Tag: Dakota Security
Making Dakota Security a finely tuned machine
November 17, 2015Martha Entwistle
SIOUX FALLS, S.D.—Her title is director of operations for systems integration firm Dakota Security, but Bethany Taylor likens her job to being a mechanic who does “regular maintenance and inspection of the business.”Charged with designing and implementing process-improvement and efficiency initiatives, Taylor uses an annual survey of Dakota's customers to determine what parts of the business need a tune-up.“Business is like a big machine. If the parts and gears don't match...
Of integrators and ice buckets
August 27, 2014Martha Entwistle
Since we're coming up on the long weekend, and saying good bye to summer this week, I thought I'd go easy on mergers and acquisitions and prep for ASIS stuff, and instead use this space this week for a couple of videos you may be interested in.
Yup, it's more ALS ice bucket challenge videos. This time, starring folks from integration firms and central monitoring stations.
You may be getting tired of seeing everyone and her sister pouring buckets of ice over their heads, or you may...
Women and security technology
May 7, 2014Martha Entwistle
I'm here at PSA-TEC in Westminster, Colo., where today I had a chance to catch up with Christine Lanning, president of systems integration firm IST.
Christine and her husband Andrew (CEO) founded IST, a PSA Security owner, in 1998. Here's a story I wrote about the company a couple years ago.� This year, Christine was honored as one of this year's Women's Security Council 2014 Women of the Year.
IST just finished moving its headquarters to a new facility that they own, (and...
Cyber security a recurring theme at PSA-TEC
May 7, 2014Martha Entwistle
WESTMINSTER, Colo.—The data breach that brought down Target CEO Gregg Steinhafel is being used as a cautionary tale here at PSA-TEC.
While the Target breach was not related to a physical security device or system, it could have been, according to experts at PSA-TEC. The topic of what systems integrators need to know about Internet safety was discussed in at least three different educational sessions on May 6.
Some video surveillance components, namely Windows/Microsoft dependent DVRs...
The Haves & Have-Nots of Security Integration Companies
May 8, 2013Martha Entwistle
PSA TEC is in full swing. The action started on Sunday night, but I arrived late on Monday. Yesterday I spent the day (Tuesday) talking to PSA Security integrators and members and attending four different educational sessions.
I attended the State of the Industry panel, moderated by PSA Security CEO Bill Bozeman and featuring a large group of integrators and industry experts; a discussion on Big Data, Business Resiliency and Physical Security moderated by Chris Peckham of Kratos; a session on...
Devcon's past mistakes, future promise at Imperial Capital's SIC
December 19, 2012Martha Entwistle
It was a very full day at the Imperial Capital Security Investor Conference on December 13. Starting before 8 a.m. with John Mack's “State of Security Finance/M&A Markets” and wrapping up at 5:30 with a very cool panel discussion on BYOD—a great discussion topic, which should be a cause for concern for integrators, manufacturers, and end users alike. We'll have more on this topic at TechSec in Florida, Feb. 5&6, 2013. Check out this link. �
During the course of the...
Dakota Security opens seventh office
April 25, 2012Martha Entwistle
RAPID CITY, S.D.—Dakota Security, a PSA Security owner, on April 18 opened its seventh office here. It will serve as a logistical base of operations for Dakota to take advantage of security opportunities arising from the booming local economy, Eric Yunag, CEO of Dakota Security, told Security Systems News.“We've had operations in that area of South Dakota for many years. But opening an office in Rapid City puts us right in the center of our current client base there and [will give us...
What's PEG?
May 26, 2011Martha Entwistle
WESTMINSTER, Colo.—Dakota Security president Eric Yunag showed up a day early for the PSA-TEC conference here last week so he could meet with seven other systems integrators for a quarterly meeting of a 'PEG'.
What's a PEG? “It's a PSA-sponsored Peer Exchange Group,” Yunag explained. “The concept is about five years old and it was started as a way for PSA members to network on a closer level, to talk about business strategy and challenges with peers who don't compete and with...
Business warms up
April 28, 2011Martha Entwistle
SIOUX FALLS, S.D.—Business is looking up in 2011, but it's not business as usual, says Dakota Security president Eric Yunag.
Yunag said he's seeing more business opportunities in the first quarter of 2011 than he's seen in the past three to five years, but it's not coming from the same old places.
“We've had a great start to the year, with higher activity levels across all the geographies, vertical markets and customer demographics,” he said.
A systems integrator with 100 employees,...
Dakota Security hires Brad Miller as regional VP
October 21, 2010SSN Staff
TEMPE, Ariz.—Dakota Security Systems on Oct. 15 announced Brad Miller had been hired as the regional vice president for its Arizona regional office, here. Miller most recently worked for Red Hawk, where he was the GM for Arizona. Miller brings 15 years of security industry experience to Dakota. He has held a wide variety of positions including sales, sales management, operations management, and general management in businesses that provide electronic and physical security to large commercial...