Guardian has specialized in protection services since 1950.
The installation of security systems for jewelry stores was Guardian's first, and sole, focus in 1950. The company was known as Guardian Alarm Systems of Pittsburgh, Inc. until 1975, when Russell L. Cersosimo purchased and renamed it Guardian Protection Services, Inc. ("Guardian"). Starting with just the four security system customers he purchased, Russ worked day and night marketing and installing security systems throughout Western Pennsylvania, while building a small, but trustworthy management team. In 1986, just 11 years after its purchase by Russ, Guardian was named to Inc. magazine's 500 fastest growing companies.
By 1991, the company had grown to 10,000 accounts. During this time, Guardian attracted the interest of the Armstrong Group of Companies ("Armstrong"), a privately held company founded in 1946 by Jud L. Sedwick, and located in Butler, Pennsylvania. Among its family of businesses was the 3,000-account electronic security firm, Mastertech. Armstrong valued the sales acumen and installation expertise of Russ Cersosimo and the Guardian team. In turn, Russ clearly recognized Armstrong's financial strength and demonstrated ability to successfully develop a group of diversified businesses in the telecommunications, real estate and restaurant industries. In 1991, Guardian Protection Services was acquired by Armstrong, who chose to continue using the "Guardian" name.
Guided by Armstrong's vision for "controlled" growth, Guardian has achieved remarkable results in the more than two decades since becoming one of the Armstrong Group of Companies. Specifically, Guardian has systematically developed a sophisticated, multi-dimensional infrastructure comprised of world-class systems and services. At the "heart" of Guardian's operations is a state-of-the-art monitoring center with dispatch times that average one minute or less. Unlike many firms in the industry, Guardian owns and operates its monitoring center, as opposed to subcontracting this critical function. This strategic decision was made decades ago to provide Guardian with the ability to control the customer experience and thereby consistently offer the highest quality 24-hour emergency monitoring services throughout the U.S. Over the years, Guardian has also expanded its residential and commercial security systems sales and installation capabilities coast-to-coast, utilizing corporately-owned and authorized dealer networks.
Guardian's emergence as an industry leader has consistently been recognized by independent industry observers. For years, Guardian Protection Services has held a Top 10 position on SDM magazine's prestigious, annual list of Top 100 security systems companies. In 2011, this same list ranks Guardian among the Top 5 companies in residential installation volume. In the area of structured wiring - the sale and installation of security systems and technologies such as intercom, home/office networks, phone and cable television outlets, and distributed audio to new home construction buyers - Guardian is ranked among the Top 3 in the Top 100 List published by industry journal CEPro.
As one of the Armstrong Group of Companies, Guardian passes along to its customers the strengths and benefits of being a privately-held, family-owned company. Guardian isn't subject to the short-term mentality that plagues many public firms. This affords Guardian the opportunity to take a more measured view when making business decisions. For example, products featuring advanced technology, such as interactive security services, are brought to market only after diligent testing and proven assurance that customers will enjoy full reliability. In line with this focus on consistently delivering high quality products and services, Guardian has developed and nurtured a world-class customer care center, committed to excellence. In fact, Guardian customers enjoy such a high level of satisfaction with Guardian's products and services, that they remain customers significantly longer than those who use the services of most other large security systems companies, and the security industry as a whole.
Today, more than 250,000 residential and commercial clients - from individuals to families and from small businesses to international corporations and large universities - trust their security to Guardian. Led by a well-seasoned Executive Management team that collectively has more than 150 years of direct alarms and security industry experience, Guardian's 1000 employees remain faithful to the business philosophy that every customer is important and is to be treated with the same dignity, respect and care that we would expect to receive. An unwavering commitment to this philosophy enables Guardian to consistently put the needs of its customer first, delivering technology that is leading edge, yet reliable, and customer care that is world-class, yet highly personalized. Guardian... we're there when you need us most!
© Guardian Protection Services, One of the Armstrong Group of Companies
