Electronic Security Industry Business Consulting

Transforming Your Business To New Heights

OPTIMIZE YOUR BUSINESS TODAY!

Get A Free Consultation

Innovate to Accelerate

Optimize Your Business to Grow Market Share

Established by 39-year industry veteran Kirk MacDowell, MacGuard Security Advisors Inc. works with companies in the electronic security industry to innovate, transform and become industry leaders. Services include growth strategies, diversification, stability, mentoring, business evaluation and succession planning.

Is the competition outpacing you? Are you seeing your share of the alarm market diminish? With new, large providers entering the arena, it’s more critical than ever that your company stay on the cutting edge to keep and grow market share. That’s where Kirk MacDowell and MacGuard Security Advisors come in.

Strategy from an Expert’s Perspective

Business Roadmaps Built Exactly To Your Needs

what we do

STRATEGIC Consulting

MacGuard Security Advisors Inc. provides consulting services to the electronic and physical security industry including business strategic planning, pre-due diligence, vendor selection and accountability, strategic alliances, operations and sales support, on-going consulting-mentoring to owners and leadership teams.

Mentoring

We partner with you and your team to provide ongoing leadership support in a confidential partnership. We work with companies in transition, facing leadership challenges and in some cases can assume the role as contract CEO/COO as we help rebuild your organization.

Coaching

From new vertical market expansion to new entrants in the space, we provide you with expertise and lessons learned from years in all aspects of the industry. Staffing, acquisition strategy, strategic planning, business development, new verticals, vendor selection and negotiations, central station selection or design/build are all areas of expertise that Kirk MacDowell and MacGuard can provide leadership and guidance in.

CHIEF OUTSIDE OFFICER

Kirk connects the dots. He serves as your Chief Outside Officer bringing companies and people together. If you are a manufacturer or SaaS provider seeking to grow your business and having trouble reaching your potential, Kirk will help you make the right connections. Kirk’s diverse background as a dealer/integrator, a leader in the manufacturing environment, and in the Connected home/business, means he has a deep understanding of the correct positioning for your company. If you’re a dealer wanting to launch new services, contact Kirk in the early stages to help facilitate a successful and profitable launch.

Business evaluation, planning and execution

We’ll review and refine your business plan and if you don’t have one, we’ll help you create it. We can provide an in-depth evaluation of your business, identifying areas for improvement and key oppportunities for business alignment for growth – on a one-time or ongoing basis.

Marketing evaluation and planning

When Kirk owned his own security company, he leveraged marketing and advertising strategies to drive growth of 300% per annum for four years. MacGuard and our marketing experts can review and develop an action plan for your company that addresses brand awareness, referrals, web presence, reputation management and competitive intelligence.

Mergers & Acquisitions

While MacGuard Security Advisors is not a broker, our industry acumen can serve you well in evaluating opportunities. We provide or coordinate pre-due diligence or due diligence of potential acquisition candidates as well as research new market opportunities.

Security Consulting & Expert Witness

Kirk MacDowell has provided threat analysis reports to Universities, school districts, corporations and high-profile individuals. He has investigated and consulted in the areas of wrongful death, providing expert witness testimony for a security patrol company in Las Vegas, alarm negligence and design flaw cases in California and Nevada, as well as personal injury cases relating to physical security breach.

Public Speaking

Kirk MacDowell is a widely recognized industry expert who appears regularly as a speaker at alarm industry and security conferences throughout the United States. Known for his tell-it-like-it-is approach, he keeps audiences on their toes with cutting-edge industry insights, laced with the usual Kirk MacDowell humor. Topics range from: How To Compete In The World Of The Mega Companies to Using Data to Transform your Company. Contact Kirk for specific topics he can deliver to your association.

Your Go-To Electronic Security Industry Expert

Who We Are

Kirk MacDowell and MacGuard Security Advisors are your trusted turnaround business experts. We understand the trends affecting your business and see the growth opportunities within your reach. We specialize in working with small to medium-sized electronic security companies to create improved systems and processes that deliver results!

When you partner with MacGuard Security Advisors, you receive project-based consulting services or ongoing mentoring where Kirk acts as your chief outside officer. Kirk will perform a deep dive into your organization and find ways to hone your competitive capabilities and achieve lasting success.

About Kirk MacDowell

Kirk brought 38 years of experience in the electronic and physical security industry when he founded MacGuard Security Advisors. He served as an executive with Post Alarm Systems, Alarm.com, GE Security and United Technologies, working with those companies through peak growth periods and handling major accounts. Kirk also founded his own security alarm company, achieving 300% growth per year for 4 consecutive years.

Kirk is on Board of Directors of the Security Industry Association, The Monitoring Association (formally CSAA), the Security Industry Alarm Coalition and Chairman of Alarm Industry Research and Education Foundation. He also served 29 years with the Los Angeles County Sheriffs’ Department, retiring with the rank of Reserve Lieutenant, and holds an active US Government Security Clearance.

This rich background has given Kirk the necessary insights to support your business’ strategic planning efforts, act as the catalyst for business change and bring new life and ideas to your organization. Let MacGuard Security Advisors guide you to the next stage in your business’ development.

In The media

Alarm Panel Recall Hoopla Presents Business Opportunity

Ray Bernard, PSP, CHS-III

Securityinfowatch.com, November 12, 2019

Interlogix Insider Tells How Things Went Awry

Security Sales & Integration, September 2019

Giving Customers a Heightened Sense of Security (Encryption)

Intrusion, April 2019

Go “Gig” or Go Home: A Closer Look at Outsourced Labor

Security Business magazine, March 2019

Embracing Change in Security: How contractors can successfully adapt.

ECMag.Com, February 2019

FBI Crime Report Shows Decrease in Burglary, Increase in Motor Vehicle Theft.

SDM Magazine, November 28 2018

Launching New Products

KIRK MACDOWELL, MARCH 15, 2019

Best Home Security System Buying Guide

Best Home Security System Buying Guide
Consumer Reports, June 14, 2019

What People Are Saying

"I’ve known and worked with Kirk for decades and recommend him with enthusiasm: Kirk is the consummate alarm industry professional who has done it all, and then some. Among other attributes, he had the strategic vision to recognize the value in a disruptive start-up, and has provided first-rate support throughout our relationship. You will be extremely happy that you retained Kirk to identify and address your company’s challenges, while boosting your bottom line."

Peter Rogers

Co-Founder, Frontpoint

"Kirk was General Manager/Executive Vice President of Post Alarm Systems, an SDM Top 50 company. He very ably led the company through peak growth, reduced attrition to under 5% and took the company through the UL listing process."

Rob Post

President Post Alarm Systems

Gina Post-Franco

General Manager, Post Alarm Systems

"I first met Kirk when he was hired to lead our dealer partner program, Security Pro. Kirk brought his experience as a dealer to bear on the program increasing its effectiveness with the dealers. He clearly understood the importance of creating value for the customer in the selling process. His success was mainly due to the fact that he was driven to bring to the dealer community the products and services that they needed to be successful. He truly lives out the "Go-Giver" (Bob Burg) concepts in his work. He has the advantage of the lessons learned from not only leading his own operating alarm company, but also by calling on thousands of successful and some not-so-successful dealers. Great insights come from both...."

Ken Nelson

Former Sales VP, GE Security; UTC

"I have known Mr. Kirk MacDowell for over 30 years. Kirk was president of the Pacific Palisades Chamber of Commerce from 1986-1987. I was always impressed how Kirk started his own security business and quickly he became the consummate alarm industry professional. The Chamber’s Board of Directors was so impressed with his success that we awarded him the Pacific Palisades Chamber of Commerce "Best New Business Award." You will be extremely happy that you retained Kirk to identify your company’s challenges. I recommend Kirk MacDowell with enthusiasm."

Arnie Wishnick

Executive Director PACIFIC PALISADES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

"I have had the pleasure of working with Kirk for the past few years across varying projects and ventures in the IoT/Smart Home industry. There are few in this industry who possess the breadth of knowledge and foresight that Kirk does. From the strategic sales perspective through achieving operational excellence, Kirk’s multifaceted and long-tenured background provides him with the unique ability to set the vision and provide the necessary deliverables to execute successfully. Above all else, Kirk is a natural born leader. I’ve witnessed how colleagues and industry executives gravitate towards his positions and opinions. He has the innate ability to bring people together, find common ground against differing perspectives, and create a highly functioning supportive team that is able achieve the objective at hand. Kirk is a phenomenal mentor who has been extremely supportive in my career. He is a true asset who can be relied upon to deliver results. I would be more than honored to work with Kirk again."

Paul Obering

Former Senior Product Manager, Intelligent Home;

Charter Communications; Time Warner Cable

Get In Touch

Kirk’s been helping businesses in the security industry grow and prosper for more than 30 years. Please use this form to let us know if you have a question or would like further information about how MacGuard Security Advisors can help you.

You may also contact us by phone. We respond to all inquiries within one business day and look forward to hearing from you.

62 Touchstone
Lake Oswego, OR 97035
503-744-0720