(Left) Austin Hughes and Don Tharp offer security and networking solutions through their company Advanced Security Technologies (AST). The men along with Charles Bailey, who is not pictured, are hosting an open house from noon to 3 p.m. Wednesday to introduce their company at their 12564 Ohio River Blvd. location. (Submitted photo)
CHESTER, W.Va. – The Northern Panhandle of West Virginia is the home of Advanced Security Technologies (AST), which offers a variety of security and networking technology to businesses of all sizes.
The company is located across from Chester Sparkle at 12564 Ohio River Blvd. and will host an open house from noon to 3 p.m. Wednesday at their location to introduce their company and vendors to the tri-state area five months after beginning operations.
Lunch and refreshments will be served.
The venture is owned by Austin Hughes and Don Tharp, after the trio discovered a shortage in the market – especially for small businesses looking for assistance with security issues.
Hughes explained the co-owners have complementary skill sets and saw a deficiency in the market for small businesses, so they opened their doors.
“While we began to assist with that, we hope to grow into a business that can also assist with enterprise and larger clients,” he added. “We want to take control of our backyard and grow organically.”
They have already have done some camera system upgrades for city-based clients and have gained a reputation for their security and network infrastructure work.
In addition to security systems that include badge access and surveillance cameras, AST is now getting into digital signage solutions like electronic billboards, Hughes said.
Business consultant and co-owner Charles Bailey said that AST serves some of the largest health care providers in the Pittsburgh market.
The company is a certified Honeywell security installer.
Tharp said between Hughes and him they have 21 years of combined experience in the business. Hughes, who is from New Cumberland, and two installers handle most of the technological front line work, while Tharp, who is from Chester, has a vast number of years worth of supervisory experience to round out the company.
The men want to create a company that gives back to the community, which nurtured their hometown values and work ethic. For example, near the end of May, before school concluded, AST participated in a career day at Chester’s Allison Elementary School.
For information about AST, visit their website at astadvancesecurity.com or call 412-206-1060.
