The organizers of Electronic Security Expo 2014 (ESX) say their show is all about community, as they attempt to change the perceptions electronic security pros have of major industry trade shows.
“ESX is giving a glimmer of all that an industry event can and should deliver — inspiration, education and partnerships,” says ESX programming volunteer, Steve Firestone, president of Select Security.
According to show organizers, ESX has become a place where real business gets done, driven by the power of connecting. The show is set for June 23-26 in Nashville, Tenn., and electronic security integration and monitoring companies will gather at the Music City Center — where Firestone says they will be much more than simple badge scans.
“Some of the biggest ideas of the year will be discovered and the technologies/services that have a real impact on security businesses will be highlighted,” says ESX programming volunteer Erica Wood, Chief Security Officer of American Fire and Security. “Best practices will be shared and problems solved.”
Here’s an insider’s preview of each of the key aspects of the event:
• Education: ESX is focused on the needs of security installation, integration and monitoring teams. Its education program allows attendees to access the latest trends in increasing profits and recurring monthly revenue (RMR). The peer-to-peer emphasis of seminars and sessions means integrators are able to give real-world advice to other integrators.
The program features nearly 40 sessions, including such topics as: The “refresh” opportunity for selling; Video Surveillance as a Service (VSaaS); RMR from IT; PERS and mPERS; training technicians for upgrading; reducing truck rolls; and more. It is built for your whole team, including business development executives, sales and marketing staff, central station managers and more. For more, download the Conference Catalog at www.esxweb.com/catalog.
• Networking Events: Some events focus on the content, some on networking opportunities — and the best focus on both. “You can gather as many people as you’d like, but if the event program doesn’t nurture interaction, all you have is a crowd,” Firestone says.
ESX events lend themselves to interaction — whether networking or just seminar speakers chatting with attendees after presentations. ESX will feature inspirational keynotes, award ceremonies, a happy hour on the expo floor and a rally to keep conversations going. And yes, the ESX Crawl will again guide attendees through Nashville’s best honky tonks for casual fun.
• Expo: The expo will feature the latest products and services in categories including access control, video surveillance, central station technology, intrusion and fire alarms, monitoring services and ID systems. You will also find categories like IT solutions, AV/control, business intelligence, and home and building automation on this year’s expo floor.
“It is not too big and not too little,” Wood says. “It is as much about the business imperatives of electronic security companies as it is about ground-breaking technologies and services.”
An ESX Deluxe Pass gets you access to all education programs, networking events and the expo. Registration prices increase June 1. For more info, visit www.esxweb.com. ESX is owned and sponsored by the Electronic Security Association (ESA) and the Central Station Alarm Association (CSAA), and is managed by event and e-media company AE Ventures.
