Bryan Morris, finance manager, American Detection Specialists

The company was founded in 1989 by my father, Jim Morris. We are primarily an electronic security company specializing in wireless technology intrusion and fire detection systems. I think last time I did the comparison, we were roughly 60 percent commercial, but our favorite thing is to do the life-safety systems in residences. We have 10 full-time employees on the payroll.

How many members of your family work there?

Just me and my dad. I have two brothers, but neither one of them are involved in the company at this time.

How did you end up there?

Just lucky, I guess. My degree is in data processing, and I was in sales and data processing with an industrial tool company. I guess five years into this company, I got downsized out of my real job, and at that time, Jim was in the position that he needed some help anyway. He needed help in handling money and paying bills and collecting. So we both decided that I should come over here and see if together, we could make one good businessperson. We still don’t know the answer to that question, but here I am.

How old were you when you went to work for your father? Were there any issues with him being able to take you seriously?

I was 25. I don’t think so, because he has had, from the very beginning, a strong grasp of the concept that I was taking responsibility for stuff that he didn’t want to do anyway. By me taking responsibility for that stuff, he was able to be more effective as a salesperson, which is what we needed. It worked very well, and it was what needed to happen because at that time, the only people that liked us were our clients. The CPA thought we were raving lunatics. Our bank wouldn’t even speak to us, so it was definitely what needed to happen. On the other hand, I certainly couldn’t do anything like this without him. I am a fairly good salesman, and I would rather have him on the sales call than me any day of the week and twice on Sunday. His entire method of doing business is totally relationship-based. He will never have to dive under a table in a restaurant when one of his clients walks in, for fear of meeting up with them.

Do you call your father “Dad” at the office? And is there any favoritism at work?

Nope. Absolutely not. The only favoritism is that I get away with screaming at him a little louder than anyone else can. We have a very good relationship, and 363 days out of the year, we’re on the same page and we look at things the same way. Two days out of the year, we exchange gunfire, so it’s never a dull moment.

Is it a challenge to keep work issues out of family events?

All the time. We try to get together and do family things as often as possible. We usually get together for all of the major holidays. In the summer, it’s a cookout in the backyard, and things like that. Sooner or later, we’re going to end up talking about company stuff. And soon after that, his wife and my wife both tell us to leave it at the office.

Tell me about your family.

I have a wife, Kelly, and two kids. My 9-year-old daughter is Samantha, or Sam. My 6-year-old son is J.D.

Any hopes that your own kids will follow you into the business?

Sometimes. I really go back and forth with that, because certainly, you hope in life that you have some kind of legacy, and I have found this line of work to be most satisfying. There’s three or four times a year when we really win the game. We keep kids from burning up in a fire. We save a small business from a wicked employee that’s stealing the place blind. There are a few times a year when we really declare victory on something, and I would very much like for my kids to be able to be involved in something like that that’s very satisfying.

[[In-content Ad]]