LockNet is more than a family business; it’s a family heritage dating back to 1920 when the Miller family began their trek in the door and lock industry. Great grandfather John C. Miller began this journey and the heritage has passed down through four generations to my cousin (Mark Miller), my brother (Chad Miller), and me (Katie Willie).

John C. Miller started working as the Superintendent of Bank Vault Erection for Diebold Safes in 1920.  He then founded Safemasters, which was later acquired by Sargent & Greenleaf (S&G).  His son, Harry Miller, was his apprentice and travelled with him learning the art of lock manipulation.

Following in John’s footsteps, Harry became a renowned lock inventor and safe cracker.  Throughout his career, Harry invented the first manipulation-proof lock, served as the president of S&G, started Lockmasters (now run by my uncle Clay Miller as LSI), assisted the government, and received many high recognitions.  I remember going to my grandfather’s house as a little girl and marveling at all of the different locks he had on display around the house.  One of my favorite stories of my grandfather involved him being flown across the country to open the safe of a diplomat.  After 10 minutes, the safe was open.  The diplomat told him he wasn’t going to pay him the pre-arranged amount when it only took 10 minutes.  Needless to say, the safe got locked back up and my grandfather left.

Harry’s sons Clay and Benson Miller continued the family lineage and both work in the lock industry.  Clay Miller took over Lockmasters in 1981 when the primary business focus was training and education.  Upon seeing a need in the market, he added the tooling and equipment division.  Like Harry, Clay holds numerous patents for new lock inventions.  He also started the Safe and Vault Technicians Association (SAVTA).  Unrelated to locks, he has a passion for primates and he and his wife April started the Primate Rescue Center (PRC) here in Nicholasville, KY.  I have many fond memories of family gatherings at the PRC that involve me and my cousins either bottle feeding baby monkeys or being groomed by them.

My father, Benson Miller, began working for S&G and eventually started an entrepreneurial career becoming president of Igniter Products.  He then invented the Ready Press Fold-Away Ironing Board and founded Millex.  After selling Millex he returned to his roots in the lock industry and founded LockNet in 1993.  One of my father’s biggest passions is race cars.  He is a local racing instructor and is at the car races in Sebring, FL with my brother, uncle, and cousin as we speak.

My brother, Chad Miller, became the Chief Executive Officer of LockNet in 2008.  His wife, Elise Miller, is currently our Director of Business Development.  My husband and I joined LockNet in 2007.  Zach serves as our Chief Operating Officer, and I am our Marketing Director.  Clay’s son, Mark Miller, purchased the tooling and equipment division of Lockmasters from my uncle, splitting it into two companies, Lockmasters Security Institute (LSI) and Lockmasters.

As you can see, locks are more than just a job to me and the rest of the Miller family – they are our roots.  I know I speak for my brother and cousin when I say that we are proud of our heritage and the lineage that our great grandfather started.  Who knows – perhaps my daughter or my cousins’ children will carry it on.