The Security Industry Association (SIA)

The Security Industry Association (SIA) government relations team is working to support our priorities at the federal and state level, for artificial intelligence and data privacy legislation, spectrum policy, school safety funding, tariff relief, counterdrone capabilities and right to repair laws.

John Nemerofsky is chief operating officer at SAGE Integration and chair of the Foundation for Advancing Security Talent (FAST). When I reflect on my early days in the security industry, I often think, “I wish FAST had been around when I was starting my career.” The Foundation for Advancing Security Talent (FAST) has changed the game for anyone looking to build a meaningful career in security.

Jeffery June is vice president and general manager, U.S., at Integrated Control Technology. In a recent meeting with an integration partner and a financial institution, the objective seemed straightforward: demonstrate how access control and video could integrate to improve response times to alarm events. On paper, it was a solid plan. The technology worked, the integration was clean, and the value, at least on the surface, was clear. But early in the conversation, something felt off.

Francesca Paduano is a sales coordinator at A+ Technology and Security Solutions, a Convergint company. From the outside looking in, most jobs within the security industry can appear similar to many other cookie-cutter roles, whether you work in an office or on site. I don’t know about you, but the security integration field wasn’t featured at my high school’s career day.

Mykaela Cederberg is a program coordinator at Axis Communications. Whether you are just beginning your career or are an experienced professional, one factor consistently influences long-term success: your personal brand. How you are perceived by colleagues, managers, and industry peers can shape the opportunities you are given and the direction your career takes.

There’s a moment many multilingual professionals know well. Ghaida Alkhateeb, a member of the SIA RISE Steering Committee, is risk manager II at Amazon. You’re in a meeting. You understand the discussion completely. You know the issue, the context and sometimes even the solution. But before you speak, your brain pauses—not because you don’t know what to say, but because you’re translating thoughts, tone, timing and wording all at once. While you’re doing that, the meeting moves on.

Tre Washington, a member of the SIA RISE Steering Committee, is CEO of Integrated Information Systems. Picture a school district that covers more square miles than there are students in a large metro. The technology director is also the network admin, the AV coordinator and the help desk. The closest integrator is two hours away.

The Security Industry Association (SIA) and ASIS International recently closed out a successful fourth annual Security LeadHER conference, an event dedicated to advancing, connecting and empowering women in the security event. This year’s conference gathered more than 500 security professionals from 40 U.S. states and 11 countries in Minneapolis, Minnesota, June 15–16 for two days of connection, learning and community impact.

SILVER SPRING, Md.—The Security Industry Association (SIA) is now accepting applications for four key 2026 SIA recognition programs: the 25 on the RISE Awards, Denis R. Hébert Identity Management Scholarship, James Rothstein Business Scholarship and SIA–SecuritySpecifiers Young Consultants Scholarship. These initiatives offer funds to security industry professionals, as well as students, to help them further their professional development and educational goals.