A Conversation with Mike Taylor
AMAG Technology, a security management and digital video solution provider, recently announced the promotion of Mike Taylor to vice president of North American sales. In his new role, Taylor will manage the daily operations of AMAG’s regional sales managers and sales engineers, and assist his team with meeting sales goals and providing customer service to AMAG integrators and end users. With sat down with Taylor for more on his new role and the future of AMAG.
Q. Can you give a quick overview of AMAG’s current direction in the security marketplace? What new products is the company introducing this year?
A. The direction in the security marketplace is toward true integration and IP-based solutions. The new system requirements in today's world are pushing manufactures to work together on open platforms to create seamless integration between products. These customers are demanding more than a dry contact connection. We are getting SDK's from other business partners and doing high-level TCIP integrations with many different technologies. This allows AMAG to be positioned as the command and control software for entire enterprise wide systems with intrusion, video, access control, intercom and even interfacing into building management systems.
The need for systems to reside on the customer overall network or a dedicated security network is also key as we move forward. Moving video to the edge and reducing bandwidth, along with moving controllers to the edge and reducing cabling costs, are all part of the IP push we are seeing from our customers and the consultants in the market.
As for new products from AMAG, we are continually pushing the development team for new features. We are always releasing new integrations on the video side with new H.264 cameras to new NVR solutions. We are expanding the overall line with a new intrusion feature that will really push the AMAG Federal Systems solution. We also continue to respond to the requests of our current customers for things like rack-mount enclosures, our single-door PoE controllers and even the new AMAG video hardware, our new 9200 series of products. The new video products will be something that has not been seen in the market. While many of the items in development have yet to be announced, rest assured that AMAG's in house development team continues to listen to the marketplace and is always moving forward.
Q. What are some of the verticals that AMAG is seeing the biggest growth?
A. We are very fortunate at AMAG to have a complete and robust product line. Our Symmetry Business Security Management System covers smaller sites, while the Symmetry Global solution can accommodate our large multi-national and global customers. This allows us to succeed in all verticals.
That being said, there are specific markets that we see as growth opportunities in today's economy. We are seeing a lot of movement in transportation (airports and seaports), healthcare, federal and state sites, as well as the petroleum and chemical industries.
Q. How do you plan on approaching your new role as vice president of North American sales to help continue to grow the company?
A. Growth is the key word. In a tough economy during the 2009 sales year, we really worked hard to keep the numbers up while we continued to build for the future, knowing the market would come back. Now that I have been given this new role, my focus continues to be growing sales. I am starting to rebuild the sales and engineering team by adding lots of industry leading talent. I also plan to keep the team's focus on the key markets and verticals that seem to have strong growth. My main goal is to build the industry's best sales and engineering team. My approach is to lead by example and to deliver exceptional customer service to interior and external customers.
Q. Please give a brief summary of your background with AMAG.
A. I joined AMAG in 2001 as a regional sales manager running the Southern region. I moved into a role as senior director of business development for the 2008 sales year. My responsibility in that role was to create a new national accounts program at AMAG. At the start of the 2009 sales year, I moved to a newly created director of sales role running day to day sales responsibility. I was promoted in June to the new role of vice president of North American sales.