First Alarm expands in San Jose, Calif.
By Chelsie Woods
Updated Fri March 1, 2002
APTOS, Calif.-After serving the San Jose market for three years from a small 975 square foot office, First Alarm recently moved into a larger office that will be staffed by 15 technicians.
The need for a new, 6,000 square-foot location follows a recent push by First Alarm to increase its presence in the commercial market through partnering with building and electrical contractors.
"Our commercial fire alarm and access control business in San Jose has grown dramatically to where we have to have a full-fledged branch," said Dave Hood, general manager of First Alarm, based here.
Hood also attributed the increased in demand for security systems to the recent influx of high tech companies moving into the San Jose area.
In 1999, Hood estimates the company completed more than $2 million in installation work in the San Jose area, a 75 percent increase compared with 1998. Besides previously serving San Jose with a small branch, the company also relied upon resources from its other nearby locations.
Hood plans to staff the expanded San Jose branch with 30 people for the company's alarm installation division. He said another 50 people will work for the company's patrol response and guard division.
The company, which operates six locations in California, serves approximately 8,500 customers. Of those, approximately 65 percent are commercial.
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