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In the Boardroom™ |  |
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LOUROE Electronics |  |
In The Boardroom™ With...
Richard S. Brent
C.E.O
Louroe Electronics
www.LOUROE.com
| Prior to becoming C.E.O. of Louroe Electronics - a domestic manufacturer of audio monitoring technology - Richard Brent worked for Caterpillar's Solar Turbine, Inc., for over 24 years, the last 12 years of which were based in Washington D.C. to manage Federal and State Government Relations. Now the C.E.O. of a top tier integrated technology manufacturer, Richard has utilized his experience in consensus-building, quality management, and organizational performance to manage and grow his company's deliverables as the World Leader in Audio Monitoring Technology. His organizational guidance has spurred Louroe Electronics technologies to participate in a wide range of domestic and international government security initiatives, medical research facilities, commercial A/V security systems, and law enforcement. |
SecuritySolutionsWatch.com: Please give our audience an overview
of your background and your role at Louroe Electronics, Inc.
Richard S. Brent: Having been in the workforce for over 40 years, my experiences have taken place in manufacturing management, program management, U.S. Government contracts, responding to solicitations and managing award completion, human resources, strategic sourcing, and new product introduction & commercialization. The last 12 years of a 24 year career was as Director of Government Relations for the leading manufacturer of mid-sized industrial gas turbine technology used in the energy sector, a wholly owned subsidiary of Caterpillar, Inc.
I joined Louroe in January, 2010, retiring from my position in Washington, DC and resettling in Greater Los Angeles. Founded by Louis Fisher Weiss in 1979, Louroe has evolved to take its place as the world’s leading manufacturer of dedicated audio monitoring technology. We serve the many faceted applications that require capturing sound with professional quality and using the results to improve life safety and security. As of December, we having shipped over ¾ million Verifact® microphones to over 30 countries, with satisfying results for those who deploy our product.
As CEO, my principle effort is to strategically develop the corporate
response to the market demand for need satisfaction from our consumers.
We are audio oriented, and all our products spring from a deep understanding
of expectations for product performance and in today’s world, the
quest for interface and interoperability with a panoply of technologies
for the verticals within the security marketplace.
SecuritySolutionsWatch.com: Louroe's product line is quite
comprehensive with solutions that include Audio Monitoring Kits, Microphones,
Audio Base Stations, Speaker/Microphones and Accessories. Please give us
an overview of your Product Line. Any new products on the horizon?
Richard S. Brent: Louroe started over 30 years ago with microphones that were able to capture an audible signal and send it up to 1000' away to a base station designed specifically to receive the signal and amplify it for the person monitoring the audio 'zone.' Over time, applications were identified in security, law enforcement, hospitals, casinos, Gasoline stations, dry cleaners, quick service restaurants, and beyond.
With the advent of digital technology, and many applications deploying
technology that is interoperable with internet protocols, Louroe has evolved
it offerings to support two way hands free audio, Listen & Talk communications
that ties to CCTV and is used as part of a system that is designed to
prevent security breaches rather than captures the incident, leaving it
to forensics to determine what took place.
Product of the future for Louroe will reflect the demand response for
audio oriented digital signal processing and using the backbone of the
internet to integrate microphones & audio technology with digital
security equipment.
Critical to understanding Louroe, we focus on security and life safety
audio, and not the audio that is used by the performance industry. Our
customer service response team assists in the selection of componentry
based on system requirements, application, physical site considerations
and performance expectations.
SecuritySolutionsWatch.com: What are your key target markets
and what is Louroe’s value proposition in these challenging economic
times?
Richard S. Brent: The application of audio monitoring enables many options for the professional integrator of security systems. Within the security marketplace there are several vertical sectors such as access control, perimeter management, loss prevention, and life safety. Outside security industry uses the opportunity for is virtually endless. Audio monitoring for patient services such as sleep treatment labs, and operating centers, family programs, such as child protective services are another non-security application. The Entertainment Industry such as casinos and theme parks. House of worship facilities are also a market for our products. Louroe Electronics provides integrated security solutions for a plethora of commercial environments.
Louroe sells its product based on a “Best-Value” proposition.
It is the combination of product features, durable performance, technical
support, and fair market pricing that creates best value.
SecuritySolutionsWatch.com: We understand that Louroe products
are presently in use in over 20 countries. That is truly quite impressive
in the current business environment. What are the market drivers for Louroe
solutions?
Richard S. Brent: To go from a closed circuit, video monitoring system to a total security solution is the key driver for the increase in use of audio monitoring technology. The more assets you have, the more you want to protect those assets. Protection implies prevention, and people want to know how to prevent incidents rather than record them. The market calls for audio as a means to capture incidents and react quickly.
SecuritySolutionsWatch.com: Are there 1 or 2 success stories in the US market you'd like to discuss?
Richard S. Brent: The success story that comes to my mind almost immediately in the U.S. marketplace is one of informing the professionals in the industry on the use of audio monitoring and the law, both Federal and State. Team Louroe has worked hard to understand the implications of the audio monitoring statutes, and how to comply with them while commercializing audio monitoring technology. Our business reflects the growing understanding from the businesses and markets we serve.
One more success story that comes to mind is the pleasure I receive when
reading project specifications from around the country that call out Louroe
Electronics as specific technologies for the satisfaction of performance.
Richard S. Brent: Louroe focuses on supporting a worldwide
market, providing products and services around the globe. Our activities
complement the pull from the market from any given country.
Richard S. Brent: In the United States, we have the Federal
Law, and almost every State has a statute addressing audio monitoring.
All of these regulations and statutes revolve around the expectation and
management of privacy. The expectation of privacy can be removed by posting
notice that audio monitoring takes place on the premises. 38 states require
that at least one party to the monitoring/recording of audio be aware
that the activity is taking place. 12 states require that all parties
being monitored, be given notice.
Louroe assists in the management of posting notice of "Audio Monitoring
on Premise", in many ways. The most common one seen is the provision
of a decal with all our Verifact® microphones that are used by the
professional to post notice and remove the expectation of privacy.
Richard S. Brent: Much like the United States, other countries
and regions, such as the EU, practice data protection rights. Few countries
have no practice or protection. As a side note, monitoring sound is not
the same as recording that same sound. While monitoring can take place,
recording and using that information takes on a whole different set of
requirements. Louroe designs its equipment for "overt" application,
and as the manufacturer has an expectation that the professional around
the world who uses this product knows how to manage that expectation.
SecuritySolutionsWatch.com: What resources are available
on www.LOUROE.com regarding audio monitoring and the law?
Richard S. Brent: We hold an immense focus on our customers' understanding of the proper application of our products by providing multi-media resources outlining the legal necessities of audio monitoring. Louroe.com is one of those resources. Here you can read about lawful monitoring as well as see annotated Federal statutes on Lawful Monitoring, Implied Consent, Expectations of Privacy, and Legal Compliances. Visitors to our site will also find URL links to Federal and State Laws to specify how to legally apply their audio monitoring device.
SecuritySolutionsWatch.com: Any other online resources at
www.LOUROE.com
you care to mention for your customers and the trade?
Richard S. Brent: I'd love to, but even more so, I'd like
to give our customers a small expectation of what's to come in 2013. Our
site is currently one of our greatest resources for product technical
information, integrations, and product Illustrations. In addition, we
provide product information, a list of product-specific applications and
our directory of global distributors.
As a company focused on expansion, Louroe has looked to developing its
site to meet the growing demand for audio monitoring security system integrations.
I won't give away too much, but you can expect to see Training Certification
Programs, downloadable product catalogs, and an all-around aesthetic face-lift
in 2013. One more thing! Don't forget to view our Blog for monthly updates
on the utilization of audio monitoring in real-world circumstances, articles
on audio monitoring developments, and more!
SecuritySolutionsWatch.com: Thanks again for joining us
today, Richard. Are there any other subjects you'd like to discuss?
Richard S. Brent: As I previously noted, Louroe is 34
years young in this market place. Over the years, we have been working
to accept the responsibility of an increasingly active role in the marketplace.
This has appeared specifically with our National Trade Association and
with the community who seeks audio monitoring technology as a critical
component of the security system for today and tomorrow. I want to thank
SecuritySolutionsWatch.com for the opportunity this interview affords us in
this effort.