in Grand Rapids, Michigan with supporting offices in Lansing and Detroit. Founded in 1995, DK provides a full suite of security services including unarmed and armed security guards, executive protection, background screenings, investigations, and more. Serving over 400 clients with over 1,700 employees, DK Security is the largest Michigan-based security firm and is currently ranked by Crain’s Detroit Business as the 19th largest woman-owned company in Michigan.  

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