Dan Bresingham

ADT Commercial announces that it has purchased premier fire, life safety and security provider and integrator, CLS Technology, Inc., based out of Katy, Texas. The purchase of CLS Technology further deepens ADT Commercial’s capabilities to serve mid-market, national and large-scale commercial customers in the Houston, Texas area. This marks the organization’s 24th acquisition. CLS Technology, Inc. has been a high-quality commercial integrator serving the metropolitan Houston area and surrounding communities for 15 years. Sound reinforcement systems Located 30 miles west of Houston, CLS Technology’s experienced team specializes in installing, inspecting and maintaining fire alarm, video surveillance, access control, intrusion detection, emergency notification systems, and intercom and sound reinforcement systems across a variety of commercial environments. Joining forces with the CLS Technology team allows us to continue to deepen our fire and life safety capabilities" The following quotes can be used for any media reports on the announcement. “We’re extremely proud to welcome CLS Technology and add their wealth of expertise to the ADT Commercial organization. Joining forces with the CLS Technology team allows us to continue to deepen our fire and life safety capabilities and services across Houston and the state of Texas, and continue to effectively deliver on our promise for service excellence in the region,” said Dan Bresingham, Executive Vice President, ADT. Reaching new heights “CLS Technology is extremely excited to be a part of the ADT Commercial family. For the past 15 years, CLS and our dedicated employees have established a reputation for excellence in both service and solutions, and we’re proud to join an organization who is similarly passionate about upholding these values.” “ADT Commercial’s national presence will allow us to more effectively respond to customers’ evolving needs and give our dedicated employees the ability to reach new heights,” said Shenille Engelhart-Skopik, President, CLS Technology.

ADT Commercial continues its strategic M&A strategy, expanding its nationwide geographic footprint and deepening its capabilities to serve mid-market, national, and large-scale commercial customers in New York and New Jersey with the announcement it has purchased Deterrent Technologies, Inc., based out of Ocean, NJ. About Deterrent Technologies Established in 1982 by David and Carol Hersh, Deterrent Technologies, Inc. has been a pioneer in designing, installing, and servicing comprehensive physical security and life safety systems for complex commercial environments all along the East Coast. Over the last 40 years, Deterrent Technologies has finetuned its expertise to serve customers across a wide range of industries, including global pharmaceutical firms, healthcare providers, financial institutions, legal businesses, insurance companies, educational, government, and multi-family facilities. Authorities comment “We’re thrilled to welcome Deterrent Technologies to the ADT Commercial organization and deepen our bench strength as experienced commercial security providers." "Deterrent’s customer-first philosophy perfectly aligns with our focus on customer service excellence, and we’re looking forward to the success their expertise will bring to the Northeast region,” said Dan Bresingham, Executive Vice President, ADT. “Deterrent Technologies is very excited to become a part of ADT Commercial. Our philosophy for over 40 years has been geared towards total customer satisfaction, a philosophy that ADT Commercial shares." "ADT Commercial’s national footprint will allow us to better serve our clients’ growing needs, and lastly, our dedicated team of loyal and hardworking employees will have the benefit of security, growth and the ability to continue serving our customer base,” said David Hersh, President, Deterrent Technologies.

ADT Inc. announced that, via its commercial channel (“ADT Commercial”), it is investing in Percepta Labs, an artificial-intelligence technology startup out of Philadelphia. ADT Commercial is a premier provider of commercial security, fire, life safety, and risk consulting services in the U.S., and through its investment will fund the commercialisation and application of the startup’s cutting-edge AI technology to help detect and deter shoplifting. ADT Commercial will work directly with Percepta to further test and develop the application of Percepta’s proprietary, socially responsible AI technology in commercial environments and facilitate the launch when the solution is market-ready. Response to facial recognition challenges Founded by Philippe Sawaya, Neil Gramopadhye, and Jonathan Mak while pursuing their undergraduate degrees at the University of Pennsylvania, Percepta’s proprietary "ethical AI" technology responds to emerging concerns surrounding the use of facial recognition technologies and is designed to anonymize individuals’ demographic features—including race, gender, and age—by analyzing existing security camera feeds to detect shoplifting incidents in real-time. Using advanced action recognition techniques, Percepta’s AI technology tracks individuals’ movements, scanning for probable shoplifting or precursory shoplifting behavior and assesses theft probability. Loss prevention accuracy “We’re so proud to place our support in forward-thinking organizations like Percepta, who are aiming to truly revolutionize the industry,” said Dan Bresingham, Executive Vice President for ADT. “We pride ourselves on being at the forefront of change in our industry. We believe Percepta could signal a tidal shift in how we approach AI, facial recognition, and data collection, and we look forward to seeing how their technology continues to develop.” In addition to taking a socially responsible approach to AI, Percepta’s technology shows tremendous promise when it comes to loss prevention accuracy. Early tests by Percepta indicate the technology could be more than two times more accurate than human loss prevention personnel in detecting shoplifting behaviors, translating into improved margins, decreased shrink, and a better experience for customers, while eliminating biases based on race, gender, and age. Ethical AI technology “AI’s presence in our lives has skyrocketed, yet it poses ethical concerns that have not been sufficiently addressed. We’ve made these concerns a key priority and are proud to have developed an ethical AI technology that counteracts these biases in the world of retail and beyond,” said Sawaya, CEO of Percepta. “We look forward to seeing how ADT Commercial’s vast experience and commercial network will accelerate Percepta’s growth. We’re excited to partner with them in our shared mission to support socially responsible AI security solutions.”

ADT Commercial – a provider of security, fire, life safety and risk management solutions to commercial customers in the U.S. – announces the hiring of three senior-level security professionals to join ADT Commercial’s Enterprise Security Risk Group (eSRG). The new members of the team boast wide-ranging experience in Fortune 500 companies, healthcare and law enforcement to help commercial organizations as they focus on business continuity, resiliency and adopting best practices in disruptive and uncertain times. Value-Based security program “Today’s unprecedented external pressures expose businesses to new risks that require thoughtful planning and expert counsel in public safety, communications, risk, resilience and security,” said Ed Bacco, Vice President of ADT Commercial’s Enterprise Security Risk Group. “These accomplished professionals represent the unparalleled commitment and resources of ADT Commercial’s eSRG and are true innovators who have served in roles similar to many of our customers. They bring a sophisticated, 360-degree view to identify threats, then build custom programs to help manage risk in an increasingly complex world.” Staffed by senior executives with backgrounds in intelligence, business stability, organizational change and technology, members of ADT Commercial’s eSRG independently assess the risks facing its customer organizations, identify the people and process metrics to continuously improve performance, provide managed services to enhance internal staff, build a value-based security program and plan, and create a technology roadmap to make the most of a company’s people and processes. Incident response efficiency Fowler has developed comprehensive training programs on active shooter scenarios and workplace violence Members joining the ADT Commercial Enterprise Security Risk Group (eSRG) include: Chris Fowler has been named eSRG Director of Global Risk Services. Fowler brings more than 25 years’ experience in law enforcement, strategic planning and policy development to the role, and has also served as Brigadier General for the Washington Army National Guard. Fowler has developed comprehensive training programs on active shooter scenarios and workplace violence, and implemented national best practices recognized for their effectiveness by the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). In his role as Director of Global Risk Services, Fowler’s varied background in law enforcement will be leveraged to provide key insights for commercial customers in evaluating strategies and solutions to boost incident response efficiency, optimize environmental design and develop crisis management plans. Increasing business performance Patricia Coureas joins ADT Commercial as eSRG Principal Consultant, bringing 30 years’ experience with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) as well as a proven track record of success in building and managing global security for a Fortune 500 organization. Coureas delivered threat prevention and resolution to global business systems in Europe, Latin America and Asia, providing asset protection by identifying vulnerabilities, strengthening incident management and crisis resolution, and ensuring business continuity. Coureas is focused on helping prepare companies for the unexpected, while also minimizing risk with a growth mindset to deliver results that preserve and help to increase business performance. Providing healthcare security As organizations across the country work to safely reopen their businesses in our communities" David LaRose enhances ADT Commercial’s presence in the healthcare security arena as an eSRG Principal Consultant, showing industry leadership during his 35 years of experience providing healthcare security, safety and law enforcement solutions to customers. In his role, he’ll advise organizations on considerations to more readily achieve patient and staff safety, quality patient experience, regulatory compliance, enterprise security best practices and enterprise risk management. LaRose is the past president for the International Association of Healthcare Safety and Security’s Board of Director (IAHSS) and currently serves on the ASIS Healthcare Council. “As organizations across the country work to safely reopen their businesses in our communities, the newest additions to our eSRG team mean that ADT Commercial is further poised to assist commercial clients more readily and completely,” said Dan Bresingham, Executive Vice President, ADT Commercial. “Under the guidance of this team, we can help organizations to identify key vulnerabilities and implement policies, technologies and best practices that not only mitigate risk, but help protect business stability and value so they can rebound in times of crisis such as this.”

ADT Commercial, a premier provider of commercial security, fire, life safety and risk consulting services, announced that it is donating meals to healthcare workers at five major hospitals across the U.S. to express gratitude for those caregivers who have been on the frontlines in the nation’s fight against the COVID-19 global pandemic. ADT Commercial’s donation follows ADT’s recent announcement to provide $1 million to support over 120 non-profits hit hard by COVID-19 across America. To date, at least 90 organizations, ranging from food banks to first responder agencies, have been assisted. Top healthcare facilities Our core mission is always to preserve the wellbeing of our community of doctors, nurses and caregivers" “We’re immensely appreciative of the healthcare workforce that have been on the frontlines and so instrumental in our nation’s ongoing fight against COVID-19, and who have continued to care for and support the recovery of those who have fallen sick. This donation represents a small token of our gratitude to them in this time of crisis,” said Dan Bresingham, Executive Vice President, ADT Commercial. “As a leading security provider for some of the top healthcare facilities in the country, and through our broader ADT organization, a premier residential security provider for many of our healthcare heroes in their homes, our core mission is always to preserve the wellbeing of our community of doctors, nurses and caregivers in the places they work and live every day.” Partnering with small businesses Hospitals receiving donations include Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove, Ill.; Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia in Philadelphia, Penn.; Seattle Children’s Hospital in Seattle, Wash.; Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, Mass.; and Tampa General Hospital in Tampa, Fla. Each hospital will receive an on-site delivery of 1,000 meals to distribute to frontline employees. Given the immediate need, ADT Commercial plans to make all donations in the month of June and is partnering with local small businesses and restaurants whenever possible to prepare the meals.

ADT announced that, via ADT Commercial, its commercial channel, it is joining forces with Dollar Tree, Inc., to help provide protection to its retail locations nationwide. ADT Commercial, a provider of commercial security, fire, life safety and risk consulting services in the U.S., will provide comprehensive and innovative security solutions and monitoring services at the majority of Dollar Tree and Family Dollar locations across the U.S. “In these rapidly evolving times, we’re thrilled to be partnering with Dollar Tree for what marks the largest contract to-date for ADT Commercial,” said Jim DeVries, President and CEO of ADT. “Dollar Tree has shown itself to be a true provider by seeking out enterprise-level security solutions on the market.” Commercial security for customer and employee safety ADT Commercial will service Dollar Tree and Family Dollar locations across the U.S. The agreement includes equipment and service enhancements, and 24x7 remote support from ADT. “Our goal is to provide custom, innovative, integrated solutions to meet Dollar Tree’s unique needs. With this partnership, we’re helping to shape the future of retail security and look forward to working with Dollar Tree to make that future a reality,” said Dan Bresingham, Executive Vice President, Commercial, of ADT. “It is very important for us to ensure our customers and associates feel safe and secure while in our stores,” said Bob Oberosler, Sr. Vice President of Asset Protection, at Dollar Tree, Inc. “We continue to enhance our in-store technologies, and are fully committed to customer and employee safety.”

ADT continues growing its geographic footprint and strengthening its capacity to serve mid-market, national and large-scale commercial customers with the announcement that it has purchased Alliant Integrators, based in Louisville, KY. Security and fire safety experts Established in 2006 by Beverly and Jim Bozarth, Alliant Integrators, Inc., is a provider of commercial fire alarm detection, installation, inspection and maintenance services in the Kentucky and Southern Indiana region. The following quotes were given by high level representatives from the company regarding this corporate engagement. Integrated fire, life safety and security systems “A wide range of commercial clients in education, healthcare and at industrial facilities trust Alliant’s team of talented and tenured professionals for their integrated fire, life safety and security systems requirements. Alliant is a significant and welcome addition to ADT and will deepen our ability to be the one ideal integrator in the Kentucky and Southern Indiana areas,” said Dan Bresingham, Executive Vice President, ADT.  “We see a very bright future by combining the backing of a national, commercial integrator with our local and regional knowledge and technical expertise. Becoming part of the exciting organization that is ADT is a logical next step for our company, team members and customers,” said Jim Bozarth, President, Alliant Integrators.

ADT Commercial is expanding its presence in Atlanta with the purchase of Critical Systems. Headquartered in Marietta, Georgia and established in 2002, Critical Systems specializes in enterprise-class fire alarm, fire suppression, life safety and integrated building security solutions for high-rise properties, healthcare campuses and mission-critical data, manufacturing and distribution facilities in Atlanta and its suburbs. “Critical Systems brings the power of nearly two decades of experience integrating sophisticated fire, life safety and security systems to help protect some of Atlanta’s most high-risk commercial facilities and will be instrumental in helping drive our commercial growth platform across the Southeast,” said Executive Vice President, ADT Commercial, Dan Bresingham. Emergency communications systems “The addition of Critical Systems to our team deepens the range of services we can offer customers in Atlanta and the region whether providing fail-safe emergency communications systems in high-rise buildings or special hazard fire suppression at data centers, Critical Systems has the distinctive and specialized skills and service mindset to deliver peace of mind to commercial customers,” said Senior Vice President Field Operations, ADT Commercial, Michael McWilliams. President of Critical Systems Bill Van Loan is enthusiastic about the additional resources and reach that aligning with ADT Commercial can provide to customers. “Combining the professionalism and know-how of our well-trained technicians with the backing of ADT Commercial reinforces our commitment to customers especially for large, complex systems or multi-site projects,” said Van Loan.

ADT Commercial has grown organically in double digits since 2016, in addition to growing through 15 acquisitions completed since the merger of ADT and Protection One. Acquisition of integrator companies such as Red Hawk Fire and Security and Aronson Security Group has expanded ADT Commercial’s presence geographically to more areas of the country. Most of the employees of the acquired companies have stayed with ADT and “helped to create a corporate culture and a good place for employees to work,” says Dan Bresingham, Executive Vice President of ADT Commercial. Happy employees ensure good customer service. Enterprise resource planning Bresingham will lead ADT Commercial as it becomes a separate business unit in 2020 “We adapt to where our clients want us to be,” adds Joe Sanchez, Senior Vice President of Customer Operations of ADT Commercial National Accounts. “We take a strategic approach as we determine how adaptive our customers are going to be to the new technology.” I caught up with ADT Commercial at the GSX trade show in Chicago. Bresingham tells me ADT Commercial has benefitted from the caliber and breadth of leadership talent that have come along with the various acquisitions, including Mike McWilliams of Red Hawk, Bob Dale of Protection One, and Phil Aronson of Aronson Security. The transitioning of internal systems such as enterprise resource planning (ERP), billing and customer repair software will further steamline the ADT Commercial operation in the next several months. Bresingham will lead ADT Commercial as it becomes a separate business unit in 2020. We caught up with ADT at the GSX trade show in Chicago Providing new opportunities for regional integrators Additional acquisitions are also likely; in fact, growth is likely to accelerate. ADT Commercial offers a national footprint that can provide new opportunities for regional integrators it brings into the fold. New acquisitions will continue to fill out ADT’s skillset requirements in specific geographic areas where more expertise is needed. Security directors have a small staff and we help them know what they should be looking at in terms of data"“The industry doesn’t change a lot,” says Bresingham. “The technology just gets better, faster, and cheaper. As a service provider we take the best technology and combine it to provide the best solutions. We’re product-agnostic. Most of our jobs are down-and-dirty, doing the same things, but we’re pushing ourselves to be the best every day at the basics.” An emphasis at ADT is to provide customers ‘actionable’ data compiled from their various security systems. “We have a range of customers,” says Sanchez. Managing networks and video remotely “From small businesses to large data centers, there is no electronic system we cannot do. We are adaptable, from providing basic intrusion all the way to more sophisticated elements. Security directors have a small staff and we help them know what they should be looking at in terms of data.” “Our customers are our ‘true north’,” says Sanchez. A strong relationship with clients forms the basis for ADT Commercial’s success. Helping customers track data utilizes ADT Commercial’s eSuite account management system, homegrown software that compiles and analyses various customer data inputs. It also allows the ability to manage networks and video remotely. “We built it from scratch for customers. It’s a web-based system that helps them manage their business,” says Bresingham. “We hold ourselves accountable. We don’t hide from data, we encourage it.” Monitoring refrigeration units The solution is different in every case, just as every customer is uniqueIn addition to data from customer systems, eSuite can compile local weather information, crime statistics and other information that can help provide trending information to guide a customer’s business. The system’s flexibility enables ADT to provide the data each customer needs. ADT helps customers manage their business beyond the security department, too. “We do a lot of things in environmental control, monitoring refrigeration units and making sure humidity and temperature readings are correct,” says Sanchez. Leaving a door open could cause product loss at a pharmaceutical company, for example. In the food industry, a freezer malfunction could cause huge losses. In either case, an alarm can draw attention to the problem in a timely manner. Other customers face regulatory requirements that demand an audit trail of compliance, which ADT’s systems can provide. At the end of the day, ADT asks customers ‘What’s your security need?’ The company then adapts and assembles its solutions using internal resources and outside vendors, to meet that need. The solution is different in every case, just as every customer is unique.

ADT continues expanding capabilities and geographic reach via Red Hawk Fire & Security, ADT Commercial with the asset purchase agreement of Security Corporation, a commercial security integrator headquartered in Detroit, Mich., with offices in Novi (Detroit), Mich., and Columbus, Ohio. Family owned and operated since 1974, Security Corporation has earned customer loyalty by providing responsive customer service and innovative security products to businesses, financial institutions, academic centers and government offices in the Midwest region. Growing commercial business “This strategic acquisition is the latest in a series of efforts to continue driving our commercial business to the next level giving us an opportunity to reach our customers with unmatched service in every fire, life safety and security discipline across the United States,” said Executive Vice President, ADT Commercial Dan Bresingham. “Security Corporation has built long-lasting client relationships because of their focus on putting the customer first. Bringing the team of well-trained professionals on board helps Red Hawk and ADT Commercial further strengthen our rapidly growing presence and technical capabilities in the Midwest region while also adding to our customer-centric culture,” said Senior Vice President Red Hawk Fire & Security, ADT Commercial Michael McWilliams. Technical and financial resources “Joining these industry leaders is a fitting next step in the evolution of a company that has taken pride in providing the very best of the best for our customers. Teaming up with Red Hawk and ADT Commercial will provide deeper technical and financial resources to further serve our clients here in the Midwest,” said Security Corporation President Robert Holloway II.

ADT, a provider of monitored security and interactive home and business automation solutions in the United States and Canada, unveils its new ADT Commercial brand and positioning video, as part of its multi-year expansion plans. Since the merger with Protection 1, ADT has built upon its commercial capabilities and customer focused approach combining more than ten strategic acquisitions, bringing decades of experience to commercial and national account customers. ADT’s announcement is part of its participation in ISC West, North America’s largest security industry trade show with more than 30,000 industry professionals and 1,000 exhibitors. Significant Expansion Plans “Today marks the official start of significant expansion plans for the ADT Commercial brand as we bring together numerous strategic acquisitions and alliances we’ve recently achieved, including industry leader, Red Hawk,” said Dan Bresingham, Executive Vice President, ADT Commercial. The ADT Commercial vision is to offer a unified approach to its customers’ security and life safety needs “We are delivering an expanded product portfolio and geographic reach to our enterprise customers, combined with an obsession for customer service, high quality and commitment to excellence.” Led by Bresingham, the ADT Commercial leadership team has a single-minded focus on security and life safety—having spent the majority of their careers in the industry. The ADT Commercial vision is to offer a unified approach to its customers’ security and life safety needs.  Enterprise Risk Management Services ADT Commercial brings together the experience, capabilities and offerings from acquisitions, made since merging with Protection 1, with the goal of creating a best in class security and life safety provider. Most recently, these acquisitions include Red Hawk Fire & Security, Aronson Security Group, MSE Security, Advanced Cabling and Commercial Protection Systems, Inc. ADT Commercial will serve customers with a broad portfolio of solutions such as enterprise risk management services, IP-based video and access control technologies; intrusion detection; fire/life safety; sprinkler installation and maintenance; banking and ATM sales and services; managed services; remote monitoring via its owned and operated monitoring centers; security only networks design, management and monitoring.

ADT Inc., a provider of monitored security and interactive home and business automation solutions in the United States and Canada, announced the acquisition of Advanced Cabling Systems, one of the leading technology integration companies in the mid-south. Advanced Cabling Systems will join forces with Red Hawk Fire & Security. Headquartered in North Little Rock, Arkansas, and founded in 1997, Advanced has regional offices in Lowell, Arkansas, Tulsa and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and Ozark, Missouri specializing in the installation and service of integrated systems including structured cabling, fire alarm systems, audio/video, CCTV, access control, intrusion detection, intercom/paging systems, nurse call and infant protection systems. Delivering Superior Customer Service Advanced Cabling Systems offers a full range of integrated systems and has earned exceptional customer loyalty as a fire and security integrator“The addition of Advanced is part of our focus on commercial growth and underscores both ADT’s and Red Hawk’s focus on leveraging technology to deliver superior customer service and support to commercial and enterprise-level organizations, particularly those with multiple U.S. locations,” said Dan Bresingham, ADT Commercial Executive Vice President. Starting as a structured cabling company and evolving with technology, Advanced Cabling Systems now offers a full range of integrated systems and has earned exceptional customer loyalty as a fire and security integrator. Increasing Red Hawk’s Geographic Footprint “The move is a positive proof that aligning with ADT elevates Red Hawk’s ability to showcase its products and services to a wider range of clients while increasing our overall geographic footprint and dedicated technician workforce, which is to be the premier single point of contact for all our customers’ fire, life safety and security needs,” said Michael McWilliams, Senior Vice President, Red Hawk Fire & Security, ADT Commercial. “At Advanced, our focus on technology and customer service is why we know that aligning with the most recognizable brands in the fire and security industry will allow us to better serve existing and new commercial customers,” said Michael Kennedy, President of Advanced Cabling Systems.

ADT, the provider of security and automation solutions for homes and businesses in North America, today announced it has completed the purchase of substantially all the assets and business of Protec, Inc., one of the leading commercial security system integrators in the Pacific Northwest. The acquisition reinforces ADT’s commitment to continued growth within the commercial and national accounts security sectors. The transaction closed on July 31, 2017. Expanding ADT Support And Service Dan Bresingham, ADT’s Chief of Staff, said, “This acquisition strengthens ADT’s commercial and national accounts business, which continues to grow both organically and through strategic acquisitions. Protec not only bolsters our presence in the Northwest, but also allows us to add additional support and service to new and existing commercial and national account customers throughout the country.” “The commercial and national accounts security market remains highly fragmented, presenting a compelling growth opportunity for ADT. In addition to a strong account base, the addition of Protec’s exceptional management team brings tremendous value to ADT,” added Bresingham. “This acquisition strengthens ADT’s commercial and national accounts business, which continues to grow both organically and through strategic acquisitions" Post-acquisition Service The business will continue to operate under the Protec brand for the foreseeable future, and will retain operations in Portland, Oregon. Protec Founder and President Andy Schwartz will continue to lead the day-to-day operations of the business, joining a growing list of previous owner/operators that have stayed on board with ADT to provide high-touch personal service to their customers post-acquisition. “We are thrilled here at Protec to be part of the ADT family,” said Schwartz. “What really sets Protec apart is our experience and individual commitment to our customers. By joining forces with ADT, Protec’s highly-trained and tenured staff will be able to offer expert advice, custom-designed security solutions, and quality installation to an even larger footprint – all backed by the power and prestige of ADT.”

Brite Energy is Protection 1’s recently formed entity that brings added services in the form of solar energy Protection 1, the largest full-service business and home security company in the U.S., recently announced that it has hired Simi Gupta, CPA, MBA as its new Chief Accounting Officer for Brite Energy, Powered by Protection 1. Brite Energy is Protection 1’s recently formed entity that will bring added services to its customers in the form of solar energy. In addition to building and leading the new finance and accounting team, Gupta will also manage all aspects of general accounting with overall responsibility for SEC reporting, accounting and external audit compliance functions. She will also ensure timely financial reporting that adheres to GAAP, SEC reporting and Sarbanes Oxley compliance requirements. Gupta has over 23 years of finance and accounting experience. Prior to joining Protection 1, she was Controller for Propel Fuels, a leader in clean technology offering alternatives to conventional energy with renewable fuels. She also held the position of Director of Accounting at Tesla Motors, Inc. where she helped manage the company’s Initial Public Offering (IPO) process while overseeing the opening of new Tesla locations in the United States and Worldwide. “Simi has a great background in start-up environments as well as preparing companies for Initial Public Offerings (IPOs),” commented Dan Bresingham, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for Protection 1. “She will bring her diverse finance and accounting skills to Brite Energy to build a world-class company supported by a world-class finance department.” Gupta is a Certified Public Account (CPA) and holds a Master of Business Administration in Finance from the University of Dallas and a Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting from the University of Bombay, India.  “My experience in building new accounting teams, managing IPO processes and developing forecast models will help Brite Energy as it grows its footprint across the nation,” said Gupta. “I am excited to join the Protection 1 team because of the people and their dedication to growing the clean energy industry and providing valuable services to their customers.”