The highly anticipated event of the year for the security industry finally happened! ESX 2024 opened and brought together security professionals from all over the country. ESX attracts the biggest, best, and most progressive installing and monitoring companies in the nation to meet with exhibiting electronic security equipment vendors and industry providers.
Each year, ESX is proof that it is possible to offer a show floor large enough to spotlight an incredibly wide range of security products and services, yet manageable enough to tour at a leisurely pace and drill deeply into any category. No end users. No chaotic crowds. This is a tailored educational event designed to help you grow your business. Here are some highlights of the many thing’s security pros were able to experience at this year’s ESX.
Day 1 – Monday
ESA Meetings
The Electronic Security Association, the owner of the event, jumpstarted the events at ESX with several meetings including the ESA Associate Member Meeting and ESA Annual Meeting to discuss industry trends and more. Thanks to everyone who attended the ESA Annual Meeting and supported our award winners for excellence in the industry, and the installation of our newest Board members and Chairman, Kevin Stone.
Executive Leadership Workshop – Part One
After the meetings attendees jumped into ESX’s Executive Leadership Workshop- Part One. This workshop was an opportunity to connect with, learn from and grow with other C-Suite operators and owners of electronic security and life safety companies. The program offered insights to freshen up your leadership approach and motivate your team. This leadership workshop part one was led by Paul Epstein 2X bestselling author and former NFL and NBA Executive.
Opening Celebration
ESX finished Day 1 of the event right! There is no better way to take in Louisville than with live music, local beer and spirits, and a mix of local flavors as we celebrated the launch of ESX 2024! The Opening Celebration was a perfect opportunity to mix and mingle with other attendees and catch up with old industry friends in a more casual, laidback environment. This time around, the Opening Celebration had a lively bluegrass band to get security pros into true Louisville spirit.
Day 2 – Tuesday
OpenXChange Breakfast
Moderated by George DeMarco, the OpenXChange Breakfast is where we talked about the newest-of-the new; technologies, services, and go-to market strategies and the changing competitive landscape that will influence the direction of our industry. Our expert panelists this year included David Selinger Co-Founder/CEO of Deep Sentinel, Marty Guay VP of Business Development at Stanley Black & Decker and Dean Drako Founder & CEO of Eagle Eye Networks. This lively panel, from various segments of the industry, focused on what’s likely to happen and how it’s going to impact your business in the near term and long run, including technologies that you should pay attention to.
Education Sessions
The education sessions continued on Tuesday. They focused on sales strategies, marketing, the power of AI, raising RMR and more.
Expo Open
ESX 2024 expo floor provided access to multiple exhibitors in varying industries such as Fire Detection, Access Control, Smart Home Building, Video Surveillance IT/Networking and so much more! Tuesday also offered 5 incredible educational sessions on sales, management, operations, monitoring and more from speakers with years of real-world experience, as well as free technical training to exhibitors and sponsors. Throughout the day, attendees were able to walk around the expo floor, observing the latest technology from exhibitors in the industry. Day one of the expo included a Block Party. Each corner of the expo floor was Louisville-themed, each showcasing lite bites inspired by iconic Kentucky staples with refreshing drinks from our open bars scattered throughout the aisles.
Keynote Luncheon
There also was the keynote luncheon on the main stage featuring Keynote Speaker Ryan Leak. Ryan Leak’s inspirational session was titled Leveling Up: Tools to Help You Lead Yourself Better & Inspire Others. The Sara E. Jackson award was also presented after the Keynote to Holly Borgmann, Vice President of Government Affairs at ADT.
Innovation Awards
The Innovation Awards recognize outstanding products and services that drive the electronic security and life safety industry forward. Our panel of ESX judges — integrator leaders from across the nation — presented the ESX Innovation Awards to products and services that offer significant growth opportunities to dealers, integrators and monitoring centers.
SIAC Awards Reception
The SIAC Awards Reception is where the Youth Scholarship award was announced. Individuals were honored throughout this networking reception, as we identified the industry’s leaders working to resolve alarm management issues. We awarded the PDQ Awards, along with SIACs William N. Moody Award.
Pub Crawl
After a day on the expo floor attendees visited the local Kentucky nightlife at the ESX Pub Crawl! Security pros shared experiences, caught up with friends and made new ones in a casual atmosphere. ESX is unique in that it offers opportunities where work meets play and industry friendships are formed.
Day 3 – Wednesday
Education Sessions
The education sessions continued through Wednesday. They focused on video monitoring, optimizing your sales team, maximizing ROI, Transformative Industry Strategies and more.
Expo Day 2 Activities
Attendees were able to connect with lunch on the expo floor while continuing to make connections with peers in the industry. This was a fantastic opportunity to showcase each product and service. Wednesday also held historical artifacts on the expo floor where attendees could get a unique bourbon trail tasting.
General Session
There also was the General Session on the main stage featuring Keynote Speaker Justin Forsett. Just steps away from the expo floor, this highly energetic and engaging presentation, security pros learned how to create phenomenal experiences, share powerful stories, and help others along the way. Elevate your life, both personally and professionally. This is also where we presented the Weinstock Award to Kirk MacDowell, President of MacGuard Security Advisors.
Weinstock Celebration
The Electronic Security Association (ESA) held the Weinstock celebration at Derby City Gaming where Security Pros enjoyed quality spirits and a mix of local flavors at the as we commemorated the accomplishments of a security professional whose lifetime achievements have made a significant impact on the industry. The celebration wrapped up the third day of ESX.
Last Day – Thursday
Education Sessions
With classes like Mastering Inventory Management for Efficiency, and How to Boost Revenue without Adding Customers, Thursday was filled with education-packed sessions that have been designed to help electronic security pros move their business forward towards efficiency and productivity.
Closing Luncheon
Opening the last day of the Expo is the Closing Luncheon where security pros went for inspiration, motivation and networking with like-minded electronic security and life safety peers. This plated luncheon included programming that will inspire members of your organization to accomplish their goals and lead others to climb to higher levels of success.
Executive Leadership Workshop – Part Two
ESX 2024 Executive Leadership Workshop- Part Two was the final stop of the Executive Leadership Workshop. Two electronic security and life safety integrators/dealers talked through their processes for effectively leading and motivating employees to achieve peak performance. This included real world advice for putting programs into place that make a difference.
See You Next Year!
So far ESX 2024 is one for the books! Make sure to save the date for ESX 2025 hosted in Atlanta, Georgia (Cobb County) June 16-19! It is bound to be another incredible experience at the Electronic Security Expo.