CSAA, ESA recognize industry excellence at ESX 2011

CHARLOTTE, N.C.—Two of the security industry's biggest national associations, the Central Station Alarm Association and the Electronic Security Association, held their annual awards ceremonies at this year's Electronic Security Expo here.

ESA held its banquet and Sara E. Jackson and Morris F. Weinstock awards ceremony June 7 at the NASCAR Hall of Fame, adjacent to the Charlotte Convention Center, where ESX exhibitors—in increased numbers over last year—were busy setting up their booths for the show's opening the following day. A few hundred industry players peopled the grand hall of the NASCAR Hall of Fame, mingling, dining and absorbing the expansive history of the NASCAR organization, a hero of which, NASCAR team owner Joe Gibbs, gave the keynote talk at the ESX luncheon June 8.

Inside the Hall of Fame's stadium-style movie theater, attendees settled in as ESX chairman George De Marco, former owner of Los Angeles-based Greater Alarm, introduced the awards and the award presenters. There were three awards given: The Youth Scholarship Award, which was won by Brian Roxas; the Sara E. Jackson Award, won by Stanley Security Solutions' LJ Lynes; and the Morris F. Weinstock Person of the Year Award, won by former ESA president Mike Miller.

From La Crescenta, Calif., Roxas' is stepfather is a firefighter in Los Angeles County. Roxas received a $7,500 scholarship From ESA

"I really appreciate this a great deal. I know all the past recipients of this award, and they're all much higher quality than I am," Lynes said, accepting his award. "I appreciate this very much."

Miller, who is VP of Pasco, Wash.-based Moon Security, thanked friends, family and colleagues for their support and guidance over the years.

"My mentor George Gunning always told me remember your stakeholders," Miller explained before extending a special thanks to ESA executive director Merlin Guilbeau. "I could not have done anything without the strength and skill he brought to the table."

On June 8, CSAA held its Excellence Awards ceremony at a breakfast, which was attended by a few hundred central station folks.

Four awards, including Support Person of the Year, Operator of the Year, Manager of the Year, and Central Station of the Year recognized excellence in the world of central station monitoring.

Bryan Nussbaum, of proprietary central station State Farm Insurance, won the Support Person of the Year honor. State Farm's Joe Miskulin accepted the award on Nussbaum' behalf.

"He's just a really bright guy," Miskulin told Security Systems News. "He's been working with me most of his adult life."

Operator of the Year honors went to Vector Security West's Melanie Warych, while EPS Security's Amy Jo Feliciano won Manager of the Year.

The top award for Central Station of the Year went to Diebold, which has central station operations in Ohio and Hawaii.

Diebold's central station operations manager Bob Carfolo told Security Systems News, "We were hopeful, but certainly not expecting it. This is certainly not just an honor for me, but for my whole team."

Former NFL football coach and NASCAR championship team owner Joe Gibbs, well known for his work ethic both in the NFL and NASCAR organizations, delivered an entertaining and well-received "pep-talk" keynote to a sold-out crowd at the Keynote Luncheon on June 8.

"What is the key to being a good leader? Making sure all of your people know they're important," Gibbs said. "Invest in your people … The most important aspect your company has is its people."