TRAINING

Name: Allan DeYong

Job Title: Learning Designer

Allan joined Allegion in late 2022, bringing his broad background in creating and delivering training solutions. He will be tasked with designing learning tools and resources for parts of our electronic and software portfolio. He notes that he has respected Allegion products (mainly Schlage and Kryptonite) for years before he joined Allegion and finds locks and access control interesting. He loves that “aha” moment when a student grasps something new. 

Allan has a M.A. in Higher Education Administration and a B.S. in Corporate Communication from Southeast Missouri State University. He also has an Associate in Arts degree in Media Arts & Entertainment Technology from Mott Community College. Also, Allan has the following certifications: CPR/First Aid (American Red Cross), SKYWARN®Elite Storm Spotter (National Weather Service), and Apple Teacher (Apple). 

His hometown is Spirit Lake, Iowa. Allan currently lives in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, with his black Labrador Retriever named “Brooklyn.” His hobbies include fixing and using vintage computers, flying drones, and cars. Also, he volunteers at a local thrift store whose proceeds support a no-kill animal shelter. 

Name: Antoinette Valdez

Job Title: Continuing Education Manager

Antoinette has a dual role: she leads the Allegion AIA (American Institute of Architect) continuing education program and she manages the Allegion Learning Center.  The latter is an online learning system available to all customers offering a variety on online learning resources.  With more than twenty-five years with our Allegion family, she has worked in various roles, including production, training support, and continuing education.  Antoinette enjoys helping both external customers and internal colleagues solve problems and find what they need. She also likes the structure of her work and how her work gives her the opportunity to be creative. 

Antoinette resides in Colorado after having lived in several states and Germany as an Air Force brat.  She enjoys the outdoors and is an enthusiastic reader of the mystery, science fiction, and horror genres.  She is a big movie fan, too.  

Name: David D’Anthony

Job Title: Product Training Manager, Multi-Family Solutions

Dave serves multi-family properties that utilize our Schlage electronic lock solutions.  Whether training the property management teams or the dealers and integrators who install and service the products, he enjoys meeting and interacting with customers of all types.  Through his training and support, Dave strives to provide these individuals with the knowledge and skills they need to keep their doors operating properly and their residences and residents safe.  

Outside of work, Dave is an avid walker, a dog’s best friend, a fan of Bruce Springsteen, and a fan of true-crime stories.  He especially treasures the time he spends with his wife and daughters.  He takes pride in his twenty-eight plus year friendship with two of his Schlage co-workers.  Oh, Dave also notes he MUST live within thirty minutes of an ocean.

Name: Dennis McClanahan

Job Title: Product Training Manager, Schlage Locks & Key Systems

Dennis is dedicated to training Allegion customers on our Schlage commercial lock (mechanical and electro-mechanical locks) and key systems.  He shares with each class his expertise—he is a Certified Registered Locksmith (CRC) by the Associated Locksmiths of America (ALOA), he’s worked in the security/door hardware business for over forty years, and he has an Associate Degree in Business.  He was also a practicing commercial and industrial locksmith for seventeen years and here’s a fun fact—he worked at Disney World for five years.  In his classes, his goal is “to create a relaxed, fun atmosphere where students feel free to stop me to ask questions.”  He also notes he ‘loves teaching and especially for Allegion, one of the most hassle-free jobs he’s ever had.’

When Dennis is not travelling around North America to train others, he lives with his wife of thirty-two years and his dog ‘Oreo’ in a small town outside of Atlanta called Temple, Georgia.  He has four children and two grandchildren.  Among his many talents include playing guitar and scuba diving, as he has been a Certified Scuba Diver for forty-five years.

Name: Janice Wheeler

Job Title: Instructional Designer

As an instructional designer, Janice develops customer training materials in a variety of formats, e.g., in-person classes, webinars, online courses, videos, etc.  As she describes her work, she likes “finding ways to best transfer product knowledge to learners so they enjoy it and it sticks.”  Janice began her career in architectural hardware at Von Duprin while she was a college student, eventually taking time off to raise and home-educate her children. In total, she has been with our Allegion brands for about twenty years in Marketing, Product Support, and now Instructional Design roles. Janice likes Allegion because “the mission of keeping people safe and secure is a noble and important one.  Not all companies can say that.”

A lifelong resident of Indianapolis, Indiana, and a graduate of Indiana University with a B.S. in Business Analysis, Janice now has five grown children who are also in the Indianapolis area.  She enjoys exercise, fitness, and serving/volunteering at church.

Name: Matt Smith

Job Title: Product Training Manager

Matt Smith is an instructor for our LCN, Von Duprin, and the Preparing for Fire Door Inspections classes.  Prior to joining the training team in 2024, he spent four years as a Business Development Consultant in the Midwest Regional Sales Office for Allegion calling on commercial locksmiths.  Prior to that, Matt spent 13 years as the Assistant Director of Access Control at Ohio University, including supervision of the university Lock Shop.  During that time, Matt developed an appreciation for the quality, craftsmanship, support, and reliability of Allegion hardware. 

Matt enjoys traveling, seeing new places, and finding that unique little unknown restaurant in each city he stays in to experience a new meal and new adventure.  When not on the road, he lives in a sleepy little town in Southeast Ohio with his wife and children and two dogs, Archie and Hiccup.  He enjoys biking, kayaking, hiking, and outdoor adventures.  He’s a drummer, a Jeep enthusiast, and a lover of Tolkein.  As a lifelong learner Matt appreciates the privilege of teaching new industry professionals about the difference Allegion makes in the hardware industry and about all the details that set Allegion apart as a manufacturer, employer, and industry resource and partner.

Name: Joe Holman

Job Title: Sales Trainer

Joe supports our Allegion sales consultants by instructing and guiding them on ways to refine their business skills so they can better serve their customers. He takes great care in helping people grow in their careers and in helping them elevate their successes.

Prior to joining Allegion in 2022, Joe worked for forty years for Fortune 500 companies, about half in consumer-packaged goods and the other half in healthcare.  As a former account manager and consultant, he brings with him experience in selling business-growth solutions and strategies.  Because Joe has worked on both sides of the sales table—buying and selling—he draws from those experiences in this teaching and coaching role. He notes the years he spent as a buyer means he has listened and learned from many sales pitches.  Additionally, Joe has held several positions in the innovation/creating thinking space. 

Originally from South Haven, Michigan, and a graduate of Michigan State University, he describes himself as OCD, i.e., Obsessed with Customer Delight.  Joe strives to spread that obsession throughout our organization.    

Name: Leon Starks

Job Title: Product Training Manager, Hollow Metal

Leon trains customers and colleagues across the country on our Steelcraft and Republic hollow metal portfolio.  He brings to each class over forty years’ experience in hollow metal, the first six of those years as a project manager for a contract hardware distributor and the rest with the Allegion family.  Leon defines a successful class as “everyone left with something they can use and that it was an enjoyable learning experience.”     

His desire to share his expertise includes two published articles in the Door Hardware Institute’s monthly magazine.  Along with the technical training, Leon has also taught professional development courses and received a trainer certification from the global leadership consulting firm, DDI.  He loves to engage with people where there is an opportunity to increase learning on a wide range of topics and challenges. 

Leon is originally from Evansville, Indiana.  He now makes his home in Cincinnati, Ohio where he is a competitive tennis player.

Name: Lisa Wright

Job Title: Field Training Manager

Lisa Wright is the Field Training Manager at Allegion, where she supports field trainers and collaborates on training development and design. Prior to joining the training team in 2022, she spent fifteen years working for commercial door and hardware distributors, where she was involved in all phases of contract jobs, from bidding and detailing to ordering and project management. She is a DHI certified Door Hardware Technician (DHT) and credits her long standing preference for working with Allegion products as a key reason she chose to leave distribution and join Allegion.

Lisa holds a master’s degree in Adult Education and a graduate certificate in Human Resources Development from Buffalo State University, and she enjoys combining her formal education with her industry experience in her current role. She values continuous learning and growth and finds fulfillment in work centered on supporting others. Sharing knowledge and skills through training contributes to the growth and success of others, which she finds especially rewarding.

When she’s not working, Lisa enjoys traveling and exploring new cities as well as scenic natural spaces. She loves spending time outdoors, reading, learning about history, and being at home in New York State with her partner and her dog.

Name: Liz Sheppard

Job Title: Customer Training Specialist

As part of our Field Training team, Liz works closely with our Product Trainers and our Sales teams.  She does many of the behind-the-scenes tasks required to make our many field classes possible.  She also serves as host for our LCN, Von Duprin, and Steelcraft factory class events.  Prior to this role, Liz spent more than twenty years with the Allegion family in hollow metal.  Now with more than twenty-five years with the company and a master’s degree in management, Liz brings her many talents to serving customers and colleagues.  When asked what she likes best about working for Allegion, she replied, “my co-workers.”  

Cincinnati, Ohio, is both her hometown and where she resides today.  When not in Cincinnati, she might be off somewhere snow skiing or kayaking.  Liz is the mom of two daughters.  She also has two poodles—Leo & Archie.

Name: Michelle Madl

Job Title: Instructional Design Manager

Michelle leads our Instructional Design group and serves as an Instructional Designer for our Sales training programs as well as some of our technical training programs.  She brought to Allegion a unique combination of architectural design and educational design experience, including working as a designer for architects in the educational, public building, and retail arenas, as an instructional designer for K-12 curriculum, and as a classroom educator for K-12.  In addition, she has a master’s degree in human resource management where she focused on employee development.  Her undergraduate degree is a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Architectural Design. 

In her work here, Michelle enjoys “finding interesting ways to share information with learners to make it stick.”  As someone who loves to learn something new, she describes herself as’ the person who reads the info cards at the museum, much to the annoyance of her family.’ 

Michelle lives in the Indianapolis area and is mother to three daughters.  She enjoys reading, cooking, and learning any new art medium.

Name: Norm Wallace 

Job Title: Electronics Training Manager  

Norm Wallace is our Schlage Electronics National Trainer.

He has held a variety of roles in Physical and Electronic Security from a Sr Pre-Sales Engineer with an international manufacture of ID Cards and Access Readers,  across multiple Access Control Manager positions at 2 large universities , to several hands-on operational posts in Campus Law Enforcement and Emergency Services. 

Norm owned and operated an IT consulting firm for 14 years and holds a variety of Microsoft credentials. 

He is an active member of InfraGard ( a public/private intelligence sharing partnership between the FBI and private sector) , has served on multiple ASIS training course selection committees, currently serves on the ASIS Commercial Real Estate Community steering committee, is active with SIA and Comp-Tia professional organizations and holds Project+, Scaled Agilist, MCSE, and ASIS APP certifications. 

He is home officed near Philadelphia, PA. 

Name: Anthony Berticelli

Job Title: Training Director

Anthony leads the national training team, driving strategy and helping people to develop and reach their chosen goals. He notes leading, strategy, and people development are all integral to training and are all reasons why he loves the training arena!

Anthony joined the Allegion family in 2023 after spending over 20 years in the security industry with experience in distribution, integration, manufacturing, and as an end user for a Fortune 40 corporation. As the team’s Director, he wants to be sure Allegion is consistently known and recognized as the gold standard for training in the security industry.

Originally from Maine and now residing near Portland, ME, he is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame with a double major in Economics and Computer Applications. He also has a Master’s in Criminal Justice from Florida International University. 

Name: Marius Elisei

Job Title: Senior Training Manager

Marius joined Allegion in 2013, bringing a deep commitment to educational excellence and collaborative growth. With a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, his technical background covers electronics, computing, networks, and wireless communication. He leverages this expertise to spearhead the Canadian training and enablement program, designing curriculum and teaching subjects ranging from foundational hardware to advanced Schlage electronics and Electronic Access Control portfolios.

For Marius, professional success is defined by the impact he makes on the people around him. He is driven by a desire to share industry insights, constantly challenging his students and colleagues to ask "why." By shifting the focus to root-cause understanding, he empowers teams and customers alike to develop advanced hardware troubleshooting skills and high-level problem-solving capabilities.
Marius resides in the Greater Toronto Area and works out of the Allegion Toronto office. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time in nature, skiing, and mountain biking with his family.

Name: Brian Lane

Job Title: Product Training Manager

Brian Lane is an experienced instructor specializing in LCN, Von Duprin, and Fire Door Inspection courses. With 27 years in the hardware industry—17 years as a locksmith in New Jersey and 10 years as an end-user consultant with Allegion in the NYC market—he is committed to sharing his extensive product knowledge and insights with students. As a licensed NJ locksmith and Certified Fire Door Assembly Inspector (DHI), his experience enables him to connect with both newcomers and seasoned professionals in the hardware industry. A proud New Jersey native and Rutgers graduate, Brian enjoys quality time with his family, traveling with his wife, and keeping up with their two dogs, Ruger and Kira.