Get To Know The Newest Member of Kenton Brothers! Welcome Nate Chipman!

/in /by

Nate Chipman recently joined Kenton Brothers and we asked him to share a bit about himself with us and our customers. We think you’ll agree that Nate has quite the interesting background!

Nate says…..

“I was born 11/1/1977 in Corinth Mississippi and moved to Kansas City in 1987 due to my father being relocated. I lived and went to school in Olathe and graduated from Olathe North in 1996.

I left for the Army on 01/07/1997 and was active duty stationed at Ft. Bliss, TX till 2000, and then re-enlisted to the reserves stationed in Kansas City. I went to college at Washburn University for three semesters studying Political Science with ambitions of being the legal advisor to politicians (What was I thinking?)

I then re-enlisted for active duty because I was getting tired of being alerted and having to always put life on hold in anticipation of being deployed. In September 2004, I left for my station in Frankfurt Germany, where I spent a little over three years handling the logistical support of war wounded and deceased soldiers, as well as any incoming service members being relocated to Europe.

During my time in Germany I proceeded to continue my education with the University of Phoenix while stationed overseas.  I was able to travel all over Europe, skiing in Austria and Switzerland, as well as mountain biking the alps. As mentioned, I spend a lot of my time outdoors backpacking. I usually take two or three backpacking trips a year where I hike into the mountains with only what’s in my pack (no tent, no cell, no technology at all) and spend a week just hiking around and sleeping under the stars or sometimes the rain!

My weekends are spent on the bike trails throughout Kansas and Missouri and around local lakes and rivers.  I work out an average of five days a week for an hour or two each session. Prior to coming to Kenton Brothers, I was the Service Manager for Family Leisure where I handled all aspects of the service, delivery, install, warranty, and parts department.

At Kenton Brothers, I hope to utilize my management and computer skills to help the company however I can. Finally, I have a two year old daughter named Peyton Ruth Chipman who I can assure you is more diva than baby at this point!”

Kenton Brothers Welcomes Two New Team Members!

/in /by

Kenton Brothers is thrilled to announce the arrival of two new team members, Al Cone and Shannon Davis! We’re excited to welcome Al and Shannon to the Kenton Brothers team and look forward to sharing their knowledge and experience with our customers!

Al comes to Kenton Brothers with 10 years of experience selling and designing electronic security systems in South Florida. Al is a graduate of the University of Florida and a local member of ASIS. In 2009 he and his family relocated to Olathe, KS from South Florida.  Al’s wife Chris and their 5 year old son Jack enjoy fresh and saltwater fishing, watching University of Florida football and swimming. Check out Al’s LinkedIn profile here.

Shannon  joins the KB team with over 16 years of experience in the security industry.  He started his career as a residential alarm installer, service technician, and then moved into the IP department for one of the largest alarm companies in the US.

From there, Shannon started his own company selling and installing residential and commercial systems, before moving on to work as an Operations Manager for a small residential security firm.  Shannon has experience as a Branch Manager for an integrator covering a five state territory in the Midwest, managing access control and CCTV projects throughout a large geographical area.  He then moved into a project manager position with a leading fire alarm company out of Topeka, KS, and then onto a local branch of an international integrator as a service manager.

Shannon is certified in Lenel Access Control, Milestone Video, Axis Cameras, Northern Access Control, SMS and Aiphone.  He is an A+ Certified IT Technician, and has great knowledge with Pelco, GE, Honeywell, IQeye, Sensormatic, Securitron, Bosch, Bioscrpyt and Ademco.  He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Information Systems.

Shannon is a big KU fan and enjoys watching college basketball with his wife, Melissa, and spending time with his two kids.
Check out Shannon’s LinkedIn profile here.

Kenton Brothers CEO, Gina Stuelke, Speaks About Family Owned Businesses at Local Event

/in /by

“You must add one important responsibility to any job description of a family member…ability to handle gut-wrenching emotional discussions and agonizing decisions—because you will have them.” – Gina Stuelke

Kenton Brothers Systems for Security President and CEO, Gina Stuelke was invited as a guest speaker to an open discussion about issues involved in family owned businesses.

This event, titled Survival, Success, and Succession was co-sponsored by the Johnson County Community College Center for Entrepreneurship, The Family Owned Business Network, and Leawood Chamber of Commerce.

Said Gina:  “Approximately 90% of businesses in America are family owned….we all share many of the same problems and struggles. It’s nice to know we are not alone–The Family Business Network on LinkedIn is a great resource for information, support and resources specifically to address those topics.”

Gina contributed several pearls of wisdom from her experience as a fourth generation family business owner. Kenton Brothers Systems for Security has been in business in Kansas City for 113 years, and the experience and knowledge Gina has learned from her family’s business were invaluable tools to share with other family business owners.

It was a great learning experience for all involved and Gina was honored to be able to share some of her life and business lessons with the group.

Here’s a couple of comments from people that attended the event:

“What a story you have to tell and you tell it well.”  – Norm Craig

“Your comments were so well received. The group really benefited by what you offered.”  – Sherman Titens

(Note: Survival, Success, Succession is a proprietary mark of The Family Owned Business Network.)

Kenton Brothers Loses One Of Their Own: Bill Kenton

/in , /by

The Kenton Brothers family recently lost one of their own when Bill Kenton, 91, of Lee’s Summit, MO passed away peacefully on Tuesday Oct. 5, 2010 surrounded by his loving family.

Bill was born September 10, 1919 in Kansas City to William and Mamie Kenton. He served in the Navy on a Destroyer ship in the Aleutian Islands with PT Boat Bases in the  Philippines.

After WWII, Bill returned to Kansas City and worked to build Kenton Brothers Locksmiths, established in 1897 by his father William, and his uncle, Leon Kenton. Bill employed and trained many area locksmiths and was also the author of two technical books that were well known in the trade. Bill was so proud of the fact that the company was still operating into the fourth generation of family ownership.

Bill was a member of the Masonic Lodge, Ararat Shrine, and was a true outdoorsman who enjoyed bird hunting, fishing and boating at the Lake of the Ozarks.

Of  her grandfather’s legacy, Kenton Brothers CEO Gina Stuelke said:

“Papa Kenton was a legend in the locksmithing industry. He was very passionate about the industry and about Kenton Brothers. Up until three weeks before his passing, he was still coming into the Kenton Brothers office, where he had worked since he was 12 years old. If one of our technicians was struggling with a mechanical lock component that wouldn’t come apart, he’d just tell them in his abrupt way ‘Well it didn’t grow there!’ He was very proud that our family’s fourth generation was operating Kenton Brothers. My thanks to him for such an amazing opportunity. He will be missed.”