ESA Forms Research Advisory Council to Guide Industry Intelligence
Leading security executives will direct research priorities and shape actionable insights for the electronic life safety sector.
- By Jesse Jacobs
- Jul 09, 2026
The Electronic Security Association announced the formation of the ESA Industry Research Center Advisory Council, a group of industry leaders tasked with guiding the strategic direction of the association's research initiatives.
The council brings together executives from across the security integration ecosystem to provide market expertise, identify emerging trends and shape future research priorities. This includes development of the upcoming ESA Industry Performance Index.
Inaugural members of the council include Michael Barnes, founder of Barnes & Associates; Kirk MacDowell, president of MacGuard Security Advisors; Scott R. Elkins, executive chairman of Zeus Fire and Security; and Ken Francis, executive vice president of Digital Monitoring Products.
Council members will serve in an advisory capacity, working alongside association leadership and Beacon Economics, the group's independent research partner. The team will provide guidance on emerging marketplace trends and benchmarking tools.
A cornerstone of the initiative is the Industry Performance Index, developed in partnership with Beacon Economics. Scheduled to launch later this summer, the index will measure the health of the electronic security industry across four dimensions: business activity, workforce capacity, revenue health and AI adoption.