Former Christian County officers become entrepreneurs

Former Christian County Sheriff Joey Matlock and several of his fellow officers have started Global Protection and Security Services Inc., which markets protective coatings for windshields and glass. The company sells products made by Canadian firm Ace/ Security Laminates.

Matt Leonard, security consultant for the company, is one of the former officers who helped start the company. He said he got the idea at a product demonstration that he attended while he was working for the Christian County sheriff’s office.

“At the time, I’d been in law enforcement for 13 years, and I never in my wildest dreams believed it was even possible,” he said. “You’re talking about a completely clear, completely transparent laminate that you can put on your window, and you can’t beat through it, and on certain types of glass you can’t shoot through it. All of us were in the law enforcement gig ... but we kicked the idea around for about two years, and the opportunity presented itself.”

The company’s feature product, Ace/Security glass laminate, can’t be breached by force, and some stronger varieties of the product are resistant to bullets and explosion, according to the company’s Web site.

Leonard was an officer for almost 15 years before he and his fellow officers opened the franchise in early 2004. He said he’s glad he decided to start a business with people he knows.

“All of the guys … you know their families, how old their kids are, you know everything about them. After starting this business, there’s no way I would start a business with people I didn’t know, because you all win together and you’re all going to lose together if that’s the case.” He added that he’s heard the horror stories about people who’ve started businesses with acquaintances.

“I’ve heard all the stories about how you shouldn’t start a business with people you know, and I’m sure there’ve been bad experiences both ways,” Leonard said. “As far as I’m concerned, there are no disadvantages. I’ve never started a business with anybody before, but it’s a comfortable thought that we’re all friends, and business is business.”

The company’s five principals are Leonard, Matlock, Joey Kyle, Kirk Hammer and W. Bart McKay. Hammer is the president and Matlock is the vice president. The company now operates from Hammer’s home in Ozark.

Leonard said the company offers several types of protective services, including threat assessment for homes and businesses and personal bodyguard service.

The company’s Web address is www.gpssecurity.net, a site that was developed by Nixa-based Alien Media.

417Guns

The group isn’t alone in its entrepreneurial endeavors. Former Christian County officer Brent Ball operates a gun-selling business, 417Guns LLC. The company was founded in April as an Internet-only venture, but Ball opened a storefront at 5337 S. Campbell, Ste. I, in October.

417Guns buys, sells and trades guns and ammunition, as well as knives and hunting accessories.

Initially, Jason Conover, Atlas Communications manager, was a partner with Ball in the business. Ball said starting up with a partner helped him a lot.

“In the beginning there were definitely advantages,” he said. “It wasn’t just my ideas. Two brains are better than one.”

Ball said he has since bought Conover out and is now the sole owner. He said the move gives him full control.

“If my business is successful, it’s because of what I did. If my business fails, it’s because of what I did,” Ball said. “There’s no blame.”