Perhaps Security Sales & Integration’s best-known and most-anticipated feature, our annual SSI Industry Hall of Fame inductions celebrate the women and men who have veritably altered the course of the physical and electronic security industries.
Company founders, servant leaders, tireless volunteers and genuine innovators, the 130-plus SSI Industry Hall of Fame honorees stand as a testament to what can be achieved in the course of a life dedicated to keeping homes, businesses, campuses and our society safe.
This year, we’re adding five exceptionally worthy honorees to the SSI Industry Hall of Fame ranks. Apart from an in-person induction ceremony presented in partnership with PSA Security, we also commemorate our honorees’ life achievements in print.
We kick off the week with Darryl Keeler, executive chairman of Tech Systems, Inc. (TSi). We’ll shine the spotlight on another member of the SSI Industry Hall of Fame Class of 2026 tomorrow!
The Darryl Keeler Hall of Fame File
- Born in 1961 in Amarillo, Texas
- Grew up alongside his identical twin, shaping an early blend of competitiveness and collaboration
- Married to his wife Wanda for 41 years
- A proud father of three and grandfather of four
- Joined Tech Systems, Inc., in 1989 and acquired the company in 1990, taking on the challenge of building a security integration firm from the ground up
- In 2015, converted TSi into a 100% employee-owned ESOP, ensuring the company’s future would be guided by the people who built it.
Why He’s on the List
- In 1995, reshaped TSi’s business model by shifting from a sales-driven approach to a service-centric model focused on client outcomes
- Under his leadership, TSi’s revenue grew from just more than $1 million in 1990 to nearly $160 million in 2025, driven largely by referrals and long-term client relationships
- In 2004, TSi received inaugural System Integrator of the Year award
- Currently serves as chairman of the board for both TSi and PSA Security Network
- Pioneered guaranteed response times and guaranteed functionality, raising industry standards for accountability and performance
- Guided by the principle of doing the right thing, built a company rooted in trust
- Believes that caring for clients first naturally leads to sustainable growth
Keys to Success
“I built an operational infrastructure that supports TSi’s fanatical commitment to customer service. Every service call is tracked and measured, contributing to a verified 99.9% success rate. This performance rests on four pillars.”
“F.O.C.U.S. (For Our Clients’ Ultimate Satisfaction) is the cornerstone of TSi’s culture and business model. F.O.C.U.S. ensures clients are kept whole by protecting their people, assets, vendors and reputations.”
“TSi is the only security solutions provider holding ISO 9001, ISO 27001 and ISO 42001 certifications, demonstrating unmatched rigor in quality, cybersecurity and responsible AI.”
“In 2015, I sold TSi to its employees, creating a culture of accountability and empowerment where employee owners share responsibility for service excellence and long-term success.”
“In 2020, I ensured TSi’s long-term independence by becoming Certified Evergreen, protecting its service philosophy, quality standards and ownership model for generations.”
Enduring Memories
“In 1990, I had limited financial resources but unlimited vision. My belief in the security industry and commitment to customer service drove me to secure investors and purchase TSi.”
“In 1995, a pivotal failure reshaped the company’s future when a delayed response exposed a client to risk despite contractual compliance. I concluded that downtime equals risk and risk is unacceptable. This realization led to F.O.C.U.S., guaranteed functionality and service credits when expectations are not met, transforming a failure into TSi’s defining strength.”
Darryl Keeler’s Hall of Fame Words of Wisdom
“If you are taking care of the client, you are doing the right thing. The only thing you are not allowed to do at TSi is fail — and failure means not taking care of the client.”
“We’re not interested in being the biggest; we’re focused on being the best.”
Making Our Industry Better
“I have challenged the security industry to prioritize accountability, ethics and risk reduction. By reframing integrators as protectors rather than system sellers, I have sought to elevate standards that safeguard lives, assets and reputations.”
Darryl Keeler’s Hall of Fame Legacy
“My legacy extends far beyond company growth. More than 550 employee owners are building long-term financial security through the ESOP (employee stock ownership plan) we’ve created. By designing a company where success and accountability are shared, we’ve empowered employees to take ownership of their futures while honoring clients and one another. This vision ensures TSi will endure with a culture rooted in ownership, responsibility and doing the right thing.”
