Mary Parker is a trailblazer who has gone where many women have not, being a successful businesswoman in the security industry.

On Jan. 7 at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre in Atlanta, Parker was recognized for her strides in business as she was awarded the 2012 Trumpet Award in her category.

The Trumpet Awards, a creation of Xernona Clayton, highlights African Americans making significant contributions in their chosen fields.

Parker recalled hearing of the award last October.

“I received a call from Ms. Clayton personally,” she said. “My mouth flew open and I was speechless.”

Parker said it was unexpected for the most part “and a dream of the future.”

“It was not a dream of now,” said Parker. “I looked around at all the other Trumpet Award winners and their success and wondered how did I ever get here?”

Persistence and hard work were Parker’s answers.

In 1992, she started a security firm with a partner.

Only eight years later, Parker had ventured out on her own.

Shortly thereafter, her business All(n) 1 Security, was up and running.

“I started the business three weeks prior to that on my kitchen table,” she said. “God just gave me all the instructions.”

Even the smallest of details, such as redirecting her mail to a different address, setting up a new phone number, she said, were made abundantly clear to her.

“I moved on those instructions,” she said.

From there, her business began to slowly unfold.

Contract opportunities came forward, the first being an Erkyah Badu concert at the Fox Theatre.

Other opportunities presented to Parker’s firm included Chastain Park and the PGA Golf Championships.

Today, the business is a full-service security firm, specializing in personnel, background checks, technology and traffic control.

One thing, however, has not changed in spite of her success — the lack of women in her field.

“I believe being the only woman people identify in this industry has been intriguing,” she said.

“Typically this is a white, male-dominated field,” Parker said.

“To know that I have been in this industry for more than 30 years speaks to my character among other things,” she added.

For the future, Parker hopes to expand.

She is grateful for the honor she received.

“I thank God for people like Ms. Clayton who not only have the vision, but also have the capability and network to be able to identify those individuals she recognizes as being different.”