Key Signs of Mental Health Struggles in Security

In this episode of Lock It Down with Security Magazine, Managing Editor Jordyn Alger sits down with John Rodriguez to discuss the relationship between security work and mental health. Rodriguez is the Founder of Empathic Security Cultures LLC, an organization guiding security leaders to combine existing security and business practices with positive human connection.

The topic of mental health is a crucial one, as security team burnout is a top challenge for many organizations. Those in the industry know stressors can be abundant when working security roles, and without proper mental health practices in place, many professionals can burn out. And when one team member burns out, it’s possible that more will follow.

“We’re relational beings, and we depend on people since infancy to survive. The term ‘psychological safety,’ where we can we’re open to discuss and debate and agree in a professional, caring way, is one indicator of a great team.” – John Rodriguez, Founder of Empathic Security Cultures LLC

Protecting Critical Infrastructure With Limited Funding

In this episode of Lock It Down with Security Magazine, Associate Editor Taelor Sutherland speaks with Chetrice Romero, a senior cybersecurity advisor at Ice Miller. Romero shares common threats towards critical infrastructure and advice for security leaders navigating different challenges.

Why are utilities a prime target for cyberattacks? What can security leaders do to prevent them? What happens when unexpected budget cuts slice your department in half? Listen to this episode to learn more.

Reinventing Security Leadership

In this episode of Lock It Down with Security Magazine, I speak with Will Bernhjelm, Mall of America Vice President of Security, about his career, the security industry as well as the 2025 SECURITY 500 Conference.

In this role, Bernhjelm focuses on keeping the Mall’s 32 million visitors a year safe. During his tenure, he has significantly evolved the security strategy, positioning Mall of America as a leader in the industry.

In this episode, Bernhjelm shares insights from his 23-year career, including lessons learned from military service, the evolution of the Mall of America’s multilayered security strategy, and the balance between safety and guest experience.

“I think that there is this odd perception out there that there’s this mythical ‘Silver Bullet’ in security that’s going to fix everything in the world and make everything okay. There is no such thing as 100% security. If there was one thing that would keep us all safe, we’d all be doing it, and we wouldn’t be sitting here having these conversations and collaborations. There is no such thing as 100% security… there is no one thing that’s going to keep us all safe. It’s multiple things working in conjunction with one another to help accomplish the mission.” – Will Bernhjelm, Mall of America Vice President of Security

Celebrating 40 Years with OSAC

In this episode, I had a conversation with Jerry Tavares, Executive Director of OSAC to talk a bit about OSAC’s mission and trends within the industry.

“The 40th anniversary is a powerful moment for reflection. OSAC was created in 1985 in the aftermath of the Beirut embassy bombings, when there was a clear need for stronger collaboration between the U.S. government and our many American organizations overseas. What started as a small Advisory Council has evolved into a global platform and partnership of more than 7,000 member organizations. We now support over 150 overseas country chapters and offer specialized working groups in everything from faith-based security, cybersecurity to aviation. This anniversary isn’t just about looking back, it’s about reaffirming OSAC’s mission in an increasingly complex world, it’s critically important we continue to provide safety and success for all U.S. interests abroad.” – Jerry Tavares, Executive Director of OSAC