Today we’d like to introduce you to Kris Davis.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My business started with my passion for sports and fitness; I have been an athlete all my life, playing basketball through college. I graduated from Agnes Scott College in 2009 with a dual degree in Psychology and Economics & Organizational Management. I like to say I had a quarter-life crisis around then, not sure how to walk away from sports upon graduation. So, I took a job coaching middle school basketball for six years afterwards and attained my personal trainer certification in 2014. After working for gyms and running their personal training departments, I decided I wanted more freedom. So, The Fitness Mafia was born in 2018, where I provided fitness and nutrition coaching across the Atlanta area for a variety of clients. Fast forward to 2020, when the pandemic hit, clients started canceling and I had to get creative. I’d been doing nightclub security as a side hustle for the past four years. When clubs and bars in Atlanta started to reopen in June, I took advantage of the opportunity to rebuild the security team where I’d been working, Tiki Tango Hideaway Oasis, and Foxtrot Liquor Bar in midtown. This led to an opportunity to staff a team at a restaurant in downtown Atlanta. At that point, I made the decision to pivot The Fitness Mafia into Mafia Security. Over the last year, Mafia Security has acquired several contracts around Atlanta which include Tiki Tango, Foxtrot, Sister Louisa’s Church, Parlor, The Warren City Club, and Smoke Trip. We have also provided protective services for special events, such as Sandz Atlanta Caribbean Music Festival, Sundance Premium Brunch, weddings, photoshoots, private parties, etc. Mafia Security currently has a team of 35-40 guards ready for all your security needs.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The road has not been smooth, but the journey has taught me a great deal. It has been difficult at times, as a woman, to run a business in a male-dominated industry. My work ethic and professionalism have allowed me to overcome the hurdle of not being heard or taken seriously at times. Losing contracts along the way also remains a learning experience on how to manage and protect my business and team. I have been blessed with better problems of struggling to keep up with the demand, and growing the team. Business hasn’t been an issue, rather hiring has been the biggest obstacle over the last year. With so many on unemployment and other assistance during the pandemic, finding employees that want to work has been tough. It has made me pour more into my team and developing quality happy employees. I always like to say working for me is a whole vibe; because we’re good at the job, we enjoy the job, and we make good money doing it.
As you know, we’re big fans of Mafia Security. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Mafia Security’s brand, Mafia Mentality, is what sets us apart from other security teams in Atlanta. Mafia Mentality is built on protection, professionalism, work ethic, and team. Whether we are solo or a team of twenty, you will get the same energy. We offer an elite protective service because of how we communicate and move like a zone defense. Clients have expressed their satisfaction with the way we enforce rules and policies to customers fairly and professionally. The team is always willing to go the extra mile to keep everyone safe, from customers to staff members. Mafia Security is a family, and we look out for each other. I tell every employee their first day, “you will never have to doubt if I have your back, and no one should ever have to doubt you.” I am proud of the culture I have created in my business; my team is passionate about what we represent and I genuinely appreciate every one of them. Mafia Security is just getting started, we are growing and plan on expanding in more ways. Our next step will be Mafia Security Training Academy, where we provide courses to train unarmed and armed security guards as well as offering job placement for graduates. I enjoy creating opportunities for people to grow and be successful, the Training Academy will help Mafia Security do just that. When people think of security, I want them to think of the Mafia. Join The Mafia, Be The Mafia, it’s a Mafia Mentality.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
There would be no Mafia Security without the team, and there have been some standout leaders like my site supervisors. Their leadership allows me the freedom to take a step back during shifts, focus on other aspects of the business, and travel. My family has also played a big supportive role for me as I build my business. My dad, as retired Army Colonel, no doubt influences my leadership style. My mom always advises me of my resources, which leads me to my aunt that helped me with my business plan. My only local sister, always willing to offer me a meal and her guest room on late nights working in the city. And of course, my wife, who deals with the late nights and listens to me vent about my entrepreneurial frustrations. I am immensely grateful for anyone that did or did not believe in me, they have all played a role in my motivation to keep going.
Contact Info:
- Email: mafiabusinessatl@gmail.com
- Instagram: @mafiasecurityatl
