Park Bench Interview: 3 Minutes With Forest Security

Learn more about Forest Security from owner Jay Rutili, who has been servicing Chicago and the surrounding suburbs with advanced security systems for over 35 years.

1. How did you come up with the name of your business?
   I started out of my parents home in River Forest and served River Forest, Lake Forest, Oak Forest, and thought Forest was a great name. I also lived across from the Forest in my parents home on Thatcher.
   
   
2. What’s the best part about doing business in your town?
   If you take care of one customer, they tell others, and the response time of servicing those customers is very short because our service technicians are always in the area. We are in most suburbs and neighborhoods in Chicago almost every day, so they see us around, and with our computerized dispatch system, we can service all our customers very well.
   
   
3. If you were to get an indulgent snack in your town, where would you go and what would you get?
   Thats easy, my wife, son, and daughter really enjoy Red Mango in oak park. I just wish they also were our customer.
   
   
4. If you were going to have a secret rendezvous in town, where would it be?
   As an investigator for 30 years, I would opt more for a public place like one of the great stops on Lake Street.
   
   
5. What attracted to you to this business, and how did you start?
   When I was in High School, I loved electronics. Neighbors found out and I would do one or two car alarms on a weekend. Then I expanded into home security. Forest now protects some of the largest businesses and homes in the Chicago area.
   
   
6. What’s the biggest challenge or most difficult moment you’ve faced in your job?
   In 1995 we were awarded a 2,000 location chain, the day we switched it over, it locked up our data center for about an hour. It was fixed within an hour, and luckily no issues after that . The customer was so pleased with our transition, they offered us a bonus.
   
   
7. You’re not the only person in this business. How do you distinguish yourself from the others?
   Customers switch to Forest because they may have had a poor experience with their present provider, we offer usually same day service, expert staff, fully stocked trucks, we answer the phone always, and anyone wanting to reach our management team, do not get their calls screened.
   
   
8. What advice would you give to a person just starting in your business?
   Prepare a very detailed budget and forecast your goals with definite timelines. You need to know what milestones that are important to the success of any business.
   
   
9. What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
   My father told me, whatever you do in life, make sure you are the best you can be at your job, no matter what that is. You will then do what you love, and love what you do.
   
   
10. How can readers contact you?
    Call Forest Security at (708) 452-2000