City of Independence – Central Utility Building

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Teamwork - The KB WayIt takes teamwork to tackle the big jobs, such as the Independence Central utility building project.

This project hit on all cylinders for our installation department.

  • We installed access control in this multi-level building as well as integrated into the elevator and gate systems to meet their high-security needs.
  • We installed an intrusion alarm system that is linked with the access control systems. We provided surveillance systems that integrate into the customer infrastructure for complete control and coverage.
  • We provided surveillance systems that integrate into their existing network infrastructure for complete control and coverage.
  • We installed high-end end intercom systems providing communication between employees and customers.
  • The finishing touch was custom painting the exterior cameras to blend into the building!

We worked with top city officials and design-build teams in the area to accomplish the final result. It took months of prep work, job site meetings, endless emails and conversations about every detail. The work seemed never ending.

On the day of completion, you can look back at the finished product and say, “this is KB teamwork”, this is what we work for and drive to provide. Our team delivers the best solutions for our customers and we value the relationships that we build in the process.

From the beginning design to final training, it took KB teamwork to make this job happen. We’re proud of the work and dedication our team put into this project. And better yet, our customer is really happy with the results!

The HeaterMeter.

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I’m a tinkerer; I always have been. I’ve always had a curiosity to know how things worked. I took bolts out of my crib when I was still crawling. I took apart toys, sometimes by force. As I got older, I took apart radios and electronics. Eventually, I even learned how to put things back together. This curiosity has followed me into adulthood, so now when I run into a snag, I’m sure, there is a way to make it easier or better.

This curiosity has followed me into adulthood, so now when I run into a snag, I’m sure there’s a way to make it easier or better.

HeaterMeterWhen I get the chance, I like to cook food in my smoker. I wouldn’t say I’m an expert, but other people enjoy the results. My smoker isn’t a professional version with perfect seals and temperature control, and I like to smoke with real wood and charcoal. Unfortunately, this means that I spend a lot of time adjusting, tweaking, and monitoring. Letting the smoker sit unattended for 30 minutes can result in big changes in temperature which has a serious impact on the taste of the food. I knew there had to be a way to make it better.

Letting the smoker sit unattended for 30 minutes can result in big changes in temperature which has a serious impact on the taste of the food. I knew there had to be a way to make it better.

I’ve learned a lot over the years about the Internet of Things (IOT) and have done several learning projects with Arduino and Raspberry Pi. For those of you that aren’t familiar with those terms, they’re basically hardware and software solutions that can make things happen.

HeaterMeterMy goal was to create a temperature station that could monitor the meat and smoker temperature to put it on a website in real-time. It seemed simple enough for my first real project. However, I tried and failed for weeks to even get an accurate temperature reading.

Through my research, I found a group of people that are way smarter than me that had already solved my problem and then some.

The people over at HeaterMeter (https://github.com/CapnBry/HeaterMeter) have already solved the problem with an accurate temperature sensor with the ability to publish it to a web page. They also included some handy code to control the temperature of the smoker.

Since the software is open source, anyone can use and contribute to the project. It also solved my desire to build something.

After buying all of the components, I sat down at my kitchen table to get to work soldering and programming. Within a few hours, I had created a working monitoring system.

HeaterMeterIt took several weeks of tweaking and lots of changes for the system to be where I wanted it, but it’s the only way I smoke now. It can monitor three different pieces of meat, the temperature of the smoke, and can maintain the heat without me having to intervene every ten minutes. If I need to run to the store, I can even see the temperature from my mobile phone.

Now I’m looking for my next project. I’m not sure yet what that is, but the tinkerer in me is always looking. Now if I could just find the perfect rub…

Kenton Brothers celebrates Bring your Pet to Work day, everyday.

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It’s no mystery that our work life balance has become an out of weight scale. Long hours and extra commitments make it impossible to find time for extras. Some companies in corporate America have taken a step in the right direction to find balance, by implementing Pet’s at Work programs.

These programs have shown to be a cheap and rewarding benefit of a job. “Bringing their pet to work means employees aren’t worrying about their pets sitting at home alone all day. This is particularly important for employees who have young puppies or senior dogs” according to fastcompany.com. But this benefit branches beyond simply having a furry companion. Pets at work allow coworkers to have an obvious ice breaker.

Pats on the head of a dog lead to striking up conversation with a new employee. These chats lead to collaboration, which leads to a true sense of team. Medically, having your pet nearby has been shown to lower cortisol levels, which helps employees to relax at work. Kenton Brothers has been a pet friendly place to work for years.

We’ve seen how this program genuinely helps employees at work, and lets them have a piece of home during their 9 to 5. Recently Kenton Brothers expanded their love of pets to a new standard by implementing a “Pet of The Week” program. The program showcases one employee’s pet each week on social media, which helps to encourage others to adopt.

Remember to like us on Facebook for the latest in security and your weekly Pooch fix!

(Credit to fastcompany.com for some of our sweet facts.)

The Benefits of Integrated Security VS Physical Security Guards

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integrated-security-graphic_215x263Security comes in all shapes and sizes—sometimes literally. Determining what type of security system you should implement depends on multiple factors, including your location, industry, staff size, and more. Not to mention that the two can sometimes be like apples and oranges, serving entirely different functions depending on the need.

So how do you compare benefits of physical security guards versus a fully-integrated system? Let’s start with security guards.

Regardless of the reasoning behind your search for a security system, it’s important to consider the size of your location, the amount of locations you have, the type of industry you’re in, the surrounding businesses, as well as business hours and general visibility as you begin looking at your options.

According to Tory Brownyard, there are many benefits to physical security guards depending on these variables.

“Officers are usually more effective for live events, special events, schools during school hours, retail facilities while they are open and wherever the threat of bodily injury is a concern,” says Brownyard. “In fact, some ask their officers to perform only “observe and report” functions, a choice that can lower the cost of the guard firm, as well as the guard firm’s liability.”

Unfortunately, in terms of cost, security patrol can range anywhere between $10 dollars an hour to $100 dollars an hour, not to mention the sheer massive liability that comes with human error.

And those rates can increase to untenable overhead costs at your business’ expense. According to an article from CostHelper.com, simply, “the time of day also affects pricing. Security guards working at a late-night party in the city may cost $30-$50 per hour, for example. An off-duty police officer typically costs $40-$60 per hour for security guard services. Interested clients can contact a local police department for availability and rates, which can be expensive because the officer is working overtime.”

From a cost perspective, integrated security systems are more of an up-front investment, but it pays back in the long haul.

According to Security Info Watch, “Security personnel, when deciding if managed security was the way to go for them, examined a number of factors and, in many instances, acknowledge they no longer have the manpower, infrastructure, capital or time to stay on top of all the moving parts needed to run and maintain an access control system.”

And without manpower to act as a deterrent to break-ins and other issues, your business is looking at a loss of data, equipment, an impact on the public perception of your location, possible harm to your staff and your clients alike.

In a recent study of 1,500 people conducted by Eagle Eye Networks, more than 70 percent of adults favor using video surveillance in schools.

“An overwhelming majority of survey respondents also felt that parents should be able to view video of their children at preschool and daycare (77 percent) as well as in K-12 schools (72 percent) …another 59 percent of respondents said that video should be used to provide real-time insights during emergencies and 57 percent said cameras should be used to deter crimes. Nearly 8 in 10 respondents believed it was important that first responders be granted real-time access to school surveillance cameras.”

The benefits of a custom-made, integrated security system far outweigh the alternatives, and it makes sense, too. In a time where technology rules our every day lives, it has outsmarted the possibilities of human error and can detect a variety of system errors without breaking a sweat.

This article originally appeared in Security Today Magazine and is written by Phil Lake

Pop Tab Pandemonium at Ronald McDonald House KC!

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Kenton Brothers believes in supporting our community.  One of the ways in which we support Kansas City is through one of our favorite charities, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Kansas City.  As you may know, Kenton Brothers collects old keys to donate to Ronald McDonald House.  The keys are sold as scrap metal.  What you may not know is that you can collect scrap metal for Ronald McDonald House KC every day, even if you don’t have old keys!

Collecting pop tabs, the tabs that assist you in opening a can of soda, beer, water, juice, etc., and returning them to the Ronald McDonald House allows RMHCKC collect thousands of dollars each year in scarp metal money.  Consider a collection box for your house, church, school, community center, or, if you have a soda addiction like KB salesman Steve Scharff, your desk! Email Alan Lubert at Ronald McDonald House if you need collection boxes.  Or you can pick them up this Saturday at RMHCKC’s Pop Tab Pandemonium Event!

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