An Advance Whose Time Has Come
A few years ago, Advance Technology went on a visionary mission to find new services and solutions for its customer base. The result has been the introduction of some of the industry’s most sophisticated offerings and staggering sales growth. This has culminated in being named an SSI 2013 Installer of the Year.
(l-r) Jesse Abbott, CEO/owner, and Rob Simopoulos, president, show off Advance Technology’s Installer of the Year plaque at Portland Head Light in Cape Elizabeth, Maine.
Getting Back What’s Given
It’s probably no coincidence so many of the security industry’s most successful companies are also keen on giving back to the communities in which they do business. ATI is among those that have found the practice important to building corporate character, associating the brand with goodwill and boosting employee morale.
The firm has appointed a charity committee to develop new ideas for giving back to the community. “Jean Friday,” where employees donate at least $1 to wear jeans with proceeds going to the Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital, is one example of ATI’s initiatives. For the holidays, the company adopted a family for the Maine Children’s Cancer Program and provided many gifts for the family’s children.
Simopoulos also believes in giving back to the industry that has been so good to him. He participates in industry events to share his insights, challenges and best practices with colleagues. Of course, it’s a two-way street and he continues to learn as well from those experiences. And although he is not in it for the glory, Simopoulos and his team were floored in being named an Installer of the Year.
“Being able to bring back the award and recognition of the Installer of the Year was breathtaking! This award truly shows how special our team is,” he says. “We have amazing people who have developed some phenomenal ideas and solutions for our customers.”
Editor-in-Chief Scott Goldfine has spent nearly 15 years with SECURITY SALES & INTEGRATION. He can be reached at (704) 663-7125 or [email protected].
ADS Emphasizes TCB Once Again
Thanks to another banner campaign of taking care of business (TCB), Nashville, Tenn.-headquartered ADS Security was named an SSI Installer of the Year finalist for the second year in a row. In 2012, the company acquired Golden Triangle Security Alliance in Columbus, Miss., marking ADS’ seventh st
ate and 17th market entry in the Southeast. Established in 1990, ADS’ 185 employees currently serve 70,000+ businesses, industrial facilities and residences throughout the southeastern United States. The firm also operates a CSAA Five Diamond monitoring center.
“Our key strategic objective is to improve the customer experience so we can keep attrition down and drive customer referrals. Secondarily, we invest heavily in technology to improve our productivity as a company,” says President and CEO John Cerasuolo. “Through hiring the right people and training them well, ADS employees are empowered to go above and beyond to make sure every customer is not only satisfied, but converted into a raving fan that tells friends about our superior level of service.”
That service includes thank you notes after service visits, care surveys and online account management. Additionally, ADS’ incentives, education and training, and benefits have boosted employee morale and retention. “ADS believes in a culture of employee recognition,” continues Cerasuolo. “We have a program called Passport to Paradise that allows employees to recognize someone they think went above and beyond in the workplace. These employees receive a gift card for their recognition. At the end of the year, one of them is selected randomly to attend our annual President’s Club event. At the event they receive a check for $1,000.”
In order to succeed amid fierce competition, ADS keeps its eye on the future. As such, its products and services portfolio has received a tech-makeover to accommodate and cater to active, modern lifestyles. Offerings now include managed access, remote video, home and business automation, mobile management and identity theft protection.
ADS is also famous for its philanthropy and industry involvement, within and outside the security industry. “We strive to provide our communities customer service they can rely on,” says Cerasuolo. “ADS was recognized by the Middle Tennessee BBB as a finalist in the Torch Awards, for businesses whose practices generate trust among employees, customers and the community.”
Bates Still Rates Among the Very Best
Let’s face it, the year Lexington, Ky.-based Bates Security posted in 2011 — which resulted in winning SSI’s Installer of the Year Award — would be a tough act for anyone to follow. But darned if the company didn’t push harder than nails to do just that — consequently being named a 2013 Installer of the Year finalist. Mostly, the firm built on and expanded upon the new foundation it had laid out just a year prior.
Founded in 1984 by Sonny and Pat Bates, and now with sons Jeremy and Bryan in executive leadership positions, the family-owned-and-operated Bates Security rebranded in 2011 from what had long been known as ADR Security Services. In 2012, the company continued marketing its new logo, Web site, signs, decals, stationary, van wraps and press releases.
“We use social media to our fullest advantage,” says Commercial Sales Manager/Owner Bryan Bates. “We are extremely active on Facebook and Twitter, and encourage customers to send in photos and take part in real-time discussions. We respond quickly to any concern or issue posted on our social media, having used it to generate several leads and resolve many issues.”
During 2012, Bates posted just over $8 million in revenues. It presently has more than 50 employees and has logged an annualized growth rate in excess of 16% the past six years. Bates strives to “wow” its customers with responsive service, regularly recognizes its associates for effort, pushes training throughout the organization, and is very active in industry and community organizations.
“A core business practice is simply to provide good customer service and continually improving that service,” says Sonny Bates. “This allows us to have a great reputation, sign new customers through referrals and keep the customers we have. Our referral business has increased drastically in the last year and that can only be explained by our outstanding service.”
In addition to its 2012 Installer of the Year Award, Bates captured the Lexington Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business Innovation Award and several honors at November’s First Alert Convention.
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About the Author
Scott Goldfine
Scott Goldfine is the marketing director for Elite Interactive Solutions. He is the former editor-in-chief and associate publisher of Security Sales & Integration. He can be reached at [email protected].
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