Five Questions: Michael Ritt

Michael Ritt started in the industry in 2005 at AlarmWatch. He was recently hired as Security Partners' director of dealer support in November 2017. In his new role, he oversees three of the company's sites—in Lancaster, Pa.; San Antonio, Texas; and Las Vegas. In college, he was a music major. In mid-January, Security Systems News asked Ritt five questions.

What do you like about where you live?

I used to live in Baltimore, and it was the city life. I live in a small town [in Pennsylvania, now]; everybody knows everyone. It's very relaxing. … The area is beautiful, it has an old, historic downtown-type area. Also, I moved up there because that's where my family had moved—being with family is important. 

Do you have any pets?

I have two cats. They're ragdolls, and they each have their own [personality]. … It's so funny, they're personalities are so different. One's extremely tamed and relaxed and stays out of the way of everyone. The other one is just into everything and anything.

What was the best movie you've seen recently or the best book you read?

Coco was a really good movie. I'm not big on animated films, but I went to see Coco and I thought the storyline was absolutely amazing. It was about family history, it was about music.

Do you have any hobbies?

I am also a church music choir director. … So, I'm still in the music field. Every weekend you can almost guarantee that I'll be singing karaoke. I can sing pretty much any genre, I was classically musically trained. I grew up singing in the Maryland state boys choir, where I got to travel to about half the country and also across seas to about eight or nine different countries.

What do like most about the industry today?

I have always been the type of person [who] has been about helping people. I think the security industry—it's a life safety industry. I've had so many situations that I've been involved in that I've changed someone's life for the better.