Guardsmark, the fourth largest security company in the world, recently opened an office in the Spokane. The Spokane Economic Development Corp. first met with Guardsmark in 2003, and since then has assisted the company with their expansion process.

“The EDC played a valuable role in providing us the necessary community and site information,” said Doug Brierley, manager of business development for Guardsmark. “They assisted us in establishing our office in the Valley and also put us in touch with members of this community, which allowed us to move forward and better serve the many clients and employees we have in this region

Guardsmark plans on hiring many more employees as they expand contracts in the area. The company already employs 500 guards throughout the state, and hires a highly skilled and stable work force by offering team members an exceptional benefits package. Currently, the company is the largest employer of former FBI agents in the world.

Founded in 1963, Guardsmark specializes in security services, investigations, consulting, and background screening among other specialized services. Guardsmark LLC revenue for calendar year 2005 exceeded $500 million, and employs 18,500 nationwide, serving 400 communities through 145 offices.