Our Team

Derek Oldham – President

Derek Oldham directs all IPSA Security Services company operations, utilizing his 25+ years of management experience within the security industry. Oldham has educated himself in all aspects of the security business and was heavily involved in handling the emergencies and subsequent emergency preparedness training after the events of September 11, 2001. Throughout his career, Oldham has emphasized the importance of building unique security programs for each client and maintaining long term client customer relationships both internally and externally. Oldham is an active member of ASIS and served on the executive board for over four years, and continues to be involved with BOMA,  Arizona Infragard, the Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO), and IFMA. Oldham’s hands-on leadership style is essential to IPSA’s growth and success.

Danielle Smith – Vice President

Danielle Smith is responsible for all operational activities for the company. She also assists with guard training courses and manages the company’s quality assurance program. Smith has over 25+ years of experience in security management. She is a board member in the Phoenix chapter of ASIS, a Segway certified trainer, and a former member of BOMA. Smith is also trained in alcohol compliance, MOAB management of aggressive behavior and is certified in crowd management. Her diverse experience in security operations management is invaluable to IPSA; she’s seen it all and sharing that knowledge ensures IPSA security officers are prepared to respond to scenario.

Doug Mills – Area Manager

Doug Mills is an exceptional leader and a retired U.S. Air Force Senior Master Sergeant with 28 years of experience managing large scale operations. He is a proven, results-driven leader, and demonstrated those abilities during multiple combat deployments in support of contingency operations in Southwest Asia and Afghanistan. As an IPSA Area Manager, he provides key oversight to security operations, training and standardization procedures. Mills is certified as an ATTSA Supervisor/Technician. He has completed FEMA training in the following areas: Fundamentals of Emergency Management, Incident Command and DHS Active Shooter and physical security training.

Marc Tran – Finance Manager

As IPSA’s Financial Manager, Marc Tran is responsible for overseeing the company’s daily financial activities and performance. Tran has over 20+ years of accounting experience and is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). He has worked with IPSA since 2012.

Barb Lewis – HR Coordinator

Barb Lewis joined IPSA in 2018. Although she was new to the security industry, she has 10+ years of experience in Human Resources and 20+ years of experience in Administration and Employee Management. Lewis takes care of all our human resource needs, from interviewing of all our exceptional security guards to managing insurance benefits and e-Verifying all of our new employees. She also teaches our security guard classes for new hires and renewals.

Dan Lefco – General Manager Texas

Dan Lefco is a strong security leader with 16 years of experience in the field, including 13 years with the Travis County Sheriff’s Office Corrections Bureau. As Sergeant of the Corrections Tactical Unit, Lefco was responsible for complex, high-risk deployments and policy management, where he ensured the Bureau’s policies remained compliant with all government regulations. He has completed training topics that include Creating a Respectful Workplace, Conflict Resolution Alternatives, Harassment Prevention, Pre-Incident Indicators of Violent Assault & Characteristics of Armed Persons, FEMA emergency management training and holds a Master’s of Business Administration from UMASS Amherst.

Hutton Wachtler – Business Development Manager

Hutton Wachtler is the Business Development Manager for IPSA Security Services based in Phoenix, AZ and Austin, TX. After attending the University of Arizona, she moved to Seattle, WA and began her career in Sales Management. Over the last 6 years, Hutton has surpassed her sales goals consistently, managed a sales team of ten and created her own training program. In addition, Hutton has focused heavily on philanthropic work. In college, she worked closely with the Make-A-Wish Foundation and has volunteered with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation for the last 15 years in both the Phoenix Chapter and the Seattle Chapter. In 2021, she was a member of the Seattle JDRF Gala committee, an event that raised $3.3 million to be used for Type 1 Diabetes research. She is currently active in Metro Phoenix with ASIS, BOMA and IFMA.

When she is not working or volunteering, she loves to experiment with new recipes, read mystery novels and play with her 8-year-old Golden Retriever, Gatsby.

Michael Hutton – Operations Manager

Michael Hutton has been with IPSA Security Service since 2014, demonstrating a strong commitment to growth and excellence within the company. Starting as a site supervisor, Michael has worked his way up to his current role as Operations Manager, showcasing his leadership skills and industry knowledge. In addition to his operational duties, Michael oversees the company’s reporting platform, ensuring efficient communication and data management across the organization.

Before joining IPSA, Michael served in the US Army Reserve as a motor vehicle operator (88M). When not dedicating his time to enhancing security services, Michael enjoys spending time outdoors with his family.