Electronic Security Expo 2015: Electronic security and life safety professionals connect

ESX recently announced its 2016 convention in Fort Worth, TX from June 8-10

The Electronic Security Expo (ESX) - the national trade event where electronic security and life safety dealers, integrators, and monitoring professionals connect, learn, and prepare for the future wowed attendees at its 8th annual event in Baltimore at the Baltimore Convention Center June 24-26.

Once again, providing the perfect blend of networking, education, and technology focus, the event drew the industry’s top decision makers and influencers, maintaining its reputation as the must-attend event for electronic security and life safety professionals. Owners, senior level executives and functional managers represented 85% of attendees.

Strategies, Best Practices & Trends

The conference was designed to deliver a relevant, peer-to-peer learning experience that focused on sharing strategies, best practices and trends from industry and business thought leaders. Organized into four tracks, attendees received significant data points to help them successfully navigate the future:

• Run your company – provided a practical look at what it takes to manage a business on a daily basis, improving financial results and operational excellence. Sponsored by Alarm Financial Services, Inc.
• Grow your business – delivered an in-depth synopsis of proven strategies, helping to propel one’s business to the next level. Sponsored by Essence.
• Maximize your central station – explored best-of-breed operator training, state-of-the-art technology infrastructure, and vital monitoring processes and procedures for next-gen central stations. Sponsored by Sur-Gard
• Rethink the future – uncovered opportunities, challenges and threats for the electronic security and life safety industry in the coming years. Sponsored by Alarm.com

Sharing his experience with Electronic Security Expo educational sessions, Michael Miller of Moon Security commented, "The classes that I attended greatly impacted my business perspective, helping me to better run and grow my company. I can implement these ideas and best practices immediately when I return."

“It’s really important that our attendees have the opportunity to learn actual and proven strategies and best practices from their peers,” stated George De Marco, Chairman of ESX. “That’s what actually makes ESX very unique – security and life safety professionals have a chance to reinvest in themselves, helping them better prepare for the future.”

Keynote Speakers

In addition to these peer-to-peer educational sessions, attendees were treated to high-level and poignant keynote speakers on the Main Stage. Interim Police Commissioner Kevin Davis delivered a hard hitting perspective of what the future holds for law enforcement in a major metropolitan area. U.S. Army Special Forces Officer Major General (Ret) James “Greg” Champion gave a heartfelt talk on leadership and shared his experience in command of the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force in Afghanistan in 2002 and 2003, and spoke on the merit of the Green Beret Foundation and the Next Ridgeline program. Dr. Alan Beaulieu, President of ITR Economics, provided a candid and often humorous insight into business from a near and long term perspective, correlating industry economic data points most relevant for ESX attendees.

Referencing the Closing Keynote, John Colehower, owner of Mergers and Acquisitions, was enthusiastic, “I am really glad I stayed around for the last day to see the keynote speaker. Besides being humorous, Alan really delivered to us interesting data on what's going to be happening in our industry for the next 3+ years and it’s all good news!"

Charles Spencer, President of NoBi Security and Fire Systems agreed, “Being able to listen to Alan in person was an enlightening and valuable experience as a business owner and individual investor. Those that didn't stay to the end missed out.”

New Products & Services

The ESX exhibit hall was filled with companies that showcased new and innovative products and services. A perfect blend of technology and information that helped security and life safety professionals uncovers relevant and useful products and services for end users. In addition, business services exhibitors were present throughout the exhibit hall to help attendees run their companies more effectively and efficiently.

"ESX hit the sweet spot for us. Some of the other shows may be a bit bigger, but you don't get as much quality time as you do here at ESX." Ray Krickmier, VP of Sales, Advanced Fire Systems.

ESX Innovation Awards

To spotlight best of breed products and services from the industry, the ESX Innovation Awards featured winners in 25 categories, ranging from intrusion, access control, fire alarms to business services. Attendees had the opportunity to review the winners in the ESX Innovation Awards Showcase and in the exhibitors’ booths. In addition, the ESX TechVision Challenge, a “Shark Tank” style contest judged live at ESX by our “industry sharks”, revealed the ESX 2015 “Best of Show” product. Industry judges listened to energetic presentations from those wanting to win the coveted top spot. This year’s TechVision Challenge winner was awarded to Honeywell for the MaxPro Cloud product, an integrated video surveillance and access control security system that allows users visibility and control, anywhere, at any time across multi-site locations, from any computer, tablet or mobile device.

Networking opportunities thrived around every corner at ESX 2015. Kicking off ESX, attendees at the Welcome Reception were treated to a significant lightning show that lit up the upper levels of the convention hall, and highly charged the industry conversation. The Crawl, always a favorite ESX networking event, did not disappoint attendees for 2015. Held at Power Plant Live!, the evening was filled with robust conversation and comradery that provides a unique sense of community for security and life safety professionals.

Electronic Security Expo 2016

ESX recently announced its 2016 convention in Fort Worth, TX from June 8-10. Save the Date for an industry event that is focused on the needs of electronic security and life safety professionals.