SIA New Member Profile: NextGen Security

New Security Industry Association (SIA) member NextGen Security is an integrated physical and electronic security provider specializing in solutions for regulated entities and facilities in key vertical markets nationwide. The company is headquartered in Exton, Pennsylvania, with additional offices in Austin, Dallas, Houston and Midland, Texas; Atlanta, Georgia; Charlotte, North Carolina; and Miramar, Florida; and works in all 50 U.S. states as well as Canada.

SIA spoke with Ryan Loughin, chief operating officer (COO) and co-founder of NextGen Security, about the company, the security industry and working with SIA.

Tell us the story of your company.

Ryan Loughin: NextGen was founded by five principals (myself along with Frank Brewer, Dwight Smith, Steve Greis and Ryan Rieger), all of whom had extensive security industry background and had previously worked together at another security integrator. In November 2012, we opened our original two offices in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, and Houston, Texas. We were founded on the goal of providing top-level security integration services to our Fortune 1000 clients while also giving them a strong customer service experience, which is a gap that we saw in the market at the time of our founding. By continuing to adhere to these principles, we have grown from $0 to $100 million in a little over 12 years.

What solutions/services does your business offer in the security industry? And what makes your offerings or your company unique?

RL: We focus on access control, video management and intrusion detection as our core business. To us, it’s important to stay ahead of the technology curve to make sure we’re offering our customers the best technology on the market. We have created strong partnerships with a few trusted enterprise-level access control and video lines and continue to evaluate newer products like Evolv and Oosto, bringing their offerings to our customer base for further opportunities to secure their spaces.

What is something we might not know about your company – or something new you are doing in security?

RL: We are looking for other integrators that share a common culture and vision for being the best in class and want to grow that vision throughout a large part of the United States and Canada. We believe our approach to acquisition is one that will create a steady and consistent growth that will allow for the quality of our company to remain intact for a long time to come. Growth through acquisition shouldn’t be a race – it should be a journey. 

What is your company’s vision, and what are your goals for the security industry?

RL: We would like to be considered the only security integrator in the U.S. with a vast physical presence that can provide the high level of support and customer service complex customers require. This needs to be consistent from one of our regions to the next, and we feel that is a huge issue or gap in the market right now. 

What do you think are the biggest opportunities in the security industry right now?

RL: I think there is a lot of opportunity in several upcoming verticals but from a solution standpoint there is a lot going on right now with the cloud, weapons detection, facial identification and behavioral analytics.

What are your predictions for the security industry in the short and long term?

RL: Not to get political, but I think that things are looking positive with our industry under the Trump administration. I think you will see not only overall economic growth, but also a priority in protecting our schools, universities, hospitals and other critical facilities. There may be some short-term pain, but I don’t think it will last very long.  

What do you enjoy most about being at your company – and in the security industry?

RL: NextGen’s biggest asset is our people. We pride ourselves on not only hiring the best and the brightest the security industry has to offer, but also hiring entry-level resources to train them the “NextGen Way.” NextGen’s culture of putting our people first has been the No. 1 contributor to our growth over the last 12 years.

What does SIA offer that is most important to you/your company? And what do you most hope to get out of your membership with SIA?

RL: SIA is a trusted organization within the security industry and has unique communities and training opportunities that can help our people to progress in their careers. We are looking forward to the many opportunities to come for our employees through our partnership with SIA.

The views and opinions expressed in guest posts and/or profiles are those of the authors or sources and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Security Industry Association.