The Protection Bureau in Exton is celebrating 40 years in business.

For the family-owned, second-generation business, the milestone is more than logging years: It’s about celebrating the founder and former chief executive officer of the company, Keith Ladd.

The current generation – Keith’s son J. Matthew Ladd, chief executive officer, and daughter Karen Ladd Baker, senior vice president – has grown the business.

Started in 1975 and now operating in 38-plus states with around 95 employees, The Protection Bureau is one of the top 10 security integrators in the country.

Its headquarters and a central monitoring station are in Exton. Other offices are in South Plainfield, N.J, Wilmington, Del., and Richmond, Va. As a member of Security-Net, a network of some 20 independent professional companies across the country, The Protection Bureau said it has developed a strong account base that extends from coast to coast.

“I think it’s important to know that my sister and I were not just handed the company by my father,” said J. Matthew Ladd. “We were an active participant in its growth, and from the beginning we embraced the legacy our father created and continued to work to future success. And now, with the fantastic team members who are our employees, we’ve built a company that can grow by itself.”

In addition to the 16,000-square-foot monitoring station, the company has 67 vehicles, Ladd said. Services offered include home automation and interactive services and video in addition to intrusion detection and a vast array of home and commercial security services.

Ladd challenged the industry to get involved with the communities in which they operate.

“Getting involved means more than promoting your business,” he said. “Passing out business cards isn’t involvement; it is self-serving self-advancement. Getting involved means supporting local civic groups. It means serving on a school board, with the scouts, and zoning boards. It also means reading the local paper and making contact with legislators. It means opening your eyes and expanding your vision.”

Read the original story at The Daily Local.