History
Blue Steel Law Enforcement Services was founded in 2009 by two police officers who started a business brokering off duty police officers. While they were successful in the field of off duty police, several of their clients asked for a more affordable option and Blue Steel Security Services was born.
For two years, the founders balanced running a business while working for their department. While successful, Blue Steel Security wasn’t growing to Its full potential.
In 2012, Michelle Howland and Mark Coxen joined Blue Steel as partners and focused full time on developing the business. Starting with 3 multi-family accounts, Michelle and Mark grew Blue Steel’s portfolio to over 100 apartment communities within a year.
On June 2 of 2014, Michelle and Mark purchased the entire business from the founders and brought in Travis Henson as a 3rd partner. Blue Steel has continued to flourish and has become the premier courtesy provider to the multi-family housing industry in Phoenix and Flagstaff.
Four Pillars
We maintain a constant focus on our Pillars of Excellence, which are the foundation of everything we do. These measurable standards of success are part of how we provide excellent service to our clients. Our success is also based on our strict adherence to the Core Values that make up the backbone of Blue Steel Security Services. Together, these Pillars and Values provide a basis for our decisions and a benchmark for our actions.
People
We will have the highest Quality people and stay true to our core values.
Customer Satisfaction
We will strive for truly loyal clients and Team Members
Operational Experience
We will be known for excellence in creating value to our clients and their residents.
Growth & Profitability
We will strive to consistently grow our Company, while we continually invest in our people and systems.
Six Core Values
Integrity
We will stay true to the highest ethical standards and principles and be honest, trustworthy and humble in all of our words and actions.
Respect
We will accept and value our individual differences and show genuine consideration for the thoughts, needs and ideas of others.
Professionalism
We will proudly present a positive, dignified and businesslike image at all times through our appearance, behavior and interactions with others.
Accountability
We will take responsibility and accept ownership for our works, actions, tasks and results and respectfully hold others to the same standard.
Service
We will make service our top priority by giving our time, knowledge and experience to serve the needs of our customers, community and Team Members.
Teamwork
We will work together to accomplish goals, solve problems and enrich our work environment.
Michelle Howland
Chief Executive Officer, Owner
Michelle started her career in the Multifamily Housing Industry in 1994 as a leasing agent. She quickly climbed the ladder to become a Regional Vice President of a national property management company. In 2003 Michelle earned the Arizona Multihousing Association Property Supervisor of the year award.
Recognizing her innate leadership ability, she was recruited to be the Vice President of a growing security company. Through sheer determination and the relationships that she built in the multifamily housing industry, she significantly increased the annual revenue through growth of the Phoenix and Tucson markets and expanding the company to New Mexico.
In 2012, she was able to see her dream of owning her own business come to fruition and became an owner of Blue Steel Security Services. Her unique perspective of the Multifamily Housing Industry has allowed her to create a program specifically designed to meet the needs of today’s competitive multifamily housing industry. Michelle truly sees things through the eyes of a property manager and understanding their needs. In 2014 Michelle acquired the majority share of Blue Steel Security Services and is now the Chief Executive Officer responsible for every aspect of growth and client satisfaction. During her short time as an owner, Michelle has earned the Arizona Multihousing Association Industry Partner of the year in both 2013 and 2016. What started out as a 1 contract security company ran out of a garage has quickly turned into the premier multifamily security provider in the Southwest.
When not behind the wheel of Blue Steel Security Michelle enjoys spending time with her family and friends, golfing, hiking, interior design, traveling, fishing, and doting on her two beautiful granddaughters.
Mark Coxen
Chief Operations Officer, Owner
Mark served with distinction as a helicopter navigator in the US Army until his honorable discharge in 1991. After serving, he began his career working in the public housing developments in San Francisco, Oakland and Richmond, CA where he specialized in gang and narcotic enforcement.
In addition to patrolling low income communities, Mark was also a team leader on a Maritime Counter-Terrorist Security Team under contract with the Department of Defense Military Sealift Command where he excelled as a Designated Marksmen, Diver and Small Boat Assaulter. When the team wasn’t working on DoD ships, they were often called upon to perform dignitary protection.
Mark has protected such notables as Sarah Palin, Whoopi Goldberg, Michael Eisner and Larry Ellison. In 2004, Mark moved to Arizona where he oversaw all uniformed operations for a major security company with over 300 employees and 3 offices in 2 states. In 2011, Mark joined Blue Steel Security as an Owner and the Chief Operations Officer as well as the primary firearms instructor. In addition to overseeing the day to day operations of Blue Steel, Mark is also teaches courses in personal safety and active shooter response to a variety of local public and private entities.
When he’s not working Mark enjoys motorcycles, off roading, competitive shooting, hunting, camping, golf and being a Dad of 2 wonderful children.
Travis Henson
Chief Financial Officer, Owner
Travis started his career in Security as an officer. His story is shining example of how far hard work and dedication will get you. His time as an officer was short-lived and he quickly advanced to a Sergeant position overseeing a team of 25 officers in his beat. After mastering the position of Sergeant, it became quite clear that Travis had more to offer the company in a much larger leadership position. Travis was promoted to be the face of the company with all of the employees and perspective employees as the Recruiter and Trainer. Travis was then responsible to hand pick the officers and provide all of the training from the initial guard card class to the many different levels of training for advancement that the company offered. In 2013 Travis joined Blue Steel Security as the Office Manager/Trainer and Recruiter. Once again not wanting to let the moss grow under him he quickly advanced to his current position of Chief Financial Officer. At the same time Travis was recognized for his business mind and determination to succeed and was offered an opportunity to become one of the Partners in Blue Steel. He currently oversees the Director of Recruiting and Training and all financial operations for Blue Steel Security.
When Travis isn’t working, he enjoys spending time with his two beautiful daughters and wife. Frequently they head out of town for adventures at Disney Land, Sea World and the beach. Travis relaxes by playing golf, finding new places in the desert to ride his razor and doing home improvement projects.
Daniel Vollmer
Vice President
Daniel is a native to Arizona. He attended and graduated from Glendale Community College, where he received his Associates Degree in Criminal Justice.
He started his career in security as an officer working many different assignments that include; foot patrol, bike patrol, undercover surveillance, personal protection, and loss prevention. Daniel’s hard work and leadership ability enabled him to quickly be recognized and promoted to a supervisor position. After being a supervisor for approximately a year, he was once again recognized and promoted to a Customer Service Representative. Daniel was handed over 75 accounts to develop and maintain relationships with. After working several years in the security Customer Service position, Daniel decided to expand his knowledge of the multifamily housing industry by taking a position with a national property management company. He worked as a leasing agent with Fairfield Residential for 8 months and then was picked up by Greystar where he was able to become the Assistant Manager.
After working for almost 3 years with Greystar, Daniel decided to leave the property management world and join the Blue Steel Team with his new knowledge of what the client’s needs are. Daniel jumped into a Customer Service roll and quickly started helping to grow the company. In 2016 Daniel was promoted to Vice President of Blue Steel Security Services. Currently he leads the Customer Service and Administrative teams.
When Daniel is not at work, he loves spending time with his amazing girlfriend and their 4 beautiful daughters. He also enjoys building things with wood, traveling, spending time at the cabin, and DIY projects.
Contact Blue Steel Security Today!
If you are interested in working together, send us an inquiry and we will get back to you as soon as we can!