Five questions: Andre Greco

Andre Greco is the new VP of sales and marketing for Columbus, Ohio-based systems integrator Xentry Systems Integration. He'll focus on driving strategic sales and marketing programs that enhance brand awareness and market share. He has more than 20 years of industry experience. Most recently, he was VP of sales and marketing, North America, for Johnson Controls and he has held top sales roles at Ingersoll Rand Security Technologies and Siemens Building Technologies.

Security Systems News caught up with Andre in July and asked him five questions:

Where did you grow up?
I was born and raised in Connecticut. I grew up in a town called Berlin. It was a small town with one high school and everybody knew everybody. I still live in Connecticut, in Enfield.

Now you'll be working in the Midwest. What do you think about that part of the country?
The people are little bit more cordial than what we typically find up in the Northeast and the pace is a little slower, with a little more family orientation. So I'm really looking forward to that.

What are your hobbies and interests outside of work?
I play some golf, but most of my free time is reserved for the kids. I have four, whose ages range from 14 to 22, and it's like having another full-time job.

Do you go to a lot of their sports events?
I did when the kids were growing up. I coached baseball and basketball and about five years ago I actually started a baseball league in Enfield for special needs children. My youngest has autism, so I'm very involved in that community, and saw a need for kids with special needs to have a very specific program where they could get out and do some exercise and have some fun and social interaction with other kids.

What's a good book and movie you would recommend to others?
“What the CEO Wants You to Know.” It's a good book for those who have an entrepreneurial spirit. From a movie perspective, I think my all-time favorite is “On Golden Pond.”