Sherida Sessa

Friday marked the closing day of ISC West 2018. ISC West, sponsored by the Security Industry Association (SIA), the largest converged security event of the year, experienced its biggest and most successful year to date. On the heels of ISC West being named to Trade Show Executive’s Next 50 List for Attendance Growth in 2017, this year included a larger show floor with more exhibits than ever before (an additional 4K square feet from last year), growth in featured areas (Unmanned Security & Safety Expo sponsored by Knightscope, Connected Security Expo, Public Security & Safety Expo, and Connected Home sponsored by Alarm.com, plus the addition of the brand new Emerging Technology Zone that had 40 companies participate), 120+ new products displayed in SIA’s New Products Showcase, six percent growth in overall attendees and 10 percent growth of the coveted ISC Executive’s Club.   Security Education Program This year, ISC West had the pleasure of offering over 85 sessions throughout the SIA Education@ISC program, spanning a range of topics that impact security professionals across physical, IT and IoT security – from biometrics to drones to leadership skills.The enthusiasm of our attendees, loyal returning exhibiting companies and the 250 new exhibiting companies inspire us to put on the best show" Some of the most highly-attended sessions were Access Control and Video in the Cloud, The Evolution of Credentials and their Use in the IT, OT, and Physical Security Environment, Connected Home – The Future is Now, and The Future of Physical Security: The Decade Ahead. Providing comprehensive education is one of the cornerstones of ISC West, and more attendees are leveraging these offerings each year, learning from one another and networking with their peers. “Another successful year in the books,” said Sherida Sessa, Industry Vice President of ISC Security Events at Reed Exhibitions. “The enthusiasm of our attendees, loyal returning exhibiting companies and the 250 new exhibiting companies continue to inspire us to put on the best show we can. We’re so pleased with the turnout and want to formally thank everyone – attendees, exhibitors, speakers, our media partners and sponsors, and most importantly, SIA, for helping to make this year the biggest and best show we’ve had yet.” Re-Inventing Cybersecurity This year’s keynotes were unparalleled. Each one had a packed house, with Dr. Douglas Maughan of the Department of Homeland Security explaining how the DHS Science and Technology (S&T) is re-inventing cybersecurity, and Jeff Crume, Distinguished Engineer and Master Inventor, IT Security Architect at IBM talking about the dark side of the IoT.ISC West 2018 featured the SIA Women in Security Forum to mentor and empower other females to enter the industry ISC West 2018 also had several special events on the agenda, including the 23rd SAMMY Awards hosted by Security Sales & Integration, honouring dealers and integrators for their sales, marketing, business and installation excellence; tours of the new Emerging Technology Zone to showcase next-generation products on the market; SIA’s New Products Showcase awards ceremony, where over 120 product entries were pitched to leading industry experts and winners were selected in nearly 30 categories; the Security 5K Run/2K Walk, where all proceeds were donated to Mission 500, a non-profit charitable organization focused on the security industry and dedicated to serving children and families in need across the U.S.; the SIA RISE Happy Hour and SIA Autonomous Security Robotics Reception where security industry professionals had the chance to network with each other; and the inaugural committee meeting of the SIA Women in Security Forum, a place for women to engage, mentor and empower other females to enter the industry.  Business Impact “There’s nothing better than hearing someone on the show floor say, ‘ISC West is like the Super Bowl of security events',” said Will Wise, group vice president of the ISC security portfolio. “At the end of the day, it’s so rewarding knowing that exhibitors and attendees – from end-users to integrators to dealers/installers to consultants and engineers – feel that ISC West made a measurable business impact for them. We’re looking forward to the Cyber: Secured Forum in Denver in June and are already setting our sights on ISC East in New York City in November!”

ISC West, sponsored by the Security Industry Association (SIA), the largest converged security event of the year, experienced its biggest and most successful year to-date. On the heels of ISC West being named to Trade Show Executive’s Next 50 List for Attendance Growth in 2017, this year included a larger show floor with more exhibits than ever before (an additional 4K square feet from last year), growth in featured areas (Unmanned Security & Safety Expo sponsored by Knightscope, Connected Security Expo, Public Security & Safety Expo, and Connected Home sponsored by Alarm.com, plus the addition of the brand new Emerging Technology Zone that had 40 companies participate), 120+ new products displayed in SIA’s New Products Showcase, six percent growth in overall attendees and 10 percent growth of the coveted ISC Executive’s Club. This year ISC West had the pleasure of offering over 85 sessions throughout the SIA Education@ISC program SIA Education@ISC Program This year ISC West had the pleasure of offering over 85 sessions throughout the SIA Education@ISC program, spanning a range of topics that impact security professionals across physical, IT and IoT security – from biometrics to drones to leadership skills. Some of the most highly-attended sessions were Access Control and Video in the Cloud, The Evolution of Credentials and their Use in the IT, OT, and Physical Security Environment, Connected Home – The Future is Now, and The Future of Physical Security: The Decade Ahead. Providing comprehensive education is one of the cornerstones of ISC West, and more attendees are leveraging these offerings each year, learning from one another and networking with their peers. Cybersecurity And IoT This year’s keynotes were unparalleled. Each one had a packed house, with Dr. Douglas Maughan of the Department of Homeland Security explaining how the DHS Science and Technology (S&T) is re-inventing cybersecurity, and Jeff Crume, Distinguished Engineer and Master Inventor, IT Security Architect at IBM talking about the dark side of the IoT. ISC West 2018 also had several special events on the agenda, including the 23rd SAMMY Awards hosted by Security Sales & Integration “Another successful year in the books,” said Sherida Sessa, Industry Vice President of ISC Security Events at Reed Exhibitions. “The enthusiasm of our attendees, loyal returning exhibiting companies and the 250 new exhibiting companies continue to inspire us to put on the best show we can. We’re so pleased with the turnout and want to formally thank everyone – attendees, exhibitors, speakers, our media partners and sponsors, and most importantly, SIA, for helping to make this year the biggest and best show we’ve had yet.” Products Showcase Awards ISC West 2018 also had several special events on the agenda, including the 23rd SAMMY Awards hosted by Security Sales & Integration, honoring dealers and integrators for their sales, marketing, business and installation excellence; tours of the new Emerging Technology Zone to showcase next-generation products on the market. It’s so rewarding knowing that exhibitors and attendees feel that ISC West made a measureable business impact for them" SIA’s New Products Showcase awards ceremony, where over 120 product entries were pitched to leading industry experts and winners were selected in nearly 30 categories; the Security 5K Run/2K Walk, where all proceeds were donated to Mission 500, a non-profit charitable organization focused on the security industry and dedicated to serving children and families in need across the U.S.; the SIA RISE Happy Hour and SIA Autonomous Security Robotics Reception where security industry professionals had the chance to network with each other; and the inaugural committee meeting of the SIA Women in Security Forum, a place for women to engage, mentor and empower other females to enter the industry. Measureable Business Impact “There’s nothing better than hearing someone on the show floor say, ‘ISC West is like the Super Bowl of security events',” said Will Wise, group vice president of the ISC security portfolio. “At the end of the day, it’s so rewarding knowing that exhibitors and attendees – from end-users to integrators to dealers/installers to consultants and engineers – feel that ISC West made a measureable business impact for them. We’re looking forward to the Cyber:Secured Forum in Denver in June and are already setting our sights on ISC East in New York City in November!”

The Security Industry Association (SIA) has announced, on International Women’s Day, the establishment of the SIA Women in Security Forum to support the participation of women in the security industry. Through programs, professional development and networking events, the committee will engage members, both men and women, who share this goal.  The inaugural steering committee for the SIA Women in Security Forum includes (listed alphabetically by company): Elaine Palome, Axis Communications Chelsea Render, Bosch Kelly Bond, Brivo Vicky Lowe, Convergint Technologies Janet Fenner, Dahua Technology USA Sherida Sessa, ISC Security Events Dawne Hanks, Milestone Systems Christie Hamberis, ScanSource Alice DiSanto, Sharp Intellos Maureen Carlo, Videotec Security It is a privilege to serve a forum keenly focused on propelling women within the security industry" Competitve Advantage “It is an honour to serve on SIA’s new Women in Security committee as it recognizes the countless women working in this industry, and our collective achievements and contributions. It also presents a great opportunity to engage, mentor and help further empower a new generation of women executives in the physical security industry,” said Dahua’s Fenner. “It is a privilege to serve a forum keenly focused on propelling women within the security industry. Providing a venue where future female leaders can strengthen their know-how, while networking and brainstorming around future solutions with peers can only improve competency and esteem,” said Sharp’s DiSanto. “Our success depends on the quality skill, and values of our employees. At Axis, we believe that a diverse and talented workforce is a key competitive advantage and that different backgrounds, perspectives, and life experiences are important drivers of innovation. We are pleased to be taking part in this joint initiative with SIA,” said Palome of Axis Communications. Potential Goals For The Forum: Create mentorship/sponsorship programs to advocate for advancement and build confidence in the workplace. Connect women in the industry through networking events. Develop a recruiting program for next generation female professionals and leaders. Initiate an ongoing dialogue between male and female leaders to enhance mutual understanding. Identify platforms that can provide visibility for women. Spearhead an issue that will create opportunities for women to work together and be at the forefront of a major initiative.

ISC East, sponsored by the Security Industry Association (SIA), once again saw great success this year with over 240 exhibiting companies and over 7,000 high-profile security professionals attending the show. Featuring 75 new brands and the largest exhibition floor in recent years, ISC East covered video surveillance, access control, public security, biometrics, security distribution, smart home, IoT, unmanned security and more, and maintained its position as the premier converged security event in the Northeast for physical, IT and IoT security. Engaging Security Demonstrations Industry Vice President Sherida Sessa commented, "We are very excited that ISC East has seen a 14% growth in exhibit space in 2017, keeping pace with the steady growth we've seen over the last two years. This year's event included 75 new exhibitors, approximately 20% more than last year. Many of these companies represented newly added product categories - unmanned vehicles & robotics, biometrics, connected home, IoT and network security, as well as several others - ensuring that ISC East continues to bring new content to the industry." Jeff Zajic at FacialStats.com, a new robotics exhibitor at ISC East, called the show "fantastic" and a "must go to event." Jeff explained, "We had over 5,000 visitor views for our booth with excellent quality of traffic from solo consultants to multinationals. Very engaging with lots of interest and excitement." Networking Opportunities And Special Events This year, ISC East kicked off with its signature Grand Opening Ceremony featuring the NYPD Emerald Society Pipes & Drums. The ceremony commenced two days of networking opportunities and special events, including celebrity appearances from former NY Giants Running Backs Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs, a Featured Product Showcase with 30+ product submissions, the famous Crack the Tap cocktail reception, and a new roundtable discussion on event security in light of recent world-wide events. "Ultimately, our goal is to create the very best face-to-face platform for doing business in the Northeast" "As the proud sponsor of ISC East, the Security Industry Association is particularly enthused about the growth of the tradeshow floor, the introduction of new vendors and technologies, and the expansion of the educational program that helps to inform and elevate our industry," said SIA CEO Don Erickson. "The show's continued growth also reflects the value that the SIA members find in ISC Events and in the strong northeastern U.S. market, and we congratulate the ISC Events team on another success." SIA Education@ISC Program The SIA Education@ISC program supported 30+ hours of free education sessions, a high-profile Keynote Speaker, free exhibitor product trainings, the returning Tech Tank @ ISC East and the newest addition of four Hands On Workshops that were designed to provide cutting-edge information and valuable insights on the most current business trends, technologies and new developments in security. This year's Keynote session also featured an informative conversation with Group Vice President Will Wise and Ray Kelly, Former Commissioner of the NYPD. The two discussed Kelly's development of the NYPD during the time immediately following 9/11, and provided insights into today's most pressing public safety and cyber threats, and how to protect against them. Forward-thinking Educational Opportunities Will Wise, ISC Group Vice President, commented: "We're delighted to have received such positive feedback immediately following ISC East. Ultimately, our goal is to create the very best face-to-face platform for doing business in the Northeast, and to have high quality brands and security industry professionals attending. We're bullish about the continued opportunity to expand the event, including our just announced Unmanned Security & Safety Expo NY, co-located with ISC East in 2018." All around the Javits Center, ISC East saw ground-breaking products and solutions, forward-thinking educational opportunities and exciting networking events; there was something for everyone in security.

Wise will oversee the flagship ISC West event in Las Vegas, ISC East in New York and Card Not Present Expo in Orlando Reed Exhibitions, the global tradeshow company, announces the appointment of Will Wise as Group Vice President of its Security portfolio. Wise will oversee the flagship ISC West event in Las Vegas, ISC East in New York and Card Not Present Expo in Orlando. Wise brings over two decades of security industry experience to Reed, and his expertise will further drive the Security events to deliver physical, IT and IoT security solutions for customers. Previous Experience Wise joins Reed after 10 years at UBM, where he ran Sales and Business Development for the technology group, responsible for revenue across events and an integrated media portfolio of Enterprise IT, cloud computing, electronics and IoT markets. Most recently with Penton, Wise was the Managing Director for the IoT Institute, IoTi.com and the IoT Emerge event. Commenting on the new appointment, Ed Several, SVP said, “We are very excited to have Will join the Reed Exhibitions Senior Leadership team. He is an excellent fit with our culture and strategy of innovation, and brings tremendous thought leadership, marketing and sales experience to help lead and grow our Security portfolio as it evolves in an ever-changing industry.” Wise will report to Nancy Walsh, President of Reed Exhibitions USA, as Ed Several has been elevated to a Global role within Reed. Sherida Sessa, Industry Vice President for the Security Portfolio, has been leading the event team for 5 years and will continue to provide consistent leadership and experience in support of Wise. “I am excited to be joining a global leader like Reed,” said Wise, “I look forward to continuing the success of these exciting events and to working to grow these brands to deliver even more value and to address the growing demands of the industry.” Don Erickson, CEO of the Security Industry Association, added “The addition of an IT industry veteran like Will brings the experience and perspective we need to keep us ahead of the global security market.” ISC West opens in Las Vegas on April 5, 2017.

The event offers new educational programs, special events and updated technology, such as the new ISC East mobile app ISC East, sponsored by SIA, the largest security convention in the Northeast United States, expects to see increased attendance at this year’s event, set for Nov. 19-20, at New York’s Javits Center. Additionally, plans have been finalized for a number of special events in which attendees can take part during the two-day show. “We’ve invested in significant efforts to deliver the enhanced value for attendees and exhibitors through new educational programs, unique special events and updated technology, such as the new ISC East new mobile app, sponsored by Genetec, that provides attendees with the latest information about the event,” said Sherida Sessa, Event Director, ISC Events. “ISC East is expecting increased growth in the number of attendees and we believe it’s a testament to our dedication to quality education, and strong collaboration with industry thought leaders.” The show’s Grand Opening Ceremony takes place at 9:45 a.m., in the North Hall Entrance, and features the NYPD Emerald Society Pipes & Drums to open the event. A number of industry professionals will also be on hand to kick-off ISC East 2014 including Don Erickson, CEO, Security Industry Association (SIA); Tim Creenan, CEO, Amherst Alarm, Inc., and President, New York State Electronic Security Association; Andrew Wilson, Owner, Fireworks, LLC, and President, Connecticut Alarm & System Integrators Association (CASIA); John Stroia, Chief Operating Officer, The Will-Burt Company, and Chairman, SIA; Ron Petrarca, Director of Operations, Electronix Systems, CSA and President, New York Fire Alarm Association; Rhianna Daniels Hile, Managing Director, CompassPR, and Founder, Women’s Security Council; Joe Cioffi, Vice President, Bergen Protective Systems, and President, New Jersey Electronic Security Association; and George Anderson, Vice President, Operations for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, Allied Barton Security Services, and Chairman, ASIS New York City Chapter. New this year is the NASCAR Racing Experience simulator, which will be accessible during show hours in the North Lobby. To experience this attraction, attendees must pick up a Pitstop Pass upon arrival and stop by exhibitor booths including Axis, Video Insight, ASSA ABLOY, NUVICO, OnSSI, ADT, Napco and Kentix. After visiting the sponsor booths, attendees can turn their cards in for a chance to race. The ‘driver’ with the fastest time at the end of each day will win tickets to a 2015 NASCAR event of his choice. Three-time NASCAR Champion Randy LaJoie and NASCAR Nationwide driver for Richard Petty Motorsports and NASCAR NEXT future star Core LaJoie will be on hand from 12 p.m., to 2 p.m., Wednesday, at the NASCAR simulator, to say hello, sign autographs and meet fans. Another can’t-miss networking event is the Crack the Tap Reception, sponsored by Genetec, to be held at 4 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 19, in the North Hall Lobby, on the landing above the show floor. This event is open to all attendees and exhibitors. SIA Honors Night will be held starting at 6:30 p.m. at The Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers in New York City – an opportunity to share a festive evening and honor the achievements and contributions of security industry leaders. This year, Gordon Hope, General Manager of Honeywell AlarmNet, will receive the George R. Lippert Memorial Award.