Retirement usually means less responsibility, more relaxation and maybe a new hobby or two. For Steven M. Paré, it meant taking a position as head of global security for a $2 billion gaming technology and services company.
Pare retired from the R.I. State Police in late February, after more than 26 years of service and five and a half years as superintendent. And now, three months out of retirement, he has become senior director of global security affairs for GTECH Corp., in charge of the physical security of employees, properties and assets worldwide.
“My goal is to bring my skill set to GTECH to provide a proactive vision, compliance and a high level of corporate security,” he said in an interview.
Pare hasn’t been in the position long enough to develop solid plans, but he is already drawing on experience to get the job done. He said he’s up to the test and looking forward to learning more about the business of gaming and lotteries.
“I think the challenge and complexity of this position interests me,” Paré said. “It’s similar to what I came from. What’s important to GTECH parallels what is important to the state police.”
In both jobs, he said, it’s essential to maintain and build partnerships from trust, faith and integrity. “In any role as head of an agency, you need partnerships,” he said. “You can’t do it alone.”
In addition to partnerships with federal and local law enforcement, Paré said, “It’s important to continue to build better relationships with business partners, regulators and vendors to ensure our goal is being met. And that is protecting the overall integrity of our business.”
Asked what the biggest difference will be between his police duties and his new job, Paré said it’s “the international scope of business that GTECH is engaged in.”
“I was nationally involved as head of the state police with things like terrorism, homeland security and crime overall,” he said. Now, he is working for an international company with headquarters in Providence and Rome and technology centers around the world.
While the state police has 215 sworn members and 51 civilian staff members, GTECH and its parent company, Lottomatica S.p.A., have 6,000-plus employees in more than 50 countries.
“The number of GTECH employees is striking to me,” he said, noting “the trust each employee has invested” in the company.
Paré is spending time traveling and visiting sites to get a feel for the company’s security, which he said is “quite impressive” so far.
Paré has a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Bryant University and is pursuing a master in public administration degree from the University of Rhode Island. He is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy.
