SILVER SPRING, Md.—The Security Industry Association (SIA) has revealed the 2026 honorees for the 25 on the RISE Award, a program presented by SIA’s RISE community for emerging security leaders.
This initiative “honors 25 security leaders of today and tomorrow for their impactful contributions to advancing the security industry,” according to the SIA announcement.
The 2026 class of awardees will receive funding to attend Securing New Ground (SNG), the security industry’s executive conference, and be recognized during a special ceremony at the conference, which is scheduled for Oct. 20-21 in New York City.
SIA 25 on the RISE Awards nominations were open to security industry professionals who are under 40 or who have less than two years of experience in the industry.
Who Are the 2026 SIA 25 on the RISE Award Winners?
This year’s 25 on the RISE honorees, recognized across six award categories, are:
Branding
Awarded to individuals who excel in content creation and authentic personal branding to build a unique value proposition and gain influence for themselves and/or their companies
- Roslyn Barranca, founder, Aegis Stratos Consulting
- Kristin Shockley, manager of segment marketing, North America, Genetec
- Marissa Vacek, managing director, Swell Marketing Agency, PSA
Culture
Awarded to individuals who are committed to elevating diversity, equity and inclusion and/or corporate social responsibility by creating impactful change within the security industry
- Vivian Brown, lead agent, BOS Security
- Joseline Farias, project manager, Convergint
- Alicia Janowicz, HR business partner, Axis Communications
- Josh Tucker, territory sales manager, ASSA ABLOY Door Security Solutions
Frontline
Awarded to individuals actively and physically in the field who are going above and beyond to provide customer service/installation in the security industry
- Sebastian Pérez, field engineer, professional services, Genetec
Growth
Awarded to individuals who have made significant progress towards developing, implementing and streamlining business-related programs to create a competitive advantage and achieve success
- Jim Hamilton, enterprise customer success manager, March Networks
- Tradd Kendrick, business development manager, System Surveyor
- Colby Mulry, director of channel sales, Ambient.ai
- Averie Oetjen, sales operations manager, Minuteman Security & Life Safety
- Fatima Spata-Buzzone, operations manager, Grid Squared Systems
- Steven Swavely, distribution account manager, Resideo
Innovation
Awarded to individuals who demonstrate thought leadership surrounding new security technology and reimagine traditional approaches to strategic management
- Brittany Dupree, senior director of marketing, Everon
- Alma Lundberg, AI product manager, HID
- Rushi Mehta, software developer, ZKTeco USA
- Nicole Swartwout, business development manager, body worn solutions, Axis Communications
- Sarah Teskova, vice president, Americas, Sharry
Leadership
Awarded to individuals in management who possess outstanding leadership qualities and set an example for others to follow
- Austin Bormann, channel sales executive, Motorola Solutions
- Cody Boyd, regional vice president, Tech Systems
- Rachel Brosey, customer service representative, dormakaba Americas
- Ligy George, program manager, security and electronic systems, M.C. Dean
- Hannah Livergood, director of marketing, Defined Marketing
- Maria Sturges, lead project coordinator, Northland Controls
“The 25 on the RISE program is the leading industry recognition program for young professionals, and we are proud to recognize the 2026 class of awardees,” says SIA CEO Don Erickson in the association announcement.
“Now in its fourth year, the program had an outstanding candidate pool for 2026 and this year’s awardees are making meaningful impacts across their organizations and the broader security industry in areas like consulting, marketing, sales, tech innovation and executive leadership,” he says. “We look forward to celebrating this year’s impressive class of honorees at Securing New Ground.”
