PSA, SSN announce Integrator of the Year/Bill Bozeman Award winners

WESTMINSTER, Colo. and YARMOUTH, Maine—PSA and Security Systems News have announced the winners of the second annual Integrator of the Year and Bill Bozeman Awards, which aspire to identify the leading system integrators within security, from smaller, local integrators all the way up to the big nationals. 

Winners were awarded at PSA TEC 2023 - taking place this week at the Hyatt Regency Dallas in Texas - and will be featured within the pages of SSN. PSA Vice President of Marketing and Events Candice Aragon and Security Systems News Editor Cory Harris presented the Integrator of the Year awards and the overall winner, the Bill Bozeman Award, named after the former CEO of PSA, who helped to hand out the awards.

Preferred Technologies, based out of Houston, took home the Bill Bozeman Award (inset). SAGE Integration, based out of Kent, Ohio, received the award for Integrator of the Year in the large business category (over $25 million), while Integrator of the Year in the medium business category ($6 million to $25 million) went to ECD Systems, based out of Tempe, Ariz., and DSI Security Services, based out of Dothan, Ala., captured the Integrator of the Year award in the small business category (up to $5 million). 

In 2022, Preferred Technologies saw sales increase by 75 percent and revenue by 50 percent, and its staff grew by almost 15 percent. Its year-over-year revenue rate growth from 2021-2022 was 50 percent and net income rate growth was 83 percent. This integrator has been serving the industry for 18 years. While it is a veteran and minority-owned business and has a fairly diverse workforce already, the company knows it can do better. They use real data tracking on the significant statistics surrounding DEI and then use that elevated awareness to address gaps.

Finally, in April of this year, Preferred Technologies started a nine-week Craftsman with Character pre-apprenticeship program with a local school district benefiting at-risk students. The goal is to introduce underprivileged high school seniors to an amazing industry, help them develop soft skills to succeed in any industry, and, hopefully, hire a few of them in the coming years.

In 2022, SAGE Integration saw revenue increase by 46 percent year-over-year. In addition to its strong financial performance, its employees are incredibly involved in the industry, even being named SIA Integration Member of the year in 2022. This integrator is dedicated to supporting each community it serves, providing over 800 back packs and supplies for Title 1 schools in Akron, Dallas, Atlanta, Knoxville, and Philadelphia. It runs a canned food drive each Thanksgiving and has also supported Southern Nevada Dress for Success, Mission 500, and Moms in Security Global Outreach. Finally, in 2022, this organization was named one of Ohio’s best places to work.

ECD Systems was founded in 2014. In 2022, this integrator experienced 27 percent growth over 2021. Likewise, last year this integrator expanded its RMR from 5 percent to 10 percent of revenue, with a goal to increase to 15 percent in the next three years. This integrator started and maintains a local organization called True Blue Tempe to encourage local businesses to advocate for and support the Tempe Police Department in its hometown. Its staff participates throughout the year raising funds to support the local St. Mary's Food Bank, Phoenix Zoo, Phoenix Children's Hospital and commit time twice a year to pack food boxes for an International NGO. To demonstrate its commitment to DEI, this integrator has taken on a number of initiatives such as training recruiters on bias, sourcing candidates from a variety of channels, providing education and training and more.

DSI had a 61 percent increase in revenue in 2022 over 2021 in its electronic security solutions division. Currently, they are on pace to grow even more with 112 percent growth year to date in Q1 2023. Starting in 1969, this integrator has grown to be one of the strongest independently owned, manned guarding service companies in the industry. This integrator currently sponsors multiple local sports organizations in and around the local community of its corporate campus and hosts an annual Golf Tournament for its local Kiwanis Club. As a woman-owned business, it takes pride in providing equal opportunities for all.