ESA forms advisory council for Industry Research Center

DALLAS—The Electronic Security Association (ESA) has announced the formation of the ESA Industry Research Center Advisory Council, a group of industry leaders tasked with helping guide the association’s research initiatives and future industry intelligence efforts.

According to ESA, the council will provide strategic input on research priorities, identify emerging trends and help shape the direction of the ESA Industry Research Center, including development of the forthcoming ESA Industry Performance Index (IPI). The inaugural council members are:

• Michael Barnes, founder of Barnes & Associates
• Kirk MacDowell, president of MacGuard Security Advisors
• Scott R. Elkins, executive chairman of Zeus Fire and Security
• Ken Francis, executive vice president of Digital Monitoring Products (DMP)

ESA said additional members will be announced in the coming weeks.

“The ESA Industry Research Center was created to provide independent, data-driven intelligence that helps security professionals make better business decisions,” said Merlin Guilbeau, CEO of ESA. “Our Advisory Council ensures that our research remains grounded in the real-world challenges and opportunities facing integrators, dealers, manufacturers, and the broader security community. Their collective experience will help keep our research relevant, practical, and focused on the issues that matter most.”

The council will serve in an advisory capacity, working with ESA leadership and Beacon Economics, the association’s research partner, to provide guidance on research topics, industry trends and areas of greatest value to security professionals.

ESA said the council will also help inform the expansion of the Industry Research Center’s portfolio of benchmarking tools, economic analysis and educational resources.

“One of the greatest strengths of the Industry Research Center is that it is being built with input from the industry,” Elkins said. “This council represents leaders with diverse experiences across the security market, and together we have an opportunity to help ensure the research reflects the realities businesses face every day.”

The ESA Industry Research Center was established to provide economic intelligence and market insights designed to help security companies better understand industry trends, benchmark performance and make strategic business decisions.

Related: New research center underscores growing importance of benchmarking

Photo courtesy of Electronic Security Association