SSI Industry Hall of Fame Introduces 2023 Inductees
Join us in welcoming a diverse lineup of remarkable individuals to our HoF roster.
It’s a funny thing about the electronic security industry. If you ask most channel practitioners why they got into it, in most cases you’ll hear a story of how it was basically by happenstance. If you’re speaking with a long-timer and follow that up questioning whether, if they could, would they change anything about how it has panned out or if they harbor any regrets, in all likelihood you’ll receive a rather emphatic “No.” That has certainly proven to be the case with the more than 120 high achievers who have been elected into the SSI Industry Hall of Fame.
That’s because at the end of the day, despite continuing to fly under the radar as compared to scores of other fields, security is an enormously rewarding profession. And while most people relate the term “hall of fame” to athletic or artistic pursuits, not to throw shade or cast dispersions on those endeavors and achievements, the bottom line is that they are not about life and death. Conversely, the SSI Hall memorializes those whose work is in fact connected with life-and-death outcomes.
Reflecting upon recent times when security personnel carried on as essential workers, that mission has been made all the more tangible. Everyone in the security and fire/life-safety industry plays a part in the grand scheme to protect people, property and assets. The Hall hails those who have contributed most significantly to this ultimate purpose. Beyond that, thanks to advances in integrated and connected technologies, today’s industry also enhances lives and businesses with increased convenience, efficiency, and productivity.
Those chosen for this special recognition often demonstrate coveted qualities such as talent, vison, passion, skill, dedication, focus, tenacity and intuition. However, rising to the lofty level of all-time greatness also brings into play admirable characteristics like integrity, honesty, humility, ethics and philanthropy. Those attributes embody the exemplary persons who since 2004 have been inducted into the SSI Industry Hall of Fame — including this year’s heroic half-dozen.
This year’s honor roll shines the spotlight on another diverse lineup of remarkable individuals. That is case in light of their specializations, but also due to the fact that two of the honorees manifest the rising prominence of women in an industry that — particularly in ownership and tenured leadership roles — has historically been almost the exclusive domain of men.
More precisely, the Class of 2023 includes a figure who helped IP video make industry inroads; arguably the most influential security consultants; a leader who has presided over advances within a top trade association; one of the most successful marketers of national systems and monitored service providers; a new technologies advocate who has helped shape today’s monitoring business; and an alarm dealer who became one of the industry’s top funding sources.
These latest Hall of Fame recognition recipients are (in alphabetical order):
- Maria Cambria, vice president, sales enablement – solutions, Teledyne FLIR;
- Ray Coulombe, managing director, Security Specifiers;
- Don Erickson, CEO, Security Industry Association (SIA);
- Jamie Haenggi, president, ADT Solar;
- Morgan Hertel, vice president of technology and innovation, Rapid Response Monitoring; and
- Jim Wooster, president (semi-retired), Alarm Financial Services.
In addition — continuing a more recent tradition that began in 2021 — is the ultimate level of acknowledgement bestowed upon previously enshrined Hall of Famers who have continued to excel at least 10 years post-induction. The third person selected for the iconic status of the SSI Industry Hall of Fame Ring of Honor is Stan Martin, who 18 years ago was among those in the second Hall class and remains active as the profession’s foremost false alarm issues arbiter and liaison to law enforcement.
Dive into all the fascinating and inspiring life stories ahead, with a comprehensive roster of every Hall member at the end. Then take a moment to ponder your own career, and if you’re fully invested in following a righteous path that might one day land you in the SSI Industry Hall of Fame.
Inductees will be honored at ISC West 2023 during the SAMMY Awards. For more info on the ceremony, click here.
Check out our slideshow for some personal pics of this year’s inductees.
View 2023 SSI Industry Hall of Fame Profiles
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About the Author
Scott Goldfine
Scott Goldfine is the marketing director for Elite Interactive Solutions. He is the former editor-in-chief and associate publisher of Security Sales & Integration. He can be reached at [email protected].
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