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Destroying files a good business(Journal Star (Peoria, IL) (KRT) Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge) Mar. 14--PEORIA -- Tom Simpson remembers when his biggest job was convincing businesses of the importance of destroying paperwork. Now that the business world has learned that lesson, Simpson finds himself competiting with shredders on every side. With cases of computer fraud and identity theft making news every day, "businesses know they should shred. Now it's just knowing how to do it the right way," said Simpson, president of AAA Certified Security Corp., 8723 Industrial Parkway. "For over 20 years, we were the principal stand-alone shredding business in the Peoria area," he said. Don Eckhoff started Certified Security Corp. in 1984. Simpson bought the company in 1993 and added AAA to the company name after receiving trade association certification. Today shredding is big business with a growing number of firms vying for that business, said Simpson. National firms like National Shredders and Iron Mountain are out there destroying paper work along with recyclers and record storage companies, he said. "Today recyclers have improved security in their operations, plus you've got mobile trucks that now go to a firm's front door to shred material," said Simpson. Along with son Chris, who serves as company vice president, Simpson oversees a staff of nine on their mission of destruction. "We've built our business on our reputation. With hundreds of customers over the years, I've never lost a piece of paper," he said. Simpson also takes pride in the fact his company was the first in the country to become certified by the National Association for Information Destruction, a trade association based in Phoenix. To be certified means a company must abide by rigid security standards applying to both the selection of employees and the operation of the facility, he said. Thorough background checks are performed on employees and "everything we do here is videtaped," said Simpson of the shredding process. Among area firms using AAA's services are Caterpillar Inc., Morton Community Bank and Bradfield's Computer Supply. "There's a division of Bradfield's called Illinois Record Keepers. We do off-site record storage for area firms, sort of the front end of Tom's business," said Jim Evenhuis, a Bradfield's salesman. "There are people in the shredding industry who are not professional out there. They put their customers at risk. (Simpson) does it right," he said. Other customers echoed that sentiment. "I don't know where we'd be without their services," said Jean Ann Honegger, executive vice president at Morton Community Bank. "We're federally mandated to make sure that nothing goes into the garbage that might have someone's name on it. Now virtually everything goes into (AAA's) blue bins. They come out with their unmarked trucks and pick them up. We don't even have shredders here at the bank anymore," she said. Company trucks head out every weekday to retrieve loads of paper and computer files from firms throughout a large portion of Illinois south of Chicago, said Simpson, noting the company does all its shredding at its Pioneer Park facility. Heavy-duty shredders grind up to three tons of paper an hour, he said. Shredded material is then packed into 1,800-pound bales that are then transported to paper mills for processing into fresh paper, said Simpson. "From the time we pick it up, company information is secure. We don't let our shredded product out to the public," he said. Trade association rules also forbid using shredded material for such things as animal bedding or packaging, added Simpson. AAA doesn't stop there. "We co-mingle files all the time while we're shredding -- to disguise it even more," he said, referring to the practice of blending paper from different companies in the shredding process. Simpson takes security seriously. "Dumpster diving happens all the time. Now those that are after (private) information look for shredding bags in the alley," he said, referring to the output from home shredders. "There are actually computer programs now that that can reconstruct shredded material," warned Simpson. But paper isn't the only thing that gets shredded at the AAA facility. "We not only shred printed matter but micromedia matter. E-destruction continues to gain more attention. We're cleaning a lot of hard drives these days," he said. To illustrate the different materials run through company shredders, Simpson points to a line of jars in the office that contain samples of finely ground paper, metal and tape. While serving as secretary and 10-year board member for the national association, Simpson cites his company's ISO certification, representing quality management practices. "We're the first shredder to be ISO certified and we were very appreciative of receiving the Torch award last year," he said of the recognition given by the area Better Business Bureau. The shredding market is big and getting bigger, said Simpson. New federal laws covering the disposal of consumer information apply to even the smallest companies, he said. Add that to the fact courts may find companies liable for the release of confidential information about customers, firms of all sizes are on notice to take care of business, said Simpson. "Our prime targets are commercial, medical and professional companies," he said. But that doesn't mean AAA hasn't helped out some area households. "We've shredded a box of checks (as well as) cleaned out people's basements," said Simpson. Formerly with Bennett Publishing in Peoria, Simpson said he's come full circle in his business career. "I've gone from collecting and saving to collecting and destroying," he said. |