Five Questions with Richard Hahn

Security Systems News caught up with Richard Hahn, president, Richard Hahn & Associates, a company that focuses on business and marketing strategies.

HOW DID YOU GET STARTED IN THE INDUSTRY?
In 1989, I was hired as editor of a new publication called “Security News,” similar to Security Systems News as it was a newspaper rather than a magazine. I left the publication in 1994 to start my own company that includes business and marketing strategies, and planning, public relations and marketing.

WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO RELOCATE TO COLOMBIA?
A friend from Colombia invited me to accompany her to see her country and meet her friends. I loved it there! Since then, I was elected to the board of directors of ASIS Colombia and have given many seminars here in Colombia and in several other Latin American countries. It was also in my heart to help in the poor areas. I have given motivational chats to children, families and senior citizens!

HOW DOES THE COLOMBIAN SECURITY INDUSTRY COMPARE TO THE U.S.?
As far as technology, I would say we are similar. Where I think there are differences is in guard services. Most apartment buildings have a several guards, not just a doorman. For this reason, most apartments do not have home alarm systems. For commercial buildings, it is not easy to just walk in for a meeting with a company as it is in the U.S. In addition to security guards who request identification, there is also access control systems and video.

WHAT’S SOMETHING INTERESTING ABOUT YOU THAT YOUR COLLEAGUES MIGHT NOT KNOW?
I used to collect comic book and attended a lot of the comic book conventions. I had a huge collection including first issues of Spiderman, Fantastic Four and Avengers. Comic books helped me develop a love for writing, art and design.

WHAT BOOK WOULD YOUR RECOMMEND TO OTHERS?
“E-Myth.” It deals with the entrepreneurial myth that most people who start small businesses are entrepreneurs.