Fast-growing security firm looking to hire, offer career pathways in the Detroit Region
One of Chicago’s fastest growing companies and the nation’s largest Black-owned security firm – AGB Investigative Services – has opened its first Michigan operations in the Detroit Region. It has started recruiting and hiring in the area as it looks to expand its footprint to meet growing demand for security services while offering career pathways to underrepresented communities.
The company is setting up an office in Bloomfield Township in Oakland County after securing its first contract to provide unarmed security personnel to a client company while seeking out additional contracts. The jobs start at $16 per hour with benefits and provide career pathways in security in the fast-growing firm as it seeks supervisors and security officers.
AGB Aligns with Detroit Regional Partnership’s Pathway Jobs Initiative
AGB is a mission-driven organization, using its platform of security as a means to change lives by going beyond the traditional recruiting means and developing its talent through training and preparedness using the AGB Institute.
AGB promotes its employees through its established “Pathways to Promote” methodology which identifies for its employees the prerequisites for upward mobility. In the area of security, AGB uses paramilitary titles to organize its workforce and with pathways to promotion, so staff clearly know how to advance in the ranks.
“AGB is not solely focused on physical security, our staff is offered upward paths in our corporate offices and technology areas well. This past year we opened the AGB Cyber Security Division and all of our staff is encouraged to develop skills to participate in delivering Cyber Security as well,” said CEO John Griffin Jr.
The “AGB” in AGB Investigative Services stands for “Always Give Back” and reflects the vision of its CEO whose vision was to create a physical and cybersecurity service company to help transform lives for underrepresented communities on the Southside of Chicago.
One of the goals of the Detroit Regional Partnership (DRP) is to create “pathway jobs,” which are more accessible because they do not require a college degree, but offer avenues for employees to gain experience and skills that help them advance their careers.
The jobs AGB is bringing to the region only require a high school diploma or GED and help meet that goal. AGB’s institute helps adults enhance their professional and life skills by offering training courses that help them improve their competitiveness within the workforce.
Griffin addressed the mission of the organization as it received recognition as one of Crain’s Chicago Business’ Fast 50 in June 2021.
“This recognition is a testament to the work we collectively do day in and out, which is to protect people, property and data. Our growth allows us to continue to provide opportunity and access through our mission represented in our name”•always give back,” Griffin said.
DRP Connects with Fast-growing AGB on Chicago Trade Mission
The DRP connected with AGB during a trade mission to Chicago in October 2021. Since then, the DRP has helped the company connect with Oakland County and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation throughout its site selection process and connect with talent partners as they hire.
The Chicago-based company provides full-service security combining technology, physical security and training across 16 states while serving the retail, utilities, commercial real estate, residential, financial, education, and manufacturing sectors. AGB has been in the Crain’s Chicago Business Fast 50 three of the last four years and ranked 24 in 2021. It also appeared on Crain’s 2019 List of Chicago’s largest minority-owned businesses.