Integrators '20 under 40' 2015—Brian Duffy

Brian Duffy, 28

President—electronics division, Per Mar Security

Davenport, Iowa

Finding technology that lasts, such as IP signals and mesh radio networks, is a top priority for Brian Duffy.

Monitoring over IP seems like the most promising current technology, he said. “It's something we've really got to discuss and see if we want to go all in on it. The idea of being able to have a platform to monitor on that we're finally comfortable with that will last for the next 30 years would really be great.”

This is something that Per Mar is looking at, he said. Currently, much of its monitoring is over cellular communications or on a mesh radio network. Per Mar has six mesh radio networks and about 9,000 radios. Four of those networks have been set up in the last 24 months. Mesh radios are very stable and lasting, Duffy said.

“We've embraced [mesh radios] as about as future-proof as it can be and also a very fast way to communicate signals back, as well. It's very robust. We have very few service issues [with it].”

Duffy said that it was always his plan to join Per Mar. “I really grew up in the security industry. � [Per� Mar] was founded by my grandparents and my father has been running the company for over 40 years. I had always planned to come work in the family business.”

Evolving is vital to thriving in the security industry. “You've always got to be thinking and considering different approaches to be effective [in the security industry],” Duffy said.

He shared an example of evolving for the better from Per Mar's offerings; “The evolution to IP cameras—it's something we were a little bit slow to [adapt] in some areas. But, as we looked at it we realized [that] a lot of times it really would meet our customers' needs better than more traditional analog systems.”