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.

Featured

  • Security Industry Association Announces the 2026 Security Megatrends

    The Security Industry Association (SIA) has identified and forecasted the 2026 Security Megatrends, which form the basis of SIA’s signature annual Security Megatrends report defining the top 10 factors influencing both near- and long-term change in the global security industry. Read Now

  • The Future of Access Control: Cloud-Based Solutions for Safer Workplaces

    Access controls have revolutionized the way we protect our people, assets and operations. Gone are the days of cumbersome keychains and the security liabilities they introduced, but it’s a mistake to think that their evolution has reached its peak. Read Now

  • A Look at AI

    Large language models (LLMs) have taken the world by storm. Within months of OpenAI launching its AI chatbot, ChatGPT, it amassed more than 100 million users, making it the fastest-growing consumer application in history. Read Now

  • First, Do No Harm: Responsibly Applying Artificial Intelligence

    It was 2022 when early LLMs (Large Language Models) brought the term “AI” into mainstream public consciousness and since then, we’ve seen security corporations and integrators attempt to develop their solutions and sales pitches around the biggest tech boom of the 21st century. However, not all “artificial intelligence” is equally suitable for security applications, and it’s essential for end users to remain vigilant in understanding how their solutions are utilizing AI. Read Now

  • Improve Incident Response With Intelligent Cloud Video Surveillance

    Video surveillance is a vital part of business security, helping institutions protect against everyday threats for increased employee, customer, and student safety. However, many outdated surveillance solutions lack the ability to offer immediate insights into critical incidents. This slows down investigations and limits how effectively teams can respond to situations, creating greater risks for the organization. Read Now

New Products

  • 4K Video Decoder

    3xLOGIC’s VH-DECODER-4K is perfect for use in organizations of all sizes in diverse vertical sectors such as retail, leisure and hospitality, education and commercial premises.

  • Unified VMS

    AxxonSoft introduces version 2.0 of the Axxon One VMS. The new release features integrations with various physical security systems, making Axxon One a unified VMS. Other enhancements include new AI video analytics and intelligent search functions, hardened cybersecurity, usability and performance improvements, and expanded cloud capabilities

  • EasyGate SPT and SPD

    EasyGate SPT SPD

    Security solutions do not have to be ordinary, let alone unattractive. Having renewed their best-selling speed gates, Cominfo has once again demonstrated their Art of Security philosophy in practice — and confirmed their position as an industry-leading manufacturers of premium speed gates and turnstiles.