5 Join Hall’s Elite Ranks

Two pre-eminent installing company leaders, the face of a dominant industry manufacturer, an access control pioneer, and a late, great former CSAA and NBFAA president earn entry into SSI‘s Hall of Fame for lifetime achievement. See how the paths they blazed led to such great successes and enduring legacies.

Ted Geiszler

Current Status

Chairman of Keri Systems Inc. and Farpointe Data

Keys to Success

“I have been married to my wife, Doreen, for 57 years, which is a testament to my tolerance and patience. I appreciate being known as a new technology innovator and entrepreneur, but just as importantly as someone who dealt with integrity. For me, a handshake was as good as a contract. The feeling I had for all employees of all the companies was that we worked together as a team and were treated like family. I am honored to receive the Hall of Fame recognition, but also surprised since I thought I had successfully stayed under the radar.”

How Things Have Changed

“There have been sizeable changes in both content and presentation of electronic security shows. In the mid-1970s they were held in small basement ballrooms of the Marriott, L.A. Airport and the Hilton Hotel in New York City. There’s also been a significant expansion of distribution as a sales channel through which more and more sophisticated products are being marketed. And we’ve seen consolidation of major market segments through corporate acquisition. Finally, there’s been the melding or integration of various technologies such as video, alarm and access control into one unified platform with access control as the hub.”

Getting SIA Off the Ground

“In the late 1970s, I worked on a committee to form SIA [Security Industry Alarm Association], to give a voice to the emerging electronic and distribution side of the industry. The security industry at that time was primarily guard service, mechanical locking, burglar alarm and alarm monitoring. Members of that early group were Sandy Jones for distribution; Ted Farrell, president of Linear; Chuck Handley, vice president marketing for ADL [Advanced Devices Labs]; and myself representing the manufacturing side.”

Most Memorable Moment

“In the early days of Stellar, one of our first perimeter detection jobs was overseas in Iraq to protect Saddam Hussein’s nuclear power plant, which was funded by the U.S. government. We had numerous complaints of false alarms and the system not working, so we sent a young field engineer to visit the site and troubleshoot. Some days later we got a message saying he found the false alarm problem: The E field sensor was working perfectly except the local Arabs were hanging their wet laundry on the wires to dry out. The Israelis solved that problem a good number of months later by destroying the entire site.”

Something People Might Not Know

“Due to a combination of genetics and jet engine and ship cannon noise during my Korean War tour with the U.S. Navy, I began losing my hearing in my late 30s. This caused a lot of problems for me in business because I often didn’t hear or misunderstood. I started through a progression of hearing aids. It’s taken me all these years to really understand this problem and try to listen and communicate more effectively. During one stormy product and marketing session at Indala, one of the boys said, ‘Dad, you don’t need a hearing aid, you need a listening aid.’”

Why He’s on the List

  • Nearly 40 years of technological innovation and success in the access control market, with numerous microwave, electronic sensor and RFID patents
  • Entrepreneur who launched four different access control manufacturers
  • In late 1970s, worked on a committee to form SIA as voice for emerging electronic and distribution side of industry
  • In early 1970s, founded Stellar Systems and introduced E field sensor; with ADT seed funds Stellar became a worldwide leader in perimeter protection
  • In mid-1980s, founded Indala and introduced proximity cards and readers (a.k.a. RFID) to replace magnetic-stripe and Weigand as preferred access control technology worldwide
  • Around 1990, established Keri Systems to provide alarm dealers and locksmiths a single door controller and prox reader integrated into a small housing and programmed remotely via an RF handheld controller
  • A spinoff of Keri, Farpointe Data supplies RFID readers to OEMs and is presently making an impact

The Geiszler File<p>In a recent photo, access control innovator Ted Geiszler surveys a large test rack system containing hundreds of controllers connected in a variety of manners to simulat
e almost any type of installation.</p>

  • Born on a farm in North Dakota on Feb. 12, 1932
  • One of three children, father was a blacksmith and worked as a ship welder during World War II; mother worked part-time as a fruit packer
  • Married to Doreen for 57 years, with three sons and seven grandchildren
  • Oldest son, Dennis, is V.P. of mmarketing at Keri Systems; youngest, Ken, is CEO
  • Did four-year tour in U.S. Navy, serving on aircraft carrier USS Philippine Sea during Korean War
  • Graduated from San Jose State in 1959 with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering
  • In 1962, founded Western Microwave Laboratories, a technology provider to the defense industry
  • Other interests include tennis, golf, boating and open-sea fishing

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About the Author

Contact:

Scott Goldfine is the marketing director for Elite Interactive Solutions. He is the former editor-in-chief and associate publisher of Security Sales & Integration. He can be reached at [email protected].

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