I can’t believe it. August already, where is the year going? So did you manage to get to Security TWENTY 18 in Harrogate?
I know a lot of you did and thanks once again for all your support with the charity. This time we supported The Rainbow Trust which is a charity, of local parents who have had miscarriages, or given birth to children with life limiting issues. It’s a very small charity but one that does a lot and was very grateful for the support. The event went really well considering the hotel was in the middle of a massive refurbishment but it didn’t seem to put any of us off. Thank you once again to all our sponsors, exhibitors, speakers and our conference chairman Mike White for taking the time to support us. And of course to you for coming; after all you are the reason we bring it to your door.
If you haven’t been paying attention then I am really excited to tell you that next year we are bringing ST19 back to Birmingham; yes, that’s where we started some seven years ago in the Forest of Arden Hotel. Now and we are holding the event in the Birmingham Metropole hotel at the NEC; yep, those of you that used to attend IFSEC in Birmingham will know it as the one place where we all spent our evenings seeing who could run up a biggest bar bill! Norbain won this most years of course.
IFSEC, who are our usual dinner sponsors have decided that they will put a tab behind the bar. Gerry Dunphy, the show’s Brand Director (pictured left in selfie with self) said that IFSEC should put a tab behind the bar for nostalgic reasons and it will be fantastic to welcome everyone back in the bar. What’s more the hotel has undergone a massive £26m refurbishment and we have even sorted a special rate for the parking. The ST19 exhibition will be held in the very room where the awards used to run in the evening. The ST19 date is Thursday, February 21 so get it in your diaries now. And yes the charity dinner and the free IFSEC bar will be the night before, that is Wednesday, February 20.
For more details and to register to attend – and should I add that it’s free – visit the ST part of our website: https://professionalsecurity.co.uk/security-events-and-conferences/security-twenty-home/.
So to the gossip. Firstly let us start with the First Lady of the Worshipful Company of Security Professionals Una Riley. Una received that award or rather honorary title at a luncheon put on by the Company. Una has been with Professional Security Magazine almost since the start, or so it feels; it’s in fact some 20 years ago. I know she doesn’t look old enough. She has been in the industry for more years than she will let me say and was key to the founding of many associations, the Fire and Security Association for example. She came to us some years ago with an idea about ‘Women in Security’ awards which as you know we now run annually and where Una is the patron. She was the first female master of the Worshipful Company, hence her award as they are approaching their 20th year, including time as a Guild.
Samantha Bamford has joined Avigilon looking after end-user relations, yep that’s a new title on me too! As you know, Samantha has been in the industry since 1995 having been at Pelco, Canon, and Hanwha which I believe was Samsung back then. Samantha is a very technical person hence her picking up the first WiS award last year, for the Technical category.
Aiphone has appointed Harvey Williams as its new UK General Sales Manager. Harvey’s career within the electronic security industry spans 29 years. For the last three years he has been Area Sales Manager for Videx, while he has also done sales management for Fermax, Geoquip and Raytel. Meanwhile, what has happened to Wyatt? Seems he has been promoted to Managing Director, nice one.
Talking of promotion seems Mark Massie at ADI Global has been promoted to head of International Sales. Well done Mark, lots of air miles for you now by the sounds of it.
Reiss Spear has joined Wavestore Global as a regional sales manager. Reiss is from South Africa where he cut his teeth with a company called Beagle Watch Armed Response, he moved to the UK at Christmas 2015 and joined Secom PLC.
Arecont Vision has been approved to be acquired in an asset sale by Costar Technologies, Inc. Costar is a publicly traded corporation (CSTI), and now adds AV to their portfolio. Jeff Witney their president of marketing said “We are all very excited at Arecont Vision that the purchase, which Costar won in the planned court-supervised auction, is expected to close on July 13, 2018.” The company reports it went quickly through the chapter 11 reorganisation, now has a clean balance sheet, new funding with a proven, industry-savvy owner, and can continue the launch of new Contera VMS, web services, appliances, and megapixel cameras that complement the Mega family. Employees and executives are retained, warranties honoured, product lines continued and operations can now go fully forward without any interruption, the firm says.
We started with a charity so let’s end with another. GJD and Invision had five employees take part in the Diss Cyclotron on Sunday, June 24. The bike ride was to raise money for Nelson’s Journey, which is a Norfolk charity that supports children and young people who have experienced the death of a significant person in their life. The Cyclotron included cycling related activities including rides from five to 15 miles; and the Nine Town Sportive with distances of 25 miles, 50 miles and 100 miles. Greg Stuttle, GJD’s Business Development Manager and David Meyerowitz from Invision both completed the 100 mile route at an average pace of 16.4 mph. Greg said afterwards: “The Diss CycIathon was a great event, it was lovely to ride through the beautiful countryside, while at the same time raise money for a great cause.”
That 100 mile route takes in nine Norfolk towns and is a mix of country lanes, as well as faster, open stretches. David Meyerowitz, Technical Training Manager at Invision said: “The Diss Cyclathon is a great event. It’s the second time I’ve taken part and I’m looking forward to the next one. The added extra of raising money for Nelsons Journey made the ride even more enjoyable”.
To find out more about Nelson’s Journey visit http://www.nelsonsjourney.org.uk/.
