Project Update: Salvation Army Centralized Management System

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Salvation ArmyWe’ve had a relationship with the Salvation Army for many years from a locksmith perspective. Over time, we began to do more of their technology based applications for access control and video at locations around the city.

About two years ago, we approached the Salvation Army about implementing our centralized management system. This system uses IP based technology that allows their headquarters to see all of their locations, while allowing autonomous administration at each location.

The cost savings would be substantial because of standardizing their systems and sharing the IT investment in servers and switches across their locations. We’ve helped them through many iterations of the design while facilitating meetings with decision makers and their board of directors. We’re excited to announce that we’ve won the business!

Their ultimate goal is to incorporate not just the IP video and IP intercom systems, but to also include access control.  There are approximately thirteen locations we’ve included in our project planning. The Linwood location is the first facility to get the upgrades.

Salvation ArmyOur installation crew began the project by pulling new CAT 6 cable for each new camera and intercom location. This was no easy task because it’s a four-story building. We installed eight exterior cameras ranging from Pan/Tilt/Zoom models to 270-degree and interior dome cameras. We also installed a 2N intercom system with three Grandstream desk stations. We installed PC based viewing stations that communicate with video servers at each location.

We’ve really enjoyed our experience working with Salvation Army and their staff. We’ve delivered a solution that makes their work for the community easier, safer and more productive!

Catching Crooks & Drinking Beer. The Stolen KC Story.

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Every so often something happens in your life to give you pause. Sometimes, the changes affect you personally and sometimes they can affect a lot of people.

In December of 2014, David Brucker faced just this type of moment. 

David is an owner of the local business Hometown Lawn. David and his team work hard to provide for their families and deliver great service at a fair price. On this fateful day, David arrived at his business and found that many items had been stolen. The theft hit him very hard. He vowed right then and there that he’d fight back. He decided to create a way for hard working people like him to not be victims, but to take the fight to the thief. On this day, Stolen KC was born.

Stolen KCStolen KC is a group that allows you to post a stolen item, missing person or crime prevention tip and spread the word across the city instantly. Stolen KC has been spotlighted on several local television and radio stations for their effectiveness in recovering stolen property.

Fast forward two years and Stolen KC is a Facebook group with over 62,900 followers and airs a live show every Thursday at 8PM. During the show, they discuss topics such as the recoveries for the week, the most wanted list, crime prevention tips and of course the adult beverage of the week!

The two hosts of the program are Stolen Dave and Stolen Todd (Todd Howerton) but once in a while they allow guests hosts in and I was lucky enough to guest host show #11.  Kenton Brothers Systems for security is the proud sponsor of the show, and we look forward to partnering with them for years to come.

David Brucker likes to call this “Social Media Activism”.  I like to call it changing lives for everyone in the Kansas City Area!

Please tune in on Thursday nights at 8PM to see what recoveries were made each week and who is on the most wanted list and of course, check out the weekly beverage! Here’s to fighting crime and drinking beer!

Stolen KC Stolen KC

Kenton Brothers Partners to Give Hope Faith Some Security!

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Hope Faith MinistriesHope Faith Ministries is a Christian ministry outreach program in Kansas City whose purpose is to help the homeless and those in need get back on their feet.

Kenton Brothers created a partnership with Straub Construction, AT Industrial, Allegion and Industrial Door to pull together a charitable offering to replace two of the HM entry door openings that were in desperate need of repair.

Our Commercial Salesman Steve Scharff headed up the project for Kenton Brothers. I asked Steve why this project was so important to him, to which he responded, “sometimes it’s just really nice to give back.” Kenton Brothers is particularly interested and supportive of causes that help our local community.

Alfredo Palacol, grants coordinator for HFM had the following to say on the impact of the new doors:

“Everyone here at HFM is so grateful for everyone’s involvement on this project! Not only have you improved the durability and security of our entrances, but because of your generous involvement, we are now able to shift our client intake to the entrance with the double doors. This has a HUGE impact on our daily operations! We will now be able to process and screen clients in a more efficient and effective manner.  This also allows us to reconfigure our internal space to improve our programs and services. In the next few weeks we will be building out a homeless-run bicycle repair/mechanic shop (a first for Kansas City), and we wouldn’t have been able to do that without the reconfigured space as a result of the installation of the improved doors. Your gifts of time and resources will impact lives in so many ways!”

We are proud to be a part of such a meaningful project that will impact so many people!

Hope Faith Ministries Hope Faith Ministries

KCUMB Gala Rocked Union Station!

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KCUMB GalaUnion Station was all dolled up Saturday, October 22nd for Kansas City University’s Centennial Gala and 100th anniversary! The gala was put on to honor their years of educating osteopathic physicians, scientists and healthcare professionals.

Kenton Brothers has been fortunate to have a long-standing partnership with KCUMB as their security resource for access control and video surveillance to protect their campus. (Learn more about the work we did with KCUMB in this white paper.)

KCUMB has done a great job of investing in beautifying and securing their neighborhood.

It was Kenton Brothers’ pleasure to join KCUMB in celebrating a century of living out their mission of improving the well-being of communities served through their alumni, faculty, and staff.

We had a great evening at their beautiful celebration!

KCUMB Gala KCUMB Gala

We love the Kansas City Streetcar, but watch out for the tracks!

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KC StreetcarMy name is Stan Lucas and I am the installation manager for Kenton Brothers. My wife and I have recently taken up the sport of bicycling as a way for both of us to get in shape and spend time together. Though I haven’t been doing it for long, I’ve learned some tricks of the trade, and I have one piece of advice for anyone taking up this sport in the Kansas City metro area…

Watch out for the streetcar tracks.

One night my wife and I were exploring the Crossroads and City Market area and having what I thought would be a normal evening bike ride. Don’t tell my wife this, but as usual, I was fairly far ahead of her. So I turned my head to check on her and see where she was… and I slightly turned my front wheel and it fell right into the streetcar track. I’m not a graceful guy, so as you can imagine, I toppled over the handlebars and came crashing down into the street.

I quickly picked myself and my bike up, expecting my wife to be rushing over to make sure I was okay… only to realize she was actually stopped at a nearby restaurant looking over their menu.

If you’re planning on riding in the downtown area of Kansas City, make sure you look for the streetcar track signs… and have a good biking partner!