New Brink's office in Motor City

MADISON HEIGHTS, Mich.--"Spread too thin" with only one Detroit-area branch, Brink's Home Security on March 14 opened a second office to meet the growing demand for home security systems in this market. "We're looking forward to being able to manage the volume [of work] and excited to be up and operating," said Joe Gregart, newly named general manager of the 3,700-square-foot office at 25215 Dequindre, in Madison Heights. About half of the staff from the original Detroit-area office in Livonia joined the new office. "We brought over some seasoned Brink's employees and hired some new staff. We're actively hiring a few more sales people and technicians," he said. At 27 employees now, the office will be fully staffed at about 30 people, Gregart said. The Livonia office will have five or six more employees, as that office is where the Detroit Brink's Home Technologies segment is housed. That segment works with builders on new construction projects. "They go in and prewire the home and then when the sheetrock is up, they go back and trim it out and activate the equipment. They also offer additional services including low-voltage wiring," Gregart explained. The new office will focus on the traditional home security market, though, earlier this year, Robert Ritter told Security Systems News that Brink's intended to move into the commercial side of the business. (See February issue of Security Systems News.) To that end, both Detroit offices do have a sales person dedicated to the commercial market, Gregart said. Brink's Home Security opened five new offices last year. Brink's opened a Knoxville, Tennessee, customer care facility and central station, in February. This is the first new branch office opened in 2006.