'20 under 40' 2014—Dan Rose

Dan Rose, 28
Director of finance, ASG Security, Beltsville, Md.

What inspired you to get into the security industry?
I've grown up around the security industry. My father worked at a security company that was started by my great-grandfather (Michigan Burglar Alarm), but I never really intended to go into security. Partially it was just timing. I was preparing to graduate with a degree in finance and ASG was looking for an entry-level financial analyst to help out with the budget. After six years, I've loved every second of it. Now, as director of finance, I'm involved in every aspect of the business. I get a nice view of the whole company.

What can be done to boost the ranks of young people in the industry?
I'm involved in all the acquisitions we do, and many had been family-owned businesses. That's the way the industry used to be—made up of small family businesses. Today security companies are becoming technology companies, and I think that will interest young people. We need to make them more aware that we're not your boring old security company, we're technology companies with a lot of potential. When I was in school and went to job fairs, I don't ever remember seeing security companies. That's one possible way to promote the industry.

Where, in terms of technology and trends, do you see the security industry going next?
The industry is transitioning from a pure security play to a more lifestyle, connected-home and business management tool. Advancement in home security technology and cloud-based services in the last five years has been more prolific than it has been over the past 20 years. Players like Apple, Samsung and Google have now entered the home automation space, and I expect an even deeper integration of connectivity of home and business security and consumers' lifestyles. Going forward, security can be the hub for everything, and we as an established-industry can take full advantage of it!