HAWKEYE LOCK & SECURITY
On Tuesday, January 18th, 2022, the Grinnell Rotary Club gathered for their regular weekly meeting at West Side Family Restaurant. In attendance were two Grinnell High School seniors who plan to apply for our Rotary scholarships.
Rotarians welcomed Kevin and Jennifer McAlexander, owner/operators of Hawkeye Lock & Security located in downtown Grinnell.
Kevin is originally from SW Iowa, coming to Grinnell by way of a job in the meat department at Fareway. He met and married Jennifer (Muckler), a native Grinnellian.
Kevin has been involved in several types of work in Grinnell. He first ran a plumbing and heating business. Then he worked for Larry Ashing’s Crane service, eventually buying the business. Along the way, a need for a community locksmith came up, after the owner of Grinnell Safe & Lock passed away. Kevin and Jennifer decided to open up their own business while continuing to do the crane work. They started out as a mobile service and then moved into a storefront to have a shop location for walk-in traffic. The business has continued to grow as the need for services has increased. Their son Isiah came on staff last year. Additional staff may be needed as new services are being added, possibly security cameras and equipment. They are planning to buy the old GameTime Bar building on Hwy 146 to house their business to give them more space.
Services they provide include:
-Installation / repair of door locks and hardware both residential and commercial.
-Automotive keys and fobs (repair, batteries, and sell new)
-drilling safety deposit boxes and safes
-opening padlocks
-working on keypad / proximity systems as well as sales of smaller new systems
-unlocking cars (about 95% of the time can use their new equipment to pick the lock) and then make new keys on-site if they were lost
-add new key/fob to a vehicle using software to reprogram
Most types of keys can be cut using equipment right on their trucks. Their service area is primarily within a 30 minute drive. Kevin has done some work in a couple of other states and some specific commercial lines across the state.
Kevin discussed and demonstrated the use of the “key” found in most vehicle push-button fobs when a battery is dead.
After further questions and answers, the meeting was adjourned by Keir Johnson, President.
Submitted by Gregg Hawkins
