Erin (Parks) Belknap, CPP

ABOUT

Erin, a Certified Protection Professional (CPP), is a Marine Corps veteran with over 20 years of experience in security operations. She completed the Executive Leaders Program with the Center for Homeland Defense and Security in September 2019. Starting her career by enlisting in the United States Marine Corps, she worked in the signals intelligence field, managing the physical and personnel security of top-secret facilities in the United States and abroad.

After a successful transition to the private sector, Erin spent eight years as the Security Manager for a large data center operation. She joined Sterling Bay, a Chicago based real estate developer in 2015, as the company’s first security employee. Erin created the company’s security and emergency preparedness programs and has grown them with the company’s national expansions. As the senior security executive, Erin coordinates with on-site property managers, engineers, contract security officers, high-profile office tenants and local first responders to ensure a best-in-class security program at all properties. Additionally, she works on all construction projects to ensure cutting edge security technology is planned for and installed. She is one of the few individuals in the company that touches every property from development to operation. She is currently master planning the security technology and operations for a 53-acre neighborhood in downtown Chicago and working on the development of what will be Miami’s tallest office tower.

She has been recognized as a Top Veteran Executive by Crain’s Chicago. She is the Chair of the Business Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) Chicago Preparedness Committee and a member of the Chicago Public Private Task Force. Both organizations actively ensure information sharing initiatives. She regularly provides in a vast range of training and educational resources; moderating or speaking on panels, presenting at conferences, leading emergency exercises, and partnering with public sector associates. Both organizations actively ensure cross-sector information sharing initiatives.