Security industry businesses face a continually changing environment related to competition, technology and the economy, as well as other business and personal factors. Although these changes present numerous opportunities for business leaders who are up for the challenge, it is very easy to get stuck in day-to-day operations and lose sight of larger strategic plans.
The Electronic Security Association (ESA) has geared its 2014 Leadership Summit toward strategy and business intelligence, particularly for growing companies. The event will take place from Jan. 19-22, 2014, at the Rosen Centre Hotel in Orlando, Fla.
Traditionally, the Leadership Summit has offered a blend of educational seminars and committee meetings, with a healthy dose of networking opportunities woven throughout. But for 2014, ESA President John Knox says a volunteer advisory group worked with ESA staff members to identify a variety of speakers to offer critical business information that wouldn’t normally be featured at a security industry event. Also, he says, this Leadership Summit will move at a faster pace compared with previous years.
“We have re-crafted the Leadership Summit with a more motivating and vigorous schedule,” he says. “The quality of speakers and the focus on education and growing businesses make this year different. There will be high-level, informed speakers who will help people grow and learn, and give them takeaways that they can use immediately.”
Multiple keynote sessions will address such topics as national security, change management, cyber security, team building and sales performance. The presentations include:
- “National Security Since 9/11 – A Personal Perspective,” with retired U.S. Army Major General Doug Anson. As director for Department of Defense Strategic Development in the Strategic Outcomes Office at Los Alamos National Laboratory, he is an acknowledged expert in global terrorism, as well as counter-terrorism capabilities.
- “Increase Client Protection and RMR with Cyber Security,” which will offer a candid panel discussion on home automation systems, including business opportunities, the potential for security flaws, and ways to help protect digital security and privacy for customers.
- “Race for Relevance: Five Radical Changes for Associations,” featuring author and communications expert Mary Byers, who specializes in performance and growth of nonprofit organizations.
- “Adapting Your Team for Growth in Changing Times,” with Ted Powell of the change management consultancy Stop at Nothing.
- “Strategies for Building and Maintaining High-Performing Sales Teams,” with author and sales strategist Steve Bookbinder.
The keynote presentations are the cornerstones for other information-filled sessions dealing with those topics, as well as new technologies, sales intelligence, project management, maximizing the value of alarm businesses and developing efficient business processes.
Attendees will also have extensive time to network, Knox says. ESA members frequently request more opportunities to be able to spend time learning from each another and sharing their experiences in a peer-to-peer format.
“Sometimes people lose their momentum and need a little refresher about why we’re in the business we’re in,” he says. “It helps to talk to other people and share ideas, because we can learn from each other. It’s important to have some time to rejuvenate and also see that your situation is not much different than what others are experiencing across the nation.”
Leadership Summit will feature Best Practice Roundtables facilitated by ESA’s Professional Groups – Young Security Professionals (YSP), Sales & Marketing Professionals (SMP), Installation & Service Professionals (ISP) and Executive Management Professionals (EMP). It will be an open forum for attendees to discuss important opportunities, challenges, products and solutions, strategic initiatives and much more in a relaxed atmosphere by the hotel pool.
More information, including registration and accommodations, is available at www.ESA-Summit.com. Attendees can register for an All Access Passport that includes access to all events. Those who can’t attend the entire Summit or simply prefer to pick and choose the seminars and events to attend can select an A La Carte registration option.
