ABC taps a new CEO

One question remains: How long will he last? SAN ANTONIO - A month after its chief executive officer resigned, American Building Control has found a replacement and the company did not have to look far. In early August, the company tapped James Collier Sparks to head the company. Sparks was president of MDI Security Systems, American Building Control’s access control business and has been with the company since January of 2004. Sparks replaces Danny Mills, who left American Building Control in early July after completing the sale of the company’s non core assets to Mace Security. The company sold its retail consumer product division and its industrial distribution business to Mace Security for $5.65 million so it could focus on its access control and monitoring software business. Though Mills’ resignation appeared abrupt, his departure was indicated in June when the company’s shareholders did not re-elect him to the board at the annual shareholder’s meeting, despite the recommendation by the board of directors for his approval. Sparks joins a long list of chief executive officers of American Building Control, formerly known as Ultrak, in recent years. The company has had four executives since 2002, with each one lasting approximately a year in the high-level position. Sparks could not be reached for comment prior to press time.