SecureTech Systems, a Garden City South-based technology integration firm co-founded by Jawad Khalfan and Joseph Kessler in April 2020, has been named the 2026 Next-Gen Entrepreneur of the Year by the New York Small Business Development Centers (New York SBDC). The statewide client awards program selected recipients from a pool of more than 27,000 small-business clients, marking a major milestone for the company’s expansion from a residential alarm provider into a commercial systems integrator handling over 1,500 installations across the New York area.
Evolution From Residential Startup to Commercial Integrator
Launched during a period of uncertainty in April 2020, SecureTech Systems initially operated from a small setup with a heavy concentration on residential security projects. According to records from the Better Business Bureau, the company was incorporated on April 9, 2020, with Khalfan serving as chief executive officer.
Over the past six years, Khalfan steered the company away from residential work to focus heavily on commercial installations, institutional environments, and large-scale opportunities. Today, the Garden City South enterprise functions as a low-voltage technology integrator. Its operational scope covers video surveillance, access control, networking infrastructure, audio-visual systems, and integrated security technologies deployed across commercial buildings, healthcare facilities, managed properties, and educational institutions.
Institutional Deployments and School Security Upgrades
The shift toward commercial scale is reflected in SecureTech’s work within the education sector. A published case study from security technology manufacturer AtlasIED details a comprehensive upgrade executed by SecureTech for a Long Island school district.
The project required a multi-layered technology overhaul, including the installation of surveillance cameras, card access control units, networking upgrades, low-voltage cabling, and an advanced mass-notification system. More than 80 classrooms received new communication equipment during the deployment, demonstrating the complex technical demands of modern institutional security projects handled by the firm.
Statewide Recognition and Growth Milestones
The 2026 New York SBDC honor adds to a growing list of accolades accumulated by Khalfan and his firm over recent years. In 2023, Khalfan earned a spot on the Long Island Business News 30 Under 30 list, alongside a 2023 Rising Star Under 30 recognition for the business. Subsequent milestones followed in 2024, including a Rookie of the Year finalist position and a Diversity in Business award for Khalfan.
The Next-Gen Entrepreneur of the Year celebration was scheduled for September 16, with backing from the Long Island SBDC at Stony Brook University and business adviser Robert B. Harrison. Having scaled from its initial minimalist setup into an established operation with more than 1,500 completed installations, SecureTech Systems continues to solidify its position as a primary technology partner for organizations throughout Long Island and the broader New York metropolitan area.