National Security Technician Day 2024: Celebrate Unsung Industry Heroes
We kick off our Q&A series with security technicians by talking to one of FAST’s Security Technicians of the Year.
Adobe Stock image by Gasspoll
We spend a lot of time sharing perspectives from and covering topics that appeal to the executives from security integration companies, focusing on the top level of these companies and looking for news that will help them run their businesses more effectively.
While that remains a noble endeavor and one we’ll continue to pursue, we know that without the technicians who install the access control systems, video surveillance networks, intrusion detection platforms and central station monitoring hubs, these businesses wouldn’t succeed.
That’s why we’re taking time to shine a light on some of the men and women whose names aren’t necessarily on the trucks they roll out into the field as we head toward the Foundation for Advancing Security Talent (FAST)’s National Security Technician Day on Tuesday, Jan. 23.
Let’s kick off our look at some of the security industry’s unsung heroes with Justin McCormack, 41, field technician for Midwest region at Security Pros, who was one of 10 FAST Security Technicians of the Year for 2023.
In each edition of this ongoing series, we’ll look at the installation that made the strongest impact on the technician we’re highlighting, how he or she got into the security industry and what the love about it.
What’s one installation that made you particularly proud?
In 2023, our company took on a project at a church called Northside Christian Church, which is in New Albany, Ind. This church is not your normal one big worship room with a few rooms off to the side. The site is the size of an elementary school with additional auditoriums and not to mention the enormous parking lot!
We got this job with the intention to open eyes on new technology and present that “wow” factor for all the staff and onlookers. We deployed an access control system and a surveillance system with multiple wireless P2Ps for the parking lot cameras.
At first, the Brivo access control system had a few of the employees talking amongst each other about how easy it was to get in without searching for a key or personnel, which always makes us techs smile inside, knowing we just made others’ lives easier for work while securing the building with an up-to-date system.
Contributed photo
When Brivo was completed, the entire project was/is working on NFC credentials! How awesome is it to walk up to your door, put your watch to the reader, and the door unlocks for you? Smiles were abundant and the staff was excited! That was half of the scope.
The Hanwha Wave system is installed now and the analytics our application specialist and I deployed is allowing the staff to monitor the amount of people that are in specific rooms and then can determine where the overflow may go to for their worship services.
I absolutely love my job, being able to continuously work with my hands, implementing and leaning about new technologies, and having co-workers that are seriously like family makes it all worth it!!
The cameras that setup for the people counting analytic have a monitor that’s behind the scenes that presents the number of people that have entered the room and crossed the line-crossing analytic. The church can determine when and where to divert the overflow.
I think the coolest place I’ve installed surveillance in was for a city in Michigan that needed cameras for their city’s water supply. We all see those water towers, but to be able to go inside one and see firsthand how they system works is a site to see!
How did you get into the security industry?
I was working in the low-voltage field for AT&T for 11 years and, one morning, one of our techs asked me if I was interested in getting into the security industry. I told him maybe and didn’t think much of it.
That same week, another tech asked me the same question and said he was going to interview with a company called Security Pros. I once again went and did my route but, this time, I looked into the industry and the company which had me extremely interested.
I called (founder) Chris (Gilbert) to see if I could possibly get an interview and he told me maybe and he had pretty much had enough guys at the moment. For some reason, he decided he would call me back and tell me to come in that day if I could. That was on a Friday, the interview went very great and, by that time the following week, I was a part of the Security Pros family.
I have now been working in the security industry for two and a half years.
What’s your favorite part of being a security technician?
My favorite part is being able to see the happiness on our customers’ faces when they are easily navigating our access control system and surveillance systems. I love knowing that our/my work has made a difference in communities, schools, jails and churches too. We make it easier, safe, and allow some unanswered questions to be answered with video footage.
If you know a security technician who deserves to be recognized for their work, please contact web editor Craig MacCormack at [email protected].
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About the Author
D. Craig MacCormack, Web Editor
Craig MacCormack is a veteran journalist who joined Security Sales & Integration in June 2023 as web editor. He covered AV, IT and security with SSI's sister publication, Commercial Integrator, from January 2011 to June 2021.
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