High-security perforated steel panels fabricated by Securetech Fence Systems, Inc. in San Jose, California, were shipped and installed in Boston. This product is designed to be very difficult to cut through. Working with the building’s security cameras and alarm system, it allows authorities more time to respond to an attempted break-in.

A TEAM Kids graduating class pictured with former San Jose Police Chief Larry Silva, San Jose Police Department (SJPD) officers and Securetech President Anthony Ortega, far left. The TEAM Kids program is taught by SJPD officers, educating youth about drugs and bullying in their community and creating options to make positive choices.

Some companies throw around descriptive words like “innovative” and “cutting edge,” but Securetech Fence Systems, Inc. (Securetech) lets its client list speak for itself. Google, Apple and Facebook are among the company’s core customer base.

About three-quarters of Securetech’s business comes from those three big names directly or indirectly, working for their project managers, contractors or real estate management companies, says Anthony Ortega, the company’s president.

“We are a loyalty-based business that is changing the look of security,” Ortega says. “We are a pioneering company within our trade, focused primarily on the tech industry and its needs for security. They demand innovation and an integration of electronics with tangible security. Beyond meeting those needs—both interior and exterior—we’re focused on partnering with their culture when it comes to the environment and having things that are repurposable, reusable and recyclable. Securetech separates itself from most construction and fence companies by its business practices. “To effectively embrace the tech industry and its extravagance and ambiance, we integrate their corporate culture into our company—things like providing lunches, drinks or even being more liberal on their hours, and letting employees be able to take care of business and their kids,” Ortega says.

Getting It Done

Securetech does more than just fencing. The basic services include cost-value design and estimating, project management and planning, and on-site construction and fabrication. Most important, though, is meeting its employee needs, Ortega says.

“It’s as simple as making sure we’ve met employee needs from medical to dental and pension plans. The entire staff is union, from the office to field staff, and we provide the best benefits to care for our employees and their families. When you take care of employees and their needs are met, they feel valued. That creates an environment to feel empowered and innovative,” he says.

Secure Fencing Authority

Securetech prides itself on cultivating customer relationships, excellent customer service and being the authority in the security fencing industry.

Delivery and expectations in Silicon Valley are very tough, Ortega says. Clients need to feel confident that you have answers to their questions and can deliver what they’re requesting with a quick turnaround.

“We make sure our customers understand that we are the authority on what they’re looking for; we are taking the work out of what they do and simplifying it,” Ortega says. “Even if it is a complex project, we want them to know that all we need is a purchase order and a simple explanation, and they can have confidence that we are going to meet or beat their expectation to complete their big-dollar project accurately while taking the workload off their shoulders.”

Securetech works closely with engineers, architects and security teams to take proposed designs and then determine how to meet those needs and stay within budget. Ortega calls this a cost-value design.

“We can take a $1 million estimate for a project and cost-value design it to products that are resourced locally or within a reasonable amount of distance to meet their scheduled deadline, and that is huge,” he says. “We don’t compromise structural integrity, aesthetics, function or customer expectations. To be effective and have this repeat business with our clientele in this fast-paced tech industry, we have to understand how to deliver and meet expectations in a short timeframe. That requires a lot of attention to detail, planning and understanding their security needs to deliver that.” To do that, Ortega says, requires his team to understand the way their clients do business. “Notice, that nowhere in there is anything about the product. Many think what they build is superior to the next guy. But, it is how you deliver it and the requirements that you have to deliver and meet—that’s what is critical with our clients. The product is second; price is third or fourth down the line.

Selection isn’t usually by lowest bidder in these cases. Most of our clients select a contractor who is meeting their needs and partnering on how they do business,” he says.

Securetech handles multiple projects for Google’s safety and security teams. Ortega says his firm is typically requested for projects regarding perimeter protection, anti-terrorism solutions, vehicular control, door automation and interior security cage enclosures. On one occasion, the general contractor doing a project used another fence company that did not perform to expectations. “They had problems, and Google wanted to know why there were delays,” he says. “That’s when the general contractor called us in late in the game, and we delivered within the two weeks they had left to deliver on time.”

Ortega likes to be in the planning meetings with contractors, architects and engineers for tech firms to hear their safety and security needs, as well as the scope of the project. That’s when he can add value to the project by interjecting with ideas like a modular repurposable wall design that is for an access-controlled interior enclosure.

“They don’t want a hard wall because it changes the configuration of the building. So, I will offer a suggestion of a repurposable containment that is a wire-mesh modular construction and can be taken down, repurposed and reused. It can still meet their requirements regarding carbon monoxide, HVAC, fire sprinklers and infrared devices that don’t penetrate through it, but in most cases doesn’t require a permit. It’s not a hard wall, and they can still get access control,” he says.

Securetech focuses a lot of effort on interior needs, which requires integration with electronics—something a lot of fence companies don’t do, he says. Wire-mesh security enclosures, for example, provide a greater defensive barrier to sensitive areas with an attractive look and, because of its versatility and strength, modular construction can be installed directly to raised computer floors and in carpeted offices. Ceiling lights don’t have to be added or modified, existing fire sprinklers and smoke detectors in the ceiling remain applicable, air conditioning and heating flows freely through the walls, and there’s no need to add additional surveillance cameras because infrared motion security sensors read thought the wire walls. Plus, all panels can be disassembled and reassembled to a different area.

“These high-tech companies want to be creative and trailblazing with their design and architecture, but they also require function without compromising security or structural integrity,” Ortega says. “We get to bring all of this together.”

Community Support

Part of the company’s strategy for success includes supporting local law enforcement, military veterans and young people in the community. “We give our time as well as financial support,” he says.

For example, Securetech works closely with TEAM Kids—providing materials, raising funds, writing grant requests—to support this program that sends area police officers into elementary schools in high-risk, low-income areas. The program features police officers educating kids about the hazards that exist in their community, such as drugs and bullying, offering positive options to make better choices.

Ortega, a U.S. Marine veteran, serves as the battalion executive officer for the Young Marines national youth program and also serves as a board member for the San Jose Police Foundation.

Recipe for Success

There’s no secret formula to what Ortega does. “Do exactly what you say, get it done on the date you say you’ll get it done, and show up when you say you’ll show up,” he says. “Deliver nothing less than what you say.”

He grew up in a family of fence builders. As a Marine, he learned electrical engineering and was a certified welder. He worked in fencing for a number of years before starting Securetech with his longtime friend and colleague Robert Canteline in 2005. Ortega and Canteline share the same core values and dedication to professionalism to grow their industry.

“Most fence contractors focus on being a great fence builder,” Ortega says, “but can you meet the requirement of being professional while delivering and satisfying the client, regardless of whatever market you’re in? I’ve done work for billionaires. You could be building something as small as a dog run, but if you don’t have the fundamentals of being professional, you won’t get new business or retain your customers. Most fence companies limit themselves to building only basic fences. We welcome diversity and are excited by new challenges.”