Y18 SUNDAY,NOVEMBER 1, 2009 2ND AN ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT TO THE INDIANAPOLIS STAR
indystar.com/50years Profiles of businesses that have been around 50 yearsormore
Koorsen: Fire safety and security forhome andoffice
By Holly Wheeler ForCustom Publications
Fire safetyhas Quick facts
become as important
Koorsen Fire and Securityin homes and
Address: 2719 N.Arlington Ave.,businesses as the
Indianapolis
Phone: (317) 542-1800bricks andmortar or
Website: www.koorsen.com
President: Randy Koorsenwindows and doors.
Founded: 1946
ForKoorsen Fire a nd Securi ty,an Info: Koorsen Fire and Security is
Indianapolis-based provider of fire an Indianapolis-based provider of
detectionand safetyequipment and fire-safety equipment and s ecurity
systems. Products includesecurity and surveillance s ystems
fire extinguishers, fire alarmfor businesses and homes, it’s been
systems, fire sprinkler systems,alongan dprosperous journ ey from
restaurant fire systems, vehicleits beginning in 1946. Since then,
fire systems, burglar alarms,
the companyhas diversified to filla security alarms andsecurity
systems for large organizationsgrowing n iche in t he safety industry yk
including access control andin Indiana and six other states in the Lebr
surveillance equipment. ProductsMidwest and Southeast.
Marc are maintained through Koorsen
service professionals, who ensure
Photo:Starting out simple equipment meets state, federal
RandyKoorsen enjoys giving guests tours of Koorsen Fir eand Security’sfire museum. and OSHA regulations.Koorsen, originall ycalled the
Koorsen has apresenceIndiana Fire Preventionand Service
in Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky,Company, started as asales and Stroup,the business was taken over Today, the companyoffers fire “Mypassionisfor the business,”
Tennessee,Alabama and Florida,service p rovider o ffireex tinguishers. by the Stroups’ daughter andson- safetyan dpreventionequipment Koorsen s aid. “We areprotecting life
creating aregional footprint of
Founded by Mr.and Mrs. Robert in-law,Jane and George Koorsen, as wellassecuritysystems such and property.Alot of our employees service t obusinesses throughout
the area.Training is providedin the early 1950s. By 1970, the as burglar alarms and security like the fact that they’re involvedin
to clients and employees inStroups’ grandson, Randy Koorsen, integration systemsfor large something that can make adi fference
Koorsen’seducational center,andwas involvedinthe business, and he organizations suchashospitals, by saving lives a nd property.”Time line
fire-safety outreach is presentedbecame president in 1976. Koorsen, banks and Fortune 500 companies.
through the Kasey Program forBeyond equipment
who stillruns thecompany, was the students in preschool through1946: Indiana Fire Prev ention and
The future of firesafety sixth grade.visionarywho began to diversifyService Company founded. This passionfor protection
the business at t hat time.The Today, Koorsen Fire and Security is evident in Koorsen’s outreach1954: Purchased by Janetand
fourth generation of Koorsen family employs 650 in sevenstates, activities.The c ompanyisaprimaryGeorge Koorsen.
members already h as started working including Ohio,Alabama, Florida sponsor of the KaseyProgram, afi re1970: Randy Koorsen joined the
for the company. and Tennessee as wellasIndiana a nd preventionand safety educationalcompany.
“Between 1976 and 1984, we Kentucky.The com pany’sdramatic program for childrenfrom preschool chronicle the historyoffiresafety,1976: Randy Koorsen became
added four branchlocations in growth was aresponse to changing through sixth grade. Kasey, ablack including an extensivecollectionofpresident.
Indiana and Kentucky,”Randy federal and state regulations. Labrador retriever, and his handler handheld fireextinguishers.1979-1984: Four newoffices
Koorsen said. “We expanded “Inthe 1970s, what changed Jeff Owens, Koorsen’s public “I havewellover 1,000 differentopened.
from fireextinguishers to other the climate for f ireprotectionwas educationcoordinator,visit schools handheld fireextinguishers,” Koorsen1984: Company name changed to
fire-suppressionproducts suchas that OSHA came into being and whereJeff sings and plays guitar said. “Myoldest extinguisher datesKoorsen ProtectionInc.
firesystems for restaurants, and thereweremorefederal and state while Kaseydemon strates fire-safe ty to 1869.Therewe re some patents1998: Began sponsorship of Kasey
we expanded into the firealarm regulations,” Koorsen said. “You h ad tips and life-saving skills. backinthe late 1850s, and theyProgram.
business. We started selling vehicle to havefireprot ectionproducts and started producing various types2004: Koorsen Fire Museum
Walk through historysuppressions systems for off-road youhad to havethem serviced on a of extinguishers. Ihaveavarietyopened.
mining equipment, trucks and regular basis.” One of the most u nique facets from that date to current. It’s my2004: Company name changed to
graders, whichha ve fireprotection The people and property Koorsen of Koorsen Fire a nd Security hobby to havethe fun of takingKoorsen Fire and Security.
systems to protectengines and protects areimportant to both the is the company’s firemuseum. people through andanswering their
hydraulic systems.” companyand its employees. The museum houses objects that questions.”●
Celebrating 63 Years
of Experience
Serving All of Indiana
with10Locations
•FireExtinguishers
•FireAlarmSystems
•RestaurantSystems
•FireSprinklerService
•Exit/EmergencyLight
•FireSuppression Systems
•CCTV/Video Surveillance
•Security Systemsand AlarmMonitoring
The Koorsen Way... BecauseWeCare
WhateverItTakesEvery CustomerEveryTime
1-888-KOORSEN
86www.koorsen.com
37
555
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