| As the head of corporate security for | | | | officer in Groveland, Florida and later Bradley, |
| telecommunication giant Nokia’s North | | | | Illinois, he rose to become the chief of police in |
| American operations, Brad Unz had a pretty good | | | | Grant Park, Illinois by the age of 25. |
| gig going. Then he learned of L&W Investigations , | | | | “My time as a police chief was an incredible |
| a private investigations firm specializing in | | | | experience from many perspectives—being an |
| insurance cases and claims. The rest, as they say, | | | | administrator, managing people and, of course, law |
| is history. | | | | enforcement,” said Unz. “After nine years, |
| With offices nationwide, including Canada, Puerto | | | | the politics that went along with the position |
| Rico and the Hawaiian Islands, L&W provides | | | | eventually made me ready for the next |
| investigative service to more than 50 local | | | | challenge.” |
| markets, supported by a national network or | | | | Unz embarked on a career in corporate security. |
| investigations offices. That rare combination, in | | | | Starting out as retail investigator / security agent |
| addition to an impressive list of more than 100 | | | | for Walt Disney Company, he eventually landed in |
| existing clients, made the decision for Unz to | | | | a similar role with Nokia, the global communications |
| come on board as leader of L&W’s Northern | | | | giant. In his almost 11 years with Nokia, Unz rose |
| California territory a relatively simple one. | | | | through the ranks to eventually become the |
| “At Nokia, we used private investigations / | | | | company’s head of corporate security for |
| security firms all the time and, to be quite honest, | | | | North America, based in White Plains, New York. |
| the thought of creating a national network of | | | | During that time, he also earned his bachelor’s |
| investigations offices never really occurred to me | | | | degree in criminology and a master’s in |
| because I didn’t know if it would be possible | | | | security management from Stafford University. |
| to duplicate the systems, processes and | | | | Still, the entrepreneurial spirit that inspired a |
| procedures on a national level,” said Unz. “I | | | | 15-year-old to open his own business was now |
| believe Neal Lyons [L&W’s CEO and | | | | calling. |
| Chairman] is a visionary in that regard and that | | | | “After being in corporate management for |
| the L & W concept is the future of investigations | | | | that long, I was looking to take on something new |
| because we are able to successfully duplicate our | | | | that would enable me to live in California. I looked |
| model nationally without diminishing our strength in | | | | into several opportunities but it was L&W that |
| the local market.” | | | | got my attention. Basically, the opportunity to |
| Looking to the future has always been the | | | | take over L&W’s Northern California territory |
| signature of Unz’ career, starting as early as | | | | encapsulated every experience from every phase |
| the age of 15 when he started his own business. | | | | of my career, starting with running a store at 15 |
| “I come from a long line of achievers and | | | | to heading security for a billion-dollar, international |
| entrepreneurs. Both of my parents were | | | | organization, said Unz.” |
| extremely well educated, each holding degrees | | | | L&W’s Northern California base will be located |
| from Northwestern University. My father was a | | | | in the Sacramento area and Unz foresees satellite |
| land developer and my grandfather was one of | | | | offices in the Bay Area and Fresno area over the |
| the first 150 Illinois State Policemen when the | | | | next several months and into early 2009. In |
| agency first formed in 1922 and later became a | | | | addition, Unz has recruited a management team |
| the chief of police in Dwight, Illinois,” said Unz. | | | | of respected industry professionals, accountants, |
| It was that connection between public and private | | | | attorneys and military veterans to manage the |
| sector that led to Unz’ start in business. After | | | | operations, administrations and sales divisions of |
| the untimely passing of his parents at age 15, he | | | | the new L & W Investigations’ Northern |
| opened a police uniform supply shop in 1978 in | | | | California offices. |
| Kankakee, Illinois, with the assistance of his | | | | “From the very first minute I began |
| grandmother. So while most kids that age were | | | | researching L & W, I knew that this was an |
| still a year away from getting their learner’s | | | | exciting opportunity that I could put all of my |
| permit, Unz ran a business grossing more than | | | | passion and many years of industry experience to |
| $100,000 per year. | | | | work,” said Unz. “As far as I’m |
| That close connection to the police, particularly | | | | concerned the sky is truly the limit for L&W and, |
| after his parents’ deaths, also led Unz to a | | | | in Northern California, we’re happy to do our |
| career in law enforcement. Starting out as a police | | | | part to take it there. |