Newspaper ad 17 years ago leads man to new career
John Collier is the owner of Wesco Security Systems LLC, 323 Carl Vinson Parkway, Suite A, Warner Robins; 923-1927(office); https://www.wescosecuritysystemsllc.com/.
How long have you been in business?: “I got into the alarm business because I couldn’t get a job after I finally got a four-year college degree. I got it when I was a little older than the typical college graduate. I responded to an ad in the newspaper and worked with two different alarm companies.”
Then he started his own business in October 1999.
“I had a obtained a low-voltage alarm contractor’s license, and all I had to do is take a leap of faith and start my own business. … Fortunately, I had a customer who said they could give me all the work I could handle and they did. It was a central monitoring company out of state. They owned a bunch of accounts and they needed them serviced and they knew my track record. They kept me busy for quite some time.”
What do you like best about your job?: “I’m good at problem solving, at least I think I am, as far as repairing alarm systems, whether it’s fire alarms or burglar alarms. I consider it God-given talents that my creator gave me. … I have a passion for what I do, so I don’t consider it work. And I enjoy helping people and treating them the way I want to be treated. I’ve got to make a living, but I don’t have to go out and take advantage of anybody.”
What is your specialty?: “I do sales, service and installation work of access control (systems), burglar alarms, camera systems and fire alarms. ... I do more commercial, but I don’t turn work down. ... I have done some government work.”
He installs systems in new and existing buildings.
What are your future plans?: “I want to expand but it takes money. … With the economy the way it is, it’s hard to get the money I would want at my disposal. ... I’m trying really hard to get into the government sector. I’m making some progress.”
For a small business to be considered for this feature, send an email with information about the business and the owner’s name and phone number to reporter Linda S. Morris at lmorris@macon.com.
Linda S. Morris: 478-744-4223, @MidGaBiz
This story was originally published June 10, 2016 at 4:00 PM with the headline "Newspaper ad 17 years ago leads man to new career."