Steve Garritson Receives Industry “Bill Cooper” Award

Honest communication, respectful dialogue, articulating concerns, listening, trying to find solutions that benefit all sides. Building bridges. H&S Co-Owner Mike Horgan cited these qualities (and more) inherent in the Bill Cooper Award, given annually by the Wisconsin Security Association (WISA).

Those qualities embodied Bill Cooper’s approach to his work in the security industry, and Horgan used them to recently honor H&S Co-Owner Steve Garritson with the 2020 Bill Cooper Award. The award, first given in 2007, also recognizes a balanced approach to problem-solving.

“Steve is an excellent fit for this award.  And that shouldn’t be a surprise, since he actually received it once before back in 2011,” Horgan said.

“If you have spent any time with Steve, you’ve probably seen his sense of humor; his ability to have fun and to laugh.  You may even have a sense for his love for and dedication to the alarm industry, which he has been a part of now going on 41 years.  But what isn’t always as obvious is the care that he has for his employees, his family and friends, for people in general; and that I think is what impresses me the most — his generosity and willingness to do the right thing,” Horgan added.

“…  When you’re in the trenches with someone like Steve for as long as I have been, through that many ups and downs, and especially through the hardest times; you learn a lot about someone — about their character, their true colors,” Horgan continued.

“I’ve known Steve Garritson for about 15 years, and most of them have been as his business partner.  During that time, we’ve been through a lot together — enduring some lows I wouldn’t wish on anyone; riding highs too good to believe; and everything else in between,” Horgan said.

“Hard-working, professional, sense of humor, and a good human being.  I’ve seen it first-hand for a long time now.  So it is a special honor for me to present this year’s Bill Cooper Award to our WISA Board Member-at-Large, and my business partner and friend — Steve Garritson.”