On October 30 2017 Pennington & Trim Alarm Services, Inc. will be celebrating its 30-year anniversary. Below you will see Ed Trim’s (President & CEO) reflections over the past 30 years. Ed and I continually see companies going out of business, and we are truly thankful for God’s grace and for our spectacular staff and all the wonderful people who have helped us along the way to fulfill our mission statement for the past 30 years. Life is a journey that can be a happy and fulfilling one when you find your purpose and enjoy the relationships God brings into your life to make a difference in the world.
The Bible says in Ecclesiastes 3, “there is an appointed time for everything – birth and death, weeping and laughing, mourning and dancing, sowing and reaping, etc. God has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also set eternity in our hearts. There is nothing better than to rejoice and to do good in one’s lifetime; moreover, that every man who eats and drinks sees good in all his labor—it is the gift of God.” After the death of two daughters, we see the importance of living life in light of eternity and being thankful. The storms of life come to us all, and you have to build your foundation on the rock (God). They say to a barefoot man, happiness is a pair of shoes. To the man with old shoes, it’s a pair of new shoes. To the man with new shoes, it’s more stylish shoes. And of course the fellow with no feet, he’d be happy to be barefoot. Measure your life by what you have, not by what you don’t. Always be grateful. Life is a series of thousands of tiny miracles. Notice them and be thankful for them!
CELEBRATING 30 YEARS! By Ed Trim
As I look back on this 30-year journey at Pennington & Trim Alarm Services, Inc., I realize it’s time to say thank you to so many people who made a difference along the way.
The Beginning
First, I need to thank God! Without his help, I wouldn’t have made it a week, much less 30 years! I’d like to thank my wife, Dana, who stood by my side during some lean times and some stressful times. It’s been a joy to experience this ride with my best friend, the mother of my children and my preaching partner on mission trips. I’d like to thank my son, Josh, who has grown up in this business. He’s the future President & CEO at P&T. Somewhere along the way, I found myself calling him and asking him questions. The technology is really changing fast, and Josh soaks it up like a sponge. I want to thank Matthew, our youngest son who graduated from Oral Roberts University in May 2017. He has chosen to go into the ministry. He has a heart for the lost and a spirit for outreach. We’ll continue to help him during his journey, and look forward to doing mission trips with him.
Thanks To Some Key People
Thanks to my brother, George, who convinced me to leave my job downtown and get into the security business in October 1985. Thanks to Blackstock Lock & Key and A-1 Detectives for employing me while I learned my trade and developed my skill set. Thanks to Norman & Virginia Pennington for believing in me! You guys saw something in me I hadn’t even seen in myself. I couldn’t have chosen a better silent partner from 1987-1998. You’ll always be my partner and my family. Norman, Rest in Peace. I’ll see you in Heaven one day.
Thanks To Some Early Employees
Thank you John York! You were my first hire in 1989. I went from a one-man wrecking crew to an owner who had to provide for others the day I hired you. It was the start of bigger things. Thanks for your dedication. Thank you Dwayne Brewer, Justin Tucker, and Jesse Chauferous. You guys were the main hires in the early 90’s and were a major part of the company that put us on the map in consumers’ eyes. We grew leaps and bounds during your time with us. Thank you Anna Roan! You were also a 1991 hire to be our first full-time secretary. You were with us for 21 years and just happened to be the mother of my wife, best friend and business partner. Most guys couldn’t work with their mother-in-law, but I cried when you left. I’ve known you since 1983, and God couldn’t have hooked me up with a better family with which to spend the rest of my life!
Late 1990’s
Thank you Doug Chapman! You were hired in 1994 and have been with us for 23 years and counting. You came the year after we lost our one-year-old daughter, Nicole, to cancer. God sent you at the perfect time. I needed help, and He sent you at just the right time. Thank you for all your hard work in the service department all these years. Thank you to Mike Jenno and Mark Faron! You were both a big part of the growth in the 90’s. Thank you Alice Wilder! You came over from Capital Security and were our first full-time scheduler for installs, new construction and service.
Early 2000’s
Thank you Jay Horne! You became our first Installation Manager. The company had grown to a point where we had 3 departments. You were a vital part of our growth in the early 90’s as well as your wonderful wife, Renee, who was a fabulous secretary. You are both loved and missed. Thank you Pat Browning! You became our first New Construction Manager in the mid 2000’s, and you’re still here today in the heat, cold, rain and tromping thru the mud to get our new construction projects done.
Around 2010
This is when God answered a big prayer. Dana and I were both working long and stressful hours. The company had grown so much; we just couldn’t do it by ourselves. Dana needed someone she could delegate HR type stuff to and a lot of office manager type duties. Thank you Carol Irons! You came at a perfect time, and gave us 8 years. You helped organize and change the way we did things for the better. You made us a better company. Right after Carol came along, again God answered a prayer. We hired David Anderson from the furniture industry. I needed help!! Especially, dealing with the men, getting them out the door in the morning and supervising the scheduling department. You are still with us today. All I can say is “Thank you Lord for sending me David at a time I really needed his leadership!” You are a blessing to this company. I’ve never met anyone with better customer service.
Since Then
I’d like to thank Gloria Townsend who is our Accounting Manager. She has really stepped up since Carol left and took on a lot of her responsibilities. She’s a joy to work with and is an amazing woman. Thank you Bobbi Lane! You were the most thorough person in our billing department I’ve ever seen. I guess that comes from your schoolteacher days. I cried at your retirement. You’ll always be known as the “red pen lady” and the biggest Cubs fan I know. Thank you Darline Dansby who heads up our Accounts Payable and Payroll. You’re a good woman and a hard worker! Thank you Allison Neal! You are my right-hand person, my inside sales, the scheduler of my appointments and an awesome personal assistant. I couldn’t travel the world and do my mission trips if I didn’t have you to help me keep everything straight! Thank you Shellie Norman who heads up our commercial service scheduling. You have done a fabulous job of constantly figuring out new, more efficient and better ways of doing things. Everyday, you’re reinventing that job. You’re awesome at thinking outside the box.
Almost To 25
We currently have 22 employees. We recently had to tear down our original building we worked out of from 1988 (the first year I worked out of my home) until 1997 to make room for more parking. We built our new building in front of the old building in 1997. We will celebrate 20 years in our “new building” August 2017. It’s hard to believe 20 years went by so fast.
Surely I Missed Someone
We’ve been so blessed with so many good people who have worked here since October 1987. There’s just no way I could write them all down. They’ve all been a big part of growing this company to over 15,000 customers made up of security systems (monitored and local), camera systems, commercial fire, access control, PERS and others.
Not Going Anywhere
I wished I had counted the letters and emails I constantly get from people in our industry wanting to buy this company. I can honestly say I’ve never sat down with anyone and asked, “How much would you pay me?” Most companies have an exit strategy and a pot of gold waiting for them at the end of the rainbow. I’ve always known we were not for sale. The Bible says to take care of your kids and their kids. That’s what we’re going to do! One day it will be Josh’s since Matthew wants to be in ministry. Hopefully, after Josh, his son, Whitten, will be a 3rd generation. In the meantime, we’ll continue to work hard to please our customers! Our mission statement is — Making money to spread the Gospel as we protect lives and property with teamwork and a spirit of excellence.
Celebrate With Us This Year
As we embark on our 30th year, I just think of all those wonderful customers I’ve met through the years. From our first residential install, Jo Ann Grey, to our first new construction job, Joy Barnes, and to our first commercial job, Kids Dress For Less. I’ve met so many wonderful people. I just want to finish by saying thank you to all our customers who have put their confidence in us to protect their lives and property. Thank you for the referrals, for repeat customers and just placing your trust in us. It’s been a great 30 years! Let’s do it again for another 30, shall we?