OWNER/PRESIDENT
Jonathan “JB” Bates is a former U.S. Marine with 8.5 years of honorable service in Infantry leadership roles, followed by a distinguished career in international protective services. He advanced to a key executive role at a global security firm, where he successfully built and managed one of its most profitable training divisions—overseeing more than 300 courses and certifying over 5,000 security professionals. His deep expertise in security, leadership, and training fuels his mission to deliver integrity-driven protection services stateside

OWNER/STRATEGY & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
Nikole brings over two decades of experience in new business development, leading with integrity, strategic insight, and a passion for innovation. She has a proven track record of identifying industry challenges and crafting sustainable solutions with a clear, professional approach. Her leadership style fosters collaboration and excellence, driving growth while maintaining a personal, hands-on connection with her teams and clients.

CEO
Thor is responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and growth.

Thor has spent more than 30 years building and running companies. In 2000 he founded a global risk management consulting firm that advised private equity firms on the companies they bought and sold. His top 15 clients had combined revenue of $12.7 billion and operations in more than 100 countries. He has since founded, bought, and sold several multi-million-dollar businesses.

As founder of Peak Performance Group, Thor has trained CEOs, business owners, and their teams around the world on profitability, accountability, and execution, and he hosted the Peak Performers Podcast. He brings that same discipline to Fidelis, guided by a conviction he has taught for years: knowledge only counts when you can execute on it.

Thor attended St. John's University's Peter J. Tobin College of Business and is a longtime member and former board member of the Entrepreneurs' Organization.

COO
Steven Toro served in the US Army and was assigned to several special operations units providing time sensitive targeting intelligence, along with counterterrorism work at the National Security Agency. He went on to lead corporate security for Amazon and served as Vice President of Operations at a private security firm. Toro also spent eight years providing executive protection for Dolly Parton and managed bar and security operations for large entertainment venues in downtown Nashville.

Director of People Operations
Andrea Miller Davis brings a strong foundation in human resources, office management, and nearly 15 years of safety and security experience to Fidelis Academy and Protection Services. Her combination of administrative leadership and field knowledge allows her to support both organizational operations and frontline personnel with clarity, consistency, and care. Andrea holds a Bachelor of Arts in Human Relations Management from Trevecca Nazarene University and a Master of Science in Rehabilitation Counseling from the University of Tennessee. Deeply committed to service, she is passionate about community involvement and workforce advocacy—values shaped by her personal experience as a mother and lifelong supporter of nonprofit organizations.

Director of Human Resources
Lynsee serves as Director of Human Resources, bringing 20 years of real-world experience in human resources and process management across the security, hospitality, and health and fitness industries.

Passionate about building strong culture, Lynsee believes great HR starts with understanding both people and operations. She works closely with Operations to bridge the gap between HR and the field, creating practical, people-focused processes that support employees while meeting the needs of the business.

“I love round-table conversations.” For Lynsee, the best solutions often come from getting the right people around a table, asking questions, listening to different perspectives, solving problems, and moving forward together. Her approach is grounded in communication, accountability, respect, and genuine connectio

Manager of Strategic Operations
Twenty-one years of relevant security experience combining U.S. Air Force Security Forces service at a Priority Level 1 installation with civilian contract security leadership at the operational and executive level. Directly managed a three-state region spanning Minnesota, Wisconsin, and North Dakota, encompassing 60 facilities, approximately 500 personnel, and roughly 18,000 contracted hours per week across Class A office buildings, stadium and event venues, manufacturing facilities, residential communities, and college and corporate campuses. Managed security operations for a large-scale mixed-use commercial redevelopment requiring distinct security strategies across office, restaurant, bar, retail, and event space, spanning the full property lifecycle from construction through opening, tenant leasing, and stabilized operations. Led the transition of a federal security program from a locally managed model to a nationally standardized point-of-contact structure as the program expanded to new-build and higher-risk facilities, implementing a preventative security strategy that reduced incidents requiring first-responder response by approximately 65% in its first year. Led logistics and executive-level contract security operations during Super Bowl LII in Minneapolis, scaling operations to approximately 1,200 security officers supporting 40-plus clients and over 150 events across a three-week period, while separately scaling a retail client's footprint from 5 to 22 locations and a Class A property management portfolio from 3 to 12 high-rise locations across three states.

Tennessee Operations and Personnel Manager
Dimitri Pardina brings a diverse background in high-level operations, security, and protective services. Before transitioning into the security industry, he held leadership roles with multiple nationwide parking companies, developing extensive experience in management, logistics, and team coordination.

With six years in the security industry, Dimitri began his career in nightlife and hospitality before progressing into federal contracting and close protection. He now oversees company operations, helping ensure teams consistently deliver professional, reliable, and effective security services.

Dimitri is also enlisting in the Tennessee National Guard as an 11B Infantryman, further reflecting his commitment to service, discipline, and operational excellence.