SIA names Scott Schafer as 2022 George R. Lippert Memorial Award winner

SILVER SPRING, Md.—The Security Industry Association (SIA) has named Scott Schafer as the 2022 recipient of the George R. Lippert Memorial Award, an honor presented annually to a distinguished individual for long-term, selfless service to the security industry and to the association.

Schafer will receive the award on Wednesday, Nov. 16, during the 2022 SIA Honors Night reception at 30 Hudson Yards in New York City.

Schafer is the principal of SMS Advisors, where he works with startups to the largest firms in the security industry, helping them to build a stronger business and to grow faster. He held key leadership positions in the security industry with Arecont Vision and Pelco/Schneider Electric. Prior to coming to the security industry, he had executive roles in the IT industry with NCR/AT&T and Reynolds & Reynolds, where he managed businesses over $1 billion in revenue and up to 2,400 associates.

“My involvement with SIA has been a privilege and an experience that I truly treasure,” Schafer said. “When I first became involved with SIA, I never imagined that SIA would become such a catalyst for helping our member businesses and their employees grow, adapt to technology and marketplaces changes, make so many new connections within the industry and offer individuals new opportunities to get involved and move the security industry forward. To the extent that I may have played a small role in helping to create a much more dynamic SIA community, I am very grateful for those opportunities.”

Schafer has been extensively involved with the association, having served as SIA Board of Directors chair from 2018 to 2020 and previously holding roles as SIA treasurer, secretary, and board member. He has served as a presenter at and helped shape SIA’s annual Securing New Ground conference, chaired SIA’s Membership Committee and participated actively in SIA’s events, networking offerings and legislative and advocacy initiatives.

In addition, Schafer has been a devoted proponent of SIA’s diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) programs and efforts to grow the security industry’s talent pipeline, including the SIA Women in Security Forum and SIA RISE community, and SIA’s investment in producing high-quality market research for its members and the larger industry. His past industry recognition includes being designated an honorary SIA member in 2020 and being presented SIA’s Sandy Jones Volunteer of the Year Award in 2012 and the SIA Chair’s Award in 2015.

“Scott Schafer sincerely cares about the health of the security industry. No one is more passionate and optimistic about the value of SIA and the potential for further industry success. With each key milestone met by SIA and made possible in part through his guidance or direct involvement, Scott always felt that the ‘best was yet to come,’” said SIA CEO Don Erickson. “Scott’s service on the SIA Board of Directors and as a committee leader has had a remarkable impact. We thank Scott for his inspiring service and look forward to presenting him with this special recognition at SIA Honors Night.”

The Lippert Award is named in honor of George R. Lippert, who dedicated more than 20 years of his life to SIA and the security industry. When evaluating candidates for this award, SIA’s committee considers nominees’ long-term service to SIA and the security industry, the impact of their efforts on behalf of SIA and the industry and the integrity, leadership and diplomacy displayed in their industry dealings.

SIA Honors Night is a premier cocktail, networking and awards reception honoring exceptional members of the security industry for their leadership, commitment, and service to the industry. New in 2022, SIA Honors Night will benefit the Foundation for Advancing Security Talent (FAST), a 501(c)(3) organization created by the Electronic Security Association and SIA to promote careers in the physical security technology industry, and bring together and connects up-and-coming security talent with established industry luminaries for an evening of celebration and supporting the future of the security industry.

In addition to presenting the Lippert Award, SIA will recognize the 2022 recipient of the SIA Progress Award - Intel’s Kasia Hanson - on SIA Honors Night.