Keeping Them Safe
So They Can Dream Big
The Child Protection
Specialists
Our goal at Nannyguards© is to equip nannies and mannies with top-notch education and security training, in a supportive and safe learning environment that promotes growth and development, recognizing the importance of their work, and empowering them with the knowledge and confidence to provide the highest quality care to the children under their responsibility, through courses that focus on the latest safety and security techniques.
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Our Nannyguards© receive training in various fields, such as Situational Awareness, Advance Planning, Travel Security, In-house Security Protocol, Child Safety, Evacuation with Children, and other security-related topics. These are all essential in safeguarding the children entrusted in their care, catering to a diverse clientele that includes Royal families, celebrities, sports stars, CEOs, traveling families, and regular households who recognize the importance of having a Nannyguard beyond the realm of fame and prestige.
Our Team
Denida Grow
Founder
Denida Grow is the co-founder of Nannyguards. She is an International Executive Protection and Intelligence Specialist with over 21 years of experience working in different countries and cultures. In 2002 Denida founded Athena Worldwide & Athena Academy in Greece which is a training and placement company dedicated to female security professionals. In 2008, after working on many security details with UHNW families and working security details for children and teenagers, she decided to create Nannyguards. A hybrid service that combines child care with protective services.
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During her twenty-one years of experience, Denida has been leading from different positions such as Executive Protection Operative (both Covert and Overt), Security Consultant, and Intelligence Analyst for international clientele in countries such as India, Greece, France, Italy, Albania, and the USA, instructor for different security training academies, an investigator for law firms and financial institutions, auditor and business administrator as well as project manager for other security companies
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Denida is trilingual (English, Greek, Albanian), holds a BSc in Counseling and Psychology from Teesside University, and is trained in various Executive Protection methodologies by British, American, and Israeli organizations. For the last ten years, she has been focusing on Behavioral and Intelligence Analysis, OSINT, and the study of Body Language and Non-Verbal Communication skills.
Chris Grow
Director of Operations
Chris Grow is the Operations Director for Athena Worldwide and Nannyguards since 2017. He has 35 years of experience in Senior level Executive Protection, Covert Executive Protection, High Threat, Advances, Surveillance & Counter surveillance, threat/risk analysis & mitigation, asset securing & transport, weapons training, etc. His team leadership and project management experience come from military, civilian, and corporate training and real-time work throughout his career, both domestically as well as internationally.
Chris served with the 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Bttn. in the U.S. Marine Corps, as well as spent several years as a private military contractor with Constellis (Blackwater and Triple Canopy), he is a former firefighter/EMT/Rescue, and has attended numerous private schools/academies for various courses of training.
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His clients have included the US Dept. of State, the US Dept. of Defense, Corporate VIPs, Dignitaries, Foreign nationals, Fortune 500 executives, Saudi Royal family members, and numerous other HNW/UHNW private entities. He has also been an Executive/Personal Assistant for numerous clientele while providing a security mindset.
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Chris has extensive multicultural experience and works extremely well in diverse circumstances. He can design and execute risk & threat assessments, provide intelligence analysis, and implement security plans and strategies to mitigate risk and enhance clients' security.
Our Subject Matter Experts
Dr. Mary Beth Wilkas Janke
Psychology
Dr. Mary Beth Wilkas Janke has over 30 years of psychology, security, and investigative experience and is a highly respected professional in the Executive Protection industry. She holds a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology and a Master’s in Forensic Psychology. She has spent the past 20 years practicing psychology as a therapist and, for four of those years, serving as an Adjunct Professor in the Psychology Department at George Washington University, where she taught Abnormal Psychology and the Psychology of Crime and Violence. Mary Beth regularly facilitates mental health training, stalking awareness discussions, and is a mentor for women worldwide.
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Diana (JD) Elkin
Cyber Security
Diana (JD) Elkin has more than 20 years of experience in the security and intelligence fields. She is a highly experienced physical security and cybersecurity specialist with a long history of management and leadership. Her passion is in process and methodology creation and development and in blending unconventional disciplines in response to the ever-changing realm of security challenges faced by organizations today. She has been working as a Regional Crime Analyst with Law Enforcement and as an Intelligence Analyst with the Canadian Forces. Since 2014 she is serving as the Founder and Managing Partner of Method Intelligence Ltd.
Kelly Sayre
Situational Awareness
Kelly Sayre is a Situational Awareness Expert. She is trained in FEMA’s Community Emergency Response Team program, the Department of Homeland Security’s Active Shooter Preparedness Workshop, and Texas A&M Extension Service’s crisis communications. She is a licensed instructor for Prevention & Awareness at 500rising and a member of the Association of Threat Assessment Professionals, TeamWomen, and the Tri-County Humane Society. Kelly provides realistic advice on how to tackle emergency action planning for private businesses, as well as educates women about situational awareness skills to improve their personal safety.
Protecting the children of the rich and famous since 2008
The children of rich and famous individuals often require bodyguards due to a variety of factors. First, their high-profile status can make them targets for kidnapping, extortion, or other forms of violence. Nannyguards and specifically trained protectors can provide a layer of security for these children, helping to mitigate potential risks and ensure their safety. They may accompany the children to school, events, or other public outings, and are trained to identify and respond to potential threats.