Family-Owned Alarm Companies
In this episode of Coffee Break with Jake, we dive into the realities of running (and working in) a family-owned alarm company with special guest Melanie Henson of Stewart Electronics. From rags-to-joy founder stories to third-generation transitions, we explore what makes family businesses resilient through candid insights from owners, successors, and non-family team members.
Key takeaways from this episode:
✅ How founders built loyal customer bases through word-of-mouth (and what still works today)
✅ The messy middle of succession: planning early, using a neutral consultant, and separating personal vs. business finances
✅ Creating fair opportunities for non-family staff with clear org charts, SOPs, and Monday huddles where every voice counts
✅ Setting boundaries: no shop talk at Easter, no chain-of-command shortcuts at work
✅ Open-door leadership that actually works: why access to decision-makers beats big-company bureaucracy
✅ Preparing the next generation the right way (rotate roles first; leadership is earned, not inherited)
✅ Why women are changing the game in security—and how to invite more into the industry
Coffee Break With Jake is recorded live every Friday at 11am ET. Join us live or register to attend at https://go.ssandsi.com/coffeebreak
Key takeaways from this episode:
✅ How founders built loyal customer bases through word-of-mouth (and what still works today)
✅ The messy middle of succession: planning early, using a neutral consultant, and separating personal vs. business finances
✅ Creating fair opportunities for non-family staff with clear org charts, SOPs, and Monday huddles where every voice counts
✅ Setting boundaries: no shop talk at Easter, no chain-of-command shortcuts at work
✅ Open-door leadership that actually works: why access to decision-makers beats big-company bureaucracy
✅ Preparing the next generation the right way (rotate roles first; leadership is earned, not inherited)
✅ Why women are changing the game in security—and how to invite more into the industry
Coffee Break With Jake is recorded live every Friday at 11am ET. Join us live or register to attend at https://go.ssandsi.com/coffeebreak
Creators and Guests
