05.22.2008 — The words family and business are eloquently woven in the storyline of Liberty Bell Alarm's success.

Founder Ron Buzzard was not thinking business when he went out and bought alarm parts in 1981, but he was thinking family. He was focused on his loved ones, protecting them after their home was burglarized.

A do-it-yourself kind of guy, Buzzard installed his own security system and soon started offering the service to extended family and friends.

Apparently, they told two friends, who told two friends and, thus, Liberty Bell Alarms (LBA) started and hasn't stopped.

The company carved its success (and profitability) by beginning as a security business and, later, evolving into a fully functional low-voltage company.

Sacramento, Calif.-based LBA adeptly added new areas of expertise as it grew, always keeping the coveted recurring revenue of monitored accounts at its core.

As the business (owned by Ron and his wife Joan) grew up, so did their young son, Mark. Today, Mark is also a corporate officer and owner of Liberty Bell, and he has a family of his own.

Being sure not to underestimate the value of alarm systems and monitoring accounts is something that has behooved LBA. All three Buzzards concur that most A/V companies didn't add security to their repertoires until realizing, later in the game, the benefits of monitored alarm accounts.

Liberty Bell has amassed many and currently serves approximately 4,100 monitoring customers.

Slowly, but surely, expanding its services to include home theater, whole-house A/V, IP surveillance systems, home automation, structured wiring and central vacuum proved to be a smart move.

The company, now known as Liberty Bell Alarm & Home Theater, is the largest independently owned and operated low-voltage company in the Greater Sacramento area and was rated No. 7 on CE Pro's "Top 30 Structured Wiring 2007" list.

"We have worked closely with a number of builders over the last 25 years, and expanded our services," explains Mark Buzzard.

"We work for all of the major builders in the area and plan on expanding in 2008 to the Central Valley, Bay Area and possibly Reno at the request of one of our largest builder accounts."

Building Relationships

Though the new-construction market is down throughout the country, LBA continues to do a lot of work with builders. This is no matter of accident or luck. The integration company has long history of working with builders.

"We were one of the first alarm companies to offer pre-wiring and trimming alarm systems to builders," Ron recounts.

"We prepared the concept and presented it to a builder who hired us. We sold them by explaining how they would make money on the installation, too."