Lippert Award given to Frank De Fina posthumously

SILVER SPRING, Md.—The Security Industry Association today announced that Frank De Fina, former senior director, strategic sales, for Hikvision USA, will receive the 2015 George R. Lippert Memorial Award posthumously.

De Fina, who died in July, served on the SIA Board of Directors.

The Lippert Award, founded in 1989, honors George R. Lippert, who dedicated more than 20 years of his life to the security industry and SIA. Honorees are chosen for service to SIA and the security industry, the impact of their efforts on behalf of SIA and the industry, and their integrity, leadership and diplomacy as demonstrated in industry dealings.

The SIA Lippert Award Committee, composed of previous recipients of the Lippert Award, unanimously chose De Fina from a field of nominees.

“Frank De Fina was a giant in life and in the security industry,” said SIA CEO Don Erickson, in a prepared statement. “He was a very kind man whose knowledge, experience and wit made extraordinary contributions to our community. It is with great respect that we present the Lippert Award to him. He is sorely missed, and we will take this occasion to celebrate his life's work at SIA Honors Night.”

SIA will present De Fina's family with the 2015 Lippert Award during the SIA Honors Night gala at The Current at Chelsea Piers in New York on Nov. 18.

De Fina spent 30 years in the security industry. Before joining Hikvision, De Fina served as EVP of sales and marketing for SightLogix and EVP of sales and marketing for Samsung Techwin America. De Fina previously spent 26 years at Panasonic, where he eventually served as president and COO.

De Fina's work with SIA included developing a Security Systems Technology degree program at Mercer County Community College in New Jersey.

“Working with SIA was something that Frank enjoyed very much, and I know he would be honored to receive this award,” De Fina's wife, Patricia De Fina, said in a prepared statement. “He was passionate about helping others, and his legacy will continue as young people benefit from the education program he put together for Mercer College.”