Norris Inc. is Northern New England’s premiere life-safety and security company and prides itself on hiring the best people around. Now, as part of Minuteman Security, our promise to advance security and protect lives and property has never been more on point.

We like to hire folks who are experts in their field, have a passion for their communities, their families, and life safety and security. They make it their mission to serve the customer.

Today’s Norris Employee Profile is no exception.

Today’s Norris Employee Profile is with Bob Bridges.

NI: What’s your title and included duties at Norris?

BB: Systems Integrator. I do sales, design & project management of fire alarm systems to both the electrical contracting and end-user markets covering the State of New Hampshire.

NI: How long have you been at Norris?

BB: I started with Norris in January of 2006 so I’ve been with Norris for 14 years.

NI: What different positions have you held at Norris?

BB: I was the Bangor Maine office general manager for a year but other than that short period I’ve been in this same position.

NI: How has your tenure at Norris prepared you to be successful in life?

BB: My position with Norris has shown me how to work as a team and interact with people. My social skills and personal confidence has grown leaps and bounds through observing how both my coworkers and customers deal with the curveballs that are commonplace in the construction and life safety industries.

NI: What life experiences have you had that have made you successful at Norris?

BB: I started with the Simplex Time Recorder Company in 1986 as a technician in Northern Maine and eventually moved south and got into sales and project management in 2003. The business through this period evolved rapidly with the growth of technology & computers. So I’ve been in the alarm business for quite a while so there is not much that I haven’t seen before.

NI: What do you love most about your job?

BB: I like the freedom I have to set my own schedule and the interactions I have with both our customers and my coworkers. It’s fun to see a building go from some drawings on a set of plans to the completed structure.

NI: What frustrates you about your job?

BB: Supply chain issues. Nothing is more frustrating than either yourself or your customer needing something right away and facing a backorder issue. Thankfully this is not a frequent problem. Our suppliers do a pretty good job of staying on top of things for the most part.

NI: Were you/are you a first responder or military?

BB: I was in the Air Force from 1981 through 1985.

NI: What military rank have you achieved and service have you performed?

BB: I achieved the rank of E-4 Senior Airman. I was an avionics technician on F-111 aircraft specializing on the radar, weapons delivery, and navigation systems.

NI: How did those roles prepare you for your duties at Norris?

BB: My time in the Air Force prepared me technically through electronics training, the use of electrical test equipment, and proper troubleshooting and problem-solving skills.  I worked on the launch & recovery truck so more often than not we were working on planes with the crew in the cockpit trying to repair mission-critical systems prior to launch.

NI: Are you married?

BB: Yes, I have been happily (well mostly) married to Jill since 1981.

 NI: Have any children?

BB: Yes I have 3 children: Robert Bridges Jr. – Navy veteran who served on the USS Hue City in Operation Enduring Freedom. Bob passed away in 2002 and we miss and think of him every day. Steve Bridges – Who lives in Parsonsfield Maine. with his wife Lindsey and their 2 children and teaches at Sacopee Valley High School. Jim Bridges – Who lives in Waterboro Maine. with his wife Deanna and works at Norris, Inc. as our system designer and CAD operator.

NI: What lessons have you learned through your duties at Norris that you’d like to pass on to others/your children?

BB: If you work hard and basically show up every day with the right attitude no problems are too big that you can’t get through them.

NI: Can you talk about one personal goal you have for the remainder of 2020?

BB: My personal goals are very simple. This year I hope to build a chimney cricket to repair a roof leak that I have up at my camp and my second goal is to learn the ATV trails by my house. I have a new side by side and would like to get so I know how to get to my grandchildren’s house.

NI: Can you talk about one professional goal you have for 2020?

BB: I would like to obtain NICET level 4 in fire alarm technologies or at a minimum be ready and scheduled to test by the end of the year.

NI: What do you enjoy doing in your spare/free time?  

BB: Working around the house & up to camp. Walking my dog. Hanging with my family. Riding my ATV.



What is Norris all about?

Norris, Inc.—a Saco, Maine-based life-safety and security systems integrator with satellite offices in Bangor, Maine; Lee, New Hampshire; and Burlington, Vermont—was founded nearly 40 years ago by two brothers, Brad and Harty Norris.

On February 28, 2020 Norris Inc was acquired by Minuteman Security Technologies Inc.  Minuteman Security Technologies Inc. (Minuteman), headquartered in Andover, Massachusetts and founded in 1998, is a leading provider of enterprise security technology solutions. Minuteman security systems are used by a wide range of organizations throughout the United States. Customers include law enforcement, energy companies, mass transit, large retail chains, academic institutions, public safety agencies, and community hospitals with regional offices from Maine to Illinois.