One of the highlights of the weeklong PSA TEC conference, which occurred May 5 through 9 in St. Charles, Ill., was the Vendor Appreciation Awards banquet, where PSA Security Network honored vendors that delivered exceptional service, support, and products to PSA’s 325 member companies during the past year. This year, PSA awarded its highest honor, the Superstar award, to CSC, Network Video Technologies, and TransTech Systems. This is the 15th year that CSC has been given the Superstar award.


“Vendors play a critical role in the PSA organization; we could not offer opportunities for success to our member companies without them,” said Bill Bozeman, president and CEO of PSA Security Network.


Nearly 100 manufacturers and other service providers — such as Total Search Solutions, 1NService, Integrator Support, SDM magazine, and others — exhibited mid-week of the conference. The other days were devoted to educational courses and certification programs.


New this year were Signature Sessions, half-day presentations focused on specific issues such as “Operational Excellence,” “Security Consultants and Vertical Markets – A Winning Combination,” and “Has Your Company Cracked the Sales CODE?” In the signature session, “Exploit the Government Factors Impacting Today’s Market,” speakers referenced the surge of government funding for security projects that is now hitting the security integrator level. For example, the Clarke amendment authorizes the use of funds for access control, video surveillance, intrusion detection, and perimeter security technologies and systems at colleges and universities, said Don Erickson, director of government relations with the Security Industry Association.


PSA Security Network is the world’s largest electronic security cooperative with members responsible for more than $1.7 billion annually in security, fire, and life safety installations. For information visit www.psasecurity.com