Five Questions: Tim Kudela

Protection 1, a full-service business and home security company, recently hired Tim Kudela as branch sales manager for its Seattle office. In his new role, Kudela is responsible for managing the sales activities of the residential and commercial sales consultants in his area, including hiring and training new consultants. Kudela, who has been in the industry for 31 years, began his career as an entry-level technician and has worked his way through all levels of the business up to branch management. Security Systems News asked Kudela Five Questions.

Are you married?

I have been married for 20 years. We just celebrated our 20^th anniversary in February. We have a dog, a Rhodesian Ridgeback who is part of the family.

Where are you from originally and how do you like Seattle?

I am originally from the Midwest—Peoria, Ill. is where I was born and raised. I worked in Indianapolis for many years before moving to Seattle, which is where we have lived for seven years now. We like it out here; it is different.

What is something your coworkers may not know about you?

In college, my roommate and I worked on Ronald Reagan's campaign when he came into Peoria three times. We even got invited and went to his inauguration. Since Illinois Central College was the only campus with anybody with an invitation in the state, they paid for me and my roommate and our sponsor to go to the inauguration.

Any hobbies?

My wife and I like to RV and we camp regularly. I like to work with wood, and I have a shop set up. I also collect die-cast fire trucks. The biggest one that I owned [at one time] was about 12 tons, and was an actual working fire truck (I had two of those), and the smallest one is about an inch long. I have about 500 trucks right now. I am a retired volunteer firefighter from the Midwest.

Do you have a favorite author?

I read regularly and like Clive Cussler, who writes fiction, adventure. Just finished up his latest novel, The Assassin, which was very good.