Security company finds protection profitable

From the looks of it, the future of Verus Security is secure. The Humansville-based company, which opened Sept. 10, already exceeded its first-year goal for contracts by $45,000.
“We figured if we were lucky, we’d get one good account,” said Steve Chumbley, company supervisor and director of security. “Our goal was to have $25,000 to $26,000 in contracts in our first year.”
Before hitting the six-month mark, Verus had $70,000 in contracts – a figure that was not expected until the second year of business. Chumbley’s wife, Sherry, is the owner and bookkeeper for the company, which is named after a first-century gladiator.
Chumbley said an injury ended his 11-year career as a police officer in the Denver area, and he relocated his family to the Ozarks.
“I had an accident in Colorado. It was just such a simple accident, but I ended up breaking most of my bones in my lower leg and ankle,” Chumbley said. After 10 surgeries, Chumbley said, his left leg stopped healing and eventually was removed.
Now an artificial leg is in its place. “Ninety percent of people don’t know that it is artificial, and I am hard-headed enough I wouldn’t let it slow me down.”
And it hasn’t. Within the first week of business, Chumbley said he had a one-year contract with a major client, Millwood Golf and Racquet Club.
“Millwood contacted me after getting my flyer. They were shopping for security. I spoke with the general manager and ... was on the job by Sept. 17,” Chumbley said. “I was so shocked at the call that I could hardly speak.”
Dan Schumacher, general manager of Millwood Golf & Racquet Club, said Chumbley was the right fit for the country club.
“Since Millwood has grown so much in the last four years, I needed to take my nighttime security up a few levels,” Schumacher said. “I looked at four or five different companies but felt Steve, being in law enforcement and being a police officer, was a good choice.”
Connections at Millwood led to more contracts with local businesses, Chumbley said, including Reliable Toyota Lexus, TLC Properties, McCormack Baron Properties and most recently, Atlas Security.
Verus is in a 30- to 60-day trial period with Atlas Security Service, said Central Station Manager Frank Hamrick.
“We contract with security firms such as (Verus) to respond to burglar alarms on behalf of our keyholders,” Hamrick said. “It helps provide a quick response to an alarm service before we dispatch the police.”
Currently Atlas uses Midwest Security as its primary service provider. As long as the trial period is successful, Verus will be a second contracted company on a limited basis.
Verus hired three additional security officers and plans to add another by the end of March. While the company was prepared to add employees a little further down the road, it is stepping up to the plate, and is now working nearly into the second-year phase of its business plan.
Revised goals for the company follow the anticipated growth rate. “We hope … at the end of our first year to be at $90,000 in gross receipts. For our second year, our projected gross revenues are $125,000 in contracts.” Chumbley said. “At our present rate of growth, this is doable.”
To help meet these new goals Chumbley said he plans to shift into more of an administrative and supervisory role that will allow him to do more marketing – a key factor in the company’s success.
The company is planning to move its office to Ozark later this year.
[[In-content Ad]]