By: Kelly Bond, Bridgepoint Advisors
Featuring: Collin Trimble, Alarm Masters
Running a business takes equal parts courage, clarity, and consistency. For leaders in the security industry, where the work never stops and every decision carries real consequences, those demands are magnified. Challenges such as attracting top talent, keeping pace with technology, meeting customer expectations, and protecting profitability are constant.
It is no surprise that many owners lie awake wondering whether they are doing enough to stay ahead.
This ongoing series features honest reflections from security business owners, sharing the pressures they face, the lessons they have learned, and the strategies they use to lead with resilience, focus, and purpose.
This edition features Kelly Bond of Bridgepoint Advisors in conversation with Collin Trimble, Co-Owner of Alarm Masters, based in Houston, Texas.
Background
Kelly Bond: “Collin, please give us a little bit of your background.”
Collin Trimble: After spending a decade in the security and software industry, primarily on the manufacturer and services side, I reached a point where I wanted to build something of my own. I felt that the traditional, service-driven alarm companies that once defined our industry were slowly disappearing. That realization led me to acquire an existing business I could preserve, modernize, and grow. In 2023, I acquired Alarm Masters, a 35-year-old alarm and fire protection company.
Today, Alarm Masters is a full-service fire and security integration firm specializing in commercial applications across the greater Houston market. We serve businesses ranging from small local companies to large industrial operations, providing fire alarm systems, intrusion detection, access control, video surveillance, and ongoing monitoring. My goal is to honor the legacy of traditional alarm companies while building the culture, tools, and operational excellence required for the next generation of security integration.
What Keeps You Up At Night
Kelly Bond: “What keeps you up at night?”
Collin Trimble: My wife will tell you I have never been a great sleeper, and running a company with forty employees while raising three young daughters does not help. But what truly keeps me up at night is the responsibility of being a good steward of our business for both our employees and our customers.
As CEO, I make decisions every day, often with incomplete information. Those decisions can have consequences months or even years later, which I take seriously. I spend many late nights reflecting on whether my choices honored my team, served our customers, and moved the business forward in the right direction. That constant evaluation is part of the entrepreneurial journey—sometimes productive, sometimes exhausting.
How It Has Impacted The Business
Kelly Bond: “How has it impacted your business?”
Collin Trimble: The impact often becomes clear only over time. I have learned that leadership is less about having every answer and more about committing to the long game. I have made decisions that missed the mark and cost time or money, and I have made instinct-driven calls that delivered tremendous value.
Our success has less to do with second-guessing every move and more to do with how I show up each day. Hard work, integrity, and consistency matter more than perfection. When I trust my judgment, lean on my values, and keep employees and customers front and center, the business thrives. When I do not, the consequences show up quickly.
How You Have Worked To Overcome It
Kelly Bond: “How have you worked to overcome it?”
Collin Trimble: Time, experience, and humility have been my greatest teachers. Business ownership can be overwhelming, and it is easy to believe you must carry every burden alone. I learned that isolation leads to poor decisions.
I believe you are the sum of your network. Vendor partners, industry peers, and customers have shaped our strategy, and my personal network—family, friends, and my church—keeps me grounded. They remind me that the business is something I run, not something that defines me.
That lesson continues to shape how I lead. When your identity is not tied solely to performance, you make clearer decisions, lead with greater confidence, and avoid fear-based thinking that can hold a company back.
Closing Reflection
Kelly Bond: Thank you for sharing your experience. Many business owners can relate to the responsibility you carry. Your commitment to learning, staying grounded, and honoring the legacy of Alarm Masters speaks to the intention behind your leadership. The sellers who entrusted you with their company can be confident it is in thoughtful and dedicated hands.
Stay tuned for next month’s edition.
Bridgepoint Advisors is a specialized M&A advisory firm serving the security, integration, and alarm industries. With decades of combined experience, the firm represents buyers and sellers of security businesses across North America.
Kelly Bond brings over 25 years of industry experience to her clients. A 2024 inductee into the Security Sales and Integration Hall of Fame, she serves as Partner at Bridgepoint Advisors LLC, representing buyers and sellers of alarm and integration companies.
Collin Trimble is Co-Owner of Alarm Masters, a commercial fire and security integration firm serving the Houston, Texas market. With a background spanning security, software, entrepreneurship, and M&A, he is focused on scaling legacy businesses through operational excellence while preserving their core values.
Internal Links URLs
https://www.security.world/security-industry-leadership
External Links URLs
https://bridgepointadvisors.com
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the “What Keeps Security Business Owners Up At Night” series about?
The series highlights candid conversations with security industry leaders about the challenges, pressures, and decisions they face while running integration and alarm businesses.
Who is featured in this edition?
This edition features Collin Trimble, Co-Owner of Alarm Masters, interviewed by Kelly Bond of Bridgepoint Advisors.
What is the main concern discussed in this article?
The article centers on leadership responsibility—making long-term decisions with incomplete information while balancing the needs of employees, customers, and business growth.
How does Collin Trimble manage the pressures of leadership?
He relies on his professional network, personal relationships, and values, emphasizing that business ownership should not define personal worth.
Why is this series relevant to security business owners?
It provides real-world insights into leadership challenges, decision-making, and resilience within the security integration and alarm industry.
Source: bridgepointadvisors.com
https://security.world/what-keeps-security-business-owners-up-at-night-ed-17/