ESA Honors John Loud and Mike Keegan With Prestigious Industry Awards

June 5, 2025
ESA has honored LOUD Security’s John Loud and industry veteran Mike Keegan with its highest awards for lifetime achievement and distinguished volunteer service, respectively.

The Electronic Security Association (ESA) has recognized two industry veterans for their leadership, service and lasting impact on the electronic security and life safety industry.

John Loud, president of Georgia-based LOUD Security Systems, has been named the recipient of the 2024 Morris F. Weinstock Person of the Year Award. The honor, established in 1970, recognizes individuals for lifetime achievement and dedicated service to the industry.

“John Loud exemplifies everything the Morris F. Weinstock award stands for — vision, integrity and a tireless commitment to advancing our industry,” said ESA Chairman and Doyle Security COO Kevin Stone. “John’s passion for protecting people and growing the next generation of leaders makes him more than deserving of this honor.”

Loud’s path into the industry was far from traditional. After earning a degree in political science, he initially pursued a career as a flight attendant with aspirations of becoming a pilot. A chance encounter eventually led him to launch LOUD Security in 1995. Since then, the company has grown to 60 employees and now serves more than 10,000 customers across the U.S.

Known for his emphasis on community involvement and mentorship, Loud attributes much of his company’s success to its founding principle: combining today’s technology with old-fashioned customer service. He has served in multiple ESA leadership roles, including as Chairman, and is widely respected for his passion and commitment to advancing the security and life safety industry.

Meanwhile, Mike Keegan has been named the recipient of the 2025 Sara E. Jackson Memorial Award, which honors an ESA member’s service on association committees, task forces or boards. The award is named after former ESA president Sara E. Jackson and is one of the association’s most distinguished recognitions of volunteer leadership.

“Mike Keegan’s leadership has always been grounded in service — service to our industry, to ESA, and to the countless professionals who rely on his insight and integrity,” said Stone. “His commitment to protecting and uplifting others perfectly reflects the legacy of the Sara E. Jackson Memorial Award.”

Keegan, who began his career in the alarm industry in 1985, currently serves as Vice President of Security Product Sales for Magnasphere Corp. His decades of industry involvement include leadership roles in both the Connecticut and Pennsylvania alarm associations, and he served as an industry liaison for the Model Cities Initiative that developed a widely followed false alarm reduction model.

He was elected to the board of Security America Risk Retention Group (SARRG) shortly after its founding and later served as President of Security America. A certified Physical Security Professional (PSP), Keegan has also been recognized with ESA’s 2016 President’s Award and Mission 500’s 2013 Humanitarian of the Year Award.

Keegan will receive the award during the Keynote Luncheon at ESX on June 17, while Loud will be honored at a separate ceremony on June 18 at Truist Park during a baseball game between Atlanta Braves and New York Mets.