Just six months into his new role as CEO of CONTROLTEK, Tom Meehan is already making a profound impact on the company’s trajectory. With decades of experience in the security industry and a career grounded in protecting people and assets, Meehan brings a clear, passionate, and strategic vision to the nearly 50-year-old company. In this in-depth conversation, he shares how his leadership style, industry insights, and relentless commitment to innovation are shaping CONTROLTEK’s present—and future.

From Practitioner to CEO

Meehan’s journey to the top began in the trenches. “As a security professional, I was trained to have a bias for action, stay objective, and focus on facts and data,” he says. Those principles remain the cornerstone of his leadership style today. “Stepping into the CEO role was a major milestone. I credit my former mentors for teaching me the importance of taking ownership, staying gritty, and never stopping the learning process.”

His leadership approach? “Firm but collaborative. I aim to be well-informed in every decision I make,” Meehan shares.

People First, Always

CONTROLTEK’s guiding principles—“Solutions that Protect” and “People that Deliver”—are more than just taglines. “You can’t build a great business without a great team,” Meehan emphasizes. “Our success comes from our people. We focus on design thinking and work alongside customers to solve real-world problems.”

It’s this collaborative, solutions-based mindset that drives CONTROLTEK’s approach to both technology and service. “Not every day is easy, and not everything goes to plan. But our team shows up, delivers, and pushes through. That grit defines us.”

Staying Ahead in a Rapidly Evolving Industry

In an industry where change is constant, CONTROLTEK remains at the forefront through collaboration and continuous learning. “We stay actively involved in key industry organizations and maintain close relationships with our clients,” Meehan explains. “We don’t assume we know everything—we listen, learn, and adapt.”

This mindset is especially crucial in addressing challenges like organized retail crime (ORC). “There’s no silver bullet for ORC. It requires a layered, collaborative approach. We help clients protect assets and gain the operational insights they need to act decisively.”

The Future of Asset Protection

CONTROLTEK is leading the way in integrating technologies like RFID, EAS, LIDAR, and sensor fusion to enhance asset protection strategies. “We’re not here to reinvent the wheel—we’re here to apply existing tech in smarter ways,” says Meehan. “Sensor fusion allows us to combine video, RFID, people counting, and more into a single platform that delivers real-time, actionable insights.”

By capturing behavioral context—how someone moves, how they interact with products—CONTROLTEK can even help predict theft events before they happen. “One-size-fits-all is over. Our solutions are tailored, scalable, and designed for the future.”

Sustainability and Innovation

The company is also making strides in sustainability. “We recently launched the industry’s first tamper-evident cash protection bag made from 90% post-consumer recycled plastic,” Meehan reveals. On the tech side, CONTROLTEK is embedding cameras directly into EAS pedestals, reducing hardware footprints and enhancing aesthetics. “The first and last thing a customer sees in a store is often our technology. We make sure it looks great and performs even better.”

Wellness and Workplace Culture

CONTROLTEK’s culture is rooted in balance, trust, and transparency. “We have a ‘get it done’ culture—but it’s also built on openness,” says Meehan. “We support employee wellness through team-building events and offer access to facilities like our onsite gym. We strive to create a collaborative, supportive environment.”

Attracting and Retaining Talent

CONTROLTEK invests heavily in its people. “We offer training in both technical and soft skills, and we give our team access to books, courses, and tools for self-development,” Meehan says. “We also operate on a relatively flat structure where everyone has a voice. That shared understanding is key to long-term success.”

What’s Next for CONTROLTEK

From expanding RFID solutions to pushing innovation in packaging and sensor technology, the future looks bright. “In five to ten years, I see CONTROLTEK as the number one EAS provider in North America,” Meehan predicts. “And we’re already the only full-service RFID solution provider in the market today.”

His confidence is unmistakable: “I wouldn’t want to be competing with CONTROLTEK right now.”

Leadership Lessons from the Top

When asked what advice he’d give to future leaders, Meehan gets candid:

“Great leaders take ownership. They have grit. And they never stop learning.”

He also touches on work-life balance:

“At this level, work-life balance is a choice—and not always an easy one. But every trip, every hour worked is my choice. It’s part of the responsibility, and part of the reward.”

And perhaps most memorably:

“You don’t have to be the smartest person in the room. But if you’re the hardest working, you’ll always come out on top.”

Conclusion

Tom Meehan’s leadership at CONTROLTEK is defined by vision, accountability, and an unwavering commitment to both people and progress. As the company continues to innovate and expand, one thing is clear: this is just the beginning of a bold new chapter for CONTROLTEK—and Meehan is steering it with purpose.

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