The LEAF Community, known for its open, vendor-neutral standard in physical access control credential interoperability, has initiated a significant development with the introduction of its End User Committee. This newly formed committee is designed to streamline the enhancement of security protocols for large enterprises by providing a structured platform for influencing the future direction of LEAF's standards.
Michael Franke of Bank of America leads the committee, which brings together security leaders from high-profile organizations such as Anduril, DTCC, IBM, and Red Hat. The goal is to collectively address common challenges and integrate real-world deployment insights into the LEAF roadmap. This ensures the standard is tailored to the actual needs of user organizations rather than being driven by any single vendor's perspective.
Building Credential Initiative
The launch of the End User Committee is part of the broader expansion for the LEAF Community
The launch of the End User Committee is part of the broader expansion for the LEAF Community, which now includes over 40 member organizations. Concurrently, there is ongoing progress within the Marketing Committee and a base building credential initiative spearheaded by the Product Committee.
Matthew Netardus, senior manager of technical security architecture at Anduril, emphasized the value of a peer-driven committee in collectively addressing common security issues and making informed decisions that resonate with the needs of deploying organizations.
Recruiting Member Companies
The inaugural event for the LEAF End User Committee will be held in person during the GSX conference in Atlanta, Georgia. Hosted at the Glenn Hotel - SkyLounge on September 15, from 8 am to 9 am ET, the vendor-free gathering is an opportunity for end users to engage directly with LEAF's initiatives. As Michael Franke mentions, this platform allows security teams to compare their experiences and challenges with peers, fostering a collaborative environment for problem-solving. Registration for the event is mandatory and open to all end users.
The LEAF Community is actively seeking to recruit member companies across various tiers, including manufacturers, integrators, consultants, and enterprises. Notably, membership for end users remains free of charge.
The LEAF Community, an open, vendor-neutral standard for physical access control credential interoperability, launches its End User Committee. This new body helps large enterprises advance their security protocols with zero friction, giving them a structured voice in shaping the standard’s direction.
Chaired by Michael Franke of Bank of America, the committee brings together security leaders from organizations including Anduril, DTCC, IBM and Red Hat to surface shared challenges and apply their real-world deployment experience to LEAF’s roadmap. This helps ensure the standard evolves around the needs of the organizations actually using it to secure their buildings rather than the agenda of any single vendor.
Building credential initiative
The launch comes amid broader momentum for the LEAF Community, which has grown to more than 40 member organizations, alongside continued growth of its Marketing Committee and progress on a base building credential initiative led by its Product Committee.
"Physical security leaders are often solving the same problems independently,” said Matthew Netardus, senior manager, technical security architecture, Anduril. “A peer committee like this one gives us a structured way to surface those challenges together, apply collective experience to real decisions, and ensure the direction of this technology reflects the requirements of the organizations actually deploying it. That kind of feedback loop is rare and worth being part of."
Recruiting member companies
The LEAF End User Committee is hosting its first in person event during the GSX in Atlanta, GA. The vendor-free gathering, spearheaded by Bank of America’s Michael Franke, gives end users a chance to learn more about the LEAF Community and its End User Committee.
- Date: September 15 in Atlanta at the Glenn Hotel - SkyLounge from 8 am to 9 am ET
- Audience: Open to all end users.
- Registration: Registration is required.
"None of us are solving these problems in a vacuum — every large enterprise security team is working through the same vendor lock-in and integration headaches,” said Michael Franke, security technology executive at Bank of America and chair of the LEAF End User Committee. “Having a seat on the End User Committee means we're comparing notes with peers instead of finding out the hard way, alone.”
LEAF Community is recruiting member companies across every tier, including manufacturers, integrators, consultants, and enterprises. End user membership is free.
