Mike Paszynsky AT&T

May 1, 1999 12:00 PM, Access Control & Security Systems Integration Staff

Occupation: Corporate security and claims director, AT&T, Bridgewater, N.J.

Prior professional experience: I've been with AT&T since 1977. I was briefly with American Express as resident special agent for their fraud operation; prior to that special agent with the New Jersey state commission of investigation; prior to that, special investigator with the New York State prosecutors' office. Also 22 years in the Army Reserve, eight in the criminal investigation division.

Professional affiliations: ASIS, Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, International Security Management Association.Education: Bachelor's degree in criminal justice from John Jay College of Criminal Justice, New York.

Personal: Married to Marie, with three children, all of whom are graduating this year. My son Salvatore is graduating from St. John's Law School; my daughter Kari is graduating with a B.A. in art education from Kutz Town University; my daughter Marlene is graduating from Eastern Area High School.

Personal philosophy: Change equals opportunity (go for it).

One word that best describes you: Exacting.

Leisure activities: My wife is an instructor in jazz, tap and ballroom dancing. Much of my leisure time is spent at her studio in eastern Pennsylvania, so my favorite leisure activity is ballroom dancing.

Most treasured material possession: The baby shoes of my three children, which I'm looking at right now.

Book you are currently reading: "The End of Work" by Jeremy Rifkin. The book looks at technological innovations and market forces that the author claims are moving us closer to a world where machines will be more prominent. He calls it the third industrial revolution.

Greatest challenge: Demonstrating the value of security versus what we used to do which was tell management, "take my word for it."

My organization (security department) is aligned with AT&T's internal auditing organization; both departments report to the same vice president, who reports to the chief financial officer.

Motto: A modified version of the scouts' slogan: "Be prepared for the unexpected."

Greatest reward: When security professionals - my peers - started asking for my opinion.

Heroes: Those who become involved with acts of humanity and avoid the spotlight; my heroes have been people who run soup kitchens, who volunteer in nursing homes and hospitals, and that sort of thing.

Goals for the future: I would like to teach - to start some younger people on the right track.

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