Nashville, Here We Come!

With temperatures warming up here in chilly Maine – and sights, sounds and smells of spring, rebirth and renewal in the air – the team here at Security Systems News is gearing up for SecurityNext, which returns to an in-person event later this month, April 25-27, in Nashville, the music city.

Coming off a successful and exciting ISC West in Las Vegas last month, the theme of rebirth and renewal seems fitting, as ISC West came back strong after a tough year in 2021 due to COVID and travel restrictions. Here at SSN, we can relate, as SecurityNext, which was in-person in New Orleans in 2020, was a huge success … and then COVID hit! We held a virtual conference in 2021, but it just wasn’t the same! What really makes SecurityNext so great is being able to just walk up to one of your industry peers and say hello, talk security, maybe lay the groundwork for future business, which I have been privy to over the years. I can’t tell you how many deals I have seen or heard started and/or made during those invaluable networking moments where possible lifelong connections are being formed.

Personally, I am so excited about the caliber of speakers in this year’s lineup, and I am not just talking about their subject matter expertise and resumes, which are mind-blowing, but, more importantly, the fact that they are just great people to be around, to learn from, to exchange ideas with, and – let’s be honest – to have some fun with!

Speaking of fun, our “Awards Reception” on Tuesday evening, from 5:30-7:00 p.m. at the rooftop venue at the host hotel, Westin Nashville, features not only awards for many of our “40 under 40” Class of 2021 winners who will be in attendance, but also our Security Legend Award honorees, Christine and Andrew Lanning, co-founders of Integrated Security Technologies Inc., including some words from inaugural Security Legend Award winner, Jim Henry, consultant, Butchko•ESI. And an event on the rooftop in Nashville would not be complete without live music! We have a very special musical guest, Jolene, who will be playing before and after the awards are given! More on Jolene to come!

There’s still time to get in the room block and register for this great event, and I hope to see y’all there in the music city!