Ops

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If you look for a home or business security services company in Wisconsin, what makes a company standout? One quality we believe here at H&S Protection that separates us from other Wisconsin-based security firms is the fact that each Monday morning we sit down as a full team at both our Stevens Point and Pewaukee offices, and go over upcoming projects. That’s our Ops (operations) meeting.

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This may sound boring. It’s not. It gives our people an edge and helps us provide you with the exact products and services you want in an installation. We dig into problems and troubleshoot. You’ll find lively discussions occurring at 7:42 a.m., discussions that refine our projects to meet customer specifications.  It helps ensure our costs stay in line, and that we deliver the products and timeliness you seek.

 

We couldn’t do those things without the Ops meeting. You won’t hear of many other family-based security companies putting this extra effort into holding a meeting when service and sales staff could be out on the road. We take this extra step because we believe in doing each job right. And because the Ops meeting makes a positive difference in our installation and service calls.

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H&S Protection takes the extra step. That’s important to us and we hope it’s important to you. When you hire us for a job, we’ll fine-tooth-comb it in our Ops meeting. You might snooze through that meeting. We won’t. It’s important for us put ideas on the table and bat around solutions. That keeps us on our toes, and means we’re going to always deliver to our customers the best solution possible. We hope it also sets us apart from our competitors.
Give us a call or check us out on the H&S web site.

Our Highway Cleanup Crew

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Late last month, H&S employees completed our annual roadside cleanup. We’ve picked up debris along the road we sponsor in Stevens Point because it’s the right thing to do for our community and the environment. We’re proud of this commitment.

 

Employees picked up plastic bottles, bags, cans, paper bags and assorted other items discarded by the side of a two-mile stretch of Highway 66 between Stevens Point and Wisconsin Rapids. Ten staff members completed the cleanup.

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Team members traveled from our Pewaukee, WI office to participate and help keep Central Wisconsin beautiful.

 

“We’ve been doing this for many years because we’re committed to not only protecting homes and businesses with our security services, but also protecting our environment for future generations of Wisconsinites,” said H&S Co-Owner Mike Horgan.

Ben Garritson Wins Wisconsin’s “Technician of the Year” Award

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At the Wisconsin Electronic Security Association’s annual meeting and award ceremony, H&S Protection’s Ben Garritson was honored with the “Technician of the Year” Award. We take our business seriously, and awards like this mean a lot to us as a company and demonstrate our commitment to serving customers to the best of our ability.

 

We congratulate Ben for his effort, training and consistent commitment to make his service calls the best possible. Soon after Ben received the award, we posted his photo to Facebook, and a customer comment quickly came in. The customer stated in part:

“He’s the best. (He provides the) most professional, courteous and thorough work every time I need service. Congratulations.”

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We think that sums up Ben in many ways. We also hope that sums up the push at H&S to deliver to our customers the type of service where they want to compliment us afterwards. That means a lot to us, and it is how we work hard every day to separate ourselves from other security companies.

 

Check out our services. If you’d like to get to know our people better, you’ll find more on our employee page. If you have a home or business in Wisconsin and are thinking about security, think about H&S Protection. We appreciate the opportunity to earn your trust and business.

H&S System Helps Prevent Theft at Indoor Shooting Range

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An indoor shooting range in Mequon, WI, remains open to customers after a potential theft was thwarted by an H&S Protection alarm and video security system. “Bear Arms,” a Boutique Indoor Shooting Range, was breached recently through the wall at a side business, but the alarm summoned police and the video system captured high quality clips now being used by law enforcement to track the suspected thief.

Owner Cheryle Rebholz was thankful for the protection and rapid response by police to the alarm. “We knew going in that shooting ranges can be a target of burglars. One of the reasons I opened the range was to help women learn how to properly use firearms and protect themselves and their loved ones. H&S’s security provided us extra protection to not only alert the police if we had a break-in, but also capture video to help in apprehension. Both systems worked the way they should,” Rebholz said.

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H&S Protection’s Dave Kwasinski, who worked with Rebholz to create a robust system, was thankful the security system protected customers, employees and the assets of Bear Arms. “It feels terrific to design a system that prevented a theft. I hope it leads to an arrest and charges filed against the individual,” he said.

One of the police officers on the case provided feedback that he has “never seen video so clear before.” H&S continually upgrades technologies to stay up with industry trends and provide customers with the highest quality video equipment.

Nothing was taken in the break-in. “We’re thankful we had the alarm and camera system,” Rebholz said. “We might do some upgrades to further enhance our protection.”

H&S Protection has offices in Pewaukee and Stevens Point, WI, for your business and security needs. Sales and service representatives at those locations can be reached at www.hsprotection.net.

Simplify Your Access Control

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If you own or manage a beer brewing business, we have new technology to simplify your security. But this access control system from alarm.com isn’t just for brewers. It’s for any business with multiple buildings or data sensitive needs.

In most setups for this industry, there’s a distillery, a brewery and a restaurant. Some employees need full access to all three. Some don’t. For example, managers may need to easily move from one building to the next. A cook, in contrast, may only need entrance to the restaurant. Access control technology builds on perimeter security and offers business owners options to improve and simplify who has access and when to different buildings.

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H&S Protection has been providing this technology for many years.  What’s new is that our partnership with Alarm.com now allows us to provide cloud-based platforms, which eliminate the need for expensive client servers to store data and manage systems on site.  Instead, data is now stored off-site and user management can be done quickly and easily from the Alarm.com phone app.

It’s simple for H&S Protection to set this system up for you. We program it. We work with you to decide who should be able to go where, and when. The information will be stored in the cloud for you. And it will be easily accessible, hence changeable.

We take care of your initial programming. But you can change it in an instant through the app. Traditionally, this information is stored on your server, but another advantage of this system is sending the storage to the cloud, which allows greater ease for you in changing out access. If left on the server, typically your IT person is necessary to help make any changes.

We’ve worked this technology into our offerings over the past year, and it has been well-tested. Cloud security has also been improved. With more information being stored on the cloud, there’s less on your server to worry about.

It doesn’t matter if you’re a brewer. Large buildings, particularly with data sensitive issues, are an excellent fit for this technology in terms of upgrading and simplifying access. Insurance companies, small- and medium-sized businesses can all take advantage of the system. If you find you’re regularly have to change door locks, alarm.com could be a great addition. If you’re a large industrial company with a dangerous workplace, where you need to prevent access to critical areas, this access control system could be just right.

Give access to the people who need it. Prevent vendors from unnecessarily wandering around the warehouse. Reduce your liability concerns.

If you already have perimeter/intrusion security, this access control technology is an easy upgrade. Give  us a call to find out more in Stevens Point at 715.344.0727 or Pewaukee at 262.574.7777.

Let us know how H&S Protection can help serve your security needs. Give us a call or check out our web site at www.hsprotection.net.

Peterson Heads from Florida to Central Wisconsin to Join H&S

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Originally from Central Wisconsin, Ross Peterson lived in Northwest Florida on the Gulf Coast. The Gulf Coast area was a vacation spot when he was younger and he decided to move to the area after finishing college. While things were going well in Florida, he had an opportunity to move back to the Stevens Point area to be closer with family.

“I saw an advertisement for an open position with H&S Protection. I remember hearing great things about the company and knew that I would like this line of work. I have been with H&S Protection since 2015. Being a smaller company, the owners and employees treat me like a person and not a number, which makes me feel that I made the right decision by joining H&S’s team,” he observed.

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Before H&S, Ross worked in various physical security-type jobs, with his last being at a large 43-acre condominium resort in northwest Florida. He also worked in loss prevention/asset protection, protecting the property of business owners.

“I work as an installer and also complete service to existing systems. I like the variety of systems that we work with and customers to make that happen. With my previous background being in physical security, I like to understand the customers’ needs on specific security devices and provide my input on best devices to use and placement of them. Continuing education provided by H&S’s various suppliers/vendors and ESA (Electronic Security Association) is very important in this fast-paced industry and I enjoy learning new things to apply to my position,” he said

“Taylor, my girlfriend of 5 years, is very supportive of my job as sometimes I work on furthering my knowledge of systems at home. We purchased a home in Plover (15 minutes from the Stevens Point Office) together in 2017 and have a small dog named Nya. My parents live close by in Plover, and I have a brother in Minneapolis,” Peterson said.

During his spare time, Ross enjoys spending time with family, going back to the gulf coast and being on the water, fishing, working on vehicles and enjoying life as it comes.

“H&S Protection Systems can improve your residence or business by skillfully designing a system that meets and exceeds your needs with top notch support and service with a local feel,” he observed.

Ross can be reached on his cell at 262.894.0130 or by email at rpeterson@hsprotection.net.

Security at the Democratic National Convention in Milwaukee

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The Democratic National Convention is coming to Milwaukee in 2020. As Wisconsinites, we here at H&S Protection are happy to see the extra business coming to the state. It’s good for the economy, adds jobs over the next 18 months, and brings vigor to both downtown Milwaukee and the surrounding suburbs.

As a business housed in one of those suburbs in Pewaukee/Waukesha, we stand poised to help with unique security needs in the coming 18 months. An important issue that was addressed in selecting Milwaukee was the number of hotel rooms in the area. Without enough rooms to house the conventioneers, the city would not have won the bid. There are several hotels going up now in  Brookfield/Waukesha. Perimeter and video security systemsare typically put in place by hotels, and we have all those related products to deliver.

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Beyond hotels though, Milwaukee and the surrounding area will have a lot of activity in the coming months, and a need to ensure high level officials are protected and safe. Any of the downtown buildings near the new Fiserv Arena, which houses the Milwaukee Bucks, should be thinking now about what new or extra they want in place to ensure the safest area for those coming to the convention.

 

Milwaukee will only get one chance to make a first impression and demonstrate the great qualities Wisconsin and the upper Midwest hold dear. We fully expect warm hospitality to be extended. For those visiting the city for the first time, they will find a livable city, ease of getting around, great old world restaurants and an amazing waterfront around Lake Michigan.

 

If you are a local business looking to up your security during these coming months, please give us a call at 262.574.7777 or email owner Steve Garritson at sgarritson@hsprotection.net. We are family owned and run since 1959, and dedicated to hometown values known throughout Wisconsin.

Idle Time Not for Dan Kolbeck

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Idle time is not for Dan Kolbeck. Whether he’s out on the water for recreational activities, hanging out with his sons and dog or fixing a customer’s security system for H&S Protection, Dan stays active. A 17-year veteran with H&S, Dan was a self-described “cable guy” beforehand, doing a couple of years in the electrical field.

Now he works out of the service department in our Stevens Point, WI office. “I field service calls and perform system inspections. I’ve been doing it for many years, kind of like a lot of our customers have been with us for many years. It’s nice how working relationships are formed throughout the years. It makes you take a personal interest in their system(s),” Dan said.

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Homework is often required to keep ahead of the ever changing, cutting edge technology in the security industry, and Dan doesn’t shy away from that extra step. “Through the years a couple of the faces may have changed, but for the most part the H&S team is a bunch of good people trying to do the right thing,” he said

 

His inner circle at home includes his two boys and a dog. “My sons both have college degrees and great jobs.  They are in their mid- to late-20s. I spend as much time as possible with all three,” he said.

 

Most of Dan’s interests are found outside or on the water. “If I’m not on the water or playing outside, I’m usually tinkering on some project in the garage or basement. You will rarely find me idle,” he said.

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“My hobbies have tamed through the years. I used to think I had to try it all, at least once.

Sky diving, bungee jumping, scuba diving the ocean, were all great experiences, but now I’m content spending time on the water or messing with a guitar/gun/motorcycle.

Life can be short…Try to do the things you like as much as possible.”

 

If you need to reach Dan directly, please call or text his cell at 715-340-9612 or email him at dkolbeck@hsprotection.net

Snow, Ice, Wind, Rain

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We’ve gotten it all in Wisconsin the past few weeks. As the saying goes, “You come to Wisconsin in the winter for the skiing, ice fishing, great restaurants and hockey. You stay because your car won’t start.”

 

Fortunately ours have started, along with our trucks. We keep them tuned and ready because we know there might be issues during extreme weather conditions with a security system, and we are going to continue servicing our customers through snow, ice, wind and rain.

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Temperatures hit -28 in our service territory a couple of weeks back, and the windchill made it -54. That’s Wisconsin weather. The following week, more snow hit, then rain, then freezing temps that made the roads dangerously icy in spots. H&S stayed on the job. We may change up some of our scheduled work to keep our technicians indoors for an installation or service call, but we’re always prepared to take your calls and get someone out to address your needs.

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We believe strongly in the security systems we sell and install, and pride ourselves on 24-7 availability to customers. Can we drive through 10-foot snow drifts? Nope. But we will make the effort to find alternate routes to get to you as quickly as possible.

 

H&S has been in the security business since 1959. We are family-owned and operated out of Pewaukee and Stevens Point. You can count on us.

Firefighting Leads to Fire Protection for Ben Garritson

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Firefighting led Ben Garritson to fire protection, and fire protection led him to H&S Protection.  One doesn’t always necessarily follow the other, but in Ben’s case working as a firefighter/EMT on the Menomonee Falls, WI Fire Department led him to Waukesha County Technical College (WCTC) to pursue a career in fire protection. I just so happens at the time that H&S needed someone part-time to do fire alarm testing. Ben was ready and interested.

“My dad (Steve – Co-Owner of H&S) asked if I was interested in the position in 2012, and I took it, not really planning on it becoming a career path. I did that for about a year and was finished with school,” Ben explained.

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He then started looking for a career as a firefighter, and Steve knew that, and offered him a position as an install technician. “It sounded like a job I would enjoy, so I took him up on the offer and started working full-time,” Ben said.

In Ben’s current position as a service technician, he troubleshoots and repairs customers’  alarm system equipment and explains what the repair was to the customer and answers any questions they have.

 

“The thing I enjoy most about my job is all the variety we have every day. On a normal day I may go to 4 to 6 different locations and get to meet and work with different customers on every different type of system that we sell,” he said.

 

Along with his mom, Barb and Dad, Steve, Ben has an older sister, Stephanie. “I got married to my wife Danielle in September of 2016 and last year on November 30, my daughter was born (Natalie),” Ben said.

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Ben is a big outdoors man, who loves to fish, hunt and hike – “basically anything that gets me outside.”

 

“If I was recommending H&S, I would say that with us you’re going to get fast and friendly service. If you need to call us, you’re not going to get to some call center where you never really know who you’re talking to and may need to talk to several people to get an answer. If you talk to us, you’ll get hold of someone right away and get whatever question or issue resolved in a timely and friendly manner,”

 

If you need to reach Ben directly, his cell number is 262.364.8630 and his email is bgarritson@hsprotection.net.