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PAUL BAZE
DAVID COLLINS
KEN DALLEY
KATHY NICHOLS
GREG PIPER
DANIEL QUAM
ANDREW SHAW
MARK THOMSON
MARK COWLEY
Paul Baze is the Director of Sales at GUARDIAN RFID. Baze began his career in corrections in 2008 at the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office in Flagstaff, AZ. Baze served as an administrative sergeant and was responsible for improving daily operations and ensuring all daily tasks aligned with operational goals. Paul was also responsible for purchasing technological upgrades; including, updating the agency's camera technology, as well as implementing GUARDIAN RFID at Coconino County’s two jails located in Flagstaff and Page. Baze’s work philosophy has always been based on the principles of building teams that established lasting frameworks of operational excellence.
In 2013, Baze received his Bachelor of Science degree in Public Administration from Northern Arizona University. He earned his Masters in Public Administration from Northern Arizona University in 2017 with a focus on public policy and leadership. That same year, Baze also received the National Public Service Award by the National Academy of Public Administration. In 2018, Baze graduated from the National Jail Leadership Command Academy, Class #27.
Baze is certified with the American Jail Association as a Certified Jail Manager (CJM) and a Certified Correctional Trainer (CCT).
David Collins is Director of Government Affairs at GUARDIAN RFID. Collins has over 10 years of experience working in government affairs and public policy, advocating for labor, healthcare, technology, regulatory reform, education, and justice & public safety.
As Director of Government Affairs, Collins is the lead strategist and tactician in GUARDIAN RFID’s public/private partnerships with local, state, and federal partners across the U.S.
Collins is a native of North Carolina and a University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Football Letterman, receiving his bachelor’s degrees in political science and Peace, War, and Defense.
In his time off, Collins prioritizes spending quality time with family and friends, fishing and mentoring a few high school offensive linemen.
Ken Dalley is Founder, Chairman, and Chief Warrior of GUARDIAN RFID. He has pioneered inmate tracking technologies for U.S. correctional facilities for nearly twenty years, focusing on leveraging technology to protect the 480,000 correctional officers who defend our nation's jails and prisons.
To build a different kind of company, Dalley emphasizes its One Team, One Mission mantra, focusing on teamwork, innovation, and an obsession to be Warrior-led.
Since its founding, Dalley has transformed GUARDIAN RFID into a premiere public safety technology company, recognized by Inc. 5000 as the 396th fastest growing software company in the U.S. in 2021, and as a 2021 U.S. Technology Innovator by KPMG. Dalley was a finalist for the 2021 EY Entrepreneur of the Year.
Dalley launched GUARDIAN RFID with a firm belief that correctional officers have been underserved for decades with poor technology that compromises their safety, security, and defensibility. He also works closely with correctional leaders and legislators to better protect America’s Thin Gray Line.
Dalley holds a number of utility patents that span RFID, artificial intelligence, mobile, and Cloud computing.
In 2020, Dalley formed the Warrior Foundation, a 501(c)(3) under the United States federal tax code whose mission is to provide philanthropic support for members of the Thin Gray Line through disaster relief efforts, and to provide economic assistance. Its first effort was distributing 250,000 masks to correctional officers across the U.S. He also led the effort to have GUARDIAN RFID join the Pledge 1% movement, where companies donate 1% of profit, products, and time to charitable causes it values most.
An avid sports fan, Dalley enjoys playing baseball, hockey, and tennis, and has coached youth sports for years. Dalley drives for Meals on Wheels, and volunteers at C.R.O.S.S. (Christians Reaching Out in Social Service). He’s also a member of Knights of Columbus and serves on the Information Ministry at his church. Dalley received a B.A. in English from St. John's University.
Kathy Nichols is the Chief of Staff to the CEO at GUARDIAN RFID. Nichols began her career over 25 years ago working in healthcare for CentraCare, one of the largest hospital systems in Minnesota (ranked #54 of all U.S. hospitals).
As Chief of Staff, Nichols oversees teams and individuals responsible for operations, finance, customer success, and legal. Nichols works closely with Ken Dalley and is a key member of the senior leadership team, working closely with leaders of every functional area of the organization.
Nichols’ reputation for caring and her skills in working with people in all areas of responsibility is one of her most celebrated strengths. She’s frequently a confidant to any team member, and is consistently one of the most respected members of the team at GUARDIAN RFID.
Nichols is actively involved in a number of organizations outside of GUARDIAN RFID, including serving on the board of the Warrior Foundation. She currently resides in central Minnesota with her husband and two sons.
Greg “OG” Piper is the Director of Academy at GUARDIAN RFID. Piper has been in skills development, training, and instructing for over 25 years in everything from customer service to martial arts. Starting as a puppeteer for the Parks Department in Apple Valley, Minnesota and having worked for multi-million dollar corporations, government agencies, and mom and pop businesses, Piper brings a wide range of business and life skills to each training.
In 2005, Piper began his service with the Kansas Department of Corrections at the Ellsworth Correctional Facility as Corrections Officer, promoting quickly from Staff Sergeant to Corrections Counselor, and then Staff Development Coordinator. This is where he believes he discovered his mission field of working with corrections officers to empower them to be professional and respected members of their communities.
After almost ten years in Kansas, Piper made the decision to move his family to Chattanooga Tennessee, where he became a Deputy Sheriff in Hamilton County. Working in the 505-bed jail, Piper worked every post he could before having the opportunity to work in the Security Division as the Segregation and Housing Officer.
With over 13 years in corrections and law enforcement, Piper has been a certified instructor in both cognitive and psychomotor subjects including: Chemical Agents, Building Entry/Hostage Extraction, Firearms, Crisis Intervention, Cognitive Reflective Communication, Critical Incident Stress Management, and many more.
In September 2016, Piper was asked to join the GUARDIAN RFID team and take his infectious energy and passion all over the country.
As Director of Academy, Piper is responsible for customer success, training, and works intimately with new product rollout. Sit in on one of OG’s training sessions and you will notice his love for his family, movies, sports, a good joke, and his genuine passion and respect for corrections staff.
Piper earned his bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice at Central Christian College.
Daniel Quam is the Director of Product at GUARDIAN RFID. He began his service in corrections as a Detention Officer Civilian in 1999 with the Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office. Fort Bend County experienced rapid population growth during this time, including expanding jail capacity from 758 beds to 1,766.
Quam served in an administrative capacity for 16 years of his career. He was solely responsible for implementing and managing detention contracts and supporting operations for food service, commissary, maintenance, medical, telephone, new construction, and technology, passing compliance with Texas jail standards for those 16 years.
Over a span of 21 years, Quam was promoted through the ranks to Captain and retired as the Jail Administrator in December 2020.
His leadership positions and certifications include Certified Jail Manager (CJM) from AJA, FBI National Academy 250th session, National Jail Leadership Command Academy class #36, Master Jailer, Master Peace Officer, and Instructor from the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE). He also was honored as a lifetime director for Behind the Badge Charities, which supports first responders serving in Fort Bend County as Police, Fire, EMS, Dispatcher and Corrections in Fort Bend County. Quam received an MBA from Sam Houston State University, and serves as Director of Product. His responsibilities include leading teams that execute the implementation, training, and retention of agencies using GUARDIAN RFID throughout the United States.
Quam resides in the Houston area with his wife and four children.
Andrew Shaw is a Software Development Manager at GUARDIAN RFID. He has eight years of experience working as a software developer and was recently promoted to his current role.
Known for many things, including his intellectual might, love of board games, and his six-foot five-inch frame, Shaw was an Eagle Scout who grew up in Colorado, though resided in many states since both of his parents served in the U.S. Air Force.
Prior to joining GUARDIAN RFID, Shaw worked for Microsoft developing software ranging from phone apps to web interfaces to API endpoints and Cloud-based data pipelines in Azure.
A native of Colorado Springs, Shaw graduated from the Colorado School of Mines and received his bachelors of applied science (BASc) degree in Mathematics and Computer Science.
He is married and currently lives near St. Paul with his wife, three dogs, and two cats.
Mark Thomson is the Director of Support Services at GUARDIAN RFID. Thomson began his career in the public safety sector in 2007 with Law Enforcement Technology Group, acquired by Zuercher Technologies (now CentralSquare Technologies). Thomson’s goals are to mentor a team to provide world-class service that focuses on teamwork, the ability to find resolutions quickly and efficiently, and to ensure every customer understands that GUARDIAN RFID’s core value of being Warrior-Led is to go the extra mile to meet their individual needs. Thomson also closely collaborates with the implementation team to ensure that they have the knowledge and resources necessary to streamline deployments and maximize project success.
In May 2022, Thomson celebrated his five-year anniversary with GUARDIAN RFID, helping to build a strong and dedicated team!
Outside the walls of GUARDIAN RFID, Thomson enjoys the outdoors with his wife and two children, including exploring new territory on the rivers and lakes, taking vacations, and spectating on the field and inside the gym. In addition to working as Director of Support Services, Thomson has served for 20 years as an on-call firefighter/EMT for the city of Woodbury, Minnesota.
Thomson holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota-Duluth.
Mark Cowley is the Director of JailOps at GUARDIAN RFID and uses his 34 years of corrections experience to help jail staff and administrators overcome the challenges of operating and working in a correctional environment.
Cowley is a retired Captain from Bingham County Sheriff’s Office (Blackfoot, Idaho) where he served for 34 years. He worked his way up through the patrol ranks being promoted to Captain, where he oversaw patrol operations, dispatch, and the jail, where he served as a jail administrator for 15 years. One of Cowley’s main focuses during his time as the jail administrator was ensuring new technology was being upgraded in the aging jail so the staff could work safely and efficiently.
Cowley is a graduate of the FBI National Academy #225, the Northwestern University Police School of Staff and Command, and holds both an advanced and management certificate with the Idaho Peace Officers Standards & Training. As a retired Captain, Cowley understands the unique environment of managing in a jail setting. He is an instructor for the Idaho Peace Officers Standards & Training Academy and Idaho State University Law Enforcement Training Program where he teaches Idaho Jail standards, inmate discipline, and effective communication courses. He believes that providing staff the ability to capture data focusing on officer safety is paramount.
Whether he is upgrading devices, presenting new technology, account reviewing, ordering supplies, working on technical problems, or assisting jails in generating incident reports, Cowley’s overarching goal is to create long-term relationships with the GUARDIAN RFID customer base.
Cowley currently resides in Shelley, Idaho, with his wife, Lisa. Cowley is active with hiking Idaho trails, fishing, and spending time in Island Park Idaho with his children and friends, guiding them to what nature's wonders hold for this area and into Yellowstone National Park. In January 2023, Cowley became a proud grandfather of his first grandchild and he looks forward to a new chapter with grandkids.