2005 SSI Hall of Fame: 6 Attain Industry Immortality
For ballplayers, there is no greater distinction than being inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. It is the ultimate recognition for performance excellence. Inclusion validates that person’s indelible contribution to the profession, sustained over the course of an entire career.
These same qualities apply to Security Sales & Integration’s Hall of Fame, which awards key figures in the electronic security world for lifetime achievement.
Established in 2004 with the enshrinement of 25 initial members san(see sidebar at right), the SSI Hall was created to honor those rare individuals whose dedication and accomplishments make them uniquely irreplaceable. These are the innovators — be it manufacturer, distributor, dealer or any other facet of electronic security — whose impact has molded and transformed the industry into the thriving, vibrant business it is today.
The class of 2005 consists of six exceptional security veterans whose names should be familiar to most readers. They are finance specialist Michael Barnes; PSA Security Network President Bill Bozeman; alarm company maverick James Covert; power supplies manufacturer Alan Forman; market analyst Sandra Jones; and alarm management activist Stan Martin.
Having been hoisted onto the pantheon of industry greats, these visionaries can now serve as inspiration — much in the same way sports hall-of-famers are emulated by aspiring athletes — for legions of others engaging in the noble occupation of electronic security. As you will see in the profiles that follow, these pacemakers are truly in a league of their own. Congratulations to all!
2005 INDUCTEES
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Michael Barnes Why He’s On the List:
Something People Might Not Know: Almost became an astronomer. Most Memorable Moment: “In the early 1980s, Barnes Associates was hired to sell an alarm company that had been built up using a particularly innovative strategy. The owner had college students drive around Los Angeles looking for old rusted ADT bell boxes. The company’s pitch was: ‘We will replace your old leased ADT system with a new state-of-the-art system, no installation fee and lower monthly lease payments.’ Apparently ADT did not update its systems as it does today. This alarm company amassed a customer base totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars in RMR. We worked very hard marketing the company and sold it for an extremely attractive value … to ADT!” How Things Have Changed: “Number 1, the increase in the industry’s overall sophistication. Number 2, the beginnings of a slow but inexorable shift to the use of video as the dominant ‘sensing’ technology for alarm systems.” What the Future Holds: “I see the industry continuing its robust growth. Those who fear market penetration levels are getting high do not realize there are still many unprotected households and businesses, and the upgrade market is huge. The structure of the industry will remain relatively the same, with cycles of quasi-consolidation among the larger players. The small, sophisticated alarm company will continue to compete effectively.” Reaction to Being Inducted: “I am sincerely honored to be inducted into SSI’s Hall of Fame. While I still believe the real heroes of the industry are those who build high-quality alarm companies and those who design and manufacture the required equipment and technologies, I recognize that those of us who help the market work efficiently and effectively also play a vital role.” Career Highlights:
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Bill Bozeman Why He’s On the List:
Something People Might Not Know: In the late 1960s, earned a scholarship to LSU as a 220-pound fullback with a full head of hair. The team did very well, finishing the season 9-2. Unfortunately, he was injured during practice and did not play. Most Memorable Moment: “I had been unsuccessfully trying to sell security in the Louisiana oil fields. I had the door shut in my face 10 times and decided to tell the owner we should give up. But there was one more office left, which I looked at as my last security sales call ever. When I walked in he said, ‘Just the guy I want to talk to. We lost four pumps totaling $50,000.’ A few years later, we were securing Exxon, Shell and British Petroleum, and had increased revenues to $4 million.” How Things Have Changed: “The entrance of large corporations into the security marketplace and the necessity for technical expertise. The large corporations are changing the landscape, while knowledge of networking and IT is becoming essential to integrators/dealers.” What the Future Holds: “I see a convergence of access control, CCTV, building management and life safety into a common platform that will be easy to use and able to be monitored from anywhere in the world. I also see big business taking a more active role in the industry, thanks to high growth that will attract more capital investment.” Reaction to Being Inducted: “I attribute my success to enjoying what I do and not giving up easily. It’s quite an honor to be inducted considering the quality, professionalism and achievements of those who have already been enshrined.” Career Highlights:
Jim Covert Why He’s on the List
Something People Might Not Know Was a successful rhythm guitarist and songwriter for Chess Records in Chicago during the 1960s Most Memorable Moment “More than 20 years ago, while I was working for API [Alarm Systems], a woman came into and thanked everyone for responding to a fire alarm that led to the rescue of her unconscious 8-year-old daughter. It saved her little girl’s life. It was a great reminder of how important what we do really is.” How Things Have Changed “The switch from mechanical equipment to digital. This has allowed much greater service and reductions in equipment pricing.” What the Future Holds “I have always been amazed that for an industry where people need our products so much, there are so few financially successful large operators. I believe consolidation will continue, and eventually large consolidators will get it right and will become extremely profitable.” Reaction to Being Inducted “I would like to be remembered as a very successful operator, as opposed to a consolidator – I am not just a guy who buys and sells companies. I’ve completed more than 160 acquisitions in my career and never had a lawsuit. I think that says a lot. As for being inducted, I am sincerely honored and humbled to be included with names I believe were much more instrumental in the industry than me.” Career Highlights
Alan Forman Why He’s on the List
Something People Might Not Know Gift of Life participation transcends financial support as he and his family have become personally involved with program recipients while they received medical treatment in New York. He and his family have sponsored procedures for 22 children from Russia and other republics in the former Soviet Union. Most Memorable Moment “My experience in the industry has given me the opportunity and pleasure of interacting with so many special people who are the backbone of this industry and in growing our family at Altronix.” How Things Have Changed “The pace at which technology has been advancing is unlike any period in our history. The time from product development to shipment has decreased significantly through the years.” What the Future Holds “The industry is definitely making a transition to integrated systems. As more digital products are deployed, the industry will eventually move to a single control platform for all related security and life safety systems on the enterprise level.” Reaction to Being Inducted “Being elected into to SSI‘s Hall of Fame definitely ranks as one of the high points of my career. It is an honor to be recognized by the industry that I have been involved with my whole career and for the better part of my life. It is a great sense of achievement.” Career Highlights
Sandra Jones Why She’s on the List
Something People Might Not Know Father is a survivor of Auschwitz and her mother of Bergen-Belzen. She was born in a Displaced Persons Camp in Germany after World War II. She credits her ability to overcome obstacles – including almost losing a leg in a car accident and cancer – to her parents’ perseverance. Most Memorable Moment “Introducing Israel Prime Minister Ehud Barak as keynote speaker at Securing New Ground in 2003. He was sequestered for security purposes. At the appointed time, I gave a heartfelt introduction, the audience stood and applauded … but he didn’t come out! After three intros, he finally came in and gave a great speech.” How Things H “First, money and talent are steadily being attracted to the market. Second, technology continues to evolve as the path or the enabler to solutions, not as the solution itself. And third, buyers are more sophisticated.” What the Future Holds “First, there will be continued acceleration of mergers and acquisitions. Second, there will be a shift from hardware to software business economics. Third, the supply chain will become more cohesive and efficient. And fourth, great new technologies providing more machine-to-machine intelligence will reduce the burden and costs related to video monitoring.” Reaction to Being Inducted “Being inducted, along with this group of people I know and respect, is a great honor. I believe I have been a good role model and proof that women can succeed in the industry.” Career Highlights
Stan Martin Why He’s on the List
(RBOCs) Something People Might Not Know Was a 16-year-old disc jockey for a West Virginia radio station when the Silver Bridge collapsed over the Ohio River. The only person on duty when Mutual Broadcasting Network called for the story, Martin provided details broadcast nationwide on thousands of stations. Most Memorable Moment “After more than a year of intense lobbying, letter-writing to Congress, meetings with legislators and committee chairs, we were able to convince key members of Congress that the RBOCs would compete unfairly with the alarm industry. At that moment I knew our small industry had brought a giant to its knees – all the efforts of hundreds of small, medium and a few large dealers had paid off! It was a turning point for our industry.” How Things Have Changed “Technology has helped us communicate faster, more accurately and with more information. But users are still causing false alarms. People are in too much of a hurry to get trained. We still have to install systems one at a time. Unbelievably, we still manually communicate most alarms to the police.” What the Future Holds “We need to continue to raise the bar and require more training/education. More companies need to take responsibility for their installations and service. As an industry, we need to reduce the alarm calls for service to police to the lowest level possible. I believe we’re going to need more standards for equipment, operations and installations.” Reaction to Being Inducted “I truly believe God has given me every gift/talent I have – there is nothing special about me. My life has just been blessed! To be associated or considered as a peer with the others selected would be an honor; to be selected leaves me at a place without words. This industry has given me so much and I have given so little. Thank you.” Career Highlights
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About the Author
Scott Goldfine
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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