While there are certainly a strong group of them in our industry, female-led security companies are vastly outnumbered by their male-owned counterparts. The question for the security industry is how to attract women to a traditionally male-dominated industry; or how to bring daughters into a family-run security business.
Perhaps those answers can start with Bobbie Hirschy, president of Orlando, Fla.-based Star Asset Security, which makes its second consecutive appearance as the third-fastest growing security service provider in our annual Fast50. In fact, Star Asset Security announces proudly on its letterhead and website that it is “A Woman Owned Small Business” – something about which she feels great degree of pride. “At the beginning, I couldn’t imagine not being recognized as a women-owned business,” Hirschy says, noting a sense of accomplishment with that title. “That has and continues to serve us well.”
As president of Star Asset Security, Hirschy oversees management, operations and expansion of the fast-growing company and its various locations throughout the United States. Her husband, Roger, is executive vice president.
Thanks to Bobbie Hirschy and her female security company owner peers, it appears the there is an increasing interest in security integration among women. “I see great opportunities for women who are interested in achieving new levels of success,” she says. “Such an elaborate (job) requires people who have the strength, insight, and skills to work and create these technologies. These are not gender-specific traits.
“I’d like to see women lead the way,” Hirschy adds. “I would ask parents to expand their daughter’s future and encourage them to pursue a positive and challenging direction by getting them involved with science, math and even computer coding. Additionally, it is important to encourage mentorship programs for women across industries.”
That said, it is a simple fact that math and engineering programs are not a hotbed of women trainees right now; however, the solution to filling an open position might just be within a company’s own offices. “We look internally first,” Hirschy says. “As we continue to grow our business, we look inside and provide encouragement to the women we employ.”
Powering Growth
This is not Hirschy’s first gig leading a successful security operation. She has an extensive career in the security industry, having previously been an owner of Choice 1 Security, a national security and electronic lock installation company. The company completed projects such as the Trump Taj Mahal, various Ritz Carlton Properties, Hyatt Hotels, Marriott Properties as well as select military bases across the United States. Choice 1 was later sold to Stanley.
Prior to Choice 1 Security, Hirschy was president of Security Solutions Group, a woman-owned small business that provided door security products for schools and government housing projects.
Thanks to her vast experience in accounting and financial management to go along with her security background, she has overseen terrific growth at Star Asset Security – which averaged a nearly 60-percent annual growth rate over the past three years.
As Star Asset Security has grown – both in staff and in territory covered -- the company has come to consider itself more than just a women-owned business. “We are a people-owned company,” Hirschy says. “We focus on everyone within our staff – both men and women – and encourage them to make beneficial contributions within their departments and to the company as a whole.”
Overcoming Challenges
Indeed, good people make any enterprise tick. “Our mission provides a platform for both men and women to nurture and support each other to ensure that the main objective is achieved,” she says. “If one person succeeds – whether it be a man or woman – the company succeeds as a whole.”
While it is not a new goal, Hirschy’s guiding principle for the company remains much as it has been: “Our goal is to be one of the premier electronic managed security companies in the country in five years,” Hirschy says.
This, she knows, is dependent on the company’s ability to continue to find premier talent in the industry. “Our regional office managers are individuals with high level of experience in the security/technology field. Currently, we have a few manager’s positions that are held by women who we rely heavily upon to ensure our constant success,” Hirschy says.
It is difficult to ride herd on the several operations spread across a sizable geographic area. “That requires a constant strategy and communication effort to ensure success,” says Hirschy. ”The communication aspect is critical and we rely on our own IT managed services company to ensure full connectivity across the US.”
Another challenge – for Star Asset and for anyone in the security industry -- is to prove their company’s value to their clientele’s C-suite. Hirschy says that she sees a need to forego bid processes and instead enter into the sorts of negotiated arrangements that bring the most value to us as integrators and to our customers who need impenetrable security solutions.
The strategy seems to be paying dividends. Star Asset Security debuted in the Fast50 top 25 in 2013. Since then, the company has steadily climbed to No. 8 in 2014 and now at No. 3 for two years in a row.
Growing Wisely
While the company has been busy moving up the ladder, Star Asset has maintained Hirschy’s key strategy – to keep customers focused on using just one security provider by offering one-stop-shopping. That does not mean latching onto every passing technology fad.
“We have to think about how to wisely grow,” Hirschy says. “Every growth step of ours is carefully planned and executed. Every decision has to fit the lens of 10-year customers, vendor partners and team members.”
The company focuses on providing two basic platforms: The first is a typical systems integration offering for enterprise clients on a regional and national level; the second uses cloud-based managed services for small to midsized commercial market clients. This strategy enables the company to target those customers that value a single point of service and managed services.
“We constantly approach business with the goal of finding 10-year plus customers, vendor partners and team members,” Hirschy says. “We strive to foster a small company feel with national reach.”
Star Asset is a major player in the education vertical, with many clients from K-12 education to colleges and universities. In addition, the company serves a number of clients in vertical markets such as healthcare, retail and government.
Hirschy hopes to continue to build the company’s footprint with a continued focus on complete managed services for national customers. “Our innovative solutions continue to set us apart with our clients,” she says.
Humble Beginnings
In June 2010, Bobbie Hirschy purchased Star Asset Security, which at the time, was a small integration outfit based in Greer, S.C., that had been in business since 1993. The company had a GSA contract and had some existing local client relationships that the new owner believed put the operation in a great position to build and to grow.
After purchasing the company, Hirschy put together a business plan based on developing a regional integration company across the Southeast. The next step would be a plan to go where the customers took Star Asset nationally. As a part of that plan, the concept of key vendor partners was established on a national basis – which has grown to include Milestone, Avigilon, Tyco Security Products, Axis Communications, ASSA ABLOY, Honeywell and others. A select management team was assembled; and the vital center-post of the business – its five-year growth plan – was put in place.
The company’s business plan was based on a combination of acquisition and organic growth. Every aspect of the business plan comes back to a definite focus on RMR.
Since its founding, Star Asset Security has acquired three integration companies, a video central station, as well as an IT managed services company.
In the meantime, the five-year plan has morphed into a 10-year plan and beyond. With a combination of focused management, great staff, and a firm grasp of their market, Star Asset Security is poised for future success.
Curt Harler is a security technology writer and regular contributor to SD&I magazine. Reach him at [email protected].
