Sdm Editors' Podcast

Recently, Boon Edam conducted a survey to find out what security professionals think about the risks of tailgating via turnstiles into their facility. Here, Boon Edam Vice President of Marketing Tracie Thomas discusses the results of this survey, and why security industry professionals should care. Find the survey at https://bit.ly/34esLy3.

Custom Alarm is a security company out of Rochester, Minn., that offers fire inspections, connected security, video surveillance, access control and interactive services. Melissa Brinkman’s father Leigh Johnson founded the company, and she came to work at the family business in 1998 after spending several years in management positions in the hospitality industry. She held various positions at Custom Alarm, from marketing, to sales manager, to customer services manager, before being promoted to CEO in 2014. Here, Brinkman talks about the company’s 50th anniversary, working at the family business, why she’s so passionate about customer service, staffing and more.

Advanced Security Systems, based out of California, is a family owned and operated security and alarm monitoring company that takes pride in its customer relationships. So when President and CEO Chuck Petrusha noticed customer service wasn’t where it should be, he enlisted the help of the Ritz-Carlton company to train his employees and redefine Advanced Security’s service values.

On Thursday, May 16, Guardian held the first ever company-wide town hall in its 69-year history to announce a brand refresh and reveal a new logo to its employees and their families and friends. In this exclusive SDM interview, Guardian President Bryan Cipoletti and Vice President of Marketing Kevin Bish discuss these changes, and what they mean for the future of Guardian.

In honor of Earth Day, SDM spoke with Morgan Cassidy, LEED Green Associate for ASSA ABLOY, Jonathan Pine, CEO and president of Renova, and John Burke, manager of regional communications for G4S, about the sustainability steps their companies have made.

Kentucky radio station WEKU-88.9 FM recently interviewed Jeremy Bates, president of Bates Security/Sonitrol of Lexington (SDM’s 2018 Dealer of the Year) about the security industry, trends and what it was like being named dealer of the year! Take a listen here:

Diebold Security added more than 30 new national and global commercial customers in 2013. Bill Fitzhenry, vice president of Commercial Sales for North America, Diebold Security, discusses what led to such growth and describes Diebold Security’s strategy going forward.

On October 16, 2013, Jay Hauhn, chief technology officer and vice president of industry relations at Tyco Integrated Security, was named the new president of the Central Station Alarm Association International. In this Q&A, Hauhn discusses two big projects he will take on as CSAA's new president, the biggest challenges our industry faces in the monitoring space and how CSAA can help, cooperation among associations and more.

John LaFond, vice president of integrated systems of Linear LLC, breaks down the differences of browser based vs. PC-based access control.

Scott Barrett, president and founder of CWSI, discusses wireless technology advancements in the podcast, “5 Secrets of Wireless Addressable Fire Systems."

Mel Mahler, after 22 years with ADS Security, Nashville, Tenn., has stepped down as chairman and CEO to enter retirement. He speaks to SDM about the factors that led to his decision to retire, retirement plans, and reflections on his security career.

Vivint's candid CEO, Todd Pedersen, talks to SDM about the new acquisition agreement for the Blackstone Group to buy majority stake in the company. Pedersen reveals his growth strategy, new services, and what a $2 billion valuation means for the company.

This podcast centers on three trending areas that should be on the minds of all security dealers: copper theft, personal emergency response systems, and video intercoms. SDM Editor Laura Stepanek speaks with Linear LLC's Duane Paulson and Gary Baker, who describe how technologies in these areas have developed to provide specific functionality for today's lifestyles, as well as measureable security benefits.

Get the inside scoop on the AIREF Golf Classic in this podcast with Bart Diddon, the event’s co-creator, president of U.S.A. Central Station Alarm Corp., located in Port Chester, N.Y., and past president of the Electronic Security Association. Diddon discusses how the AIREF Golf Classic at ISC West was developed, what participants can expect at the tournament, and how the tournament benefits such a great organization, AIREF. You’ll want to sign up after you listen! Click here for the registration form.

Complex projects are very different from simple ones. With the recent rise of PSIM projects that encompass physical security, business continuity and operational aspects, security integrators are going head-to-head with business consultants, who do this routinely. This podcast with Dr. Bob Banerjee examines the characteristics that a successful security integrator will need. Dr. Banerjee is senior director of Training and Development for NICE Systems Security Division. He develops programs and initiatives to educate, train and support NICE's network of security system integrators and dealers, Dr. Banerjee holds a Ph.D. in Artificial Intelligence from the Advanced Research Center at the University of Bristol, England.

In this podcast, Bill Lawrence, director of Service Solutions and Platforms for ADT Security Services, explains the growing interest in video surveillance by both government agencies as well as businesses of every stripe. He discusses what any organization should consider before investing heavily in the technology. Lawrence is a 25-year veteran of both the information technology and physical security industries, with extensive experience in network video surveillance and physical security convergence.

SDM's Contributing Technology Writer, Dave Engebretson, advises technicians about how to test existing fiber cables for electronic security use. He covers how a technician or a salesperson can determine the type of existing fiber proposed for an installation; and the testing methods used to determine the quality of a specific fiber link. Dave describes the next steps to take if the test fails; and how technicians can ensure that the fiber link, once tested, will work with the optoelectronic transmitters and receivers needed to carry the signals. Dave is president of Slayton Solutions Ltd., a networking and fiber training company. Sponsored by Interlogix, a UTC Fire & Security Company.

How is your company addressing what seems more and more like the “mandatory” value add? Today’s end users are looking for more value than ever, and research suggests the mentality is here to stay.Rich Perry, president and CEO of Security Networks, West Palm Beach, Fla., discusses mastering the value add — both for end users and within the industry. He also talks about how new technologies and services affect the value proposition. Sponsored by Interlogix, a UTC Fire & Security Company.

Vice president of Convergint Technologies, Tony Varco, discusses trends he sees in new products in the industry today, including the influx of IP-based products and the new rate of change for products. He also offers advice regarding product selection for today's companies. Sponsored by Interlogix, a UTC Fire & Security Company.

Laura Stepanek, Editor of SDM magazine and Diane Ritchey, Editor of Security magazine, discuss healthcare security issues with security end users and integrators.