NBFAA Gives President's Award to NBFAA Director Merlin Guilbeau

    April 13, 2005
    Award given to executive director Guilbeau for his efforts in turning around the association
    Courtesy NBFAA
    NBFAA President Scot Colby (left) presents the 2005 President's Award to Executive Director Merlin Guilbeau. Guilbeau is the first NBFAA staff person to receive the award.
    NBFAA President Scot Colby (left) presents the 2005 President's Award to Executive Director Merlin Guilbeau. Guilbeau is the first NBFAA staff person to receive the award.

    Silver Spring, MD'Merlin Guilbeau, executive director of the National Burglar and Fire Alarm Association (NBFAA), was bestowed the President's Award by NBFAA President Scot Colby during the Association's annual Award's Luncheon, held on April 4 during the NBFAA Spring Conference & Chartered State Association (CSA) Symposium.

    The President's Award is typically given to a NBFAA volunteer leader, however, this year, Guilbeau was the first'and only'staff person to ever receive the award, an honor which accredits his success as NBFAA executive director. In his short time of service, he has helped the NBFAA improve its once-degenerating financial situation, which previously threatened the association's existence. Through careful management and skillful leadership, Guilbeau helped rebuild the financial foundation of the NBFAA by turning a $350K deficit into a positive net income (the first positive net income the NBFAA has shown since 1999) in just two years.

    Guilbeau, who accepted the position of NBFAA's executive director in 2002, has been in the industry for more than 17 years. As a previous company owner in Louisiana, he has experience within the electronic life safety, security and systems industry, and has held several association leadership positions at both the state and national levels. Guilbeau joined the NBFAA board of directors in 1996 and was elected to serve on the executive committee as vice president in 2000. He is also the past chair of the NBFAA Communications/PR Committee, as well as former secretary, vice president, and president of the Louisiana Burglar and Fire Alarm Association.

    As he accepted his award, Guilbeau thanked all of his colleagues, staff and volunteer leaders that put forth their time and effort to work toward the common goal of improving the security industry for security professionals nationwide.

    "I am no different than all of you here today, I care about our industry. And though I am not a volunteer leader, I work with as much passion and dedication because I care about what happens to the security professionals we represent and their livelihoods," Guilbeau commented. "I am very honored to accept this award and I thank everyone here for working with me to better our industry," he said.

    NBFAA President, Scot Colby, said he was proud to present the award to Guilbeau.

    "Merlin (Guilbeau) and I work very closely together in our current positions. I know the work that he does and the hours he spends planning, meeting, and talking with industry representatives, NBFAA members, and colleagues. He is a very dedicated individual to whom we owe a lot, and I was very honored to present him with the President's award. In Merlin's situation, it just made sense to break the convention of bestowing the award on a volunteer. After all that he has done for NBFAA ' he pure and simply deserves this one," said Colby.