ESA announces 2024 board of directors

DALLAS—The Electronic Security Association (ESA) has announced the 2024 Board of Directors election results, with members of ESA recently voting for several open positions on the board.

The purpose of a director on the ESA Board is to work collectively as a team to provide good governance of ESA affairs and to set direction to optimize the growth and performance of the organization. Each board member has a responsibility for ensuring strategies and policies that are developed, discussed, and implemented will enable the organization to achieve its mission and vision and to monitor the organization’s implementation of those strategies and policies. 

In accordance with ESA bylaws, one national company director, three integrators, and one associate member director position were up for election. Voting opened on April 29, 2024, and concluded on May 24, 2024. Balloting was conducted electronically through a third-party platform that maintained election integrity and security. 

At the conclusion of balloting the following candidates were declared the winners of this election and will begin their term on the ESA Board of Directors on July 1, 2024:  

National Company Director (two-year term) 

Doug Bassett, executive director, connectivity ops licensing and compliance, Comcast Xfinity Home, Philadelphia

Bassett has served on the Board of Directors since 2022 and is the executive director of licensing and field compliance for Comcast’s Xfinity Home security, directing programs, policies, and practices to ensure the company’s compliance with all applicable low-voltage licenses and permit requirements. He maintains a thorough understanding of current and emerging federal, state, and/or local licensing laws and permitting requirements governing the installation and service of alarm monitoring and communication products.  

He is an industry professional with 40 years of leadership experience, including management of installation, service, sales, and licensing of local, regional, and national activity. His scope of work and experience includes security, commercial fire, access control, CCTV, and sound in residential, commercial, new construction, industrial, and governmental applications. Bassett was appointed by Florida Governor Rick Scott in June 2016 to the Florida Electrical Contractors Licensing Board, where he has served as the chairman since 2018. 

“It is truly an honor to be of service to our industry and the Electronic Security Association,” Bassett said. “I sincerely appreciate the confidence of our members and their continued support. Thank you.” 

Integrator Director (two-year term) 

Randall Renfroe, president/CEO, Allstate Security Industries (ASI), Amarillo, Texas  

Renfroe has served on the Board of Directors since 2023 and has had a distinguished career with ASI, starting in 2007 as a uniform division security officer and patrol officer for the first two years. He demonstrated exceptional leadership skills and was soon promoted to a position as the monitoring station manager in 2009. Renfroe played a crucial role in the remodeling of the ARC and reorganizing of the department, which helped to improve the overall operations of the organization.  

He then moved into procurement, where he implemented significant changes and improvements, and subsequently transitioned to the technical division. Renfroe progressed through the ranks in the technical division, starting as a technician and eventually becoming the service/installation manager. His exceptional performance and leadership skills led to his promotion to COO/VP, and to the position of president. 

“It’s an honor to have been chosen to be on the ESA Board of Directors again and I can’t thank everyone enough for the support,” Renfroe said.

Neil Atha, president, Atronic Alarm, Lenexa, Kan.  

With over 16 years of experience in the electronic security industry, Atha has been integral in the growth of Atronic. With Atha at the helm, Atronic has grown from a single location with 35 employees to more than 100 employees spanning across Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska.  

Prior to joining Atronic in 2011, Atha spent three years as a regional account manager for a Dallas-based national security integrator. During that time, he gained extensive knowledge of commercial estimating and system design, including fire alarms, cameras, access control, and intrusion systems.  

While maintaining a diversity of business and personal interests, Atha concentrates most of his efforts on continuously improving the quality of products and services delivered by Atronic. He oversees the management team, strategizes growth opportunities and acquisitions, coordinates marketing initiatives, and develops company policies. 

“I am honored to join the Electronic Security Association’s Board of Directors,” Atha said. “As a second-generation security business professional, I am committed to building on our legacy of innovation and trust. I look forward to working with my colleagues to support ESA’s mission of providing resources, education, advocacy, and connections for professionals in the electronic security and life safety industry.” 

Scott Elkins, CEO, Zeus Fire & Security, Paoli, Pa.

Elkins is CEO of Zeus Fire & Security, a network of leading fire and security providers. Zeus’ footprint includes the Alert Alarm of Hawaii, Independent Alarm of New Jersey, PASS Security of Missouri, SMG Security of Illinois, and UAS of Pennsylvania.

He is the former owner and a 30-plus-year employee of UAS, a national provider of fire and security services in a wide variety of vertical markets including restaurants, retail, and outdoor equipment yards. Zeus maintains two monitoring centers including the 2021 TMA SMB Monitoring Center of the Year at UAS in Paoli, Pa., and an additional monitoring center in Honolulu.  

Elkins is also the chairman of the board for NetOne, a network combining the 39 “Best of the Best” independently owned security companies from across North America and has been on the NetOne Board for over 15 years. In addition, he was the principal inventor of United States Patent No. 7,155,739: “Method and system for secure registration, storage, management and linkage of personal authentication credentials data over a network.”

Associate Director (Two-year term) 

Dean Belisle, national sales trainer, DMP (Digital Monitoring Products), Springfield, Mo.  

Belisle has served on the Board of Directors since 2023. He has been active in the electronic security & fire alarm Industry for over 40 years. Belisle started early as a technician and then co‐founded his own successful security and life safety business. He has extensive experience in front‐line sales, sales training, and program development and he has a unique ability to custom‐fit solutions to your specific needs. 

Belisle is recognized by many as an expert in the electronic security & fire alarm industry. He has consulted with legislators on the state and federal level, Michigan State Police, the Governor’s Office, the Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police, and the Detroit Police Department. He has also served the industry as president of the Burglar & Fire Alarm Association of Michigan; a position he held for a total of 20 years.  

Throughout his professional career, Dean has mentored, trained, and spoken to thousands of the security industry’s best and brightest, sharing his insight and experience in the areas of sales, marketing, RMR creation and growth. He considers these efforts to be one of his professional life’s best achievements to date.  

“Law enforcement has a motto they live by – ‘Protect and Serve.’ I have adopted a similar motto in representing the security & life safety industry – ‘Protect and Promote,’” Belisle said. “Protect this great industry from all threats to its integrity and professionalism. Promote the incredible safety and value we provide each day. I believe that being a member of this amazing industry is both a privilege and a responsibility.” 

The installation of the directors will be held at the first scheduled ESA board meeting in July.