Corey Haney: Playing it Safe

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

MOUNTAIN VIEW — When Corey Haney was unsure about his next career move, he took a shot at a job opportunity in the life safety industry. “I had been working in concrete construction, but I got laid off when the economy crashed in 2008,” he recounts. “I wanted to get into an industry that was more insulated from economic turbulence, so I started researching. I found an opening with Statcomm Inc. and it seemed like a good fit—not only did life safety strike me as a pretty interesting field, it was definitely more stable than construction. I started as an apprentice, working in the warehouse, and eventually worked my way up to field supervisor for the electronics department.”

Today, Corey says his favorite part of his job is the inherent rewards that come with improving safety. “I like the fact that I make my living by making properties safer. It feels good to know I’m making a difference in people’s lives by protecting them from fires and other life safety risks.”

A resident of Gilroy (where he lives with his wife, Emily), Corey expresses his appreciation for the vibrant character of Bay Area life. “I grew up in Campbell and I’ve always valued the uniqueness of the Bay Area. There are lots of opportunities here and the business climate is constantly changing—we’re on the cutting edge, so there’s always something new and hot driving the economy.”

Outside of work, Corey spends his free time on a variety of activities. “Emily and I enjoy taking weekend getaways to Monterey and Santa Cruz, as well as going for walks with our miniature Australian shepherd, Mochi,” he details. “We also do a lot of home improvement projects. Right now, we’re finishing up a major overhaul of our backyard.”

In regard to his professional career, Corey subscribes to the principle of “quality first.” “I aim to do every job to the best of my ability and focus on quality before anything else,” he affirms. “Some people may cut corners to save time or money, but if you have to go back and fix something, you end up spending more time and money in the long run. Plus, when it comes to life safety, there’s absolutely no room to cut corners. Every property we work on needs to be 100 percent by the time we’re finished.”

When asked the first thing he’d do if he were to retire tomorrow, Corey says he’d take a tropical vacation. “My wife has never been to Hawaii, so I’d probably take her there for a couple of weeks. We both work really hard at our jobs, so it would be nice to kick off retirement with a relaxing vacation.”

Ask Me Anything!

Q: Music or talk radio?

A: Talk radio—I’m a bit of a news junkie.

Q: What’s your favorite holiday?

A: Christmas.

Q: What were you most known for in high school?

A: Probably my truck. I was a real gearhead in high school and I had a ’64 Chevy hot rod truck. I still have it, actually.

Q: What’s your favorite snack?

A: Sour Patch Kids.

Q: Do you collect anything?

A: Old tools.