Support the FAST mission!

By Merlin Guilbeau 

Nearly every industry is struggling to find and retain employees, and the electronic security and life safety industry is not immune to this challenge. The Foundation for Advancing Security Talent (FAST) is a 501(c)(3) organization created by the Electronic Security Association (ESA) and the Security Industry Association (SIA) to promote careers in our industry. 

FAST is dedicated to connecting passionate, innovative professionals with new opportunities in the electronic security and life safety industry. Through a partnership of the industry’s leading associations, ESA and SIA, FAST brings awareness to the career advancement opportunities within the fast-paced technology industry that serves to keep people, places and property safe. 

Education Must Keep Up with Innovation 

As security and life safety companies embrace more advanced technologies, their education, skill and training needs to grow, making workforce development one of the top challenges facing the industry. A useful tool to add to your hiring and retention arsenal is ESA’s National Training school’s career programs, certifications and continuing education; so that your training can keep up with the ever-present changes in our industry. 

Compensation Study to Address Workforce Challenges 

Research is another area FAST is committed to. It provides companies with information that can boost their workforce development efforts. Industry organizations have partnered to launch the 2022 Security Industry Compensation Study presented by FAST. In addition to FAST, which is providing funding support, this research initiative brings together support from ESA, PSA Security Network (PSA), SIA and Security Sales & Integration (SSI) and will be the security industry’s largest widely partnered study on salary and compensation. 

This study’s mission is to provide the security industry with the compensation data it needs to effectively recruit and hire talent. The final report will offer essential salary and benefits data for relevant job titles within security systems integrators and dealers, as well as security product development and manufacturing companies. 

The research will involve a survey of professionals across the security industry, which was conducted in Spring/Summer 2022, with the data expected to be released in late 2022. Topline results will be available to the public upon the study’s release, with more in-depth analysis reserved for companies who take part in the study, making it important for industry firms to participate by providing compensation data. 

If you would like to participate in the 2022 Security Industry Compensation Study, please complete the brief signup form on the advancingsecurity.org homepage. 

FAST Golf Classic Tournament 

Support the FAST mission by sponsoring or playing in the annual FAST Golf Classic Tournament held on the opening Tuesday of ISC West, March 28th, 2023. This tournament allows industry professionals to network and golf as they support vital industry initiatives. It is FAST’s primary fundraising event, so the foundation needs your continued pledge and support! Join the movers and shakers of our industry for a fun day of golf at the Desert Pines Golf Club. Check out the advancingsecurity.org homepage to learn more and register to support the FAST mission!