Showcase Your Innovation to the Security Industry’s Top Decision-Makers 

Designed to spotlight innovation that delivers real-world value, the ESX Innovation Awards celebrate manufacturers and service providers whose solutions are helping security integrators, dealers, and monitoring professionals navigate an evolving industry. The 2027 ESX Innovation Awards will be presented during ESX 2027, taking place June 28–July 1 in Tampa, Florida.

The ESX Innovation Awards provide an opportunity to showcase innovative solutions before the security industry’s most influential business leaders. Award recipients receive industry-wide recognition and earn the opportunity to compete in the ESX TechVision Challenge, a live presentation where Innovation Award winners pitch their solutions to a panel of integrator judges for the chance to earn the coveted Best of Show Award. 

“The Innovation Awards aren’t just about recognizing great products. They’re an opportunity for manufacturers and service providers to put their solutions in front of the industry’s key decision-makers,” says George De Marco, Chairman of ESX. “ESX brings together owners, executives, and business leaders responsible for evaluating technology investments and driving growth within their organizations, making it the ideal place to gain meaningful exposure, build valuable relationships, and start quality conversations.” 

Before you apply: 

• Companies must be a current ESX 2027 exhibitor to be eligible.  

• Early Bird pricing ends March 19, 2027.  

• Final submission deadline: April 16, 2027.  

Manufacturers and service providers offering innovative technologies, software, services, and business solutions are encouraged to submit an entry. View award categories, eligibility requirements, pricing, and submission details at www.esxweb.com/innovation-awards. 

Innovation Award finalists are also eligible for the People’s Choice Innovation Award, giving ESX attendees the opportunity to vote for the innovation they believe will have the greatest impact on their businesses and the industry. Voting takes place throughout the ESX Expo, with the winner announced live at ESX, providing an additional opportunity for innovators to gain recognition directly from the security leaders evaluating tomorrow’s technologies. 

Manufacturers and service providers offering innovative technologies, software, services, and business solutions that support security integrators, dealers, and monitoring professionals are encouraged to submit an entry. Complete award categories, eligibility requirements, and submission deadlines are available at www.esxweb.com/innovation-awards. 

The ESA Youth Scholarship Program was developed to support the children of first responders such as police officers, firefighters, paramedics, and EMTs. During ESX 2025, Presley Douglas, accepted the 2025 Youth Scholarship Award. Here’s what he had to say…

[Full Video of Speech Available Below]

The whaling sirens, the crackle of a radio, and the Southern rush of urgency. These sounds have been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. My father, the Metter Fire Chief and a first responder, has spent his entire life running towards danger while others run away. His unwavering commitment to protecting our community has not only shaped my childhood but has instilled in me a deep sense of responsibility, resilience, in service. Many people see fire trucks rushing past and only feel the inconvenience of the flashing lights and blocking their route. Some sign frustration when they have to slow down as the truck’s back into the station. But for me, these moments are sacred. They mean my father’s coming home, home from pulling someone out of a burning building, from responding to a wreck on a dark back road, for bringing comfort to a family on their worst days. Not everyone gets that reassurance. I’ve grown up knowing that every shift he carries the way of uncertainty, but I also know he wouldn’t choose any other life. One evening, after my 4HBP practice, I witnessed firsthand why his job is more than just a profession. 

It’s a calling. His radio crackled to life. A woman unconscious in need of immediate medical attention. Without hesitation, my dad quickly changed direction, flipped in on his lights, and sirens began as he raced to the scene. I sat in his truck, my heart pounding as I watched him work. Every moment was precise. Every decision was deliberate. He performed life-saving measures with the same calm confidence I’ve seen him carry through countless emergencies. That night, he didn’t just save a life, he reinforced the values that have come to define my own. Growing up with a first responder as a father means growing up with sacrifice. Birthdays, Christmas morning, and family events have all been interrupted by the sound of his pager.

There were many years where he wasn’t able to sit there and watch us open presents because someone else’s family needed him more. I never resented it, though. Instead, it made me admire him even more. His selflessness has taught me that his service is more than a choice. It is a responsibility. His dedication to protecting others has inspired me to give back in every way I can, whether through agriculture, leadership, or community service. 

I’ve taken his example and applied it to my own passions, working to make a different in those lives around me. One of the most meaningful ways I’ve embraced this responsibility is through my work as a livestock exhibitor mentor. Just as my father trains his team to handle high pressure situations, I’ve dedicated myself to mentoring the Youth Livestock Exhibitors in daily livestock care, training, and showmanship. I assist them with feeding, grooming, and managing their animals, and helping them build confidence and responsibility, qualities my father has instilled in me. Watching these exhibitors grow up and succeed reminds me of the power of guidance and the importance of leading by example, just as my father has done for me.

My passions for serving go beyond the ring. As a volunteer tutor for the Ken Lincoln Boys & Girls Club, I dedicate my time to help students overcome academic challenges. Whether it’s explaining math problems or encouraging to push through obstacles, I’ll strive to be a mentor who instills perseverance, just as my father does in work. His ability to remain calm under pressure has influenced my own approach to problem solving, teaching me that true leadership means more than dependable in times of need. 

Beyond mentoring and tutoring, I have been actively involved in numerous community service projects. Inspired by my father’s dedication to emergency response, I have worked to provide relief for those facing hardship. After Hurricane Helene, I helped clean yards, clear debris, and assist families in rebuilding. I also co-led a food drive, collecting thousands of cans and raising funds to combat hunger. These efforts, though small in comparison to my sacrifices my father makes daily, are my way of facing forward his legacy of service. Perhaps the most valuable lesson I’ve learned from my father is that true leadership is not recognition but about impact. Whether responding to emergency in the middle of the night or ensuring his firefighters return home safely, he leads with humility and unwavering commitment. His influence has shaped me in the way I approach my leadership roles. Whether serving as an officer in FFA, advocating for agriculture, or mentoring others, his example reminds me that making a difference isn’t about the spotlight. It’s about stepping up when matters most. As I look forward to the future, I carry his lessons with me. My goal is to become a veterinarian and serve rural communities where quality of care, of animal care is often limited.  

Just as my father answers the call to protect people, I want to dedicate my to protecting the animals and the farmers that our families depend on. His commitment to the well-being of others has fueled my passion to make an impact in my own way through medicine, education, and advocacy. Every time I hear his radio buzz with another emergency, I’m reminded of the sacrifices he makes, the lives he changes, and the example he sets. His service has not only protected our community but has also shaped me into the person I am today. Because of him, I understand that life has a purpose and his dedicated to one another. And while I might not wear a Fire Chief uniform, I would carry his legacy forward to compassion, resilience, and unwavering commitment to making a difference. In closing, it is an absolute honor standing here.

I want to sincerely thank the Electronic Security Association and its members for not only welcoming me to this incredible event, but for selecting me as a recipient of the scholarship. As a child of a first responder, this opportunity holds deep personal meaning. I’ve grown watching my dad serve our community with courage and compassion, putting others before himself. 

No matter the hour or the risk, that selflessness has shaped me into who I am. To have the dedication recognized by an organization like ESA, one that also works to protect and serve, it is incredibly moving. Your commitment to honoring first responders and investing into their children’s future is powerful, and I’m beyond grateful to be a part of it. This scholarship means more than just financial help. It is a message that our family’s service matters, our stories are seen, and our dreams are worth supporting. For that, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Thank you again for this life-changing opportunity and for your service to communities across the country and for helping students like me believe in a bigger future. Thank you. 

During ESX 2025, John Loud, 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]

Thank you all very much. I certainly have several things I’d like to share, but before I share that, have you guys all had the opportunity to tell Kevin Stone, Happy birthday yet? Please, before, don’t let the day go by before we don’t get the time to say, Happy birthday, Kevin Stone, Mr. Chairman. Happy birthday, Kevin.  

It’s such an honor to serve. When I’ve had the opportunity to get my business going right at 30 years ago now, June 27th of 1995 is when I started the business and never could imagine that we would have the team that we’ve been able to build, to build the community we have here locally, to build a community on a national level. It’s with absolute utmost gratitude to create the partnerships that started to bring me in the industry and adopted me and allowed me to have the opportunities to serve and give back to an industry that has done so much for me, my team and my community along the way. I was 10 years in when the first alert folks in Resideo knocked on my door and said, hey, we have this program when you can listen and learn and hear from each other’s and develop. It’s pretty amazing of what my first 10 years in the business versus the next 10 and continued there on. With partnerships like that, with DMP and executive round tables, it is remarkable to see what we can do where we listen and learn. 

But it’s organizations like our state associations and like an ESA. For ESA to have programs like the executive management professionals where we get to volunteer our time but be able to listen and learn from so many remarkable folks. But to watch the leadership of what each and every one of you guys done before me, We realized some folks are in the audience just like I was, John Knox, while you were President, while Marshall, you were President for a while, to watch the leadership that each one of you did that allowed companies like mine to come together for an ESX. George DeMarco, huge thank you for the years you’ve served to be able to put things like this together. I was just at D&P’s 50th anniversary gathering the other day, and Rick Britten said this, and it just resonated so well.

You don’t have to be wealthy to be generous. You don’t to be wealthy to be generous. When it’s that time that so many of those behind me and so many of you in this audience have generously have given of your time, your insights, your thoughts, it just empowers me in ways to listen, learn, and try different things. 

We know we’re a unique industry, and even the folks that are gathering this room to take the time away from your business to come and share some of the best practices. Look, we’ve listened and learned and tried things, and certainly they’ve failed, but we’ve had a lot of tremendous successes, which where we continue to go and grow. We realize that 30 years, we’re as small as we’re ever going to be right now. But another term that I learned years ago, it’s called civic rent. As much as we invest in ESA, and some of us take time to volunteer on the committees and are engaged different ways, but that civic rent that all the members that contribute to organizations like TMA and ESA for the last 75 years to TMA, congratulations.

The last 77 years of ESA is incredible because the folks that are not even on the stage with us today that paved the path for us all to have the steps from the involvement on a national level, a federal level, to be able to guide our industry to the best. I’m just honored and so appreciative of the opportunities to get seats at those tables, to have a say, to listen and learn and help us together navigate.

I will never forget reaching out to ACOM and others in our state when we had some state legislative challenges that may be not just about my neighborhood, but affect us on a national level, which is where partnership with Stan and Seat becomes so important. Scott said it so very well that together we’re all stronger. To get a recognition like this, I certainly have got to recognize my team, Brad and Eric and Diane and others with loud security systems, would you guys please stand. I know sometimes you guys are so glad that they let me volunteer. To give you an example, at this year, 30 years, Eric has been with us 23 of the 30 years. Brad came out of high school as an apprentice. He’s been running our operations team for many years, celebrating 19 years. Diane, our controller, has been there 22 years.

We have such a great team, but it’s because of that that I get to seize the opportunities to be involved in our communities and then ultimately be recognized for something like this incredible award in such an honor. So, thank you to the Weinstock families, those leaders that together put an organization like NBFAA and ESA together, because for all of us, we certainly benefit the richness and the benefits of not only what they did, but these leaders on our current board and what the future will be like. 

But thank you so very much for this honor. It’s incredibly humbling. Without the support of my son, my daughter, Holly, right there. I do want to shine the light on one last person here, Darryl, a buddy of mine from high school, is the only person in the room that knew me before loud security systems ever even was involved. Darryl came down from New Hampshire, heard about this, and Darryl was one of my installers. He and I were installing together doing circuit city stores until 3: 00 in the morning and figuring all this out. But an honor to have you guys here. Thank you all so very much. 

During ESX 2025, Mike Keegan, long-time industry professional, accepted ESA’s Sara E. Jackson Award — one of the association’s most prestigious honors. Here’s what he had to say…

[Full Video of Speech Available Below]

I know I look taller on LinkedIn. Hello, everyone. I am truly honored and honestly a bit overwhelmed to be standing here today as the recipient of the Sarah E. Jackson Award. First and foremost, I want to express my deepest gratitude to the ESA Selection Committee and Merlin Gilbo to be chosen for an award that bears the name of someone as impactful and inspiring as Sarah Jackson is humbling beyond words. Thank you to our award sponsor, Telguard, and your ongoing support of ESA. I’ve been in this industry for four decades, and if you’re doubting that, I printed my notes. For those of you that may have been born after 1995, it’s a device that you attach to your computer, and it puts ink on a piece of paper. But we’ll go into that later. But I’ve been in the industry for four decades, and this association has been with me every step of the way. In the mid-1980s, when my future father-in-law, Horton Spitzer, encouraged me to attend a new course in Connecticut called Level One Alarm Technician, I was expecting to come away with a little more technical knowledge, which I did. But more importantly, I left that course with a commitment to this industry and friendships that have lasted for these 40 years.  

Those friendships are with others who, no matter what, carved out their time and their talents for the betterment of our association’s common good. People like Bart Dinn, Jamie Orbis, Dan Budnoff, Carl Spiegel. Those early years in Connecticut, they inspired me to get involved, and more importantly, to give back, all the while we had a lot of fun. I was fortunate to work for an industry leader, Pat Egan. He encouraged me, despite being with this company a short time, to jump into the Pennsylvania Alarm Association headfirst. I’ve had the good fortune to work with people on Security Americas boards through the year that are some of the industry’s greatest, like Marshall Maranace and David Koenig and Dom DeScoli and Cecil Hogan and Angela White and Tom Donaldson, Jamie Voss and John Loud, and I started to realize, wow, how fortunate I was to be with all those Weinstock Award winners. But no one achieves anything meaningful alone. I’ve been incredibly fortunate to have met My wife, Louette, two days before I started selling alarm systems for Sonetroll in Stanford, Connecticut. She quickly recognized that I was not going to sell any alarm systems wearing my bad, ill-fitting, brown check suit. 

She took me to a fine men’s clothing store. She bought me two new suits. She listened as I practiced my presentation, and for every day since, she encouraged me to be better and do more, even when it wasn’t convenient, heading all over the country representing Security America when they needed me to. She pushed me when I needed it. Louette, this award, although it’s addressed to me. It’s really a reflection of the work we’ve done together. Thank you for your support, your patience, and your belief in me. Even though the path wasn’t always clear, I feel like I should be giving the award to ESA, and I echo what’s been said earlier.

I’ve gotten so much more from this industry than I could ever have given. If you’re just starting out, I encourage you to jump in, get involved. You’ll get so much more than you give, and it matters more than you’ll ever know. Keep coming, keep showing up. If this award has taught me anything, it’s that quiet persistence and principled actions do get noticed. Thank you again for this incredible honor. I am truly grateful. 

The Electronic Security Expo (ESX) 2025 Closing Luncheon is set to be a must-attend Main Stage event, delivering a powerful combination of industry insights, strategic guidance, and peer engagement. Designed to equip security professionals with the knowledge and tools to drive sustainable growth, this luncheon will feature a compelling keynote by industry expert Michael Barnes, offering a deep dive into the trends and challenges shaping the electronic security and life safety market. Attendees will leave not only well-fed but also well-prepared to navigate the evolving industry landscape in 2025 and beyond. 

Industry expert Michael Barnes will be presenting an insightful session entitled “The U.S. Electronic Security and Life Safety Market – What You Need to Know” 

June 19 @ 11:45 am – 1:00 pm 

In this segment, Michael Barnes will review US revenue growth, market share breakdowns, operating KPls and more. Here’s what you need to know to benchmark your business and make smart decisions for 2025. What are the upcoming threats and potential market value and capital trends? This session is your roadmap to leveraging data and market intelligence for smarter decisions and sustainable growth in 2025 and beyond. 

“The session will equip attendees with what they need to know to benchmark their business and make more informed decisions,” Barnes says. “The aim of the session is to provide attendees with a roadmap to leverage data and market intelligence for smarter decisions and sustainable growth in 2025 and beyond.”

An advisory and consulting firm that specializes in the security alarm industry, Barnes Associates has advised on more than 260 alarm company acquisitions and financings with an aggregate transaction value of over $27 billion. Their long-term history and focus on the security alarm industry provides them with a broad and deep understanding of the industry’s players, growth and operating dynamic, performance envelope, flow of capital, and valuations.  

“Mike’s data-driven approach at our closing luncheon perfectly captures what ESX is all about,” says George De Marco, ESX Chairman. “His insights on leveraging market intelligence give our members practical strategies they can implement immediately. This exemplifies ESA’s commitment to equipping our members with the tools and knowledge they need to thrive in today’s competitive landscape.”

An Executive, Deluxe or Expo Plus pass type is required to attend this insightful Main Stage event. Register for ESX today at: www.esxweb.com/register.  

Elevate Your Brand at the ESX 2025 Closing Luncheon 

The ESX 2025 Closing Luncheon is a high-impact Main Stage event where industry leaders gather to gain critical market insights and strategies for success. With Michael Barnes delivering a data-driven keynote on the state of the electronic security and life safety market, this session is set to be one of the most anticipated events of the expo. 

Your brand can take center stage by sponsoring this exclusive luncheon, positioning your company in front of top security professionals and decision-makers. Sponsorship offers premium visibility, and the chance to align your brand with one of the most valuable presentations at ESX 2025. Talk with our team to learn more – https://esxweb.com/contact-us/  

The stage is set to unveil the future of tech as the Electronic Security Expo (ESX), which will be held June 3-6, 2024, proudly announces the opening of entries for its highly anticipated Innovation Awards. Celebrating trailblazers and groundbreaking advancements in the electronic security and life safety realms, this program promises to illuminate the technological brilliance within our industry. 

Dedicated to spotlighting excellence and unveiling the game-changers shaping tomorrow, the ESX Innovation Awards identify pioneering products and services poised to redefine standards and elevate operational excellence. Spanning an array of categories—from Access Control and ID Systems to Cyber Security, Intrusion Systems, and beyond—this year’s awards promise to recognize the innovative tech propelling the industry. 

Submissions are now officially open and will continue to welcome entries until April 5, 2024. Companies passionate about innovation and industry evolution are invited to stake their claim and submit their trailblazing products or services at www.esxweb.com/innovation-awards. 

 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  

“The ESX Innovation Award winners are a shining example of the transformative power of creativity and innovation.” says George De Marco, ESX Chairman. “Their ideas and solutions are pushing the industry forward, making for a more productive and profitable future for alarm dealers, integrators, and monitoring companies”  

Beyond the trophy and the honor of being crowned the best-of-the-best in specific categories, awardees will bask in the limelight of recognition. The winners will secure a feature in Security Nation Magazine and headline an official ESX Innovation Awards press release, catapulting their innovations into the industry spotlight. Notably, these trailblazers will also be considered for the high-stakes ESX Tech Vision Challenge—a thrilling “Shark Tank” style live competition at ESX 2024. 

This year, join the league of innovators, submit your product or service and be part of the evolution in the electronic security and life safety landscape. For more information, and submission guidelines, and to submit your entry, visit www.esxweb.com/innovation-awards or please email LeShauna.DeJesus@ESAweb.org for more information on securing your entry(ies) today!

Entry Qualifications 

• Product or service entered must fit within one of the official award categories.
• Product or service entered must be either new or field tested and made available to the market after January 1, 2022 and prior to ESX 2024.
• Each company is solely responsible for the submittal process and presentation material

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 

————————————————————————————————————————————–

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.