Tradeshow Work Can Be Fun

While at ISC West last week, I ran into numerous friends and associates all of which was a pleasant experience. The first question always seemed to be, “How many does this make for you?”

My recollection is that this was my 28th ISC West, and yes, I attended ISC West when it was pushed back to a July time thanks to COVID-19.

Here are a few fun tidbits from three days in the life of a magazine editor at ISC West.

1. Just for fun I collect watches. It is about time I realized I have too many watches and I should stop. I sat down with Paul DiPeso, executive vice president, Clous Business Development, at acre. Paul’s watch was nicer looking than any I have in my collection. Paul’s Timex just keeps on ticking.

2. Editors get hungry, and for those of you who think an editor can be bought for the price of a dinner or breakfast, you are wrong. Thanks for Al Forman, Altronix, for always having a dinner the night before ISC West gets underway. This year was at The Conrad and it was amazing. Likewise, breakfast was just off the show floor thanks to Martin Gren and Fredrik Nilsson of Axis Communications. Tom Cook provided a press dinner at Canaletto at the Venetian. I am ready to stand on one of those canal boats and sing while a paddle a couple around the river.

3. Rick Caruthers and I struck up a friendship a few years ago in Walkersville, MD. Rick runs the show at Galaxy and shares some of the best business stories I have ever heard. He has a better look at the future than most of us have of the past. Let us just say rich is always planning to ensure he has product for his customers (Remember COVID supplies).

4. David Antar recently sold his company IP Video. He is coming back into the industry because retirement is not in his lexicon. I bumped into my friend Rob Hile, who states he has been to ISC West for 35 years, and my friend KV Swami, who I altogether missed at the show but connected with him later.

Kudos to the entire ISC West team for an absolutely grand security exhibition. This is another open house well done as they close the books on 2025 ISC West.

About the Author

Ralph C. Jensen is the Publisher/Editor in chief of Security Today magazine.

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