By; Kelly Bond
Running a business can be incredibly rewarding, but it also brings its own set of challenges–especially in the security industry, where operations run around the clock. Balancing responsibilities like hiring the right people, adopting new technology and keeping customers satisfied often leads to high pressure and sleepless nights. Over the last several months, I’ve continued to share stories from business owners who are candidly opening up about what’s keeping them awake and the strategies they’re using to face those challenges head-on.
This month I spoke with Stan Matysiak, Founder and President of the AiN Group.
Stan- please tell us about your business.
The AiN Group is a national network of independently owned low-voltage dealers and integrators. While outsiders think of us as a buying group, we really operate as much more than that. Our members gain access to exclusive product lines with leading manufacturers and national account opportunities that might otherwise be out of reach for smaller businesses.
Beyond products, The AiN Group is about community—we share best practices, collaborate on business strategies, and support each other’s growth. It’s a unique ecosystem designed to help independent companies stay competitive, grow faster, and access new market segments they may not have been able to reach on their own.
What’s one thing that keeps you up at night?
SM: For me it’s what doesn’t keep me up at night, but there are two primary concerns that continue to weigh on my mind. The lack of interest from Gen Z in pursuing careers within our industry would be at the top of the list. Unlike previous generations, Gen Z tends to place their greatest importance on selecting careers which align with their passions. Schedule flexibility and greater responsibility to social and environmental initiatives also appear to factor heavily for the new generation in our workforce.
The perception from the younger generation that our industry does not meet these criteria and the resulting lack of good candidates to hire as a result of it is disheartening. It just isn’t an appealing line of work to the average young professional, and the impact it will have on the industry’s future is worrisome.
Secondly, the security industry is not researching, developing and announcing new, exciting, innovative products at the rate of other progressive companies like Tesla, Amazon or Nvidia. The lack of innovation and excitement gets me caught up in wondering how it will survive another decade or century.
How have you worked to overcome it?
SM: We are working with our members on how to promote the fact that smart security systems and automation technologies are transforming daily life, improving home and business safety and increasing energy efficiency. We put great effort into engaging with our members to understand their challenges. We have expanded our offerings to the Outdoor Living segment to create new customer opportunities for our members and provide them the ability to offer exciting new products that give that WOW factor.
On a company level, we are attending more industry expos and manufacturers’ events to better understand the competitive products in the market. There is much to take away from attending these events that we take back to our members to ignite a spark.
What advice do you offer other business owners?
SM: We plan to offer a best business practices panel on this topic at our next Live & Learn Conference at the Baha Mar in the Bahamas in January. This will be a workshop of sorts to focus on how our members can attract the younger generation to careers in this industry. The presentation will educate those in attendance on how to highlight the innovation that exists in the industry, how to utilize case-use examples of thwarting the bad guys in their community and how to effectively communicate the purpose and growth opportunities.
Young professionals are drawn to fields that merge cutting-edge technology with meaningful impact. Emphasizing the role of smart technology, AI integrations and sustainability in protecting homes and businesses can appeal to their self-developed tech-savvy and socially conscious mindset. Additionally, fostering a modern, flexible workplace culture with continuous learning can be very enticing for the many great candidates of this generation.
Stan, thank you for sharing your concern about the lack of new potential candidates and how we can be working to generate their interest in the security industry.
As we’ve seen from Stan’s insights, the future of the security industry depends not only on innovation and technology, but also on our ability to attract and inspire the next generation. The challenges keeping business owners up at night, whether it’s staffing, stagnation in product development, or industry perception, are real, but not insurmountable. By fostering collaboration, sharing solutions, and staying focused on purpose-driven growth, we can shape an industry that remains vital, relevant, and resilient. I look forward to continuing these important conversations in the months ahead.
About The Author:
Kelly Bond brings over twenty-five years of industry experience to her clients. A 2024 inductee into the Security Sales and Integration Hall of Fame, she serves as Partner of Bridgepoint Advisors LLC, representing buyers and sellers of alarm and integration companies.
About: The Author:
Stan Matysiak is the President and owner of AiN Group, a company he founded in 2001. As President, Stan is responsible for overseeing the company’s operations and ensuring that clients receive the highest level of service possible. With a career in the security industry spanning over 38 years, his prior experience included his time at Ademco and later with First Alert, where he created the First Alert Professional Dealer Program.