SIA gives updates on financials, ISC West at annual meeting

SILVER SPRING, Md.—The Security Industry Association (SIA) hosted its annual membership meeting, The Advance, on March 23 as a virtual event for the second straight year, highlighting 2020’s noteworthy accomplishments in the midst of the pandemic, honoring its best and brightest members, and providing an update on ISC West, which will have a hybrid format it was announced.

SIA Board of Directors Chair Pierre Trapanese, who emceed the meeting, began by pointing out how SIA became a stronger membership association in a challenging year, increasing to 1,117 members in 2020, up from 1,028 members in 2019, with membership currently at exactly 1,150 members.

“This is absolutely fantastic,” Trapanese said of the membership numbers. “This is absolutely fantastic, given the conditions this past year. I need to thank all of you for your loyalty, for your participation. We had over a 92 percent member retention within a very challenging year. Thank you for your loyalty and strong support all year.”

Robin Smith, SIA Managing Director of Finance and Operations, noted that 2020 revenues were $5,322,226, with a year-end surplus of $35,223. The association’s investment portfolio increased in value from almost $9.1 million in 2019 to almost $9.9 million in 2020, with overall investments increasing 53 percent from 2016-2020.

Trapanese added, “We’re actually entering 2021 in a strong financial position. In light of the circumstances, it’s fantastic work by our staff.”

2020 Accomplishments

Trapanese outlined SIA’s accomplishments in 2020, including the development of a comprehensive online COVID resources hub for its members and engaged in ongoing efforts to educate, support and advocate for the security industry and companies impacted by the pandemic.

“This is just an example of how SIA provided you, our membership, with the content and resources to help you guide your businesses throughout the pandemic,” Trapanese said.

In addition, SIA worked with the Electronic Security Association (ESA) and The Monitoring Association (TMA) to ensure that industry professionals were classified as “essential.” The association also worked with ASIS International to develop webinars and virtual training related to the pandemic.

“We really appreciate all the work that ASIS has done, and how wonderful it has been to collaborate with them this past year,” he said.

Trapanese also pointed out that SIA’s Women in Security Forum, which offers programs, professional development opportunities and networking events with the goal of supporting the involvement of women in the security industry, has reached more than 650 members, and its RISE program, which fosters the careers of young professionals in the security industry, currently has more than 650 members.

He also noted that approximately 11,000 registrants took part in SIA’s virtual events in 2020, with nearly 6,500 participants. “These are record numbers for us in just an amazing year given the circumstances,” Trapanese said.

SIA Board of Directors

As part of its annual membership meeting, SIA nominated its 2021 Board of Directors:  second-term nominees - Greg Hill, Director, Intrusion Architecture, Johnson Controls; Jody Ross, Vice President, Sales, AMAG Technology; James Rothstein, Advisor, Lee Equity Partners; Brian Wiser, Regional President, North America, Bosch Security Systems (second term); and first-term nominee Kurt John, Chief Cybersecurity Officer, Siemens USA.

Awards

SIA culminated the membership meeting by presenting its 2021 awards for Volunteer of the Year, Member of the Year, Committee Chair Award, Standards Service Award, Chair’s Award, and Corporate Member of the Year.

The Sandy Jones Volunteer of the Year Award went to Tracy Larson, President, WeSuite; the Committee Chair Award winner was Matt Feenan, Marketing Specialist, Product & Solutions Marketing, Axis Communications, Inc.; the Standards Service Award Winner was Tony Diodato, Founder and Chief Technology Officer, Cypress Integration Solutions; and the Chair’s Award winner was Craig Sharman, Senior Director, Federal Government Relations, Johnson Controls. Allegion and Feenics shared top honors for Corporate Member of the Year.

ISC West Going Hybrid

It was announced during the meeting that ISC West will be a hybrid event this year after being virtual in 2020. The conference, considered to be the largest converged security industry trade show in the U.S., will take place July 19-21 at the Sands Expo & The Venetian Resort in Las Vegas, Nev.

The expo itself will run July 19-20 from 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., and July 21 from 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Breakout sessions are scheduled on July 19-20 from 8:45 am.-4:30 p.m. and July 21 from 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Will Wise, Group Vice President, Reed Exhibitions, noted that there are approximately 65-70 sessions and about 110 speakers already lined up for the in-person portion of the conference.

In parallel with the in-person conference, ISC West will have a hybrid model, featuring a virtual conference program with more than 50 sessions, online product showrooms, and an “ISC News Desk” that includes event coverage/interviews and commentary, presented to the remote audience via the ISC West virtual platform.

Wise noted that applications for the ISC West/SIA New Product Showcase (NPD) are due April 9th, with judging to be held virtually the week of June 7th. The NPS Virtual Awards Ceremony will take place on June 17th. There will be an NPS product display are onsite at ISC West, with additional PR coverage and promotion during show week.

Attendee registration for ISC West will go live in mid-April, Wise said.

“Things are looking quite favorable,” Wise said about holding the event during the pandemic. “Are we expecting things to be the same as 2019? Of course not. But we are expecting a very strong return and a quality event getting together in person.”