Saturday, November 27, 2010

The "Thanks" in Thanksgiving

Todd Harrison, operations manager of Atronic Alarms, sent out an email the day before the Thanksgiving holiday asking people what they were thankful for. He then told them that he was thankful for "the opportunity to work with each and every one of you."

He asked that each one, if they would like to participate, "reply to all" and send his or her moment of thanks to everyone in the company.

Everyone responded, and aside from the expected practical jokes that were included (one sent a picture of beer) the theme throughout the employees was gratitude for family and their current work environment.

One employee responded, "I am ... thankful that over 22 years ago I came to work here for a person and company that I can respect and count on."

When Perry started the company in 1982, his philosophy of a strong, well-balanced workplace always included personal time and family. This foundation assists in drawing quality people to the Atronic team where many have decided that Atronic Alarms will be the company from which they will retire.

Like a family tied together by blood, by marriage, or by friendship, the professionals of Atronic Alarms, Inc. are tied together by loyalty . . . and it is moments like these that help reinforce the bond that all of them have for one another.

Thursday, November 4, 2010

What Makes an Alarm Company Different?

Differences in alarm companies and the services they provide are easily noticeable in most areas: live person answering a phone versus a recording; month-to-month monitoring contracts versus two-three year contacts; locally owned and operated servicing your specific area versus nationwide firm servicing all areas; local monitoring station versus monitoring station in another state and etcetera.

There is one difference in security providers, however, that is not so outwardly noticeable. It is not spelled out in their marketing or sales material, not written flourishingly about on their web sites or branded on plaques and hung in the office.

That one difference is Sweating the Small Stuff.

The difference between hashing out and picking apart each new product that has come out on the market. The difference between discussing small parts of a system design, like what transformer works on which panel. The difference between spending an hour on the telephone talking to a client to update his call list because the family is heading out of town for two weeks. The difference between a service technician finding water in a client's basement, contacting the plumbers and waiting on the job to let them in the house.

If you spend one day in at the office at 8220 Melrose Drive in Lenexa you will understand why the company is so successful as you listen to Perry in his office asking Steve about a unique programming setup; see Todd, Alec and Jason discussing the final details on a client's paperwork; overhear Jay hashing out with Nell the next day's morning installation schedule; watch Chrissy at quitting time calling Central Station to provide up-to-date information on the end user; witness Rick, George, Shaunn and Curtis standing over over blue prints talking about integrating a new access control system into an existing building; see Wade check in with Nate about the arrival of a unique part for a client and watch Alysia listening intently to all incoming calls as she directs them to the proper people.

And that is just the internal office staff.

The service and installation professionals who make up the Atronic team and continually receive high remarks and a rating of excellence on client surveys are also out in the field, Sweating the Small Stuff.

It is the Small Stuff that matters, the time each person in the office takes to go over the details so the client will be satisfied. It is the hard work and elbow grease put into each project so at the end of the day, each employee feels pride and satisfaction knowing the job was done right.

It isn't easy, Sweating the Small Stuff, and it has been said that on a personal basis, you shouldn't sweat the small stuff. As a company, however, it is the path that leads to success.