ESA: 75 Years And Counting

2023 will mark ESA’s 75th anniversary. Our industry has changed dramatically since 1948 and ESA has supported members throughout those changes. It’s impressive just how far this organization has come and how many programs, resources, and benefits it provides to members and non-members today. However, our work is nowhere near done. As we all have seen, the industry is shifting with changes happening rapidly. ESA is working to keep up with those changes, and I’m honored to do so with our dedicated volunteers and professional staff to ensure ESA delivers what members need now and in the future.  

A must read is the book “Sacred cows make the best burgers” written by Robert J Kriegel. Any organization that’s been around as long as ESA inevitably has sacred cows. Our professional staff and volunteers are continually evaluating our programs, resources, and benefits to make sure we are delivering what members need and most importantly what they will use.  

Our team is hyper-focused on strategic planning using a process referred to as Cascade Initiative and introduced to us by recent Morris F. Weinstock Person of the Year recipient Steve Firestone. The Cascade Initiative is designed to provide all those involved, from the top to the bottom of any organization, with an idea of the organization’s goals, so they can frame any decision through those filters. This process has been used in organizations of all sizes, including multi-national corporations, with great success in building alignment and teamwork. 

This process will determine what programs ESA provides to members and how we go to market. This is an exciting time to be involved with this great organization and I encourage you to continue to stay up to date with all the existing programs we currently offer.  

• Our National Training School (NTS) continues to add new classes and approvals as required training from regulators for various licensing requirements across the country. If you are not using NTS and taking advantage of your member discounts on training, now is the time to take a look at all we have available.  
• Our insurance program, Security America offers general liability and cyber liability coverage and I highly encourage anyone who doesn’t use this program today to get a free quote to ensure you are properly covered.  
• ESA events like the Electronic Security Expo (ESX) raise the bar on quality education and networking opportunities. Please join us June 5-8, 2023 Louisville, KY and invest in your team’s professional development. 
• Finally, don’t forget about all of the great benefits from the Member Savings Program and Webinars plus the legislative updates and much more that can be found at www.ESAweb.org.  

Thank you for your membership! Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me and share your thoughts on how we can serve you and your organization for the next 75 years.