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Initial hosts IE Expo 2007

Initial hosts IE Expo 2007

CHICAGO--Building on shows put on for years by 2005 acquisition Video Master, Initial Electronics (now a property of UTC Fire & Security; see accompanying briefs, this page) will host its first IE Expo on Aug. 17, at the Field Museum in downtown Chicago. The security systems integrator hopes to attract as many as 300 end users, largely from the surrounding area, to view the latest in security technology solutions and listen to industry speakers. "This is something Video Master has had great success with," said Initial marketing manager Tom Murdock, who is organizing the event. "They got hundreds of people to come out and we thought we'd build on that." The Field Museum is also one of Initial's largest clients, so it offers an opportunity for potential and current clients to see how Initial has designed a solution for a unique and delicate environment. "In this past," said Murdock, "this was a way to offer clients the opportunity to see these products without having to go to ASIS or ISC. This year, complementary to that, we've added a series of speakers that will be coming in, and that's all free, too, of course." Speakers include Dave Dickinson, the protective security advisor for the Chicago district of the Department of Homeland Security; Paul Timm, president of RETA Security; and Wayne Ridinger, director of sales for the central region of the United States at DVTel. However, the event isn't intended to be all business: "It's another way to get in front of our clients," Murdock said, "but we're also trying to turn it more into a social event." There will be a cocktail party following the expo and this social gathering is something Initial will look to do on a more frequent basis going forward. While Initial will likely hold the Expo every other year going forward, Murdock hopes to put together social events as often as quarterly. "Maybe we'll go to a monster truck rally, something more fun like that," said Murdock.

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