'20 under 40' 2014—Matt Reynolds

Matt Reynolds, 35
Service supervisor, Tyco SimplexGrinnell, Westminster, Mass.

What inspired you to get into the security industry?
I started working here in 2003. I hadn't had any security experience before but I am a licensed electrician here in Arkansas [where he is based]. To be honest with you, I got into it out of necessity. I was job hunting … and I had a friend that worked here and she said, “I've got a spot.” And I was just going to stay here a year and get out and 11 years later I'm still here. Here, they take care of you. It pays well, I enjoy what I'm doing and it's full of opportunities. I started off in installation. I ran jobs and pulled wire, that kind of thing. I got promoted to service technician … and then I worked my way up and got promoted to service supervisor two years ago. Being in the service department you get to be in a lot of different places. I love my customers, I love people and I enjoy resolving conflict.

What can be done to boost the ranks of young people in the industry?
That is a constant struggle, getting someone who is trainable and who has drive. I think what we as an industry have to do is go out and recruit people. I'm working on starting to go to technical colleges and schools and actually recruiting. The biggest thing that we've got to do in changing the culture is go out and seek our employees instead of running an ad on Monster.

Where, in terms of technology and trends, do you see the security industry going next?
We're doing things right now … with our testing equipment that's going Bluetooth, all wireless stuff, where you have the control of the panel in your hand. You pick up your iPad or your iPhone and you can have full control over the systems. We're working on stuff like that, which is awesome, and it's going down to one-man inspections instead of two because of that.