Executive Chairman
John has been a professional, private equity and venture capital investor for 20 years, and has been through several capital markets and economic cycles. He serves as a member of the Board of Directors for both publicly traded and private companies and has been an Executive Chairman of the Board, as well as Chairman of Audit and Compensation Committees. He’s a company builder with deep experience in the management of executives and personnel, sales and marketing, finance and financial analysis, business operations, strategic and business plan development, M&A, and executive recruiting.
John loves working with CEOs and management teams in optimizing their business so they can dominate a target industry segment. He does this by aiding them in organizing to create an environment of disciplined operational execution and the high impact application of a company’s competitive economic advantages.
He began his career as an officer with United States Naval Intelligence, and when he left the Navy, he worked for Fidelity Investments as a quota bearing sales representative. He started as a venture investor in 1996 at BancBoston Capital and went on to become a General Partner at M/C Venture Partners (now M/C Partners) and then a Managing Director at Key Venture Partners, both in the Boston area.
He has had successful investments across a range of industries from Telecommunications and Data Centers to Cloud Computing Software, Security Services, Energy Services, and even Waste Management. The common thread among these projects has been a services-based recurring revenue model or a unique economic advantage enabled by the application of information technology. Most recently, he is the Managing Partner of Unit Economic Investors in Boston and Jacksonville, FL.
See his LinkedIn profile here: www.linkedin.com/in/jpwardjr
B.A., Middlebury College
M.B.A, Amos Tuck School — Dartmouth College
M.P.A, Kennedy School of Government — Harvard University
Favorite book is Ayn Rand’s Atlas Shrugged with The Republic of Plato a close second. He loves his family, country, heroes, Nantucket, kiteboarding, and an occasional icy cold beer – in that order.
Chief Operating Officer
Marla came to S3 Security in 2022 as the Client Success Manager with a diverse and unique background. Marla began her career in public service as an Emergency Medical Technician and a dispatcher for Trauma One. She moved into the private sector as a manager and regional manager for several private investors and national companies, gaining experience from acquisition to daily operations. When presented with an opportunity to open her own business, years later she did so here in Jacksonville, expanding to Orange Park a short time later. After selling her business she returned to public service at the Florida Department of Corrections where she worked as a Correctional Officer. In 2023 Marla became the Chief Operating Officer after working as the Client Success Manager, Operations Manager and Sales. She enjoys the beach, traveling and spending time with her friends and family in her down time.
Corporate Controller
Cayla is a Florida native born and raised in Fort Lauderdale and currently resides in Jacksonville Beach. Cayla attended the University of North Florida where she dual majored in Finance and Logistics. She later went on to receive her MBA in Finance from the University of North Alabama. Cayla has over seven years of experience in the financial sector, working as a Finance Manager and most recently, a Corporate Controller. In her free time Cayla likes to stay active, to go out on the boat, travel and spend time with friends and family.
Finance and Administration
Cathie is a native Floridian but moved around a lot with her family as her father’s Navy career dictated. After attending New Mexico State University, she moved back to Florida and began her family and career. She has been in finance and administration for over 20 plus years with most of that time at a local commercial landscape company before finding her way to S3 Security in October of 2022. Cathie has enjoyed the new challenges of the security industry and her ever expanding role with the company. In her off-time Cathie enjoys traveling, cruises and spending time with her friends, family, daughter, son-in-law but mostly just her four grandchildren.
Senior Operations Manager
Jon brings over 19 years of various security experience to the table. After he graduated high school in 1995, he began his security carrier working alongside military, law enforcement & security professionals as a Personal Security Detail officer and crowd control specialist. Jon has advanced training in roadside interviewing and evading honesty detection, De-escalation tactics and is also an ALERRT (Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training) certified trainer for civilian response to active shooter events awarded through Texas State University.
As the Senior Operations Manager Jon oversees the Gainesville, Tallahassee, and Orlando security
teams. In his 12 years of service to S3 Security, he has received multiple awards for exceptional leadership and dedication to the S3 brand. Jon’s primary responsibilities include directing three separate security teams that oversee a total of 38 individual sites. In total these sites have an average of 25,000 individuals coming and going on a day-to-day basis. Additional responsibilities include logistics, account oversight and personnel management, assisting with company training and growth. Jon is also the liaison between S3 and the local law enforcement agencies who protect and serve our community’s. Jon joined S3 Security in June of 2012 and immediately recognized the company’s goals were in line with his own. Providing unmatched security services and building positive professional relationships with the clients and the residents we serve.
On his down time Jon enjoys spending time with his family, motorcycle riding, fishing & tactical training.
Operations Manager
With nearly a decade of combined experience gathered from the Army as a Military
Police Officer and the public security sector, where Triston started as a part time
weekend security officer many years ago. He brings knowledge, field experience
and management expertise to the S3 team. Triston is a seasoned professional,
with over 6 years in the security industry as an account and district manager and
is known for his unwavering commitment to excellence, his team, and strong
sense of duty that is guided by a resolute sense of integrity, dependability, and
professionalism. This foundation has led to a continuous progression in his career
to his current position as the Manager of Operations for S3 Security. Triston loves
spending time at home reading and enjoying the company of his family: Kiana and
and August, his Beagle. He enjoys getting out every once in a while, for kayaking trips,
volleyball, and disc golf. If he isn’t outdoors and decides not to read at home
home then he can usually be found building computers at his desk.
Sales Executive
Fox attended the University of South Florida, Tampa, and has become is a seasoned
sales professional with over two decades of experience. He has been driving
success in the tech and telecom industries for the last 15 years. Fox’s primary
responsibility is the Orlando, Gainesville and Tallahassee markets
and with 23 years of dedicated sales expertise, Fox has honed a skill set
that uniquely combines industry knowledge, strategic insight, and a
relentless commitment to client satisfaction. Throughout Fox’s career he has used
an innovative approach to sales and has successfully navigated the complexities
of these dynamic industries, establishing a reputation as a trusted sales executive
and partner to clients. Fox’s proficiency in understanding client needs and
delivering tailored security solutions have been instrumental in forging these
lasting relationships and becoming a sales leader. Fox thrives in challenging
environments and has enthusiastically committed to the vision for growth for S3 Security.
During his off-time Fox enjoys traveling extensively and spending time with his family.