2020 Executive Strategic Partnerships Create Significant Industry Impact

With all the chaos and unsurety 2020 brought, ESA became even more vital for member companies and the pro-installed industry that rely on ESA’s network, government advocacy outreach, training and more. The association’s Executive Strategic Partners (ESPs) – a distinguished group of key manufacturers and service providers serving the electronic and life safety security industry – stood strong in support of the association and the channel at large.

ESA’s Executive Strategic Partners invest in the association to support initiatives that significantly impact members’ businesses and the industry. In 2020, their support helped the association to provide the industry with free CEU training courses when work slowed.

“This program allows us to partner with key manufacturers and service providers that are looking to make a significant impact on the industry,” says Merlin Guilbeau, CEO of ESA. “There are key factors we look for in our strategic partners: They must deliver a quality, reputable product that allows our members to better run and grow their businesses. Each one of these players not only check that box, but they also make a significant impact on the installation, integration and monitoring channel — by investing in the association to support vital programming.”

It is through these compelling partnerships that ESA, a non-profit organization, is able to fulfill our vision and mission of being indispensable and relevant as well as build a community that provides resources, advocacy, connections and education for electronic security and life safety professionals.

ESA is honored to recognize the following companies, listed in alphabetical order in their respective level, for supporting the industry in 2020 through its Executive Strategic Partnership Program.

Moving up from a Platinum Level Partner in 2019 to the leading exclusive 2020 Diamond Level partner is Resideo, creators of innovative, reliable solutions with a deeply rooted distribution channel that is now on the forefront of the next wave in consumer technology with the smart connected home.

The 2020 Diamond Level Partner:

“The Electronic Security Association serves a vital role in educating and training the next generation of life safety and security professionals to ensure they have the skills necessary to meet the growing demand from customers seeking solutions that help keep families and businesses safe and secure,” says Alice DeBiasio, Vice President of Global Product Management, Security at Resideo. “We’ve been a strategic partner and supporter of the ESA for nearly a dozen years, and together we can help the industry navigate an increasingly complex set of choices. This focus on the professional is more important than ever as 2020 has generated significant interest in connected home and life-safety services.”

The 2020 Gold Executive Strategic Partners are:

“We are happy to support ESA and help members expand their business potential, especially by discovering the simplicity and value of Axis End-to-End solutions,” says Mitch Mershon, Business Development Manager, End to End Solutions, Axis Communications, Inc. “The complexities of security require integrators to offer innovative and comprehensive solutions, from video surveillance to access control to audio systems and beyond. We look forward to continued discussion and collaboration with ESA members.”

“2020 marks our tenth year as a Gold Level Executive Strategic Partner with ESA,” says George Brody, President of Telguard. “Security services are essential, and the ESA organization is a key partner that helps us support the professional security industry. Our alarm communication expertise ensures first responders get life-saving signals that our dealers rely on. Dealers help their customers protect what’s most important to them, we make sure our dealers get all the support they need. If it’s worth protecting, it’s worth investing in the best.”

Silver Executive Strategic Partners include:

“Altronix remains dedicated to supporting ESA in its endeavors,” says Alan Forman, Altronix. “ESA provides an excellent platform for education, networking and other valuable resources to better advance our industry.”

“With increasingly dynamic technologies and marketplace pressures, today more than ever, ESA is a key resource for the professional security dealers NAPCO has been solely dedicated to for decades,” Judith Jones-Shand, VP, Marketing, NAPCO, says. “Like our company, including StarLink, Gemini & NAPCO Commercial brands, ESA champions innovation, education, growth and achievement for security dealers and integrators. We are proud to be a Gold Sponsor in 2021.”

“ESA’s mission closely aligns with SnapAV’s guiding mantra to empower dealers to win the battle for technology in today’s competitive marketplace,” says Clint Choate, SnapAV’s Senior Market Director of Security. “With compressing ASP’s and the value of traditional dealer models under threat, bringing our integrator-first message, differentiated product catalog and award-winning support team to the security industry is more important than ever before. Together, ESA and SnapAV can better support industry advocacy and market expansion while creating more business opportunities for professional integrators.”

First Time Executive Strategic Partners

“A long time ESA member, Alarm Products Distributors is excited in becoming an ESP to help support ESA,” says John Dobratz, President, APD. “Alarm Products Distributors has firsthand experience with the benefits ESA provides in resources, advocacy, connections and education. We look forward to continuing our relationship with ESA in 2021 and beyond.”

“Comm-Core is excited to partner with ESA and be a reliable resource to enable companies in security to increase recurring revenue and provide clients with customized solutions,” Lee Tribble, Marketing Manager, Comm-Core, says.

“We were really excited to be a First Time Executive Strategic Sponsor of ESA this year; the more we engage with ESA the more valuable interactions we have with dealers, which allows us to focus on delivering the products and services that they need to be successful,” Mark Hillenburg, VP Marketing of DMP, says. “ESA is a real asset to not only the industry as a whole, but also to companies that are looking to service or sell into the security industry. All the best companies know it’s smart to support the associations. It’s an honor to be a part of the ESA Strategic Partner Program.”

Podium, a rich communication platform for local businesses to help them collect reviews, gather insight and talk to customers in real-time through text.

“As a software company with solutions for security professionals, being a member of ESA helps us stay informed about the issues affecting our current and potential customers,” says Karla Fleege, Chief Marketing Officer of simPRO. “We have enjoyed our membership with ESA over the years as it has helped establish us as a trusted partner within this industry.”

For more information about the 2020 partners, visit: https://esaweb.org/resources/esps/

For more information about participating in ESA’s 2021 partnership program, schedule a meeting with ESA’s Vice President of Business Development, Jessica DaCosta: esaweb.org/meetjess.