Pewaukee’s Hinca sets up new office for Tower Protection
Pewaukee businesswoman Michaeleen Hinca has opened a Wauwatosa office for Tower Protection Corp., a security business she started about two years ago. Prior to the opening of the office, at 6324 W. North Ave., the business was operated out of Pewaukee.
It’s another step for Hinca, whose previous focus in business was consulting on information technology systems, helping companies determine which systems and programs were best for their respective operations, and consulting on work-process improvements.
While it may seem like an entirely different line of business, Hinca says "it’s a very natural progression of what I do" in work-process improvement consulting. That’s because her business isn’t just about providing security guards — it’s about protecting the entire operation of a business, with "emergency management" as a strong focus.
"We’re trying to stay clear of the stereotypes of low-wage guards who sleep on the job," Hinca said. "We want to really raise the bar in protection services."
The business name – a reference to the World Trade Center twin towers — alludes to that goal.
"We named the business after the twin towers," Hinca said. "Everyone there had an expectation to be protected. There is a moral obligation for business owners to protect their employees."
In setting a high standard, Hinca said she is being very selective in hiring security personnel. Those that make the cut are paid more than the going security guard wage, she says, because they offer more. She admits that the higher wages cut into normal profit margins but believes the quality of services will attract more clients and will set a new standard for the industry.
Not that she wants her employees to leave, but Hinca said she "would like having ‘Tower Protection Corp.’ on a resume to be impressive, so people will know you have a reputation for training and skills."
Tower Protection Corp. not only provides security guards, it also consults on security issues and on emergency planning – something Hinca says every business should engage in.
"It could be as simple as writing down telephone numbers, but every company should have some form of emergency plan," Hinca says. And those businesses should expand their views of what might be considered an emergency. "It’s not just for security, it’s also for business continuity," she says. "For example, if we have a bad, two-day snowstorm, how are your customers going to be served if that storm affects your operations?"
She’s been working with the new federal Emergency Management Administration and Wisconsin’s Homeland Security offices on such issues, and notes the federal Homeland Security office "would like businesses to pay more attention to broader ranges of security and emergency planning."
Emergency planning is credited with the smooth evacuation of the 22-story Bank One office tower in downtown Milwaukee during a fire earlier this month. Companies in the building had emergency plans that called for, among other things, where to meet after the building was evacuated.
"It’s a strategy of how you are going to protect your people and keep your business operating if something out of the ordinary happens," Hinca said.
The company is on the Internet at www.towerprotection.com.
Dec. 26, 2003 Small Business Times, Milwaukee
