This addition “marks an important step in bringing fire sprinkler service to Pye-Barker’s strong security and alarm presence in Connecticut, enhancing service offerings for customers throughout the area,” the announcement says.

Hartford Sprinkler specializes in installs, inspections, testing and maintenance for commercial and residential sprinkler systems. Since its founding in 1933, the Hartford team “has built a reputation for its extensive knowledge of code compliance and requirements that keep businesses operational and prepare systems to be ready when they’re needed most,” according to the joint announcement.

In addition to sprinkler services, the company has expertise in fire alarms, fire suppression, fire extinguishers, emergency lighting, backflow testing and fire pump testing, the announcement says.

Why Did Pye-Barker Acquire Hartford Sprinkler Co.?

“Providing the best quality fire sprinkler services to our community has driven us for the last 90 years,” says Kevin Kita, president of Hartford Sprinkler, in the joint announcement. “Joining Pye-Barker allows us to provide new services to our customers and communities to expand their protection while offering our team members new avenues for career growth.”

“A second-generation, family-owned business, Hartford Sprinkler has been serving local customers since 1933,” says Bart Proctor, CEO of Pye-Barker Fire & Safety, in the announcement. “Those family values speak to who we are at Pye-Barker. It’s all about caring for others and building something that lasts. That’s why I’m so excited for Hartford Sprinkler’s experts to join our team and work together to continue the legacy they’ve built.”

Hartford Sprinkler’s technicians will continue to serve customers in Connecticut, according to the joint announcement.

Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough, LLP represented Pye-Barker in the transaction.

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Animals play a prominent role in this week’s collection of surveillance videos, with a news reporter in Los Angeles doing her best to ignore a cockroach crawling on her during a live report and an Oakland firefighter taking an extra step to help a pigeon fly again.

We also saw a couple of low flyovers, including one on America’s 250th birthday that led to the suspension of Apache helicopter pilots that was later overturned, and a man a who will never choose a window seat when he flies again.

Click here to check out the latest batch of Surveillance Videos of the Week. Send your suggestions for future editions to digital editor Craig MacCormack at craig.maccormack@emeraldx.com.

The post Bison Chases Man in Yellowstone: Surveillance Videos of the Week appeared first on Security Sales & Integration.

Now in its third year, the recognition continues to refine its methodology for identifying individuals shaping the industry’s future. A closely contested race for the final spot on this year’s list ended in a tie, pushing the number to 41 honorees.

The 2026 honorees “span the breadth of the industry, from physical security and life safety to cybersecurity, risk and crisis management and occupational health and safety,” according to the alliance announcement.

This year’s list includes practitioners, technology and service providers, researchers and academics from 13 countries across six continents.

The 2026 scoring criteria added two new categories: Expert Witness, recognizing individuals called upon to provide specialized testimony in litigation, insurance or investigations; and Legislative & Regulatory Testimony, for those who influence policy through formal testimony before legislative bodies, regulatory agencies or standards organizations.

Who is in the Life Safety Alliance Thought Leaders Top 40?

The Class of 2026 includes 13 three-time honorees, 14 returning for their second appearance and 14 new honorees. Nineteen of the 41 honorees for 2026 are from countries outside the United States and four of those — Austria, India, Saudi Arabia, and Uruguay — appear on the list for the first time.

“Introducing new categories for 2026 enabled us to identify types of influence previously overlooked,” says Andrew Thorburn, enterprise security & risk manager at Wesco Anixter in New Zealand, who led candidate outreach on behalf of the committee and helped refine the scoring criteria for this year’s field.

“We will keep refining these categories for the program to make sure we include the most important efforts shaping our industry,” he says.

Final scores for this year’s period, May 1, 2025, through April 30, 2026, were calculated using a proprietary algorithm that weighs factors such as conference speaking engagements, webinar and podcast appearances, authored articles and mentions, academic instruction, awards and honors, board positions and volunteer leadership.

LSA reviewed the credentials of hundreds of professionals across the life safety and security fields and invited more than 200 candidates identified as “leading voices in the industry” to submit evidence supporting their nominations.

“A tie at the very bottom of the list tells you everything about how competitive this recognition has become,” said Becky Lane, CEO of the Life Safety Alliance. “Rather than artificially break the tie, we chose to honor both candidates, and I think that decision reflects the spirit of this program.

“What strikes me every year is how differently thought leadership can look. Some of our honorees have built decades of visibility in this industry, while others are only now stepping into that role. Both belong on this list,” she says.

LSA 2026 Top 40 Global Thought Leaders in Security and Life Safety (alphabetical order):

• Prof. Obadare Peter Adewale, Digital Encode Limited, founder and chief visionary officer (Nigeria)
• Fayadh Alenezi, Jouf University, professor and consultant (Saudi Arabia)
• Dr. Anmol Agarwal, Nokia, security product manager (United States)
• Dr. Arian Avila, Capital One, vice president of technology & security operations (United States)
• Farah Benis, FFA Security Group, managing director (United Kingdom)
• Garry Bergin, Manguard Plus, commercial director & security consultant (Ireland)
• Bonnie Butlin, Security Partners’ Forum, executive director (Canada)
• Eric Sean Clay, FMOL Health, vice president (United States)
• Shawnee Delaney, Vaillance Group, chief executive officer (United States)
• Jane Frankland MBE, KnewStart Limited, chief executive officer (United Kingdom)
• Michael Gips, Kroll, managing director (United States)
• Alex Goldenberg, Silent Index, founder (United States)
• Yolanda (YoYo) Hamblen, The Security Circle Podcast / IFPO (United Kingdom)
• Kasia Hanson, Alcatraz, vice president (United States)
• Tannu Jiwnani, Microsoft, principal security engineer (United States)
• Eduardo Jany, LinkedIn, chief security officer (United States)
• James Junkin, Mariner-Gulf Consulting & Services, chief executive officer (United States)
• Marcel Lehner, Wiener Stadtwerke GmbH, chief security officer (Austria)
• Kirk MacDowell, MacGuard Security Advisors, founder & CEO (United States)
• Bruce McIndoe, McIndoe Risk Advisory LLC, president (United States)
• Don Morrow, HighlandTech, founder & CEO (United States)
• Madhuri Nandi, Nuvei (Till Payments) / Australian Women in Security (AWSN) board
  chairperson, chief information security officer (Australia)
• Drew Neckar, COSECURE Enterprise Risk Solutions, principal consultant (United States)
• Fredrik Nilsson, Axis Communications, vice president, Americas (United States/Sweden)
• Dr. Fene Osakwe, EC Council, advisory board member (penetration testing) (United Kingdom)
• Kevin Palacios, HELPS LatAm, chief executive officer (Ecuador)
• Henrik Parkkinen, HenrikParkkinen.com, cybersecurity leader (Sweden)
• Elizabeth Parks, Parks Associates, president & chief marketing officer (United States)
• Kavya Pearlman, XRSI, founder & CEO (United States)
• Jon Polly, ProTecht Solutions Partners, chief solutions officer (United States)
• Matthew Porcelli, Harvard Protection, security manager (United States)
• Paul Sarnese, Secured & Prepared Consulting, owner (United States)
• Dr. Gavriel Schneider, Risk 2 Solution / Institute of Presilience, group managing director and chairman/founder (Australia)
• Bruce Schneier, Inrupt, chief of security architecture (United States)
• Vandana Verma Sehgal, Snyk, security leader (India)
• Jeffrey A. Slotnick, Setracon Enterprise Security Risk Management Services, president (United States)
• Confidence Staveley, CyberSafe Foundation, founder (United States/Africa)
• Christopher Stitt, CrisisLead, chief executive officer (United States)
• Scott Taylor, Praesidium, managing director (Australia)
• Fernando Vaccotti, FV Consulting, consultor (Uruguay)
• Alfredo Yuncoza, Smart Management C.A., president (Venezuela)

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Adoption of smart home devices, including smart cameras, locks, lighting and thermostats, exceeds 50% of U.S. internet households and consumers “expect these connected devices to work together seamlessly,” according to the company announcement.

According to Parks Associates’ “Security Dealers Perspectives: Views from the Front Line,” 57% of security dealers say integrating customer-owned smart home devices with a security system is “difficult” or “very difficult,” up from 44% in 2022.

The upward trend “signals that interoperability remains a growing operational challenge,” according to the Parks Associates announcement.

“Security Dealers Perspectives: Views from the Front Line” is “a primary research study that examines residential security dealer perspectives on competitive dynamics, technology integration, business strategies and consumer demand,” the announcement says.

What Does Parks Associates’ Smart Home Survey Show?

“Consumers are building connected homes one device at a time, often across multiple brands and ecosystems, and the expectation is on security companies, smart home device manufacturers, monitoring companies and ISPs to make these solutions work together,” says Jennifer Kent, senior vice president and principal analyst for  Parks Associates, in the company announcement.

“Security dealers are positioned to simplify installation and reduce complexity in the connected home,” she says, “so the companies that can best leverage this channel will win and retain customers.”

At the same time, dealers continue to navigate growing competition from DIY security solutions. Parks Associates research finds 74% of security dealers report losing sales to DIY security systems and standalone devices such as cameras and video doorbells, up from 51% in both 2022 and 2023.

The findings “reveal the challenges dealers face in the expanding smart home market but also the opportunities to use their professional expertise, interoperability and ongoing service as key competitive differentiators,” according to the Parks Associates announcement.

“As smart home adoption continues to grow, security providers are moving beyond traditional intrusion protection toward broader connected home experiences,” the announcement says. “Successfully integrating third-party devices while delivering reliable installation, ongoing support and managed services can strengthen customer satisfaction and create additional recurring revenue opportunities.”

“The connected home has become a competitive advantage for security providers,” says Kent in the Parks Associates announcement. “Consumers want flexibility in the devices they choose without sacrificing reliability or support. Dealers that can bridge multiple ecosystems while delivering professional service will be best positioned as the market continues to evolve.”

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This includes a commitment to hiring more than 100 veterans in southeastern Pennsylvania over the next 24 months to fill the roles of technical program managers (AI), MLOps engineers and AI solutions specialists. The company made the announcement at Senator Dave McCormick’s 2026 Pennsylvania Defense and Innovation Summit at Army War College in Carlisle, Pa.

The ZeroEyes investment in artificial intelligence/machine learning research and development will fund additional expansion, including:

• The company’s 3,000-square-foot experimental AI technology lab that gives ZeroEyes the ability to generate unparalleled data, perform live demos, and test its AI weapons detection models and hardware in any environment

• The Conshohocken-based ZeroEyes Operations Center (ZOC), the industry’s only in-house operations hub staffed primarily by military and law enforcement veterans, including former special forces personnel

• Small drone technology capabilities, including 3D environment mapping, threat detection (ZeroEyes Aerial Detection [ZAD] Kit), and active shooter disorientation (Drones/Robots for Active Shooter Deterrence [DRASD])

What Else is ZeroEyes Doing to Expand its AI Capabilities?

Over the past few months, ZeroEyes has expanded its platform beyond firearm detection to deliver “a broader, more intelligent approach to safety,” according to the company announcement.

New analytics capabilities including knife detection and real-time threat geolocation, as well as additional security offerings, “mark a significant step toward unifying acute threat detection with everyday safety operations,” the announcement says.

The new capabilities “reflect ZeroEyes’ goal to become a single, trusted platform organizations will use to secure, detect and respond to a wide range of critical security events,” according to the company announcement. “These continued investments showcase the company’s commitment to further developing a comprehensive security platform that integrates preparedness, operational awareness and investigative insights.”

“This investment marks a critical milestone in our evolution into a unified threat intelligence platform that provides organizations with a single, trusted ecosystem for threat response,” says Mike Lahiff, CEO and co-founder of ZeroEyes, in the company announcement. “We are excited to accelerate our technology roadmap while deepening our commitment to the veteran community within our home of southeastern Pennsylvania.”

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In this newly created role, Robbins “oversees the company’s acquisition activities, growth initiatives and commercial strategy,” the announcement says.

Robbins joins Pye-Barker from Baird, where he served as managing director in the Global Technology and Services Investment Banking Group, jointly leading the firm’s coverage of Facility, Industrial, Residential & Environmental (FIRE) services.

Over his career, he advised on dozens of transactions across the fire and life safety sector, giving him “a deep view of the operators, business models and market dynamics that define the industry,” according to the Pye-Barker announcement.

Robbins is also a longtime advocate of Ownership Works, the nonprofit organization that partnered with Pye-Barker to create its ALL In ownership program to provide employees with the opportunity to build wealth at work, the announcement says.

Why Did Pye-Barker Add Peter Robbins?

Robbins will report to CEO Bart Proctor and “take a lead role in guiding the company’s strategy and growth initiatives and shaping how Pye-Barker evaluates, integrates and grows acquired businesses, a discipline the company has applied across more than 200 acquisitions to date,” according to the company announcement.

“Pye-Barker is one of the few companies I’ve seen scale this quickly without losing what made it worth scaling in the first place,” says Robbins in the announcement. “The operational rigor, the culture, the ownership — what this team has built is truly special and I look forward to being part of its continued growth.”

“Peter has sat across the table from us, from our competitors, and from dozens of the businesses we’ve acquired. He understands this industry as well as anyone, but it was his commitment to the people that make this company great that truly stood out to me, says Proctor in the company announcement.

“Our growth, while rapid, is also very intentional,” he says. “Peter’s growth philosophy matches ours perfectly, and I look forward to seeing what we accomplish together.”

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The annual study is based on 1.1 million monitoring events across 9,392 U.S. restaurant locations representing 78 quick-service, fast-casual and casual dining brands.

The report provides operational data at a scale to help restaurant security and operations leaders understand when risk peaks, where it concentrates, which threats escalate fastest and which intervention strategies prove most effective across thousands of monitored locations.

“Restaurant operators are balancing employee safety, customer experience, and operational efficiency across hundreds or even thousands of locations,” says Brent Duncan, CEO of Interface Systems, in the company announcement. “This report provides real-world operational data that helps them understand where risk is greatest, when intervention matters most, and how to make more informed security decisions.”

What’s in the Interface Systems Restaurant Security Report?

Key data and findings in the Interface Systems 2026 Restaurant Security Benchmark Report include: 

Protecting people is the primary security challenge. Loiterers and panhandlers (49.8%) and disturbances (21.5%) together account for over 70% of high-priority events. Theft and loss, the dominant threat in retail, barely registers at restaurants. Other threats tracked included battery and assault, burglary, robbery, property damage and medical emergencies.

Risk is highly concentrated in a small set of locations. Three percent of monitored locations generate 81% of all high-priority events and the top 100 sites alone account for 59%. Uniform security spend across a portfolio overprotects most sites and underprotects the few that carry the risk.

Risk extends across the clock. High-priority events stay elevated around the clock, peaking at 6 PM during the dinner rush, while roughly 30% occur overnight between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. when restaurants run skeleton crews or sit closed. January was the worst month, running 61% above the summer low.

Interactive remote monitoring resolves most incidents before police response is required. Of 1.1 million events, only 1.6% required a police, fire or medical dispatch. Trained intervention specialists with live video and two-way audio resolved 98.4% remotely.

False alarms remain a significant operational burden. Restaurants generated more than 296,000 false alarms during the reporting period with nearly half occurring during morning opening procedures. Video verification resolved more than 97% before emergency dispatch, helping operators avoid unnecessary fines while preserving first responder resources.

Employees rely on live support during vulnerable windows. Staff initiated more than 82,000 requests for monitoring assistance over the year, approximately 225 every day, including live monitoring, voice-down interventions and employee escorts during opening, closing, and cash-handling activities.

Risk surrounds holidays. Christmas Day recorded the fewest incidents of the year while Christmas Eve saw three times as many. The day after Presidents Day produced the highest incident volume of any holiday period as restaurants returned to normal operations.

The 2026 Restaurant Security Benchmark Report is based on anonymized event metadata collected between June 1, 2025 and May 31, 2026 across 9,392 restaurant locations nationwide. In addition to benchmarking data, the report offers practical guidance to help restaurant operators improve employee safety, reduce operational disruption and align security resources with actual risk.

Download the Full Report

The complete 2026 Restaurant Security Benchmark Report includes charts, a restaurant-versus-retail threat comparison and actionable takeaways for restaurant loss prevention and operations leaders.

Restaurant leaders can also request a free security assessment to benchmark their incident profile and identify where interactive remote video monitoring and AI-enabled perimeter deterrence can reduce risk at their locations.

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Our panel of security integrator experts see plenty of growth potential in the video surveillance space going forward, even as it seems like you can’t go almost anywhere these days without seeing a camera capturing your every move, and AI is at the heart of that exponential growth.

Video surveillance represents “probably 60 to 70 percent of revenue, both project revenue and and recurring revenue” for Sellersburg, Ind.-based Security Pros, says director of client success Mike Williams, noting their client base takes them around the world.

Security Pros focuses on worldwide logistics, trucking transfer, air freight, financial services, K-12 education, houses of worship, cities and municipalities among its offerings, says Williams, with footholds on five of seven continents and hopes of working in Africa and Antarctica.

Doug Walsh, vice president of technology strategy for SSI 2025 Installer of the Year Securitas Technology, sees video surveillance “evolving from standalone camera systems into connected, intelligence-led ecosystems,” he says.

“Across the industry, organizations are moving away from fragmented, reactive environments and toward integrated platforms that bring together video data, and insights into a more unified experience,” says Walsh, pointing to the company’s 2026 Global Technology Outlook Report.

“Artificial intelligence is accelerating how quickly organizations can surface relevant information, while cloud adoption, particularly camera-to-cloud architectures, is becoming the new standard,” he says.

“These technologies are transforming video from a passive recording tool into a source of real-time insights and operational value,” says Walsh. “Clients are increasingly focused on solutions that not only enhance security but also improve efficiency and resilience across their operations.”

This evolution, says Walsh, “is driving demand for simpler, more scalable platforms that connect systems, reduce complexity, and support a shift toward more proactive and predictive security models.”

Nick Schoch, the director of operations for Systems Technologies, the Wisconsin-based low-voltage integration division of Pieper Electric, calls video surveillance “a big piece of our offering,” which also includes access control, structured cabling and fire alarms along with dabbling in audiovisual integration.

Systems Technologies has “a heavy focus” on large commercial, industrial, institutional installations, including healthcare, corrections, K-12, some technical colleges and universities and some large industrial projects, including pulp and paper, heavy manufacturing, food and pharmaceuticals.

Schoch calls video surveillance “obviously a market that is strong right now. It’s rare that you would see a job that doesn’t have some form of video surveillance in it. We are fortunate to have some enterprise customers that we’ve worked with for over 20 years. Ultimately, they continue to add devices to their systems as well.

“It’s a big part of what we do,” he says. “We’re ordering cameras, we’re ordering servers, we’re ordering devices every day, and we’ve been very successful with that,” he says.

Brent Kiernan, the director of product management for Irving, Texas-based Everon, calls video surveillance “a pretty large piece” of its overall security and life safety operation, which ranges from retail to healthcare and many other verticals and includes managed services and central station monitoring along with product lines across security, fire and life safety.

Video surveillance, says Kiernan, is “a large chunk of our business, a very important part of our business with some of the trends that are emerging, in particular around monitoring. It’s a very important piece for us.”

Image courtesy of Emerald

Who’s Leading the Video Surveillance Conversation?

While customers are certainly becoming more sophisticated in what they want to solve their problems, security integrators are still largely leading the conversation when it comes to what the actual solutions will entail, according to our panel of experts.

“If we can’t get to the deeper problem, we feel like we failed,” says Williams. “If we walk into a situation where they’re saying, ‘give me 4K here, aimed at this and so on,’ we’re probably going to challenge that or we’re at the very least going to ask why.”

“If you’re not getting to a root cause problem that is making their operation less efficient, you’re not going to really make yourself valuable. If you’re not obviously well worth it, you’re going to lose clients,” he says.

Most Securitas Technology customers “come into the conversation with a clear understanding of the challenges they are trying to solve, whether that is improving visibility, managing risk, getting more value from their existing systems or eliminating the “noise,” like false alarms, in their security environment,” says Walsh, but the integrator still plays a key role.

“At the same time, the pace of innovation is creating opportunities many organizations have not fully explored,” he says. “That is where our role as a trusted advisor becomes critical. We work closely with clients to understand their priorities and help connect those needs with the right technologies, bringing simplicity to what is often a complex environment.”

“In many cases, the most productive discussions happen when we can introduce capabilities that go beyond traditional video surveillance. By showing how integrated platforms can connect systems, data and insights into a single experience, we help clients unlock greater business value and enable them to focus on what matters most in their business,” says Walsh.

“The move toward more intelligent, outcomes-driven security strategies is the ultimate goal,” he says.

Systems Technologies, says Schoch, is “always hunting, but farming is a big part of our go-to-market [strategy].”

“One of the advantages with how we go to market and the products that we offer is we have customers that start out with 40 devices on their system and, five years later, have 400 devices on their system,” he says.

Everon sees a variety of approaches, says Kiernan, ranging from large enterprise customers from whom “we’re taking the signal” on what services and offerings they need to others for whom the company is “more prescriptive about we prefer them to use.”

“Ultimately, it’s all about the customer needs and making sure we’re solving those in the best way possible,” he says.

AI in Video Surveillance

As with most industries these days, AI is taking on increased importance in video surveillance, with the myriad analytics opportunities offering customers new capabilities they hadn’t previously had and making it easier for them to find the exact information they need quickly.

“It’s pretty easy to say, ‘hey, you don’t want to sit there and watch all your video cameras all day, do you?’ And humans aren’t the right tool for that, even if you did somehow weirdly enjoy it,” says Williams with a laugh.

Image courtesy of Emerald

He sees artificial intelligence as “a computer system you never log in to” but it still provides a steady stream and flow of information.

AI “is raising expectations,” says Walsh, noting clients “no longer see video as a passive solution.”

“They expect it to deliver real-time insights, faster response and measurable impact on their operations,” he says. “There is also a growing expectation around ease of use. Security teams want to quickly find what matters without spending time reviewing large volumes of footage or administering complex search platforms.”

“Capabilities like AI-driven analytics and natural-language search are transforming how users interact with video, allowing them to surface relevant events and patterns in seconds.

To meet these expectations, our focus is on delivering solutions that combine artificial intelligence, cloud technology and integrated platforms in a way that is practical and scalable,” says Walsh.

“By bringing video, systems and insights together into a unified experience, we are helping clients move from reactive operations to more predictive and proactive security models while enabling faster decisions and improved outcomes,” he says.

Schoch touts the ability of AI to help with installation of video surveillance cameras, particularly if the installer isn’t fully trained on all the ins and outs of a particular camera or system.

Some companies incorporate QR codes with their cameras to assist technicians in setting up the devices, which are pre-configured, meaning when the technician hangs them on the wall, “the programming is pretty much done,” he says.

Incorporating AI in video surveillance is about “trying to match up the needs for the customer or what makes the most sense for them in terms of the sophistication of their security or life safety footprint and then applying whatever. AI features and functions that make the most sense for them,” says Kiernan.

In other cases, he says, Everon is “matching up AI or analytics that help the customer with, say, OSHA violations or, even in some cases, some things emerging around life safety where detection of smoke or fire is becoming important from a video perspective.”

Staying Educated

When Williams and the rest of the Security Pros team discuss “the next big thing” with customers, meaning capabilities that will help them add an increased level of security, “it really gets them listening.”

Staying in touch with customers and keeping them informed about new capabilities and offerings could lead to a surprising development in the integrator-customer relationship, says Williams.

“They will start to come up with examples of how it might help them that you didn’t think of,” he says.

The ability to have those conversations with customers comes from staying educated on the latest solutions and services and understanding the ones that are coming next, says Williams. He relies on industry trade publications, conferences and trade shows and contacts his manufacturer partners regularly to take their pulse on the latest offerings on the market.

Systems Technologies goes to major industry events, including ISC West, as well as conferences hosted by its manufacturer partners and local trade shows as well as events at local colleges and universities.

“I don’t think there is a magic way to do that,” says Schoch. “It’s just a whole lot of time and a whole lot of effort.”

The company also invests significantly in training its employees, including at the Milwaukee-based Axis Experience Center.

“It’s a great way to put your people in front of the latest products and ultimately industry experts and really do a deep dive into functionality and just make your people better,” says Schoch. “If you take really good people that are installers and invest in them through training, in every case, you’ll have a happy customer because they’re hiring somebody who’s not only excited about what they do, but they’re very knowledgeable about it.”

Everon is involved in several industry groups, says Kiernan.

“We’re always scanning the market,” he says. “One of the things we do is just try and stay on top of the trends and see what’s going on from various places to do scanning and research. In particular, our partners are always very good to us in terms of giving us early looks at things.”

Everon has an innovation center at its headquarters, says Kiernan, and that allows them to do “a ton of evaluation work early on, providing feedback to our partners and they’re finding solutions, ideally, before they hit the market.”

Testing New Video Surveillance Capabilities

Regardless of how tight our panel of integrators is with its manufacturer partners, that doesn’t mean they’ll deploy a new product or capability for their customers without first putting it through its paces.

“I’m a trusting guy but, until we’ve seen it working, it’s hard for us to go to our technician crew or the subcontractor network we use and say, ‘hey, we’re putting our stamp of approval on this,’” says Williams, noting they test new products and services for at least a couple of months.

Having an Axis Experience Center near its headquarters location allows Systems Technologies to “beat up new products,” says Schoch, who touts his relationships with manufacturer partners as a key component in testing new products and services.

“We have trusted relationships, so we are honest with each other,” he says. “Sometimes the solution does work and sometimes it doesn’t work the way we want it to work but our partners are open and honest with us.”

If Everon’s manufacturer partners are adding new capabilities to existing products, those tests are relatively quick, says Kiernan, but the beta phase can be much longer in cases of a more significant upgrade or new product.

That’s true of AI context, where users look at the different types of visual searches and/or proactive visual alerts and utilizing natural language as an easier way to start to begin to apply analytics.

“As you could probably imagine, that opens a humongous door as to what the imagination could bring to the table on what you wanted to be alerted on and using those people, vehicle or object analytics at your disposal to do that,” says Kiernan.

“This presented some interesting, potentially ethical things to make sure that we’re not allowing folks to type in or search for things that might be sensitive,” he says.

Image courtesy of Emerald

RMR in Video Surveillance

Recurring monthly revenue has been part of Security Pros’ business philosophy “since day one,” says Williams. About 40 percent of the company’s revenue comes from RMR, he says, although their goal is to push that to at least 50 percent.

“The philosophy has always been, ‘we own this system. We don’t by title own it but we stand behind it and we’ve got you.’ Your security is our problem, not yours,” he says. “For us to be able to deliver on that pledge, we need to make that an ongoing promise and ongoing means subscription [and] we’re going to make sure you’re getting the most out of it.”

“We want to know as deeply as we can about how they operate and what matters to them,” says Williams. “But #2, it’s got to keep working, so we’re going to log in from time to time and make sure your pictures at night are still working. Does it work in the rain? Does it work in the winter? What is the uptime and reliability? And are the recordings still good? And how many days are you getting? And can we stretch that out?”

A “large portion” of Systems Technologies’ customers purchases software assurance to go with their security systems, says Schoch, and more of them are asking about subscription-related models.

“Our go-to-market in almost every case will be a hybrid model, where customers will have a piece of some hardware on site and then some devices that are recording to the cloud and it’s a subscription,” he says.

“With many of our enterprise customers, there’s a fit for a piece of it, but, as I sit here today, I don’t see them fully transitioning to a complete subscription-based model,” says Schoch. “There will be some of each. And with our offerings, we’re set up to do it that way. And that is one of our core competencies or one of our advantages we have in the market.”

Everon puts RMR “at the forefront,” says Kiernan, with increasing numbers of customers wanting a subscription-based model.

“It’s really about partnering with our video partners to get the right pricing models and business models in place for that,” he says. “We’re starting to see more and more manufacturers come out with easier ways for us to bill and do subscription-based video for our customers.”

RMR “gives us the best flexible way to take care of the customer needs,” says Kiernan.

Everon does its own central station monitoring, which allows them to attach recurring revenue to the solutions it’s selling, he says.

“It’s kind of ingrained and embedded in kind of our business model and what we do,” says Kiernan. “It’s the trend toward making sure that it’s open and flexible.”

Saturation and Future of Video Surveillance

Image courtesy of Emerald

Williams says video surveillance is “nowhere near” its saturation point “and I think most of the industry would agree with that.”

“[Users] always wish they had another view and after you have a large installed base, adding one more view becomes more and more economical and kind of a no-brainer,” he says. “I’m very confident what’s going to happen in the next five years is all these cameras that we have deployed are going to be thought of as just detectors, eyeballs, and what we do with what they see is going to be the innovation.”

Schoch agrees that video surveillance demand “is still very strong,” noting Systems Technologies continues to see “a lot of opportunities to upgrade existing endpoints. They’re not just cameras anymore. They do so much more than that.”

“Our customer base continues to add endpoints to their systems. Part of that is our world is not full of less security or there’s enough shady business going on out there that people want to protect their people at their buildings. They want to protect their assets,” says Schoch.

Kiernan sees no end in sight to the uses and types of deployments for video surveillance cameras, ranging from simple updates to analog systems to new capabilities.

“Everything is kind of going towards AI and agents and consolidation of systems,” he says. “I think we’re going to start to see, or already starting to see, this in many platforms, that everything’s consolidated. The idea of security is kind of all in one platform so I don’t need to have separate access control and intrusion and video. It’s all just going to be ubiquitous.”

In the next several years, video surveillance will likely be part of the AI agent you’re running on your computer, says Kiernan.

“I see video kind of fitting into that as a heavy sensor and an ability to provide all sorts of important data, as we kind of touched on previously,” he says. And there should be some great opportunities to continue to evolve that and utilize it as a great source of information and being able to pull anything up at your disposal at any point in time.”

Final Thoughts

Williams encourages the security industry not to be afraid “to move super-fast” when it comes to deploying video surveillance in new and interesting ways for their customers.

“I almost feel like we are where the IT industry was, where they moved fast and broke things and very often they would be putting in version 3 when version 2 wasn’t 100% yet,” he says. “Clients are going to want to move to new capabilities that get them operating better and not worry about having every bell and whistle that this or that competitor has.

“If you can move them to a capability they didn’t have yesterday, do it. Move fast. Don’t be shy,” says Williams.

License plate recognition is one area that’s gaining more traction in the video surveillance game, says Schoch.

“It’s definitely become more affordable to do,” he says, noting that using license plates as credentials to enter a gate or garage or other restricted area has finally taken hold with customers in the past 12 to 18 months after integrators have offered that capability for many years.

“That feature’s been out there a long time,” says Schoch. “We’ve been able to do it, but we just haven’t had that customer take the dive into it. It’s become more affordable, too. That’s not super unique but that’s one solution that we’ve had for a long time that we’re finally seeing some deployments.”

Everon is seeing opportunities emerge in business and operational value, says Kiernan.

“We started to see things that traditionally we wouldn’t have probably thought about because we were having such a security focus,” he says. “Now, people want to better understand how people are moving in their space and occupancy and those sorts of things.”

“Those are not necessarily surprising use cases but just the fact that it’s moving from historically video surveillance as security focus to offering better business value,” says Kiernan.

On the life safety side, Everon is starting to see an opportunity where video can couple or help in the fire alarm space for better, earlier detection than what traditional fire alarm sensors can do as well, he says.

“There are definitely some interesting things emerging in that space,” says Kiernan.

The post Video Surveillance is Everywhere, But Myriad Opportunities Remain appeared first on Security Sales & Integration.

As members of the board, Deatherage and Keller will “help guide PSA’s strategic direction while supporting its mission to empower owner and member companies through education, collaboration, networking and innovative business solutions,” according to the association announcement.

PSA also owns an audiovisual buying group, Edge.

“Travis and Pete each bring unique expertise and leadership perspectives that will strengthen our board and benefit the entire PSA community,” says Matt Barnette, president and CEO of PSA, in the announcement. “Their experience driving growth and supporting operational excellence will help us maximize the value that PSA brings to our members while advancing the future of both the security and audiovisual integration industries.”

Why Did PSA Name Deatherage and Keller to Board?

Deatherage serves as president of LINX Multimedia and brings more than 28 years of experience in audiovisual systems, telecommunications, software development and technology integration. He founded Solstice Multimedia in 2002, later merging the company with LINX in 2011 to create LINX Multimedia.

Under his leadership, the company “has evolved from a regional AV integrator into a nationally recognized technology integration provider serving enterprise, higher education, health care, mission-critical and government clients across the United States,” according to the PSA announcement.

As an Edge member, LINX Multimedia “represents the network’s growing community of audiovisual integrators, and Deatherage will bring that valuable AV perspective to the PSA board of directors and support collaboration between PSA and Edge members,” the announcement says.

Throughout his career, Deatherage “has led strategic growth initiatives, expanded national operations and supported successful acquisitions while maintaining a strong focus on client experience, technical excellence and long-term partnerships,” according to the PSA announcement.

“I am excited for the opportunity to join the PSA Board at such a pivotal time for security and AV integration,” says Deatherage in the announcement. “I understand firsthand the value organizations like PSA Security and Edge bring to their members and am honored to be working on the board of a forward thinking, collaborative, member-owned organization with leaders from across the security integration industry.”

Keller serves as chief financial officer at Integrated Protection Services (IPS), where he leads the company’s financial strategy, planning and performance management. He “partners closely with executive leadership to align financial discipline with long-term growth objectives while overseeing financial planning and analysis, budgeting, forecasting and enterprise reporting,” according to the PSA announcement.

Keller “brings extensive experience in operational efficiency, strategic planning and responsible financial stewardship,” the announcement says. He is a frequent speaker on financial leadership, scaling operations and leveraging analytics to drive business performance.

“I’m honored to join the PSA board and contribute to an organization that consistently creates value for its members through creative benefits, collaboration, shared learning and industry leadership,” says Keller in the PSA announcement. “PSA provides a unique platform for member organizations to grow stronger together, and I’m excited to help advance that mission.”

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By participating in our brief survey, you’ll help shape our research while gaining insights into how your peers are navigating this complex and vital market. Your feedback will provide valuable data on the current command-and-control landscape, including average gross revenue, typical project approaches, profitability and growth forecasts.

This information is crucial for understanding trends and challenges, and for developing best practices that benefit everyone in the industry.

Results will be printed in the September/October edition of Commercial Integrator + Security Sales & Integration and on SecuritySales.com. Take the survey NOW before it closes on Friday, July 24!

Command-and-Control Survey Focus

Our survey covers a range of important topics:

• Average Gross Revenue: What does your company typically earn from command-and-control-related projects?
• Project Approach: How do you usually tackle these specialized projects?
• Profitability: How would you describe your company’s profitability in this area?
• Growth Trends: How much has your command-and-control projects grown recently, and what is your forecast for the next 12 months?
• Technologies Used: What types of technologies do you specify, design, integrate and manage in these environments?
• Videowall Technology: Which videowall technologies are most commonly deployed?
• Unique Challenges: What logistical or operational challenges set command-and-control projects apart from other sectors?
• Client Empowerment: What can clients or manufacturers do to help your firm achieve greater success and profitability?

By taking the survey, you contribute to a comprehensive overview that will be shared with the pro AV integration community. This collective knowledge helps everyone stay informed about industry standards, emerging technologies and strategies for overcoming common challenges.

Ready to make your voice heard? Take the survey now! Your insights will not only help guide the industry but also refine your own approach to command-and-control projects.

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Randy Clark oversees the association’s membership department, directing and fulfilling overall SIA membership retention and recruiting efforts.

The member services team provides member service by “helping companies maximize their membership investment and adds value to each membership touchpoint, including managing membership records,” according to the SIA announcement.

Why Did SIA Hire Clark as Member Services Director?

Clark has more than two decades of association membership experience with a background spanning consumer, professional and trade associations.

Most recently, he served as the director of corporate development for the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors (NAW), where he was responsible for organizational growth and program expansion through membership sales.

He also led the development of new membership programs focused on individual memberships to add additional revenue streams to NAW’s corporate focused membership base.

“With Randy Clark joining our talented team, SIA is positioned to better serve our members through enhanced engagement and value,” says SIA CEO Don Erickson in the association announcement. “Randy’s over 20 years of experience as an association membership leader will be highly impactful as we propel SIA forward, faster.”

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Entrio Intercom Cloud “combines entry routing, real-time communication, door control and operator management in one software platform,” according to the company announcement. Designed to work with existing access infrastructure, Entrio “integrates seamlessly with ProdataKey’s award-winning access control solutions.”

The PDK and Entrio integration “modernizes the visitor access experience by replacing traditional intercom hardware with a simple QR code,” the company announcement says.

Visitors scan an Entrio QR code using their smartphone, which instantly connects them to the appropriate tenant, resident, employee or security operator. Once the visitor is verified, authorized users can remotely unlock PDK-controlled doors directly through the integrated workflow.

Why Did ProdataKey Integrate with Entrio?

“Organizations are looking for smarter, more flexible ways to manage entry without adding complexity,” says Brach Bengtzen, PDK vice president of marketing, in the company announcement. “The Entrio integration extends the power of PDK access control with a modern, mobile-first visitor experience. Together, we’re helping customers simplify access management while delivering the convenience users expect today.”

The PDK and Entrio integration is available to configure now in PDK.io. To learn more, visit prodatakey.com/integrations or schedule a demo today.

The post ProdataKey Launches Integration with Entrio Intercom Cloud Platform appeared first on Security Sales & Integration.

Chairman and chief executive officer Richard Soloway, a 2004 SSI Industry Hall of Famer, will serve as founder and executive chairman, and Kevin Buchel will transition from president and chief operating officer to chief executive officer and president.

Soloway founded NAPCO more than 55 years ago to create “one of the most successful and well-recognized security technology companies in the U.S.,” according to the company announcement.

As executive chairman, Soloway “will continue to provide leadership by focusing on strategic initiatives and long-term business plans, driving new product innovation, maintaining key security industry relationships and providing guidance and advice to management members on critical issues affecting the company,” the announcement says.

Soloway will also continue his position as chairman of board of birectors of NAPCO, according to the company announcement.

“It has been a tremendous privilege to serve as chief executive officer of NAPCO, and I am very proud and gratified by the many achievements and milestones since founding the Company,” says Soloway in the NAPCO announcement.

“In my new role as executive chairman, I am committed to bringing NAPCO to the next level of success,” the announcement says. “It is also with great confidence and pleasure that we turn the chief executive position over to Kevin, who has already demonstrated his leadership skills and business acumen since his appointment as NAPCO’s president and chief operating officer two years ago and I look forward to continuing to collaborate with Kevin in our new roles.”

Why Did NAPCO Name Kevin Buchel CEO and President?

The post NAPCO Leadership Transition: Buchel Becomes CEO and President appeared first on Security Sales & Integration.

Profile V “extends the ONVIF brand-independent approach to the cloud, giving system integrators, consultants and end users a way to build cloud video systems that are not tied to a single vendor,” the announcement says.

A cloud-based video management system “reduces or replaces on-site hardware and runs video through a remote server,” according to the ONVIF announcement. It “minimizes the need for local servers, simplifies maintenance, supports remote access from a web client and makes it easier to expand storage as a system grows.”

Profile V delivers “cloud benefits without the lock-in: conformant products from different manufacturers work together and any one of them can be replaced without redesigning the whole system,” the announcement says.

Why is ONVIF Releasing Profile V for Cloud Video?

“Standardizing cloud video surveillance is a natural next step for ONVIF,” says Leo Levit, chairman of the ONVIF board of directors, in the organization announcement. “As more security systems move to the cloud, we want that shift to give customers more choice, not less.

“When the fundamentals are standardized, companies can build on top of them, and customers can trust that what they invest in today will still work with what they choose tomorrow,” he says

Profile V “enables a conformant cloud-based video management system (VMS) to reach cameras behind a local firewall, typically without port forwarding or VPN configuration,” according to the ONVIF announcement. The conformant device “makes a secure outbound connection to the cloud VMS, then streams live video and, if applicable, audio over WebRTC to an ONVIF client or an authorized standard web client.”

The device can also send event notifications to the cloud VMS to take action. Video and audio are encrypted before they are pushed to cloud storage, such as Amazon S3 or Microsoft Azure Blob Storage. Profile V can be combined with other ONVIF video and access control profiles for integrated or hybrid systems.

Profile V conformant products must implement the ONVIF Profile V Security Add-on, which covers two areas: it uses the OAuth 2.0 framework so that only authorized devices, clients and cloud services can connect and exchange data and it encrypts recordings on their way to storage.

ONVIF placed these requirements in an add-on instead of the profile itself because “an add-on can be updated to keep pace with evolving security requirements without rewriting the full Profile V specification,” according to the organization announcement.

The draft Profile V specification is available now for review by ONVIF members and ONVIF expects to finalize it by the end of the year.

The post ONVIF Releases Profile V Draft for Cloud Video Without Lock-In appeared first on Security Sales & Integration.

Building on ModuLaser technology, MiniLaser “pairs advanced diagnostics and flexible configuration options to deliver a reliable, highly sensitive detection solution that is technician-friendly and cost-effective,” the announcement says.

MiniLaser “addresses a persistently underserved single-zone market that has traditionally faced difficult tradeoffs between cost, reliability and ease of use,” according to the Kidde Commercial announcement. “Because it is engineered specifically for these environments, MiniLaser eliminates those tradeoffs and delivers a cost-effective, reliable solution that is easy for technicians to install and service.”

“Traditional single-zone aspirating smoke detection solutions force users to choose between cost, reliability and ease of use,” says Wally Ortiz, global product management director at Kidde Commercial, in the company announcement. “MiniLaser rejects those compromises by adapting proven ModuLaser technology to a system designed specifically for critical applications in smaller spaces.”

What Does the Kidde Commercial MiniLaser Do?

Using laser-based, forward-scattering optical detection, MiniLaser “identifies minute particles associated with incipient fires to accurately initiate early intervention,” according to the Kidde Commercial announcement.

Integrated ClassiFire AI technology “continuously adapts detection sensi­tivity based on environmental conditions, minimizing false positives and nuisance alarms while delivering reliable long-term performance in challenging environments,” the announcement says.

“Every aspect of MiniLaser is engineered to simplify installation, configuration and service,” according to the company announcement. “To simplify and streamline commissioning, a DIP (dual in-line package) switch interface enables setup without tools or laptops, while front-accessible terminals allow faster wiring and live maintenance. Flexible installation options support faster setup and reduce labor costs.”

The pre-engineered pipe layouts “simplify the system design process by eliminating the need for costly, time-consuming custom pipe network engineering,” according to the Kidde Commercial announcement. With support for pipe runs up to 400 feet and as many as 25 holes in its standard configurations, users “can move from design to installation faster while maintaining flexibility.”

This approach “helps reduce overall project costs by nearly 30 percent compared to other UL 268 7th Edition listed aspirating smoke detectors,” the company announcement says. The PipeCAD software “now supports MiniLaser when more complex designs are essential.” Additionally, the secure quick-fit adapter system “makes pipe connections fast and straightforward, allowing for easy installation, removal, and maintenance.”

MiniLaser “reduces lifecycle service disruptions and costs with a suite of features that enhance reliability and performance,” according to the Kidde Commercial announcement. The waste-gate airflow architecture and multi-layer internal dust filter “keep the system clean, extend maintenance intervals, and reduce maintenance needs and operational costs over the product’s lifetime.”

The MiniLaser is UL 268 7th Edition and ULC S529 listed and is backed by a five-year warranty.

The post Kidde Commercial Launches MiniLaser Smoke Detector appeared first on Security Sales & Integration.

The Advisory Council “brings together respected executives from across the security integration ecosystem to provide industry expertise, identify emerging trends and help shape future research priorities for the ESA Industry Research Center, including the ESA Industry Performance Index (IPI),” according to the ESA announcement.

The inaugural members of the ESA Industry Research Center Advisory Council are:

• Michael Barnes, founder, Barnes & Associates
• Kirk MacDowell, president, MacGuard Security Advisors
• Scott R. Elkins, executive chairman, Zeus Fire and Security
• Ken Francis, executive vice president, Digital Monitoring Products (DMP)

Additional Advisory Council members will be announced in the coming weeks, according to the ESA announcement.

What Will the ESA Industry Research Advisory Council Do?

“The ESA Industry Research Center was created to provide independent, data-driven intelligence that helps security professionals make better business decisions,” says Merlin Guilbeau, CEO of ESA, in the association announcement.

“Our Advisory Council ensures that our research remains grounded in the real-world challenges and opportunities facing integrators, dealers, manufacturers and the broader security community,” he says. “Their collective experience will help keep our research relevant, practical, and focused on the issues that matter most.”

Serving in an advisory capacity, council members will work alongside ESA leadership and Beacon Economics, the association’s independent research partner, to “provide guidance on research priorities, emerging industry trends and topics that can deliver the greatest value to ESA members and the industry at large.”

The council will also “provide ongoing feedback as the ESA Industry Research Center expands its portfolio of research, benchmarking tools, economic analysis and educational resources,” according to the association announcement.

“One of the greatest strengths of the Industry Research Center is that it is being built with input from the industry,” says Elkins in the ESA announcement. “This council represents leaders with diverse experiences across the security market and together we have an opportunity to help ensure the research reflects the realities businesses face every day.”

The ESA Industry Research Center was “established to provide objective economic intelligence and market insights that help security companies better understand industry trends, benchmark performance and make informed strategic decisions,” according to the association announcement.

A cornerstone of the initiative is the ESA Industry Performance Index (IPI), developed in partnership with Beacon Economics. Scheduled to launch later this summer, the IPI “will measure the health of the electronic security industry across four key dimensions: business activity and market growth, workforce capacity, revenue and business model health and technology and AI adoption,” according to the ESA announcement.

The post ESA Names Industry Research Center Advisory Council Members appeared first on Security Sales & Integration.

ResponseTECH will join Pye-Barker’s existing teams in Maryland to provide “comprehensive life safety services to a broader customer base,” the announcement says.

ResponseTECH offers security systems that provide critical communication and protect lives, including intrusion and fire alarms, access control, central station monitoring, nurse-call and mass emergency notification systems, from planning and design to ongoing testing and maintenance.

The company’s clientele ranges from commercial facilities to education to senior living, prioritizing “first-class customer service and long-lasting client relationships,” according to the joint announcement.

Why Did Pye-Barker Acquire ResponseTECH?

“One thing has always emerged as a driver for me throughout my tenure in business: company culture,” says Avner Skolnik, owner of ResponseTECH, in the joint announcement. “It’s about outstanding customer service, honest business practices, long-lasting client relationships and giving back to the community. I see those values every day in Pye-Barker, which is why I’m so energized by this partnership.”

“I often say I can tell if a company will be a good cultural fit within five minutes of our first conversation,” says Bart Proctor, CEO of Pye-Barker, in the announcement. “It was clear that ReponseTECH’s team shares our passion for customer relationships, and that together, we can deliver world-class service to our Maryland communities.”

ResponseTECH’s technicians will continue to serve customers in Maryland.

Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough, LLP represented Pye-Barker in the transaction.

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Founded in 2004 by John Gendron and Rich Bedner, Performance Link Technologies “built its reputation by delivering innovative, cost-effective technology solutions backed by exceptional craftsmanship, professionalism and customer service,” according to the joint announcement.

Originally established in 2004 as a structured cabling company, PLT expanded into electronic security in 2009 and has grown into a partner for organizations across manufacturing, automotive, healthcare, education, retail, government, commercial and industrial markets, the announcement says.

PLT provides structured cabling, voice and data infrastructure, video surveillance, access control, wireless networking, paging, and related technology solutions. The company has extensive experience supporting both regional and multi-site national deployments.

Why Did Minuteman Acquire Performance Link Technologies?

The Performance Link Technologies acquisition strengthens Minuteman’s presence throughout the southeastern United States while expanding its ability to deliver integrated security, life safety, structured cabling, and enterprise technology solutions to customers nationwide.

“Performance Link Technologies has built an outstanding reputation by putting customers first and consistently delivering quality work,” says Ron Oetjen, chief executive officer of Minuteman Security & Life Safety, in the joint announcement. “John, Rich, and their team share our commitment to partnership, integrity, and operational excellence.

“What impressed us most throughout this process was the PLT team and the culture they’ve built over the past two decades. Their people-first mindset and commitment to excellence align perfectly with the values that define Minuteman Nation,” he says.

“We’re thrilled to welcome the PLT team to the Minuteman family and together we are even better positioned to support our customers with expanded capabilities, greater resources, and the local responsiveness they expect,” says Oetjen.

“We’ve always believed that long-term success comes from building strong partnerships with our customers, our employees, and our vendors,” says Gendron, president & CEO of Performance Link Technologies, in the joint announcement. “Joining Minuteman allows us to preserve the culture and values that have made us successful while giving our customers access to expanded resources and our employees new opportunities for growth.

“From our very first conversations, it was clear that Minuteman shares our belief that lasting relationships are the foundation of long-term success. We couldn’t be more excited about what we’ll accomplish together,” he says.

“From the very beginning, our goal has been to provide exceptional service and create lasting relationships,” says Rich Bedner, chief operating officer & vice president of Performance Link Technologies, in the joint announcement. “This partnership gives us the opportunity to build on everything we’ve created while offering our customers the strength of a national organization.

“They’ll continue working with the team they know and trust, now backed by an even broader network of industry experts, expanded technical capabilities and nationwide resources. We’re excited to be part of a company that’s investing in our people, our customers and our future,” he says.

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Scott R. Elkins, founder of Zeus and the company’s chief executive officer since its formation in partnership with Access Holdings in February 2022, has been appointed executive chairman and member of the board of directors, according to the company announcement.

The leadership transition “is part of a long-planned succession process designed to strengthen leadership capacity, support continued growth and position Zeus for its next chapter of scale and long-term value creation,” the announcement says.

“Zeus is committed to building a highly differentiated and premier tech enabled, fully integrated, fire and security services business through continued investment in advanced technology solutions and in its team,” according to the company announcement.

Why is Zeus Shaking Up its Leadership Team?

Since its founding in 2022, and on the heels of the acquisition of SEi last month, Zeus has grown revenues more than four times, having expanded across North America through “a combination of strategic acquisitions, operational excellence and a commitment to building a people-first culture,” the announcement says.

Today, Zeus serves customers across the United States and Canada through a growing network of fire protection, security and monitoring businesses.

“We believe Zeus has now earned the right to become one of the largest and leading fire and safety platforms in the United States, and as we look ahead to the next phase of growth for Zeus, we wanted to ensure we had the long-term leadership, operating experience, and succession plan required to build a category leading business,” says Elkins in the company announcement.

“This transition is a proactive step made from a position of strength,” he says. “Mike is an exceptional leader with deep experience scaling complex organizations, and I could not be more excited to welcome Mike to Zeus and partner with him as we continue building on the incredible momentum our team has created since our launch.”

Cox brings experience leading and scaling multi-site service businesses and “has a proven track record of driving operational excellence, building high-performing teams and accelerating growth,” according to the Zeus Fire and Safety announcement.

Most recently, he helped lead a services business from approximately $300 million to more than $1 billion in revenue.

“Zeus has built something truly special,” says Cox in the company announcement. “The company has an exceptional culture, a strong leadership team, outstanding operating businesses and a significant runway for growth.

“My focus is simple: build on the strong foundation already in place, continue investing in our people and customers, and help the organization scale while staying true to the values that have driven its success. I am honored to join the Zeus team and partner with Scott and Access Holdings and I am excited about the significant opportunities ahead,” he says.

As Executive Chairman, Elkins “remains actively involved in the business, focusing on strategic growth initiatives, industry relationships, acquisition strategy and long-term value creation,” according to the Zeus announcement. He “will continue working closely with Cox, the leadership team and Access Holdings to support the company’s continued expansion.”

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