Integrators '20 under 40' 2015—Matt Vellek

Matt Vellek, 34

VP business operations, Security Equipment Inc.

Omaha, Neb.

The attraction of the security industry for Matt Vellek is that it's always changing and that it's a growing industry.

“There's interest in protecting people, property and assets, but there's also growing interest in the way security is an overall solution,” he said. “It helps with things like compliance and HR functions. Security technology continues to evolve and be more of a business solution, or in the case of residential security, a lifestyle, not just a matter of securing a facility.”

Vellek learned about the industry at home because his father worked in security. Vellek started in a different industry after college, but he moved to security in 2008 when he was looking for a change. He worked for a systems integrator and then for an access control provider before joining SEI in 2014.

While the general public does not generally get excited about physical security technology, Vellek believes mobile credentials will change that. “Most employees don't care about a new card reader or IP video, but today employees want to do everything with their phones. [Mobile credentials] will broaden the appeal of security and change the user experience with access control,” he said.

The industry needs more talented young people, Vellek said. “Staffing is a big concern,” he said. It's hard to find technical staff. Vellek predicted that more young people will be drawn to the industry as they learn that more security systems run on the network. That's the kind of work young people want to do, he said. “It puts the industry in a new light.”