ESX’s Innovation Awards distinguish innovation and excellence in the industry — and identify the next-gen products and services that will offer significant opportunities for growth for integrator companies.  

These products and services were selected by an independent panel of judges based on a specific set of criteria, including ingenuity, applicability, response to market need, and more. 

The 2023 ESX Innovation Awards Judging Panel, led by Mark Reimer of ADT, also included Michele Monheim, Customer Service Manager of Amherst Alarm, Inc., Rodger Reiswig, Fellow & VP Industry Relations/Global Fire Detection Products of Johnson Controls, Richard Tampier, Vice President of Strategic Growth at ADT Commercial and Philip Love from Security Central. ESX is grateful to these judges for lending their time and expertise to this important program that recognizes forward-thinking ideas within the security industry. 

“This year’s ESX Innovation Award winners are a shining example of the transformative power of creativity and innovation. Their ideas and solutions are pushing the industry forward, making for a more productive and profitable future for alarm dealers, integrators, and monitoring companies. Congratulations to all the 2023 ESX innovation winners!” says George DeMarco, ESX Chairman 

ESX congratulates the forward-thinking companies behind these breakthrough technologies for 2023 (winners listed in alphabetical order by category).   

Access Control ID Systems: 

Controllers – Stand-alone or Networked or Appliance Based Systems 

Company: Alarm.com 

Product: Cell Connector for Access Control 

Readers/Keypads 

Company: STid  

Product: Architect Series 

Dealer Services: 

Customer Experience 

Company: MacGuard Security Advisors 

Product: Likelihood to Stay Score 

Business Operations 

Company: National Monitoring Center 

Product: Nexus 

Financial Services 

Company: BOLD Group 

Product: Managely, Financial and Business Management Software 

Intrusion Control Systems: 

Detection Sensors – Annunciators / Strobes / Audible Devices 

Company: Essence Security 

Product: Myshield 1.5 

Notification Appliances – Motion / Contacts / Environmental 

Company: Winland Electronics 

Product:  EAPro-Gateway and Associated Wireless Sensors 

Monitoring Central Stations: 

Alarm Monitoring for End User 

Company: Becklar 

Product: The Becklar Customer Engagement Platform  

Dealer App 

Company: Avantguard 

Product: AG Mobile Technician App 

Software 

Company: BOSCH 

Product: Conettix B6800-SR Software Central Station Receiver 

Smart Home: 

Home Automation / Home Control Systems 

Company: Napco Security Technologies 

Product: Prima 

Audio / Video Receivers / Electronic Door Locks / Garage Door Controls 

Company: Snap One 

Product: Episode Radiance 

Video Surveillance: 

Video Analytics 

Company: Eagle Eye Networks 

Product: Smart Video Search 

Video Management Software 

Company: Dice Corporation 

Product: Matrix Interactive Video Monitoring Platform 

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The TechVision Challenge is a Shark Tank Style Competition held at ESX where judges recognize outstanding products and services that drive the electronic security and life safety industry forward. The TechVision Challenge is an opportunity for manufacturers and service providers to come up with innovative end user offerings and tools that help dealers, integrators and monitoring professionals become more efficient and profitable.

The selection of the winner is based on specific judging criteria that includes:

• Features & Functions
• Aesthetic & Design Qualities
• Groundbreaking or Innovative
• Improving End User Experience
• Overall WOW Factor
• Improves Efficiency
• Increases Company Value
• Regulatory Compliance

It is up to each contestant to prepare their own presentations for the competition and the TechVision Challenge judging criteria will be used to determine what product or service will be named Best of Show for ESX 2023.

This year, only 8 participants from the Innovation Awards judging process were invited to compete in the TechVision Challenge and an interactive judging panel of minim 3 judges watch the presentations. The judges then have up to 12 minutes for each presentation to judge each product.

This year, we had incredible products in the competition for “Best of Show”, but the ultimate winner was Winland for their EAPro-Gateway and Associated Wireless Sensors with runner-up Eagle Eye Networks for their Eagle Eye Smart Video Search.

The Electronic Security Expo (ESX), being held June 5-8 in Louisville, Kentucky, has announced the opening of its 2023 Innovation Awards Program. New products and services with proven impacts on electronic security and life safety integration/installation companies are encouraged to apply.    

The awards program distinguishes excellence and identifies next-gen products and services that offer significant opportunities for growth and operational excellence. 

The awards program has been created to recognize innovative products and services that push the industry forward. Awards will be assigned categories, including Access Control and ID Systems, Cabling Products and Accessories, Cyber Security, Intrusion Systems, Fire/Life Safety, Video Surveillance, and more.  

Submissions will remain open through March 31. Interested companies may apply at Innovation Awards – ESX (esxweb.com). 

 A panel of industry professionals will judge entries on the following: 

• Features and functions 
• Innovation 
• End-user experience 
• Revenue growth potential 
• Company value and efficiency impact 
• Regulation Compliance 

Now through March 31, 2023, manufacturers and service providers are invited to submit their products or services for the chance to be named the best-of-the-best in specific electronic security and life safety industry categories.  

Award recipients will receive a trophy and be featured in the Security Nation Magazine. Additionally, they will be recognized in an official ESX Innovation Awards press release to trade media and considered for competition in ESX Tech Vision Challenge, which is a “Shark Tank” style competition to be held live at ESX 2023.  

Submission categories include Cybersecurity, Cabling Products and Accessories, Video Surveillance, Access Control and ID Systems, Intrusion Systems, and more. Visit our website for a complete category list at Innovation Awards – ESX (esxweb.com) to begin planning for your application. Watch the following video to learn more: 

During ESX 2022, Steve Firestone, long-time industry professional and ESA volunteer, accepted ESA’s Morris F. Weinstock Person of the Year Award — the association’s most prestigious honor. Here’s what he had to say…

[Full Video Of Speech Available Below]

I am shocked, overwhelmed, humbled beyond belief, because unlike the gentlemen and ladies behind me who have spent in almost every case their entire careers in this wonderful industry, I haven’t. And unlike I think all of them, I haven’t started my own security business. I happen to have stumbled into this industry a number of years ago. And to receive this kind of recognition and to be on the stage with these guys, I can tell you, is one of the absolute highlights of my career.

So I can’t thank this group enough for inviting me into the club. It’s really very humbling. Early in my career. I was very blessed to have had people that introduced me to the value of learning from others in other industries or in the same industry to get involved in volunteerism and to be afforded the opportunity now to do the same kinds of things is really pretty special to me.

In my time as a volunteer, the great majority has been as much fun as I’ve had in my career. But those of us who have been on the inside know, there are moments where sometimes as a volunteer, it feels like you’re in front of the Senate committee confirming a Chief Justice nominee — where you’re taking arrows. Because as volunteers, our charge as volunteers is to do the best thing for the industry, even if it’s not always the most popular thing. And I’m proud to be associated with the group of men and women who have done that throughout their time of volunteering in the industry. 

A couple of specific “thank you’s.” I will start with Pat Egan, who during my presidency at Select Security believed in the value of volunteerism. And I was able to give the amount of time that I gave to the association. So that’s the first thank you. 

The second thank you is to the management team that I worked with at Select Security. And some of them, I think, are in the room, but I’m not sure. I’m going to mention them by name so it actually goes on the record. Thanks to Roger, Steve, Alex, Joe, Bob, and Bob. Thank you! Hopefully, you’ll see this video at some point because I would not have been able to give the amount of time that I gave without their support.

And next, I’d like to thank those who have served on the executive committee with me over the years and in no particular order. And yes, I had to write them down because I don’t want to forget anyone.

And the first name that I’ll mention is the winner of the award yesterday, the Sarah Jackson Award. Dee Ann, Chris, Tim, Marshall, John, James, Steve — and, yes, he’s known as Bad Steve. I’m known as good Steve. Jamie and Angela, thank you. And a gentleman that couldn’t be here today, Dom. Thanks for being part of my indoctrination into volunteering in the industry. There’s some other industry friends that I think weren’t mentioned and I’ll name your first name so you know who you are. George, Kirk, Robert, John and Mark. Thanks a bunch for being there side-by-side with me through this. The second last group is the ESA leadership team and the professional staff who I have had the great pleasure of working with for quite a long time now. 

The ESA Leadership Team gets mentioned by name frequently. I’m going to mention them by name, but I also want to mention, and I think most of them are seated over there, I see them waving. Their names don’t get mentioned often and I’m now going to call them out by name. But first we’ll start with Merlin. Thanks a million. 

I can’t believe how good a friend you become. So Merlin, Jillian, and Michelle. You guys are phenomenal. You get kudos and credit, but the audience doesn’t really know how much you really deserve, so a million thanks. Tom and Chris, thanks a million. Jess and Kaleigh, Lexi, Sophia, Leshauna, Kyndal, Hannah, Daniela, Daniel, Pat, Amanda, Bethanay, Matt, Mashawnda, Vickie. I thank them for all they do. 

And the last two are the most important too. And they’re here. And it’s my wife Rebecca and daughter Jessica and my son-in-law Brian — who’s an attorney and can’t be here. It’s interesting. Jason Lutz and I were talking in the hallway about half an hour ago and we’re talking about when someone volunteers. 

Whether it’s in this association or another. It means that you’re making a choice to do something and give back to a group or an industry. And that’s a really commendable thing to do. But it also takes people at home who believe in you and support you through good times and bad times. And I’ve got the best. 

So…. Rebecca, Jess, Brian. I love you guys. Thanks for being an example of what a human being should be. I’m honored to be your husband and your dad and your father-in-law. So thank you. 

Scripture says that older people have a responsibility to make themselves available to impart wisdom and guidance and leadership based on their experience to younger people. 

And younger people have a responsibility to listen and learn and gain from that experience that you only get through years of doing what you do.

Now, younger people have a responsibility to listen and do something with it, but they also have a responsibility to in turn give the enthusiasm and new ideas and different perspectives to older people. And it is not a coincidence that it is in scripture that we learn about that. 

But didn’t I just describe what an association is? Isn’t this what the people like us on this stage do? It is the responsibility of younger people to challenge us. I’m in this group to challenge us. And I am thrilled that the Electronic Security Association by its very nature is built around those tenants that we find in scripture. I think that is the coolest thing that there could possibly be. So again, thank you, gentlemen and ladies, for the honor. 

I appreciate this more than you can possibly know, because I know I don’t necessarily fit the perfect mold if there is one. And if there was one, then I guess we just broke it. So, thank you very much.