We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Po’okela Bates a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Po’okela, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.
The idea for KDI Consulting came from a frustrating pattern I kept witnessing during my years in federal law enforcement. I’d regularly interact with contract security guards from big-name companies, and what I saw was deeply troubling – firms prioritizing fast returns over actual protection, treating security like they were just “sticking bodies on posts” rather than providing professional service. There was this pervasive lack of standards, even from industry leaders, and it became clear they were focused on quantity over quality, not on what would actually result in client success.
For the longest time, I was content going to work, doing good work, and coming home to my family. But there was this nagging feeling that wouldn’t let up – this frustration in my head and heart that there needed to be security professionals who understood this is a *profession*, not just a paycheck. Real security work takes passion, dedication, and a willingness to go well above and beyond expectations.
The actual catalyst happened almost by accident. A buddy reached out through social media asking for help with an intelligence firm. They had a client that no other security company would take on – someone who could be perceived as controversial depending on your political stance, but who was actually an incredibly educated and amazing person. When my friend’s contact asked around for recommendations, my name came up: “You should call Brother Bates. This is right in his wheelhouse.”
That first job was a security consulting and risk mitigation assignment in Washington, D.C. This had very prominent individuals and leaders in US Government as well as abroad. Because there were congressional personnel, ambassadors, and high level VIP’s there as well along with a presidential cabinet member. The experience was absolutely profound. The relationships I built, the impact I made, and honestly, the compensation I received completely opened my eyes. I realized there was massive demand for quality security consulting, and people were willing to pay well for it – but too many were being taken advantage of by companies that didn’t share that commitment to excellence.
What got me most excited was the realization that I could solve a problem no one else was addressing properly. I wasn’t just offering another security service – I was bringing integrity, structure, and genuine professionalism to an industry that desperately needed it. The logic was clear: if I could build a firm that leads with quality over quantity, treats every client’s safety as mission-critical, and operates with the same ethical standards I learned in law enforcement, I could fill a gap that the big companies were ignoring.
That’s when I knew this was a worthwhile endeavor – when I saw firsthand how much impact one person committed to doing things right could have, and how much people valued that approach.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
**My Background & How I Got Into the Industry**
As I mentioned earlier, my entry into the security consulting industry was completely by accident. My background is rooted in law enforcement, where I gained extensive experience in investigations, threat assessment, and security protocols. I never planned to start my own business – I was content going to work, doing good work, and coming home to my family. But that accidental first consulting job in Washington, D.C., involving congressional personnel, ambassadors, high-level VIPs, and a presidential cabinet member, opened my eyes to what was possible when you approach security with genuine professionalism and integrity.
**What Services & Solutions We Provide**
KDI Consulting offers comprehensive security solutions including risk mitigation consulting, vulnerability assessments, security planning and implementation, threat assessments, and physical security assessments. We also provide administrative investigation services – for instance, when you have an employee or contractor you believe is stealing money or violating policies, and you need someone who can conduct that investigation with complete impartiality, objectiveness, and professionalism.
My team and I are trained in advanced interviewing and interrogation techniques used throughout local, state, and federal law enforcement – methods with proven results that don’t rely on eliciting false confessions or admissions. We’ve found this comprehensive range of services extremely beneficial to clients, and it often leads to deep educational conversations about how they can improve their security posture and develop a more informed security mindset to prevent various vulnerabilities.
**What Problems We Solve & What Sets Us Apart**
The biggest problem I solve for clients – and what sets us apart from our friendly competitors – is that I’m bringing not just customer service, but customer *success*. That’s a crucial mindset shift in this profession. It’s not about just completing the mission; it’s ensuring that we not only complete the mission but that the client sees an increase in their success and a decrease in their vulnerabilities – whether in physical security, emergency planning methodologies, or issues like theft within their organization.
We don’t come in with a stone-cold, stone-faced persona. We approach every engagement with a friendly demeanor, but that doesn’t diminish the level of experience and professionalism my team and I bring to executing these missions. We’re essentially weeding out the bad apples in and around the organizations we serve, while building genuine relationships.
**What I’m Most Proud Of**
What I’m most proud of with KDI Consulting is our unwavering dedication to selfless service. My entire team consists of certified physical security specialists, current or former/retired law enforcement officers from local, state, and federal levels, most of which have advanced training in criminal investigations and have been a part of a special response team (SWAT). We also bring former/retired military personnel with intelligence community backgrounds and special operations. Because we all come from different walks of life and experiences, we understand that security solutions aren’t cookie-cutter answers – one size doesn’t fit all.
Being able to learn from the different disciplines my team members bring allows us to tailor solutions that are far more beneficial to clients and provide the best service possible without a closed mindset. That collaborative approach is imperative to our success.
**What I Want People to Know About KDI Consulting**
The key thing I want people to understand is that nobody on our team is doing this because it’s their only option. We’re doing this because we love this profession. We love seeing the appreciation and building the relationships that come from this work.
I’ve been blessed with opportunities ranging from helping John down the street optimize his home security systems with the most cost-affordable options, to working with a CEO of a major railroad transportation organization. This CEO’s love, passion, and dedication exemplified why I do this work. I’ll never forget when, instead of my team member and me catching a commercial flight to our next location, this CEO graciously offered for us to ride along on the company’s private jet. That was my first time experiencing that level of trust and appreciation.
That memory is monumental because it reinforced that this isn’t just about doing good work – it’s about building positive relationships with clients. Through those in-depth, personal conversations and our servant leadership mindset, we create something very different from what our friendly competitors offer in their rank-and-file approach.
Everyone on my team has other options. We could go back to our normal 8, 10, 12, sometimes even 16-hour shifts. But we’re so dedicated to showing the human element of this profession – seeing the appreciation, gratitude, happiness, and client success – that we consider it an honor to serve in this capacity and see the joy on people’s faces. That’s something we never take for granted.
We’d love to hear about how you keep in touch with clients.
My approach to client relationships is fundamentally different from most companies in our industry – I don’t treat clients like invoices; I treat them like people. That starts with giving every client my direct cell phone number. I don’t pass them off to assistants or team members for communication. When they call, they get me directly.
This personal approach stems from my law enforcement background, where building trust and maintaining clear communication can literally be a matter of life and death. I carry that same philosophy into KDI Consulting. Whether it’s the CEO of a major railroad company who graciously invited my team onto their private jet, or John down the street who needs help with his home security system, every client gets the same level of personal attention and respect.
I stay in regular contact through follow-up calls, check-ins on how our security implementations are working, and most importantly, I’m always available when they need me. The relationships we build go beyond the professional – we have in-depth, personal conversations that create genuine connections.
**Additional Value We Provide:**
What sets us apart even further is our comprehensive approach to client care. We recognize that it’s not only about securing your business or organization, it’s also about securing the mental health and wellness of their teams as well – for the people that allow the organizations to “thrive not just survive.”
Many of our clients have team members who are veterans, first responders, former first responders, military spouses, or their families within their organizations. Through my spouse Dylan’s **Blonde in Blue Patreon** platform – which specializes in mental health advocacy for first responders, veterans, military personnel, and their families – we’re able to offer these valuable wellness resources to any client’s team members who might benefit from peer support and trauma-informed mental health resources.
We don’t assume every client needs this, but when we discover they have veterans, first responders, or military backgrounds on their team – or family members who do – we can connect them with specialized support that understands their unique experiences. It’s just another way we go beyond traditional security services to genuinely care for the people we’re protecting and the teams they work with.
The loyalty comes naturally when clients see that level of comprehensive care – they know that when they work with KDI Consulting, they’re getting someone who will go above and beyond in every aspect, who operates with integrity, and who treats their success and their team’s wellbeing as a personal mission.
Where do you think you get most of your clients from?
Word of mouth has been my most effective source of new clients, and honestly, it’s the only method that aligns with my “quality over quantity” approach. My very first client came through a friend who recommended me when no other security company would take on the assignment. That pattern has continued – satisfied clients and professional contacts recommend us because they’ve experienced firsthand what we deliver.
This approach allows me to maintain my standards of excellence. I’ve actually had to turn down opportunities because I didn’t have personnel I believed were the best fit for that specific assignment or mission. I will NEVER put someone who is “minimally qualified” on a job just to generate revenue for my business. I have that open conversation with potential clients, and they appreciate the honesty.
In fact, clients have been so understanding of my commitment to quality that they’ve been gracious enough to work around MY schedule or wait until a specific team member is available – someone they’re familiar with and know will handle their security needs properly. That level of trust and flexibility from clients only happens when you’ve built genuine relationships and proven your commitment to their success over your own immediate profit.
Word of mouth ensures that the clients who come to us already understand and value our approach. They’re not looking for the cheapest option or the quickest solution – they want the best protection and service, and they’re willing to wait for it. That’s exactly the type of client relationship that allows us to maintain our high standards while building a sustainable, respected business.
The human element is everything in this industry. When people are trusting you with their safety, their family’s security, or their business’s protection, they need to know you genuinely care about them as people, not just as revenue sources. That’s what sets us apart, and it’s why our clients become our biggest advocates.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.patreon.com/BlondeinBlue
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pookela-bates-g-5709771b0
- Other: https://www.patreon.com/BlondeinBlue
