TBJ 2026 Fast 50

Sunstates Security Named to the Triangle Business Journal’s 2026 Fast 50

Demonstrating sustained financial growth, strategic expansion, and operational excellence, Sunstates Security was once again honored among the region’s top commercial enterprises at the Triangle Business Journal’s 2026 Fast 50 Awards.

TBJ 2026 Fast 50

Nearly 400 business leaders, founders, and executives gathered at the Angus Barn Pavilion in Raleigh to celebrate the 50 fastest-growing private companies across the Triangle. Evaluated by a professional services firm, the annual rankings assess a balance of sustained revenue growth and profitability over a three-year period (2023–2025). Chief Executive Officer Denis Kelly accepted the award on behalf of Sunstates, celebrating the dedication of thousands of security professionals and management teams across the country.

Fueling Growth Through Service Excellence and Strategic Intelligence

Sunstates’ repeated presence on the Fast 50 list underscores the resilience of its core operational philosophy: prioritizing hands-on management, regional accountability, and high-touch service delivery that drives client retention and organic referrals.

Beyond geographic market penetration, Sunstates’ growth trajectory has been significantly accelerated by strategic capabilities expansion—most notably through the acquisition of TorchStone Global, a premier proactive intelligence and risk advisory firm.

“Uniting nationwide physical security with TorchStone’s specialized threat intelligence and risk advisory services allows us to deliver comprehensive enterprise solutions,” shared Kelly during the event. “This integration expands our operational capabilities and unlocks substantial opportunities across both client bases, giving organizations a unified partner capable of anticipating risks before they materialize.”

National Security Services

As commercial demand for reliable physical security continues to climb, Sunstates is actively investing in its workforce. The company plans to actively hire employees across the country over the next 12 months to support regional contract expansions, new branch operations, and enterprise accounts.

While some industries look to automation to reduce headcount, Sunstates leverages modern technology to empower its personnel. Across recruiting workflows, actionable business intelligence dashboards, and daily incident documentation, Sunstates has deployed targeted artificial intelligence solutions to remove operational friction.

“AI has not negatively impacted our headcount,” Kelly explained. “Instead, it eliminates administrative bottlenecks, freeing our personnel to dedicate more time to what matters most: officer development, rigorous operational oversight, and high-touch client relationships that technology can augment, but never replace.”

Looking Ahead to 2027: Navigating an Unpredictable Risk Landscape

As organizations face an increasingly complex threat environment, proactive risk management remains top-of-mind for executive leadership. When asked what keeps modern company leaders up at night, Kelly pointed to the prevailing volatility of the current security climate: “The potential for an unexpected event that could happen at any time, anywhere. This has always been the case, but in the current risk environment, it’s even more so.”

Heading into 2027, Sunstates’ primary strategic initiative is reinforcing its market leadership by staying ahead of the security sector’s rapid transformation. Key roadmap priorities include:

• Technology Modernization: Continuing to pilot and integrate autonomous surveillance, robotics, and streamlined digital incident reporting across client sites.
• Workforce Development: Investing in recruiting, specialized training programs, and career pathways to attract and retain elite industry talent.
• Proactive Security Posture: Combining physical on-site guarding with actionable threat monitoring to deliver adaptive defense models for critical infrastructure, corporate campuses, and commercial properties.

Earning a place on the Triangle Business Journal’s Fast 50 once again affirms that Sunstates’ commitment to organic, sustainable growth, anchored by professional security officers and forward-looking leadership, continues to set the benchmark for the physical security industry nationwide.