Jack K. Byrd III operates a security company that has expanded from a Nashville mall office to manage over 300 contractors across multiple southeastern states. Solaren Risk Management, founded in 2017 with Curtis E. Dodson, now coordinates operations spanning several jurisdictions from its Mount Juliet headquarters (https://www.linkedin.com/company/solarenrm).
Bethany Gill, Solaren’s Chief of Operations, describes the company’s rapid growth: “The inception of Solaren was super quick, and so we went from that small team and a small office in a mall to the office that we’re in now with around 300-plus contractors that work for us throughout just Nashville, and that happened within the span of maybe two or three years.”
Byrd’s law enforcement background provided operational knowledge essential for multi-state security management. Beginning as a paid intern with Davidson County Sheriff’s Office at age 19, he advanced to Corporal within one year before joining the United States Marshal Service in 2014 (https://thenationaltriallawyers.org/members/jack-byrd/). Federal law enforcement experience informed his approach to coordinating across jurisdictional boundaries.
Multi-state operations require navigation of varying regulatory frameworks and licensing requirements. Different states impose distinct certification standards for security personnel, creating compliance complexity. Gill explains the licensing challenges: “For example, you may be an armed security officer, but you will not be able to work at a school because you don’t have your active shooter certification.”
Operational management spans multiple states with approximately 25 core leadership personnel overseeing the entire network. “We run a pretty small crew in terms of our leadership staff within the office, our headquarters here in Mount Juliet, we’ve got maybe 50 employees, but some of those are people that work at some of our locations as guards,” Gill states. Remote state coordination presents logistical challenges that require systematic communication protocols.
Technology platforms support centralized management of geographically dispersed operations. Solaren employs integrated systems for contractor documentation, scheduling, and time tracking across all locations. “We have one platform that we use where we keep track of all the documents for our contractors all of the time sheets, the schedules, everything all in one app,” according to Gill.
Geographic expansion requires strategic hiring approaches. Rather than deploying Nashville-based personnel to distant locations, Jack Byrd prioritizes local recruitment in new markets. “We’re working on North Carolina right now, and so we have plenty of people going out there all the time going to these locations, hiring people,” Gill notes.
Communication infrastructure accommodates field operations across time zones and regulatory jurisdictions. Mobile-based systems enable real-time coordination between headquarters and remote sites. “Everything that we use for our phone and communication and all that stuff is mobile based because all of our operations team is out in the field almost all the time,” Gill explains.
Organizational structure maintains clear command hierarchies across geographic boundaries. New personnel learn reporting protocols to ensure efficient problem resolution. “Chain of command is definitely something that we try to convey,” Gill states. “So new hires really quickly rather than reach out to or try to reach out to the CEO directly about any problem, obviously he’s not going to answer the average contractor’s questions.”
Performance evaluation systems create consistency across operational territories through quarterly and annual assessments. Recognition programs include monetary incentives tied to performance metrics, maintaining standardized accountability measures regardless of location. Gill manages administrative aspects of these evaluation processes for the company’s dispersed workforce.
Professional development programs meet varying state requirements across all jurisdictions where Solaren operates. Regular in-person training sessions serve Nashville-area personnel while online capabilities accommodate remote locations. Jack Byrd’s security expertise enables comprehensive training standardization across state lines.
Field supervision maintains quality control through systematic oversight mechanisms. Individual supervisors manage multiple contracts within designated geographic areas, with some overseeing nearly ten properties independently. “One of ’em, for example, has got almost all the hotels that we have under him, which is close to 10 properties that I know of in a certain area, part of Nashville that he manages completely alone,” Gill describes.
Crisis response capabilities demonstrate multi-state operational effectiveness. During Hurricane Milton in October 2024, Solaren deployed personnel and equipment to Florida properties. “We ended up taking a command center down there and we had multiple vehicles so we could patrol the properties and we had to gather as many people as we could to go down there,” Gill recounts.
Interstate recruitment involves outreach campaigns to qualified personnel in target markets. “We would do outreach. We would basically say, if you have all the qualifying documents, we will onboard you and you can come with us down to this project,” according to Gill. Social media and email campaigns support recruitment efforts for specialized deployments.
Client relationship management across multiple states requires understanding diverse regulatory environments and local law enforcement protocols. Partnerships with Metro Nashville Police demonstrate collaborative approaches that Solaren replicates in other jurisdictions. “We work directly with Metro Nashville in a lot of capacities,” Gill explains. “We’ve built a really good rapport with them because it is supposed to be a very collaborative relationship.”
The multi-state model positions Solaren for continued southeastern expansion. Operational frameworks developed under Byrd’s leadership provide scalability for additional market entry while maintaining service standards. The company’s growth from a two-person startup demonstrates effective systems for managing complex geographic operations.
Revenue growth through multi-state expansion reflects successful market penetration strategies. Jack Byrd’s approach combines law enforcement expertise with business development capabilities to create sustainable competitive advantages. Regional expansion continues as Solaren establishes operations in new southeastern markets.
Quality assurance mechanisms ensure consistent service delivery across all operational territories. Weekly operations meetings coordinate activities and address challenges across the network. “Everybody, in terms of leadership and operations meets together today is actually the day of our operations meeting every week,” Gill states, describing the systematic approach to maintaining operational standards.
Current expansion efforts focus on North Carolina market development while maintaining existing operations across established territories. The southeastern focus allows Solaren to leverage regional expertise while building market share in adjacent states. Social media presence supports brand recognition efforts in new markets as the company continues geographic expansion under Jack Byrd’s leadership.
