ESA Bestows Person of the Year Award, Other Honors at Virtual Summit
Bud Wulforst received the Morris F. Weinstock Person of the Year honor. The Sara E. Jackson Memorial Award and Paul F. Baran Instructor of the Year were also given.
The Electronic Security Association bestowed the annul Morris F. Weinstock Person of the Year, Sara E. Jackson Memorial Award, and the Paul F. Baran Instructor of the Year honors during a virtual presentation as part of the recent ESA Leadership Summit.
The ESA Leadership Summit was held Sept. 29-Oct. 1. You can read more about the virtual event here. The award winners, along with videos for each of the honoree’s presentations, follow.
Morris F. Weinstock Person of the Year
Howard “Bud” Wulforst received the prestigious Weinstock Person of the Year distinction for his innumerable contributions to the industry. Wulforst has been a long-time member and former president of The Monitoring Association (TMA, formerly CSAA) and has been involved in ESA throughout the years as part of many initiatives and as a mentor to other business people in the industry. He was inducted into the SSI Industry Hall of Fame in 2011.
“I’m truly humbled as we stand here with 50 years of award recipients. I am so very proud to receive this wonderful ESA award. I’ve learned so much from so many over the years,” said Wulforst as he received the award. “The associations are the catalyst for bringing it all together. The power of networking and participating in our associations should never be underestimated. When I say thank you, I say thank you to you all.”
Wulforst built and sold five alarm companies during his successful career. He explains that his path into the industry started after World War II. His uncle worked for an alarm company in Queens, N.Y., and helped Wulforst’s father get a job at Supreme Burglar Alarm in Manhattan. A few years later, Wulforst joined his father at Supreme around the age of 12 working as a “back room guy,” where he cleaned up equipment and materials. Wulforst remembers becoming a skilled alarm mechanic before the age of 18, and loved the technology and its purpose of protecting life and property.
Sara E. Jackson Memorial Award
Rodger Reiswig received the Sara E. Jackson Award, which recognizes an ESA volunteer who has exhibited exceptional leadership skills as a member of an association committee, task force or board.
Reiswig has been at the same company contributing to the industry for 34 years. He started at Simplex Time Recorder, which was bought by Tyco Int’l and later merged with Johnson Controls.
“When I started out, I was going to school for electronics at night and working during the day as a diesel mechanic. And just when I was getting close to finishing my electronics education, the manager of the local Simplex office — a family friend — offered me a job with Simplex. He took me into the office, and I jumped in. It just kind of grew from there,” says Reiswig.
Reiswig joined the Standards committee when the primary focus was on security and intrusion codes, like NFPA 730 and 731. He believed the association had a real opportunity to expand its involvement in the many other codes that directly impact the work of electronic security and life safety companies. Reiswig’s impact on the committee has been praised by leaders in the industry, and his influence has made a mark that will be remembered.
Paul F. Baran Instructor of the Year
Don McInnis was named the ESA National Training School Instructor of the Year. McInnis began teaching for the ESA National Training School in 1987, and throughout his 33 years of instructing, he has shared his passion for learning with countless students.
The Instructor of the Year award was dedicated by ESA in 2011 as a deserving tribute to Paul F. Baran for his longtime commitment to the electronic life-safety and security industry.
Recipients of the Instructor of the Year award exhibit evidence of ongoing education and professional development, a constructive philosophy toward the alarm profession, high personal standards technology, proficiency and the ability to convey advanced technical sales, and business concepts gained through professional experience.
“I’m so humbled after working in the industry for 47 years and counting, to be honored this award and have my name associated with Paul F. Baran,” says McInnis.
McInnis has been a crucial asset to the National Training School team and to many students nationwide. Through live and virtual classes, McInnis offers the latest techniques to ever-evolving industry trends. The National Training School not only notes his work ethic, but his volunteerism to the ESA program.
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