As usual, from sun-up late into the night ISC West was an intense whirlwind of never-ending meetings, events and activities. You can read my overview of the March 24-26 show here, but below I wanted to take the time to provide exposure to all the great people and companies I spent time with while out in Las Vegas. So here is one editor's roundup of a hectic ISC schedule (we actually had four others on the show floor hitting many other important organizations not listed below) . . .
Enjoyed a great chat with Tri-Ed Marketing Communications Manager Lynette Baranowski about the company’s big recent merger with North American Video and what a good blend it makes since there was very little overlap between the distributors. Also thanked Sr. VP Marketing James Rothstein for Tri-Ed’s continuing support of SSI’s SAMMYs program. Network Solutions Manager Jeff Stout and I then spoke about IP trends and the valuable training he is helping the company to provide . . .
Had an excellent meeting with MOXA Senior Marketing Manager Eddie Lee and Senior Marketing Communications Specialist Melody Hendricks, getting brought up to speed on the company’s high end, industrialized video transmission switches and the like . . .
With Middle Atlantic Products Director of Marketing Communications Kevin Handerson I learned of the company’s new line of console furniture and nice design software to go along with its popular equipment racks . . .
Was extremely impressed with what Verasity Managing Director Alastair McLeod shared and demonstrated to me regarding the firm’s groundbreaking digital video cold storage solution. Designed specifically for storing digital video, the system writes across two hard drives at a time in a linear as opposed to seemingly haphazard pattern while greatly reducing power consumption and the likelihood of disc failure. Look for a formal launch at ASIS later this year . . .
Over at Visonic I had a tremendous meeting with a group that included President Bill Lyons, VP Sales Mark Ingram, VP Marketing Laila Arad-Allan, PR rep Erin Harrington and Corporate Marketing Director Ronnie Nir. After a while, our discussion was joined by business author Rowan Gibson, who had been a speaker at the show and had very interesting things to say about innovation and how it can truly be built into a company’s culture. The company is offering a new video verification product as well as a line of highly discriminating motion sensors . . .
I became well acquainted with Bill Taylor, president of the new Panasonic System Networks Co. of America, during both a reception and later a one-on-one meeting. The company’s new approach to the market, which now incorporates other products/services (i.e. touchscreen phones, communication pendants, POS) with all the surveillance stuff, is quite interesting. In addition, the company is now partnering with lots of other suppliers for different solutions, which marks a philosophical corporate change . . .
Keeping with the theme of change, I was wowed when I visited the newly unified Samsung’s giant booth. The company is harnessing its formidable technology and business power and aiming it at security for the first time. I caught up with new Director of Business Development Frank Abram, one of several former Panasonic mainstays recruited by new Samsung Techwin America Sr. Vice President, Sales & Marketing, North America, Frank De Fina, who was scrambling to absorb the more than 80 new products Korean manufacturer introduced at the show. Also had the opportunity to get to know several of the company’s Korea-based executives over dinner . . .
Speaking of food, had a great breakfast with Honeywell Fire Manager, Public Relations, Beth Welch, who was thrilled about her company being featured in SSI’s March cover story (Fenway Park) and System Sensor Director, Communications, David George, who said a new aspirating smoke detector would be introduced at June’s NFPA show . . .
At the Altronix exhibit, I was very fortunate to be briefed by President and industry icon Alan Forman, who explained the company’s direction toward IP signal transmission and power as well as its new UTP transceiver hub product . . .
Onward to OnSSI and another terrific meeting with VP Marketing Jeff Knapp and Director, Marketing, William Scheckel. I learned about the new partnership with AgentVi to offer forensic analytics through the Occularis platform; impressive technology indeed . . .
Lunch was spent with systems integrator Idesco’s Andy Goldstone and Scott Etess along with Monique Merhige of Infusion Direct Marketing discussing how the company is also one of the country's leading providers of laminated badges as well as important trends such as managed access control and homeland security grants. The company’s work is the subject of a case study in SSI’s March issue . . .
Marketing Manager Denise Bruley walked me through Tyco Fire & Security’s unification of its security brands (DSC, Sur-Gard, American Dynamics, Software House, Kantech), which occupied the same booth space for the first time. Take that, internal corporate silos! . . .
A very informative meeting with IR Security Technologies (Schlage) Portfolio Marketing Manager Jennifer Toscano revealed the company’s strategy to really promote smart cards and mult
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