ESA Welcomes New Board Members: Rick Seymour & Michael Barnes
The Electronic Security Association recently installed two new members on its Board of Directors. The purpose of a director on the ESA Board is to work collectively as a team to provide good governance of ESA affairs and to set direction to optimize the growth and performance of the organization. Each Board Member has a responsibility for ensuring strategies and policies that are developed, discussed and implemented will enable the organization to achieve its mission and vision, and to monitor the organization’s implementation of those strategies and policies.
The following individuals were installed onto the ESA Board of Directors during the ESA Annual Meeting at ESX and began their term on July 1st:
Rick Seymour CEO, CSI Palm Beach
ABOUT RICK
Rick has been in the electronic security and life safety industry since 2005, where he acquired his first security business. As of 2021, he has grown the RMR by over 9% year after year. Rick was first attracted to the industry by the recurring revenue business model and became passionate about providing a service that partners with our first responders to keep our communities safe. In 2011, he acquired another security business to position us to be the largest provider of electronic security services in Jupiter Island.
Rick currently serves as a Board Member of the Alarm Association of FL and Chairman of the Workforce Development Committee, Chairman of the Youth Scholarship Committee, Member of the Business Advisory Council to Palm Beach State College, Founding Board Member and current Board Chairman of the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Foundation, and is a current member of the Executives Association of the Palm Beaches.
“As a long time member of ESA, a founding member and past president of the Florida ESA Charter Chapter, I am grateful and proud of the opportunity to serve our industry at a national level.” says Rick “I have been involved in workforce development for our industry locally for many years. I would like share what I have learned and accomplished with other states and get involved with FAST.” Rick continues
“As we all struggle with the workforce challenges facing each one of our businesses, you will be hard pressed to find an ESA member security dealer with more effort and insight as to how to approach this challenge than what Rick Seymour does with his company throughout his community. I am so glad he is a member of our ESA Board and can offer his knowledge to help our ESA members navigate this hurdle. “ says John Loud, ESA Chairman and President of LOUD Security inc.
Michael Barnes, Founding Partner, Barnes Associates, Inc.
ABOUT MICHAEL
Michael Barnes founded Barnes Associates in 1986 and directs the firm’s Mergers and Acquisitions activities. He is based in St. Louis, Missouri. Since founding Barnes Associates, Michael has been involved in more than 280 security alarm acquisitions and financings, with an aggregate transaction value in excess of $29 billion. He has lectured at numerous events within the security alarm industry on matters relating to acquisitions, the availability of capital and the operating dynamics and performance of alarm companies. Michael was the 13th person to be inducted into the Security Alarm Industry Hall of Fame, an honor he received in 2004. Barnes Associates co-sponsors the annual Barnes-Buchanan Conference.
Michael hopes that his experience as a financially oriented executive will help ESA in good governance and fiscal discipline. He will also be a Board liaison for ESA’s Executive Management Professionals Group (EMP). “I look forward to working with Scott Hightower, the group’s new Chairman.” says Michael “This industry has some unique accounting challenges, most notably around the costs of originating new customers and their associated recurring revenues. I am hoping to help develop more organization and engagement around these topics of shared interest.” he continues.
“Overall, I feel honored to be invited to serve on ESA’s Board. The organization does such great work in supporting and advocating for the industry, and the Board has a large responsibility for setting direction. I feel the weight of that responsibility and hope I can rise to the occasion.” says Michael
“Michael Barnes has been a long time industry leader with significant insights on the historical aspects of our security industry and deep knowledge of the acquisition space and financial services firms supporting our profession. He also has a clear vision, looking into the future direction we will all be navigating. He is a tremendous asset to our industry, and I am grateful he is part of our ESA Board.” says John Loud, ESA Chairman
Congratulations to all newly elected and installed board members!
Seymour and Barnes join a distinct group of security professionals comprising the current ESA Board of Directors including:
Integrator Chairman John Loud 2022-2024
Integrator Director Kevin Stone 2022-2024
Integrator Director Rick Seymour 2022-2024
Integrator Director Melissa Brinkman 2021-2023
Integrator Director Jeremy Bates 2021-2023
National Company Director Doug Bassett 2022-2024
Associate Member Director Jason Lutz 2021-2023
Competency Director Steve Firestone 2022-2023
Competency Director Michael Barnes 2022-2023
Immediate Past Chairman Director Jamie Vos 2022-2024
Stay tuned to ESA Integrator for more news on returning board members.
