Blog Posts

Electronic Security Expo

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April 25, 2026 ESX

Alarmed or Empowered? Hot Takes on AI for Integrators

Hear bold opinions and real‑world debate on AI. Three industry leaders confront hype, trust, accountability, and the operational reality of AI. We’ll challenge assumptions about what AI can, can’t, and should do when operational efficiency, safety and lives are on the line. This no-filter conversation highlights the experiences, opinions, and foresight of your peers.

Featuring:

Matthew Carlson, Controller at Doyle Security Systems, Vice Chair of ARC, ESA’s AI Readiness Council

Taylor Criddle, Vice President of Advocacy and Public Affairs at the Electronic Security Association.




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April 9, 2026 ESX

ESA AI Readiness Council (ARC) Meeting

The ESA AI Readiness Council (ARC) Meeting at ESX 2026 invites industry leaders to focus on how artificial intelligence can be practically implemented across integrator and dealer operations.

This meeting is designed to move beyond theory and into execution, exploring real-world strategies for leveraging AI to improve efficiency, enhance service delivery, and drive recurring revenue. Discussions will center on how AI can be applied across everyday business functions, from monitoring and operations to customer engagement and decision-making.

Attendees will gain insight into ARC’s ongoing initiatives, including workforce enablement, standards development, and client-facing applications, while identifying actionable opportunities to integrate AI into their businesses today.


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April 9, 2026 ESX

Coffee Break

Recharge and reconnect during our Coffee Break at ESA Central on the show floor. Grab a fresh cup, meet fellow attendees, and spark new conversations in a relaxed, energizing atmosphere before heading back to the action.

Expo Open


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February 25, 2026 Rachael King

Tech Talk Sponsored by Vicon Security

Faster deployments, stronger bids, more RMR: How resellers can harness technology for long-term revenue and market differentiation

Learn how to harness modular components and AI-based technology to install a camera in 5 minutes or less. Saving up to 45 minutes of setup time per camera and eliminating subsequent truck rolls gives you a powerful advantage, especially when you need to install hundreds of cameras on a job site. Add to that a free cloud VMS to unlock RMR with simple renewals and powerful features that will set you apart from your competitors. Faster deployments lower project costs, sharpen bid competitiveness, and free teams to win new business.




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February 20, 2026 Kyndal Cox

Tech Talk Sponsored by Rocket Media

Your Leads Are Disappearing: How AI Search Is Killing Security Dealer Visibility (And What to Do About It)

Security buyers are finding you differently — and most dealers are losing visibility. AI Overviews and zero-click searches are shrinking organic traffic, while AI assistants rarely recommend local companies. This session breaks down what’s happening and delivers a practical, Monday-morning plan to protect your leads, RMR growth, and competitive edge.




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January 15, 2026 ESX
EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP

Growth Intelligence: Benchmarking Performance and Value Creation


Financial data tells a story—if you know how to interpret it. This advanced session offers a deep dive into how standardized financial benchmarking can be used to measure value creation in recurring monthly revenue (RMR) business models. Led by an industry financial expert who develops benchmarking programs and supports M&A activity across the security sector, this session reveals why RMR pricing models require different metrics than traditional one-time installations or “margin jobs”—and how to properly track and interpret those metrics to understand the long-term value of customer relationships. 

Most companies focus narrowly on cash, net income, or EBITDA. But in the RMR world, that’s not where the analysis should stop if you’re trying to quantify true value creation. This session explores the fundamental metrics needed to measure core business activities in an RMR model, how these metrics work together to impact value creation, and how to orient your financial reporting to calculate them accurately. The session also tackles a critical question: what is the relationship between RMR valuation and EBITDA valuation—is it RMR versus EBITDA, RMR AND EBITDA, or RMR OR EBITDA?  

The ESA team is excited to see you at this event.


In this session, you will learn:


Why RMR pricing models are more complicated than one-time installations and require different measurement approaches.


The basic metrics needed to understand value creation in an RMR business model.


How these metrics work together to impact long-term value creation.


How to orient your financial reporting systems to calculate RMR metrics accurately.


Fundamentals of tracking RMR and interpreting the results.



Tools and Resources:


Customizable RMR Benchmarking Dashboard.


REGISTER FOR AN EXECUTIVE PASS TO ACCESS THIS WORKSHOP

An ESX Executive Pass is required to gain access to this and all best-practice sharing sessions.


Presenters

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Spencer Rogers

Partner at Barnes Associates

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Shaun Pace

President at Pace Protection

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Alan Gillmore IV

President at Gillmore Security Systems, Inc.



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ESX EDUCATION TRACK

Executive Leadership

Explore advanced leadership topics such as navigating industry disruption, fostering innovation, and building resilient business models that adapt to changing market demands. Gain insights into financial stewardship, mergers and acquisitions, and optimizing organizational structure for growth. Learn how to cultivate a strong culture that attracts top talent and earns customer loyalty in an increasingly competitive landscape.



The Executive Experience is Sponsored By:


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January 15, 2026 Hannah Boone
EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP

Breakfast Roundtable – Fail Forward: Leaders Share the Lessons That Built Them


Behind every success story are failures that shaped the journey. Great leaders aren’t afraid to be transparent about the mistakes they’ve made—and the lessons learned along the way. In this candid session, industry leaders share personal stories of challenges, setbacks, and failures that ultimately made them stronger. You’ll discover how vulnerability builds trust, strengthens teams, and inspires growth. Walk away with the reassurance that failure isn’t the end—it’s a catalyst for becoming a better leader.

The ESA team is excited to see you at this event.


In this session, you’ll learn to:


Personal failure stories and the breakthroughs they enabled.


How vulnerability strengthens trust and team performance.


Why transparency about failure is essential for leadership growth.






REGISTER FOR AN EXECUTIVE PASS TO ACCESS THIS WORKSHOP

An ESX Executive Pass is required to gain access to this and all best-practice sharing sessions.


Presenters

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Jack Doyle

President & CEO of Doyle Security Systems Inc.

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Scott Elkins

CEO of Zeus Fire and Security



https://esxweb.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/ESX-Executive-Leadership_500x500.png


ESX EDUCATION TRACK

Executive Leadership

Explore advanced leadership topics such as navigating industry disruption, fostering innovation, and building resilient business models that adapt to changing market demands. Gain insights into financial stewardship, mergers and acquisitions, and optimizing organizational structure for growth. Learn how to cultivate a strong culture that attracts top talent and earns customer loyalty in an increasingly competitive landscape.



The Executive Experience is Sponsored By:


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January 15, 2026 ESX
EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP

Take Control: Transform Your Security Business with 5 Essential Metrics


Stop flying blind with your business finances! Most security companies are sitting on valuable data but don’t know which numbers drive growth and profitability. Without ongoing monitoring and management of accountability, even the best companies miss early warning signs and improvement opportunities.

In this hands-on workshop, you’ll discover the 5 critical metrics that separate thriving security businesses from those struggling to scale. Perfect for security company owners and managers ready to move beyond “gut feel” decision-making, you’ll leave with ready-to-use tracking templates and a clear implementation plan that ensures continuous improvement through regular monitoring and team accountability.

The ESA team is excited to see you at this event.


In this session, you will learn to:


Navigate the 5 non-negotiable metrics that predict success or failure in the security industry.


How to interpret and act on performance trends to make data-driven decisions that improve profitability and team efficiency.


A framework for engaging managers and technicians in metric accountability to foster a results-oriented culture.



Tools and Resources:


30-Day Action Plans for reporting, and accountability.


REGISTER FOR AN EXECUTIVE PASS TO ACCESS THIS WORKSHOP

An ESX Executive Pass is required to gain access to this and all best-practice sharing sessions.


Presenters

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Amy Becker

President of Astute Financial Consulting

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Kelly Bond

Partner at Bridgepoint Advisors, LLC

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Johnathan George

CEO of Vangeo Technology Group (iWired/HomeRun Electronics)



https://esxweb.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/ESX-Executive-Leadership_500x500.png


ESX EDUCATION TRACK

Executive Leadership

Explore advanced leadership topics such as navigating industry disruption, fostering innovation, and building resilient business models that adapt to changing market demands. Gain insights into financial stewardship, mergers and acquisitions, and optimizing organizational structure for growth. Learn how to cultivate a strong culture that attracts top talent and earns customer loyalty in an increasingly competitive landscape.



The Executive Experience is Sponsored By:


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January 15, 2026 ESX
EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP

An AI Implementation Playbook for Security Leaders


This hands-on strategy session will guide leaders in creating a powerful partnership between their talent and AI tools. We will use interactive frameworks to identify high-impact AI opportunities across core business functions—including HR, finance, operations, sales, and marketing — with a focus on streamlining processes, enhancing talent retention, and driving competitive advantage. 

The ESA team is excited to see you at this event.


In this session, executives will walk away with:


A framework for pinpointing and prioritizing high-value AI projects.


A firm understanding for the tactical business use cases for AI.



Tools and Resources:


A checklist for evaluating AI tools to ensure measurable ROI.


A strategic roadmap for launching their first successful pilot project.



An ESX Executive Pass is required to gain access to this and all best-practice sharing sessions.

REGISTER FOR AN EXECUTIVE PASS TO ACCESS THIS WORKSHOP

Presenters

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Jeff Schatten



https://esxweb.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/ESX-Executive-Leadership_500x500.png


ESX EDUCATION TRACK

Executive Leadership

Explore advanced leadership topics such as navigating industry disruption, fostering innovation, and building resilient business models that adapt to changing market demands. Gain insights into financial stewardship, mergers and acquisitions, and optimizing organizational structure for growth. Learn how to cultivate a strong culture that attracts top talent and earns customer loyalty in an increasingly competitive landscape.



The Executive Experience is Sponsored By:


https://esxweb.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/NMC-Logo-scaled.png


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January 15, 2026 ESX
EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP

Stacking Value: Building Good, Better, Best Subscription Packages that Boost RMR and Retention


This advanced session will explore beyond traditional RMR (recurring monthly revenue) offerings to workshop “Good, Better, Best” subscription packages that not only drive higher RMR but also increase customer satisfaction and retention. 

You’ll learn how to bundle services — that you may already be offering free — into tiered offerings that appeal to different buyer personas. We’ll cover package naming, upsell tactics, and how to present your offerings in a way that builds trust and long-term loyalty. 

Whether you’re starting from scratch or looking to revamp your existing packages, this session will give you actionable tools to turn one-time customers into long-term subscribers—and elevate your bottom line.  

The ESA team is excited to see you at this event.


In this session, you’ll learn to:


Package design principles for bundling services into compelling tiers.


Naming strategies and upsell tactics that resonate with different buyer personas.


Presentation techniques that build trust and drive long-term retention.



Tools and Resources:


Service inventory worksheets.


Good, better, best templates for subscription levels.




An ESX Executive Pass is required to gain access to this and all best-practice sharing sessions.


Presenters

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Sean Foley

Chief Revenue Officer at Interface

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Sean Forrest

President of Alarm Detection Systems, Inc.

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Taylor Sears

Chief Operating Officer at Silent Guard



https://esxweb.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/ESX-Executive-Leadership_500x500.png


ESX EDUCATION TRACK

Executive Leadership

Explore advanced leadership topics such as navigating industry disruption, fostering innovation, and building resilient business models that adapt to changing market demands. Gain insights into financial stewardship, mergers and acquisitions, and optimizing organizational structure for growth. Learn how to cultivate a strong culture that attracts top talent and earns customer loyalty in an increasingly competitive landscape.



The Executive Experience is Sponsored By:


https://esxweb.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/NMC-Logo-scaled.png