Join us for a great conversation with Ruth Ann Powell of Key Security Systems, where we dive into the world of community security, technology, and how associations can better protect themselves. Ruth Ann shares her journey from a career in nutrition to managing HR and marketing in her family’s second-generation security company—covering everything from locksmithing to advanced electronic access, surveillance cameras, license plate readers, and gate systems.

When a Southwest Florida community decided it was time to invest in a camera system, they quickly discovered that knowing you need security is one thing — figuring out what system actually works for you is another. The board requested quotes from three well-known providers and got back three wildly different proposals.

For one community association in Southwest Florida, late-night vandalism had become a costly and frustrating routine. Their pool deck, fitness center, and clubhouse were being misused after hours — furniture tossed in the pool, equipment damaged, and common areas left trashed. The worst part? They had cameras. And those cameras even captured the events. But they still couldn’t figure out who did it.

In a growing gated community in Southwest Florida, one issue kept hitting home — literally. Their vehicle gates were constantly being struck by careless drivers, and the costs to repair them were mounting fast. After one too many repairs, the board approved a project to install surveillance cameras, hoping to finally catch the culprits.

A prominent Southwest Florida community association needed a better way to secure its shared amenities — including the pool, bathrooms,...