Highlights From the 2004 ISC West

LAS VEGAS

Stories of note from the 2004 International Security Conference (ISC) West that took place from March 30 to April 2:

Gunning Wins NBFAA Award: George Gunning, CEO of Monrovia, Calif.-based USA Alarm Systems, has been named as the 2004 recipient of the National Burglar and Fire Alarm Association’s (NBFAA)  Morris F. Weinstock Person of the Year award.

Gunning, vice president of the NBFAA, represented the alarm industry in 2003 on the city of Los Angeles’ Alarm Task Force that attempted to formulate an alarm policy for the city and has been one of the leaders in the fight against verified response.

Gunning told SSI that his biggest surprise wasn’t just winning the award, but by how those in the know kept it from him. “I don’t know how everyone kept it a secret,” Gunning says. “Everyone knew but me.”
The award, considered the NBFAA’s top honor, was announced at an evening dinner at the Treasure Island Hotel and Casino March 30 in conjunction with the NBFAA’s Spring Conference and ISC West. The award was initiated by the family of Weinstock to honor the lifetime work of the NBFAA founder and past president.

California Association Honors Les Gold: The California Alarm Association (CAA) announced at ISC West that longtime industry leader Lessing Gold will receive its annual George Weinstock award for lifetime achievement.

Gold, one of the first 25 entrants into the SSI Hall of Fame, will receive the award at the CAA’s Winter Convention, Dec. 4-5, in San Francisco. Gold, currently a partner with MSK in Los Angeles, has been an influential member of the industry serving for more than 40 years with the NBFAA and CAA.

Roger and Bruce Westphal of Pacheco, Calif.’s Bay Alarm were the recipients of last year’s award.

SIA Chief Talks Up Standards, Privacy:Security Industry Association (SIA) President Joe Grillo emphasized standards and building rapport with the public in his annual “State of the Association” address at the 6th Annual Industry Summit held March 31 at ISC West.

“The ability to have standards in the industry will help us mature the industry, ” Grillo, executive vice president of ASSA ABLOY, said, adding that the general public needs to be more well-informed by the industry on privacy issues and their relation to security. “A big part of our public relations campaign is to get a real-life view out there.”

Kerik Addresses Attendees: The former police commissioner of New York told attendees at ISC West that the electronic security industry is doing its part in the war on terrorism. Bernard Kerik, who led the NYPD on 9/11 and was also President Bush’s pick as interim minister of the interior in Iraq, delivered the keynote address at the 6th Annual Industry Summit.

Kerik sounded a note of caution, saying many have already forgotten the lessons of the 9/11 attacks. “I wish people would … remember what brought us together. We sometimes let politics get in the way,” Kerik told the audience of security industry professionals. “We can’t stop this war because they won’t stop. Nobody planned for what happened on September 11th. We have to plan now and this is where everyone in here comes in.”

Kerik received a standing ovation when he expressed support for President Bush’s policy as well as the war in Iraq. “To the people who have forgotten, we were sent a wake-up call on September 11 and lord help us if we forgot it,” he said. “If we don’t support this president, it’s going to happen again.”

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