By Maureen Klein

Rex Aguirre was always passionate about technology and computers. It was hard to pull him away from his first PC, a Texas Instruments TI 99, but riding dirt bikes got him outside. At 14, he landed his first part-time job at McDonald’s, making $3.35 an hour. He spent those earnings figuring out how to add and remove parts to build a lighter and better BMX (Bicycle Moto Cross). Today, he runs Premiere Systems Design, a home automation company that provides high-end technology services for residential, commercial, and retail space from Montauk to Manhattan and beyond.

What other activities did you pursue back then?

While in junior high, in Brentwood, NY, I started playing the cello. You could also find me on the soccer field, a sport I continued to play through high school and in the Army. Of course, living on an island, I tested the nearby waters, learning to fish and sail on the Great South Bay.  

You mentioned the Army?

Following a job with the Parks Department where I drove tractors and bucket loaders to move around dirt (a big jump from my dirt bike days), I enlisted in the US Army where I became a communications specialist. I experienced firsthand the power and responsibility that telecommunication plays in keeping our soldiers and nation safe. That strong foundation greatly impacted my career and led me to study at the Dover Technical School on Long Island where my interest evolved into smart home technology.

So, tell us about founding Premiere Systems Design.

On St Patrick’s Day, March 17th, 2020 — just days before New York went “on pause” due to Covid-19 — I made the leap to pull together my past experiences as an IT consultant, licensed general contractor, and smart home architect of nineteen-and-a-half years to start Premiere Systems Design. It was the best career decision I ever made. We built our headquarters a few miles from our Bayport, LI home, where I live with my wife and son. My two grown daughters are now out on their own. Our services integrate automation, audio, climate control, lighting, automated shades, security, and home entertainment systems, inside and out.

And what part of your job gives you the most satisfaction?

I love the creative process of providing solutions that make my clients’ lives more convenient. I can visualize a virtual system in my head, based on a site survey or the home I’m walking into. Developers and architects have complimented me — they didn’t realize these technological solutions were possible.

Can you give an example of one of those creative solutions?

Just the other day, I was evaluating a piece of artwork that looked much darker than originally envisioned. I had the idea to backlight it and our team tested it with LED lighting. But there was still a shadow from the wood supports. I said to the guys, let’s replace the wood with metal L brackets. Now the artwork is beautifully highlighted, the shadow has disappeared and the frame has the support that it needs. Plus, the LED lighting offers countless color possibilities, depending on the season or occasion. See the photos below.