In an industry where competitors routinely pour thousands of dollars into paid advertising and aggressive sales funnels, Mark Lehman built Power Access Control into a projected $8 million to $10 million enterprise by relying exclusively on reputation and service quality. The Atlanta-based commercial security firm, founded in 2019, has landed major clients including Tyler Perry Studios, Peachtree-DeKalb Airport, Choate Construction, and Fortune-Johnson—all without a single paid ad. The announcement matters because it challenges the prevailing assumption that growth in the security integration sector requires heavy marketing spend, offering a replicable model for startups that prioritize operational excellence over customer acquisition budgets.
Lehman left a secure job at an established security company out of frustration with what he saw as chronic industry failures: delayed service calls, unreturned phone calls, and indifferent customer care. “In commercial access control, a broken gate or failed entry system isn't just an inconvenience—it's a massive security vulnerability and an operational nightmare for a business,” Lehman said. Armed with technical expertise and a refusal to compromise on quality, he launched Power Access Control from the ground up, handling everything from early morning site surveys to late-night wiring and troubleshooting in the Atlanta heat.
The company's zero-advertising strategy was considered reckless by many in the startup phase, but Lehman staked everything on a single premise: over-deliver on every contract and let the work speak for itself. “When you don't rely on ad money to feed your business, your work has to be flawless,” he said. “Every project had to be our best billboard. If a client had a critical issue, we didn't put them on a two-week queue—we showed up, took ownership, and fixed it.” That approach led to rapid expansion and the launch of Atlanta Turnstiles, a specialized division focused on complex turnstile security, optical speed gates, biometric access, and perimeter security integration.
The company's exclusive focus on the commercial sector—entirely stepping away from residential work—allowed it to hone in on high-security, high-throughput infrastructure. Word of Lehman's standards circulated through Atlanta's general contracting and facility management circles, and soon the commercial giants came calling. The client portfolio now includes Choate Construction, Tyler Perry Studios, Peachtree-DeKalb Airport, and Fortune-Johnson, reflecting the company's ability to manage high-profile media facilities, active aviation operations, and complex multi-building installations.
As Power Access Control gears up for 2027, the numbers reflect a meteoric trajectory from a one-man mission born out of frustration in 2019 to a business pacing toward $8 million to $10 million in annual revenue. For Lehman, the target is validation of the philosophy that started it all. “We proved that you don't need a slick advertising budget to build a multi-million dollar business,” he said. “You just need to trust the process, treat every customer like your only customer, and never settle for anything less than excellence.” The implications extend beyond one company: as metro Atlanta's commercial landscape continues its rapid boom, Power Access Control stands as a textbook example of organic, reputation-driven growth—built off standard-setting service, zero ad spend, and a founder who believed in doing things right. For an industry often obsessed with marketing budgets, the company's trajectory suggests that in high-stakes commercial security, operational reliability may be the most effective advertisement of all. More information is available at https://poweraccesscontrol.com.
