Start-Up Stories

by Southwest Automated Security

“We Are Greater than Me”

Southwest Automated Security (SAS), a wholesale distributor of gate operators, access control, and video surveillance, was formed as an off shoot of Big D Metalworks in Dallas, Texas. They needed a gate operator and established FAAC of Texas in 1988; the name changed to SAS in 1992 when they began distributing different lines of products.

In 1998, Rick Spence, owner operator, and Jeff Goodwin, current president of SAS, moved the company’s location from under Big D’s roof and continued to expand the business. In 2004, Big D sold the company to Rick and Jeff, and by then, Steve Shain, board member, joined the company in the Phoenix location.

“We have one goal,” says Susan Worley, regional sales manager. “To be the lead distributor of gate operators, access control, and surveillance equipment. It’s simple but lofty and we work diligently every day to meet and exceed that goal.”

Prior to SAS, there was little to no option for distribution of gate operators, so SAS started by offering FAAC and HySecurity which made them the leader for hydraulic operators. Then, the manufacturer partners list continued to grow from there.

SAS has expanded to include 19 locations nationwide. From the beginning days of just distributing gate operators, the company has grown steadily and broadened the services and products offered.

“When I started in 2017, we were slowly introducing video surveillance,” explains Worley. “We only had one brand and some access control options. Now, we’re carrying multiple options of CCTV and access controls and we have an entire access control team and a video surveillance team, which includes our own CCTV in-house tech support line.”

Today, SAS is 100% employee-owned through an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) formed in 2012. Goodwin and Shain sold SAS to its employee owners as a way to give back to the employees.

“After one year and 1,000 hours, employees begin participating in the program. There is no buy-in nor are there contributions needed,” explains Worley. “After six years of being a participant, employees are 100% vested. For every year of service, we earn stock in the company. Upon retirement, they receive that money. We currently have around 110 employee owners.”

“We believe in relationships, within our organization as well as with our manufacturers and our customers,” she says. “We value moral and culture. We have an ESOP committee who meets monthly to discuss opportunities to help employee engagement, help teach owners about the ESOP, and to plan charitable events. Every October, the committee sells custom shirts and 100% of the proceeds to go the charity that year.”

With a nearly 20-year tenure at SAS, Regional Vice President Steve Alsip says, “We believe as a company that we are greater than me.”

To learn more, visit www.southwestautomated.com.

Those on the outside may think owning and growing a business is glamorous. They see the current building, the staff, the equipment and the profits. What they don’t see are the startups. The small beginnings, the ever-present worry, the dreams and the everyday decisions that can either make it or break it.

Fence News honors those who put their hat in the self-employment ring and built their business one small step at a time.