Built by officers
Leadership Team
Max Security USA was founded and is led by decorated law enforcement veterans with over 130 combined years of service.
- Partner-owned
- Huntington, NY
- New York · New Jersey · Florida
- Guards, patrol, cameras, software
The partners
Max Security USA is a physical security company. Since 2002 we have put guards at gates, patrol cars on the road, and cameras and access-control hardware on real properties. Maximum.Community is the software we built for that work, and we give it to HOA communities free.
Six partners own the company and run it day to day. Operations, technology, finance, installation and administration each sit with one of them, so a question about a gate arm and a question about the resident app land in the same building.
Charles Tramontana
Partner | Chief Executive Officer
- SCPD K9 Officer (Retired)
- 30 Years Law Enforcement
- DHS WMD Certified
- FEMA ICS Certified
- NYS Crime Prevention Officer
Charles Tramontana serves as Chief Executive Officer and is a principal owner of Max Security USA. As part of the executive team, he is primarily involved in Communications, Public Relations, and Information Technology. His talents lie in the ability to foster cooperative relationships with clients and agencies. His extensive experience and training in Emergency Management Preparation has provided an added benefit to customers through lectures and consultative services.
Charles dedicated 30 years of service to the community as a police officer in the Suffolk County Police Department (SCPD). He was assigned to the Special Patrol Bureau as a K9 Police Officer with past service in the Patrol, Community Oriented Policing & Enforcement (COPE) and Crime Section divisions of the department and is a member of the Suffolk County Urban Search and Rescue Team.
Some of Charlie’s credentials include: NYS certification as a Crime Prevention Officer, General Topics Instructor, and K9 Narcotics Trainer; Weapons of Mass Destruction Training through the Department of Homeland Security; Incident Command Center Training through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA); and Emergency Response to Terrorism through the National Fire Academy. He has demonstrated exemplary service in his 20-plus year career with numerous Headquarter Commendations—two Exceptional Meritorious Awards, and the 2001 2nd Pct. Cop of the Year Award.
Joey Zach
Partner | Chief Technology Officer
- Chief Technology Officer
- Remote Guarding Technology
- AI-Driven Security Systems
Joey Zach serves as Chief Technology Officer at Max Security USA, where he leads the development and deployment of advanced security technologies. With a focus on innovation, Joey oversees the company’s remote guarding solutions, AI-driven monitoring systems, and integrated security infrastructure. His work ensures clients benefit from smarter, more efficient protection that blends cutting-edge technology with real-world operational expertise.
Eric Prevete
Partner | Chief Operating Officer
- Fordham University — Political Science & Criminal Justice
- Security Industry Veteran
Eric Prevete is Max Security USA’s Chief Operating Officer. Eric graduated from Chaminade and went on to Fordham University with a double major in Political Science and Criminal Justice.
In addition to his educational background, Eric has held a variety of positions in the security industry, bringing extensive operational expertise to the daily management of our remote guarding capabilities.
Michael Mancusi
Partner | Chief Financial Officer
- SCPD Detective (Retired)
- 23+ Years Law Enforcement
- FEMA Incident Command Certified
Michael Mancusi is the Chief Financial Officer and a principal owner of Max Security USA; a security services company located on Long Island. Since the company’s inception in 2002 Michael has developed and executed a successful financial business plan that has enabled the company to achieve tremendous growth in the Long Island security market. His financial forecasting and operational strategic planning have put Max Security USA in a position to successfully manage the changing patterns of demand, cost, and opportunity in the current economic environment. As CFO, Michael believes that having a strong executive leadership team that interacts directly with clients is the key to successfully implementing long-range strategic plans and ensuring company financial stability.
Michael is a recently retired detective of the Suffolk County Police Department (SCPD), who served over 23 years with assignments including the 2nd Precinct General Service Squad and Major Crimes Unit. During his career, he has received considerable training in multiple policing techniques which include Advanced Criminal Investigation, Identification Procedures, Interview and Interrogation Techniques, Incident Command Training through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Identity Theft, Narcotics Investigation, Gang Suppression, and Vehicular Theft. Michael has received numerous awards within the police department for excellence of service with over ten commendations including The Exceptional Meritorious Award, and the 1997 2nd Pct. Cop of the Year Award.
Jason Paglino
Partner | Chief Installation Officer
- SCPD Detective (Retired)
- 30 Years Law Enforcement
- Exceptional Meritorious Award
Max Security USA is excited to announce that our very own co-founder, Jason Paglino, has retired from the Suffolk County Police Department after thirty years of dedicated service to the community. Although his accomplishments over those three decades are too numerous to list, Jason served with distinction in multiple commands and was the recipient of the Exceptional Meritorious Award and the 2000 2nd Precinct Cop of the Year Award.
Jason is eager to begin his new official role as Chief Installation Officer for Max Security USA. In this position, he will oversee the planning, implementation, and execution of security technology installations, ensuring every project is delivered with the highest standards of quality, efficiency, and customer satisfaction. His leadership will help strengthen collaboration between our clients, installation teams, and operations personnel to ensure seamless project delivery and long term success.
We congratulate Jason on his retirement from public service and are excited to have him leading our installation division as we continue to expand our technology solutions nationwide. Please feel free to reach out to him anytime.
Peter McGinn
Partner | Chief Administrative Officer
- NYPD & NCPD (Retired)
- 32 Years Law Enforcement
- FBI Secret Clearance
- Certified Bomb Technician
Peter McGinn is the Chief Administrative Officer and a principal owner of Max Security USA. He is a retiree of a Major Offense Squad; Peter brings 32 years of experience from the New York City and Nassau County Police Departments to Max Security USA. Peter served in the patrol division for 18 years and the Detective Division for 14 years. Peter attended Hofstra University and Stony Brook University majoring in Communications/Journalism.
Peter has served as a training officer in every command throughout his police career. His special assignments have been with the Anti-Crime Unit, Vice Squad, Crime Resistance Unit, Highway Patrol Bureau, Emergency Service Unit, Canine Unit, and the Arson/Bomb Squad. His most recent assignment was as a full-time Bomb Technician, where he was certified by the United States Army, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. He currently holds a designation of secret clearance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Peter was also an integral member of the team that investigated and prosecuted many high-profile Arson cases as a New York State certified Fire Investigator, Level II.
Leadership
Contracts and compliance, HR and billing, and recruitment. Between them, these three decide whether the guard at your gate was vetted, paid and insured.
Joanna Pawlowska, M.S.
Chief Marketing Officer (Contracts / Compliance)
- M.S. International Marketing — Boston University
- 2025 CAI Long Island Chapter President
- 2023 LI Business News Top 50 Women in Business
- 2024 Oncon Icon Top 100 Marketer
Joanna Pawlowska is the Chief Marketing Officer at Max Security USA. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Art with a concentration in Graphic Design and a Master’s degree in International Marketing Management from Boston University. Joanna leads strategically integrated initiatives; from message to aesthetic representation by utilizing her 20 years of experience in marketing, design, psychology, and technology in the B2B & B2C landscape.
Joanna’s extensive experience in product research and development, UI design, access control systems, ATM security, visitor management solutions, and project management allows her to add value in various business areas. She has played a vital role in defining and implementing processes to ensure efficiency, including qualification and implementation of CRM and Recruiting software. She also serves as a resource for Max Security USA’s install team, ensuring projects are consistent with scope and schedules. In addition, she oversees all contracts and compliance.
Joanna is passionate about helping the community and dedicates her time and marketing expertise as a board member of prominent organizations such as the International Facility Management Association, The Boys & Girls Club & the Westchester Owners’ Association. She was elected as the 2025 Community Association Institute Long Island Chapter President.
Lori Kersten
Vice President of HR & Billing
- Vice President of HR & Billing
- Workforce Development
- HR Compliance & Employee Relations
Lori Kersten is the Vice President of HR and Billing at Max Security USA, where she oversees human resources operations and financial administration. She plays a key role in managing workforce development, compliance, and employee relations, while also ensuring accurate and efficient billing processes. Lori’s leadership supports both the company’s internal team and its commitment to delivering reliable, client-focused service.
Michael Leun
Recruitment Manager
- Recruitment Manager
- NYS Certified Instructor — Unarmed Security Guards
- B.S. Criminal Justice — University at Albany
Michael Leun is the Recruitment Manager at Max Security USA and oversees candidate sourcing, hiring and onboarding. Michael holds a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice minor in psychology from University at Albany. He is also a New York State certified instructor for unarmed security guards and currently serves as Max Security USA’s Training officer.
His extensive experience includes over 13 years in the customer service field, thus placing him as an expert in ensuring that our clients’ needs are met. Michael’s formula for success includes a strong work ethic and a focus on building a winning team culture at Max Security USA.
What it means at your gate
Built by people who have worked a gate.
The people who built this software have stood at a barrier at two in the morning. Months later, they have been asked by a lawyer for the log from that night. The product was designed with both of those days in mind.
Every officer learns the same rule early. If it is not written down, it did not happen. The record matters as much as the decision, and in this platform that rule is part of the software instead of a sign taped to the wall of the booth.
It also limits what we are willing to say. Nobody here will tell a board that software removes the need to think about its entrance.
Post orders, written down and acknowledged
What you expect at your gate is on file in the platform, in writing, so "I told the last shift" stops passing for a briefing. In our guard app for iPhone and Android, now in testing, each guard acknowledges the post orders, and the manager sees who has.
Nothing lost at a change of shift
Shift notes carry over between guards on the same post. The guard who takes over at 6am can read what happened at 2, in the words of the guard who was there.
A refusal that comes with a reason
A scanned pass comes back allow or refuse, and a refusal says why: the code has expired, the pass has been canceled, or no pass matches it. Our guard app for iPhone and Android, now in testing, also says when a pass is outside its window or already used. The guard applies a rule, and the driver can see that it is one.
A log that holds up months later
An incident report may be read a year on, by a lawyer, in a room the guard is not in. Entries, exits, plates, hosts, times and incidents are recorded as they happen and can be exported when that day comes.
Knowing who we hand access to
This platform hands gate access to real people at a real address. There is no sign-up button, because a person on our side verifies every community before it goes live.
The people who install it work here
One of the six partners has installation in his job title. Gates, cameras and access-control hardware are quoted, wired and serviced by our own crew, and the partner answerable for that crew is a phone call away.
Diligence
Facts a board can check.
Where we are
709 W Jericho Tpke
Huntington, NY 11743
An office on Jericho Turnpike that you can drive to. That is a lower bar than it sounds for a company asking to run your entrance.
Where we work
New York, heaviest on Long Island. New Jersey. South Florida, which for us means Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale and Miami. Georgia, Arizona and Maryland, including around Baltimore.
Guards, patrol cars and installation crews stay inside those areas. The free platform travels further, but a guard has to stand somewhere.
What we do
Guarding, vehicle patrol, remote guarding, cameras and monitoring, and access control. Each is quoted per site by Max Security USA.
The visitor management platform is separate, and free for any community we can verify.
FAQ
Questions boards ask about the company.
If a diligence question is missing from that list, ask it on the call. We would rather answer it there than leave it open in a board packet.
Read the privacy policy or email [email protected].
Talk to the people who would run it.
Fifteen minutes covers your community and its gates. If you only want the free platform, say so, and that is what the call will be about.