Jeremy Bates Comes Aboard as New ESA Chairman
Industry veteran Jeremy Bates brings a lifetime of experience in the security industry to his role as Chairman of ESA. Bates grew up in the industry, beginning his journey when his parents worked at Sonitrol of Dallas, Texas, before moving to Lexington, Kentucky. There his parents bought Sonitrol of Lexington in 1984. Bates continued helping out at the company during summer breaks from college and after graduating, he managed their central station, went into Sales and ultimately worked his way up in the company in various capacities to his last role as president.
Jeremy Bates, Senior Vice President of Business Development at Pye-Barker Fire & Safety and Chairman of the Electronic Security Association (ESA), reflects on his journey in the industry: “Before we sold to Pye-Barker Fire & Safety, most people grew to know us as Bates Security, which we officially started in 2011, but our original start and our roots are as a Sonitrol dealership. We started Bates Security so we could have a strong growth strategy outside of our original Sonitrol franchise, eventually growing our business to five different locations in Kentucky and Florida.”
He goes on to say that he felt very fortunate to have worked so closely with his parents, Pat and Sonny, and brother, Bryan. “The awesome experience of building a company together and the time we spent with each other is something I will always cherish,” he says. “And I have to add that my brother was key to my success and growth as a person. He and I would challenge each other to be the best we could be for ourselves, our families, and the business and I certainly could not imagine a better business partner than my brother.”
He adds that they benefited greatly from being active participants in the industry with different associations and trade shows. “We were always happy to share best practices with others in the industry because we knew we would receive tenfold in return, and we did! There are so many professionals in this industry that me and my team have learned from and now many of them are really good friends of mine.”
Bates Security’s passion statement – “Building a Great Company While Enabling Personal Success” – he says, was largely built around knowing that in order for us to have a successful company and keep it successful, you had to have great people working for you and seeing them succeed. You need both and together you are able to provide the best service possible to your customers.”
He brings that same work ethic and passion to his new role of Senior Vice President at Pye-Barker Fire & Safety. “Our partnering with Pye-Barker works because our cultures are so well aligned, which is one of the key reasons we chose Pye-Barker when we decided to sell,” he states. “My role with Pye-Barker has evolved from running Bates Security for them to moving full time into M&A, which was a great experience, helping find other great companies to join Pye-Barker. Very recently, my role is changing to focus back on helping the security part of our business grow, similar to how we grew Bates Security over the years.”
Cindy Ponder, who worked for many years at Bates Security and now serves as Regional Director, Pye-Barker Fire & Safety, attests “I had the privilege of working with Jeremy and he not only helped shape the security industry, he also invested in the people within it. Jeremy Bates’ integrity, mentorship, and collaborative leadership have left a lasting impact on me and countless others. He has a deep commitment to progress and advocacy for our industry’s future. I’m pleased to hear that he is the new Chairman of ESA. He will lead with great vision and experience and continue to guide the industry toward growth and all the new innovation ahead.”
Bates first became involved with ESA when they helped restart the Kentucky chapter of ESA, which he has served in the past as president. He started at the national level with ESA when he was recruited to run for a seat on the ESA Board of Directors back in 2021.
Now coming aboard as new ESA Chairman, Bates says “I want to be a good steward for ESA and continue all the good and meaningful work the volunteers and staff have done and continue to do. ESA is such an important part of the security industry with the education, advocacy, community, and advantages it brings to its members.” He is particularly focused on building upon the educational aspect of ESA. “We have great classes and educational tools that we’re currently updating, and I want to help make sure we maintain our ‘best in class’ training. I remember as a young man just starting out after college in the industry, 31 years ago, being a sponge on anything about how to grow and be the best security company we would be. ESA can be one of those sources for some other person brand new to the industry and is ready to take on the world… ESA can play an important part in helping them get started!”
Kevin Stone, Outgoing ESA Chairman and Chief Operating Officer of Doyle Security, notes that “It is with great enthusiasm and confidence that I pass the gavel to Jeremy Bates. The ESA is in phenomenal hands; Jeremy’s passion ensures we will not only maintain, but accelerate, the valuable resources we provide to our industry.”
ESA’s CEO Merlin Guilbeau adds that “Jeremy brings a deep understanding of our industry and a clear vision for where ESA needs to go next. “His leadership, integrity, and commitment to advancing the security profession make him exceptionally well-suited to serve as Chairman. I look forward to partnering with him as we continue to strengthen our association, deliver greater value to our members, and position ESA for long-term success.”
