ISC West

The Security Industry Association (SIA) has named John Nemerofsky as the 2024 recipient of the George R. Lippert Memorial Award, an honour presented annually to a distinguished individual for long-term, selfless service to the security industry and to SIA. Nemerofsky will be presented with the award on Nov. 20 during the 2024 SIA Honors Night celebration. John Nemerofsky is a beacon of leadership in the security industry. With a remarkable career spanning over 25 years, he has dedicated his career to advancing the innovation and integration of security technology – protecting the people, facilities and reputations of enterprise clients nationwide. Next generation of security As a trailblazer in security integration, Nemerofsky is shaping the future, safeguarding enterprises and inspiring the next generation of security professionals. In 2019, he assumed the role of chief operating officer at SAGE Integration, a national security integration provider operating across 62 major U.S. metro areas and boasting a team of over 19,000 installer partner specialists. Under Nemerofsky’s strategic guidance, the company has become a formidable force in the security industry. During his tenure at Niscayah – now Stanley Security Systems – Nemerofsky was instrumental in the organization’s growth to over $1 billion in revenue. Driving industry advancements John contributes quarterly cues to Security Business Magazine, sharing his expertise for the advance Beyond his role at SAGE, Nemerofsky is deeply engaged in the security industry on multiple fronts. He sits on the boards of PSA and Security Sales & Integration Magazine and is chairperson of the SecurityXchange, highlighting his commitment to driving industry advancements. John contributes quarterly columns to Security Business Magazine, sharing his expertise for the betterment of the industry. Nemerofsky serves on the SIA Board of Directors and is chair of SIA’s Member Engagement and Experience Committee. As vice chair for the Foundation for Advancing Security Talent (FAST), he is committed to nurturing the next generation of security professionals. SAGE’s project managers Nemerofsky’s volunteer leadership extends to his championing of SIA’s training, certification and standards programs, including SIA Open Supervised Device Protocol (OSDP), the Security Project Management (SPM) training and the Certified Security Project Management (CSPM) certification program. He has ensured that all SAGE’s project managers are CSPM certified, supported SIA events, scholarships and other offerings and encouraged his team’s active involvement in programs like Securing New Ground (SNG) and the SIA Human Resources Working Group. Industry contributions Nemerofsky has been honoured with a number of prestigious awards and speaker at SIA events Notable for his industry contributions, Nemerofsky has been honoured with a number of prestigious awards and is a frequent speaker at SIA events, including delivering sessions at ISC West and SNG and presenting the first-ever Security Technician of the Year Awards at ISC East 2023. “SIA’s Lippert Award recipients represent the very best and most dedicated in our industry, with no better example than John Nemerofsky, and we are thrilled to recognise John as this year’s honouree,” said SIA CEO Don Erickson. Impactful service Erickson added: “A truly kind person, John stands out in the security industry as a driving force in innovation, business excellence and leadership, and as a generous contributor of time, expertise and goodwill through his active involvement in SIA, in other industry programs, activities and initiatives and in the larger community." "We thank him for his impactful service to our industry, his commitment to giving back and his passion for growing the security talent pipeline and fostering the next generation of industry pioneers, and we look forward to celebrating him and his outstanding achievements at SIA Honors Night.” PSA Convention in 2023 Away from the professional arena, Nemerofsky finds fulfilment in giving back to the community Recognized for his outstanding industry contributions, Nemerofsky was awarded the PSA Captains, Hang 10 and High Ride awards at the PSA Convention in 2023. He also received SIA’s Sandy Jones Volunteer of the Year Award in 2024. Away from the professional arena, John finds fulfillment in giving back to the community.  Away from the professional arena, Nemerofsky finds fulfilment in giving back to the community. As a proud graduate of the Fox School of Business at Temple University, he stays abreast of the latest industry trends, continuously expanding his knowledge to stay ahead in the ever-evolving field of security technology. As a board member of Mission 500, Nemerofsky dedicates his spare time to philanthropic endeavours, further solidifying his commitment to making a positive impact. SAGE Integration “Thank you to my SAGE Integration family for your unwavering support and to the entire Security Industry Association – Don Erickson, your staff and board of directors for your dedication and partnership,” said Nemerofsky.  “Thank you to Aiden O’Brien and the FAST Board for all your energy and passion and to Mission 500’s Tracy Larson and Janet Fenner for your generosity and drive to help children and families in need. Finally, a special thanks to my wife, Holly, for always bringing energy, enthusiasm and brilliant ideas as we work together to make our industry better every day.” Long-term service to SIA SIA Honors Night is a premier event in New York City held concurrently with ISC East SIA’s Lippert Award is named in honour 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 event in New York City held concurrently with ISC East – the Northeast’s pioneering security and public safety event, hosted in collaboration with premier sponsor SIA. SIA Honors Night – which includes drinks and networking, a top-quality dinner experience and live entertainment – celebrates exceptional members of the security industry for their leadership, commitment and service to the industry and benefits the work of FAST. SIA Honors 2024 SIA Honors Night brings 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.  At SIA Honors 2024, in addition to benefiting FAST’s efforts and presenting the Lippert Award, SIA will also present industry pioneers with the SIA Insightful Practitioner Award and the Progress Award. SIA Honors 2024 will be held Nov. 20 at HK Hall.

The Security Industry Association (SIA) has named Scott M. Gross, facility security officer at Con Edison, as the 2024 recipient of the SIA Insightful Practitioner Award, an honour recognising excellence in promoting the implementation of innovative security solutions. SIA will present Gross with the award on Nov. 20 during the 2024 SIA Honors Night celebration. Scott Gross has over four decades of experience in security and fire protection. In his role at Con Edison, he has played a critical role in improving security practices for one of the nation’s most extensive and complicated utility companies. Latest security technologies All this, coupled with his long experience in deploying the latest state-of-the-art security technologies and proactive stance toward emerging threats, has made him an industry trailblazer.  Since joining Con Edison in 2004, Gross has played an invaluable role in mitigating the growing menace of drone activity over critical infrastructure, integrating airspace security solutions to monitor and respond to drone incursions and ensuring comprehensive surveillance and real-time threat assessment. His innovation and strategic vision have made Con Edison much more capable of protecting its operations from potential disruptions. Broader security strategies Gross has been proactive in advocating for legislative changes to enhance the authority of infrastructure Gross has been proactive in advocating for legislative changes to enhance the authority of critical infrastructure operators in mitigating drone threats, contributing to broader security strategies at the state and national levels. Leveraging artificial intelligence and machine learning, he has ensured that Con Edison’s security systems autonomously and accurately detect, track, identify and differentiate drones. In addition to his leadership at Con Edison, Gross is an active member of various industry organisations and advisory boards, using his knowledge and vision to help shape the future of security practices. He holds SIA’s Certified Security Project Manager (CSPM) credential. Approach to securing and monitoring “I am honoured to receive the Insightful Practitioner Award. The Security Industry Association gives me the platform to work with and coordinate with other integrators, consultants and end users to better understand the threats on an international as well as a domestic level against the critical infrastructure,” said Gross. “Together, we can work to create a multilayered approach to securing and monitoring all the critical infrastructure systems of this great country.” SIA’s efforts Gross is a prominent security thought pioneer and has participated in a number of SIA events Gross is a prominent security thought pioneer and has participated in a number of SIA events, conferences and initiatives. His many contributions to SIA and the industry include serving on the SIA Utilities Advisory Board, which develops recommendations and guidance for the physical security and cybersecurity of utilities infrastructure, offers formal responses to security rules and guidance proposed by regulatory agencies, shares knowledge with related industries and develops content for SIA events and publications; sharing his expertise as a speaker at ISC East and ISC West; actively participating in a variety of SIA projects and activities related to critical infrastructure security; and supporting SIA’s efforts related to counter-drone solutions. Impact on the security landscape “SIA is proud to announce Scott Gross as the 2024 recipient of the SIA Insightful Practitioner Award. Scott is an inspiring industry luminary whose zeal for innovation and drive for legislative change have made a great impact on the security landscape, both locally and nationally, and whose deep knowledge and commitment to critical infrastructure protection have made him a sought-after thought pioneer in our industry,” said SIA CEO Don Erickson. “We commend Scott for his impressive accomplishments and valuable contributions to our industry and look forward to recognising him with this special award at SIA Honors Night. We appreciate the trust he has placed in SIA as an effective platform for security practitioner-security supplier collaboration and information sharing.” Implementation of innovative security solutions SIA’s Insightful Practitioner Award was made to honour security practitioners who demonstrate leadership SIA’s Insightful Practitioner Award was created to honour security practitioners who demonstrate leadership and excellence in promoting the implementation of innovative security solutions through education, advocacy and teamwork with the security industry and other stakeholders. SIA Honors Night is a premier event in New York City held concurrently with ISC East – the Northeast’s pioneering security and public safety event, hosted in collaboration with premier sponsor SIA. SIA Honors Night – which includes drinks and networking, a top-quality dinner experience and live entertainment – celebrates exceptional members of the security industry for their leadership, commitment and service to the industry and benefits the work of the Foundation for Advancing Security Talent (FAST). Future of the security industry SIA Honors Night brings 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.  At SIA Honors 2024, in addition to benefiting FAST’s efforts and presenting the Insightful Practitioner Award, SIA will also present industry pioneers with the George R. Lippert Memorial Award and the SIA Progress Award. SIA Honors 2024 will be held Nov. 20 at HK Hall.

Trade Show Executive (TSE) has named ISC West as The Greatest Trade Show of 2023 at the 2024 TSE Gold 100 Awards & Summit. This prestigious awards program recognises trade shows across various industries that were the largest and most ahead of the curve in innovative approaches in 2023. The event celebrated not only the winners but also the robust recovery of the trade show industry since the pandemic. Innovative programming “The ISC West team is honoured to be recognised as The Greatest Trade Show of 2023 by Trade Show Executive Magazine,” said Mary Beth Shaughnessy, ISC Event Vice President. “Every year, we are committed to delivering a standout show with innovative programming to create an unrivalled customer experience. With a show floor of almost 250,000 square feet, we were proud to meet both our exhibitors and attendees with an expanse of offerings that keep them coming back year after year.” Security challenges ISC West addressed society’s most pressing security challenges throughout the four-day event Held at The Venetian Expo in Las Vegas, in collaboration with premier sponsor the Security Industry Association (SIA) and hosted by RX, ISC West 2023 showcased an environment where innovation and creativity came to life.  As safety continues to dominate headlines, ISC West addressed society’s most pressing security challenges throughout the four-day event and broadened the industry’s horizon to bring the most advanced products, services, and solutions to security novices and experts alike.  Physical and cybersecurity challenges In 2023, attendees had the opportunity to engage with industry experts, make professional connections, share valuable insights, and explore the most cutting-edge solutions to physical and cybersecurity challenges in a hands-on setting. ISC West 2023 welcomed over 27,000 security industry professionals, including more than 650 exhibitors displaying their latest technologies. Post-show attendance numbers totalled over 18,000 attendees alone, marking an increase of 56.2% from ISC West 2022. Additionally, the 2023 show saw an 89.6% increase from 2022 for SIA Education@ISC session attendance. As an industry very eager to return to in-person events, ISC West 2023 experienced significant growth with heavy foot traffic on the show floor from open to close. ISC West 2023 highlights The Bridge Enhancements came to life at the revamped space known as The Bridge, the main stage destination In 2023, ISC West significantly elevated the look and feel of the event, and these enhancements came to life at the revamped space known as The Bridge, the main stage destination. Here, attendees experienced the immersive nature of the safety and security industry, replete with thought-provoking speakers and special events throughout the show. Career Zone The Career Zone was introduced at ISC West 2023. This area on the show floor focused on professional growth and workforce development. The Career Zone also catered to young professionals and next-gen pioneers of the security industry. With this objective, sessions focused on mentorship and skills workshops so attendees could bring what they learned into their own workplaces. SIA New Products + Solutions Awards Showcase The SIA NPS Awards display area underwent a design and layout transformation at ISC West 2023, strategically highlighting the most innovative products and solutions on the market. It also featured a new visitor-led scanning technology, Colleqt, where attendees could scan exhibitors’ QR codes to learn more about their security technologies on display. SIA Education@ISC West When it comes to industry education, ISC West continues to grow and evolve and the security field When it comes to industry education, ISC West continues to grow and evolve alongside the security field. With that in mind, ISC West updated its annual education offerings to provide the best and most up-to-date experience possible. SIA Education@ISC hosted over 85 sessions – all with content curated around 2023 Megatrend topics and focusing on Cybersecurity, which was the #1 Megatrend of the year. ISC West 2023 With 200+ speakers, more than 650 exhibitors, 85+ education sessions, and 27,000 industry professionals spanning 248,000 square feet, ISC West 2023 established its show floor as the place where people want to be and stay. Offering a combination of products, educational programming, and networking opportunities all under one roof cemented ISC West as the premier destination to showcase innovation and illustrate where the industry is moving next. Already making plans for next year? Save the date for ISC West 2025, held March 31–April 4 at The Venetian Expo in Las Vegas where security professionals can continue to experience the largest and most dynamic industry trade event of the year.