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.

In one beachfront condominium, frustration was mounting. Homeowners were being locked out of their units, emergency lockouts were on the rise, and the existing locks—outdated, discontinued, and unsightly—were becoming a daily headache for both residents and management.

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A gated community in Southwest Florida was eager to modernize their outdated telephone entry system — but there was one major problem: no internet access at the gate. They contacted multiple gate service providers, hoping for a modern solution. Each one had a similar response: “You get us the internet, and we’ll provide the equipment.”

When Hurricane Ian made landfall in Southwest Florida, it left devastation in its wake. One beachfront condominium community was hit particularly hard. Over five feet of storm surge swept through the property, destroying nearly every aspect of their access control system. The storm didn’t just knock out security — it erased it.

For years, one Southwest Florida community association relied on a manned guard service at their front gate — a familiar but expensive...

For many Southwest Florida condominiums, balancing resident security and staff convenience can feel impossible — especially when...

In many Southwest Florida condominiums, elevators open directly into residents’ private units — making elevator security just as critical...