Integrators '20 under 40' 2015—Ben Brookhart

Ben Brookhart, 38

CEO, Power Home Technologies

Raleigh, N.C.

Ben Brookhart started his security career in door-to-door sales in 1997 and was named the top sales rep in his second month of working for Westec Home Security.

Soon he was training others in sales and was opening up new locations for the firm. When the company was sold in 1998, he realized that he wanted to become an entrepreneur. He and a colleague decided to start their own residential security company.

“I've been in business for myself ever since,” he said.

Power Home Technologies now has locations in seven Southeastern states, had $25 million in sales last year and is focused on expansion.

Brookhart predicts that 30- to 40 percent of homeowners—up from the estimated 20 percent rate that has been holding for years now—will have home security within the next 10 years because of advances in home automation.

“The industry has accepted cellular transmissions and embraced it over a very quick period of time,” he said, crediting “100 percent” Alarm.com's efforts to evolve the technology.

“Consumers can now cancel their landlines, and it's less expensive now” because of Alarm.com, he said.

“They added all interactive services. It used to just be about life safety for homeowners, but now it's considered part of a lifestyle,” he said.

With home automation going to new levels and other advances in security technology, more young professionals will be drawn to the industry, he said.

It's a good field to get into and very rewarding, Brookhart said.

“It's a business where you get to help people. Our job is to protect homeowners and their families, and businesses. You can really enjoy it.”