April 7, 2011, Dallas, TX – The Electronic Security Association (ESA) announced today the formation of two new groups designed to increase knowledge, skills and professionalism of individuals charged with specific business duties within security integration companies.

Led by Mark Grossman, Vice President, Branch Operations, ASG Security, Beltsville, MD (chair) and Trevor Block, Vice President of Field Operations, Guardian Protection Services, Warrendale, PA (vice chair), the ESA Installation & Service Professionals group (ISPs) serves system design, installation and service staff of security integration companies, including vice presidents, directors and managers of installation and service and other leaders.  Applications for engineering and tech support staff of ESA associate member companies are also welcome to lend their expertise and advice to channel partners.

The ISP group will tackle issues such as:

• Design and installation techniques
• Recommendations to the ESA standards committee
• Installation and service workforce recruitment, training and management techniques
• Field productivity and quality
• IT tools for installation and service
• Installation function’s interface with sales

Led by Gerrit Brusse, Regional Sales Manager, ADS Security, Nashville, TN (chair) and Lisa Matthews, CTS, Marketing & Communications Coordinator for Safety Technology/Audio Video Interiors, Middleburg Heights, OH (vice chair), the ESA Sales & Marketing Professionals (SMPs) group will serve sales and marketing staff of security integration companies, including vice presidents, directors and managers of sales and marketing and other leaders. Sales and marketing leaders of ESA associate member companies are also welcome to lend their expertise and advice to channel partners.

The SMP group will tackle issues such as:

• Effective sales and marketing strategies
• Sales and marketing law, regulation and ethics
• Sales force and marketing automation
• Application of other IT tools to sales and marketing efforts
• Sales and marketing staff recruitment, retention and compensation

Both groups will tap this information and advice through a variety of forms including:

• Webinars
• White papers
• Newsletters
• Guides
• Research reports
• Seminars, workshops and exhibits
• Online networking tools
• Face-to-face networking events and meetings

“I’m excited to be teaming up with Trevor Block to spearhead the development of this valuable new ESA institution for installation and service managers and leaders,” said ISP Chair, Mark Grossman. “We’re hoping to deliver important benchmarking information to ISP members as well as provide useful ideas on how to manage and develop the technical workforce and effectively deploy new IT tools in the operations.”

“Sales and marketing practices in the security industry are constantly evolving,” said SMP chair, Gerrit Brusse. “Lisa Matthews and I will be working hard to make sure the SMP group helps members stay up-to-speed on trends while keeping tabs on the particular legal and ethical requirements of selling and marketing security systems.”

The inaugural meetings of both groups will be at the Electronic Security Expo (ESX) on Wed. afternoon, June 8, and both meetings will include the release of original research and open discussion on priorities for future projects and programs. The groups also plan to connect socially at specific rendezvous points during the ESX Crawl on Wed. evening.

Membership for individuals in the ISP and SMP groups is free for staff of ESA member companies. For more information, to sign-up for the group and to RSVP for the inaugural meeting, go to www.esaprofessionalgroups.org to sign up or contact Hayley Zimmer at 508-618-7850, hzimmer@ae-ventures.com.

About ESA
Established in 1948, the Electronic Security Association (ESA) is the largest trade association representing the electronic life safety and security industry. Member companies install, integrate and monitor intrusion and fire detection, video surveillance and electronic access control systems for commercial, residential, industrial and governmental clients. In cooperation with an alliance of chapter associations, ESA provides technical and management training, government advocacy and delivers information, advice, tools, and services that members use to grow their businesses and prosper. ESA may be reached at (888) 447-1689 or on the Web at www.ESAweb.org.

Laurie Knox
Electronic Security Association
Director of Communications,
Marketing and Public Relations
(888) 447-1689
lauriek@alarm.org