A look at the people behind the numbers in area business:

Kevin Searight Comm-Works

Title: Director of IP video and security

Age: 55

Retail security veteran Kevin Searight is leading the new Internet-delivered video and security practice at Comm-Works, the Plymouth-based global technology integrator for retailers and other multisite organizations. Searight, who has nearly three decades of experience in retail security and technology, is Comm-Works' first director of Internet protocol (IP) video and security.

Comm-Works' expansion into IP video and security reflects customers' increasing demand for better security, improved consumer experience and business intelligence that the technology can help provide, Searight said. The move capitalizes on Comm-Works' expertise in deploying such technology and its access to more than 20,000 field technicians.

Searight's responsibilities include driving sales and service of surveillance, access control and video-management systems.

Potential customers include retailers, financial institutions and health care organizations, Searight said. He's working with vendors to identify the products Comm-Works will sell and educating salespeople about the risks customers face.

That has been his focus in previous roles as the national accounts director of retail at Verint Systems, a security company, and regional director of sales for ClickIT, a digital video recording firm. Searight has a bachelor's degree in business management from Hiram College in Ohio.

Comm-Works, founded in 1995, offers services including design, deployment and project management of technology solutions in infrastructure, security and energy management.

Q: Why would a company need the IP video and security?

A: The average retailer loses 1.42 percent of their sales to shrinkage. As an industry, that's about a $35 billion problem. IP video certainly has a place to identify the theft, to identify the fraud. And when you associate video to other disparate data sources such as point-of-sale information, electronic article surveillance and video business intelligence … that can provide a much clearer understanding of the [security picture].

Q: How can a customer use that video business intelligence?

A: There no longer is the luxury of deploying security cameras that only provide security. They really need to be data collection devices that can benefit the entire enterprise, from a staffing standpoint to operations, merchandising, labor management and so on. With these technologies we can help [retailers] better understand what their customers' experience as they walk through the front doors.

Q: What did you know about Comm-Works before joining?

A: I continued to hear what a great job Comm-Works was doing in deploying their technologies. So I had the opportunity to come here and fill a role that I am so excited about.

Todd Nelson