Mitch Fagundes

Alcatraz AI, developer of secure frictionless access control platforms, names Mitch Fagundes Vice President of Global Accounts. Alcatraz AI is an innovative firm that’s improving access control by delivering secure, frictionless solutions that enhance flow, improve security, reduce overall cost, and work with any access control provider. Based in California, Fagundes will oversee business development and strategic growth for the Globe. “We’re a growing company that’s making a big footprint in frictionless access control solutions and we’re building a team of security industry experts that have delivered great results for leading firms,” said Alcatraz AI Chief Executive Officer and Founder Vince Gaydarzhiev. Enterprise video management systems “Mitch Fagundes was instrumental in the growth and success of Arecont Vision and Pelco and we welcome his insight as we develop game-changing frictionless solutions.” Fagundes worked for Arecont Vision for 11 years as Vice President of Global Strategic Accounts and Business Development Director. He was instrumental in the growth of Arecont Vision and the success of the company with major end user customers around the world. Fagundes said he is excited to bring his vast security experience to access control Prior to Arecont Vision, Fagundes served Pelco in a variety of roles for seven years including Product Marketing Manager, Large System Sales and Design, and Specialty Integrated Systems Engineering. Fagundes said he is excited to bring his vast security experience to access control. “With experience in enterprise video management systems and some of the largest IP camera deployments in the world, I’ve always been interested in the access side of the industry,” said Fagundes. Functional artificial intelligence “I’ve always seen the access side of the industry as ripe for innovation – especially in functional artificial intelligence and frictionless entry. I’m extremely excited to have the opportunity to join the Alcatraz AI team and deliver exactly what the industry has been asking for as long as I’ve been a part of it.” Developed by Gaydarzhiev, a former Apple hardware engineer, the Alcatraz Rock is a 3D facial authentication product that works with any access control system. It replaces badging as an access point identification method with facial recognition, 3D sensing, and artificial intelligence to enable highly secure and frictionless entry into physical locations. The Rock uses secure facial authentication, intelligent enrollment that switches to face-only identification after it has learned an employee’s face, and guards against tailgating.

Arecont Vision Costar, the industry provider of IP-based megapixel cameras and video surveillance solutions, announced its key product portfolio, business plans, and executive leadership team following the initial launch of the business in July, 2018. The new company is a business unit of Costar Technologies, Inc. (OTC Markets Group: CTSI), a Coppell, Texas-based corporation that designs, develops, manufactures, and distributes a wide range of proven products for the video surveillance and machine vision markets. Arecont Vision Costar continues to base its headquarters, R&D, manufacturing, and support facilities in Glendale, California in Los Angeles county, taking over the building formerly occupied by its predecessor business, Arecont Vision, LLC. The majority of employees and the executive leadership team transitioned to the new business, as did all existing products, technologies, patents, and trademarks of the original company. Arecont Vision Total Video Solution The Total Video Solution is composed of the industry’s leading megapixel cameras, cloud-enabled video management software, and cloud-managed video recorders“We’re very excited to have a new beginning for Arecont Vision Costar, with a great strategic fit that builds on our predecessor’s pioneering legacy of megapixel camera technology leadership, while leveraging the resources and expertise of Costar Technologies,” stated Raul Calderon, President, Arecont Vision Costar. “The result is that our customers can be confident not only of our financial health and long-term future, but also in purchasing our new Arecont Vision Total Video Solution to meet their surveillance system needs.” The Total Video Solution is composed of the industry’s leading megapixel cameras (MegaIP and ConteraIP series), cloud-enabled video management software (ConteraVMS and ConteraWS web services), and cloud-managed video recorders (ConteraCMR). Authorized security dealers and system integrators are able to offer a complete, cyber-secure, and web-enabled solution, or any of the individual product series in integration with the customer’s existing cameras, video management software, or recorder platforms. ONVIF compliance and the company’s API - available through the Technology Partner Program - help to ensure the best possible integration with 3rd party hardware and software. Expanding Costar’s Video Surveillance Platform The original Arecont Vision, LLC was founded in 2003 and announced a reorganisation under voluntary Chapter 11 on May 14, 2018. This was undertaken to clear the company of outstanding debt and to simplify the sale of the entire business in order to secure new investment. Costar was the winning bidder, and the transaction was completed on July 13th, 2018 with the launch of Arecont Vision Costar, LLC. The acquisition of Arecont Vision expands the Costar Technologies’ video surveillance platform by strengthening our product line" “The acquisition of Arecont Vision expands the Costar Technologies’ video surveillance platform by strengthening our product line,” said James Pritchett, President and Chief Executive Officer, Costar Technologies, Inc. “This purchase supports Costar’s strategy to become a leader in the video surveillance industry, transitioning from a value-added OEM product company into a manufacturing and design business. Along with our other recent acquisitions, the Arecont Vision acquisition increases our manufacturing and design from approximately 50% to 75% of our revenue.” Improving Sales And Technical Support “We intend to continue developing new technologies, products, and solutions to better serve our customers, partners, and the industry overall,” continued Mr. Calderon. “Improvements are currently also underway in our quality assurance processes, and in improving both our sales support and technical assistance programs.” Mr. Calderon, formerly Chief Operating Officer and General Manager of Arecont Vision, LLC now serves as President of Arecont Vision Costar. Kyle Parker is VP, Americas Sales, Sanjit Bardhan, VP, International Sales, and Mitch Fagundes, VP, Global Strategic Accounts. Brad Donaldson continues as VP, Product Development, Jeff Whitney, VP, Marketing, and VP of Finance is Edmond Deravanessian.

Arecont Vision, the provider of IP-based megapixel camera technology, announces important changes to its executive leadership to better position the company for continued growth. Arecont Vision has promoted several executives to larger roles as part of these changes. Scott Schafer, Executive Vice President, has left the company. He is on the board of directors and chairman-elect of the Security Industry Association (SIA). Chief Operating Officer And General Manager Raul Calderon has been promoted to Chief Operating Officer and General Manager of Arecont Vision. Mr. Calderon was most recently Senior Vice President of the company, responsible for all aspects of Operations, Engineering, and Products. Sales, Marketing, and Support are added now to his duties as COO and GM.  Mr. Calderon joined Arecont Vision in 2007 as Vice President of Strategic Relations, and later as Vice President of Marketing and Product Management. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of California, Los Angeles. “Raul has proven his strong vision and his outstanding management skills during his 10 years of increasing responsibilities and successful assignments with the company,” said Dr. Michael Kaplinsky, CEO of Arecont Vision. “Consolidating key aspects of the business under his leadership will enhance the efficiency of our global operations and ensure our ongoing success.” “Raul has proven his strong vision and his outstanding management skills during his 10 years of increasing responsibilities and successful assignments" “Arecont Vision continues to focus on the needs of our customers by providing the best and most innovative megapixel cameras in the industry,” said Mr. Calderon. “I look forward to this expanded role and the opportunity to lead the company as we continue to meet the growing needs of our customers worldwide.” Vice President, Americas Kyle Parker has been promoted to Vice President, Americas from his previous role as Vice President, North America Sales West. Mr. Parker first joined Arecont Vision in 2013 as Regional Sales Director, North Central. His new assignment leading sales across the USA, Canada, Mexico, and Latin America is a reflection of Mr. Parker’s consistent success for Arecont Vision and the company’s customers and partners. Based in the greater Chicago, Illinois area, Mr. Parker is a graduate of Northwestern University, with a Master’s of Science, Marketing. Vice President, Global Strategic Accounts Mitch Fagundes has been promoted to Vice President, Global Strategic Accounts.  Mr. Fagundes most recently was the Director of Business Development for Arecont Vision. He joined the company in 2011 as Regional Sales Manager, Pacific Northwest, and has been instrumental in the growth of major end user customer sales around the world. In this new assignment, Mr. Fagundes has global responsibility for strategic accounts, distributors, systems integrators, and both the A&E and consultant communities, uniting these key areas together for Arecont Vision for the first time. Mr. Fagundes is based in Fresno, California, and earned a Bachelor of Science in Business with an Entrepreneurship focus from California State University, Fresno. “Arecont Vision continues to focus on the needs of our customers by providing the best and most innovative megapixel cameras in the industry” Vice President, Europe, Middle East, Africa, And India Sanjit Bardhan, based in Dubai, UAE, has been promoted to Vice President, Europe, Middle East, Africa, and India (EMEAI). Mr. Bardhan joined Arecont Vision in 2011 as a Regional Manager for the Middle East and North Africa. He was promoted to Director in 2013, and Vice President of the expanded territory of the Middle East, India, and Africa in 2016. Mr. Bardhan holds a B.E. (Honors) in Computer Science and Engineering from the Birla Institute of Technology and Science.  Managing Director Of Europe Paul Taggar has been promoted to Managing Director of Europe, reporting to Mr. Bardhan. Mr. Taggar has been the Arecont Vision sales leader for the UK and Ireland since 2012.  He has demonstrated continued success in growing key relationships and sales revenue with integration partners, distributors, and end user customers.  With this promotion, Mr. Tagger is now responsible for all European sales activity and the leadership of his team across the region. He resides in Leicestershire, in the East Midlands, UK, and is a graduate of the University of Leicester, with a degree in Business Studies.