The State of the Security Integrator
Security integration leaders open up on what’s driving change in their businesses in this session moderated by Ken Francis, CEO of Actuate.
What are security practitioners asking for today and how are their demands changing? How are they differentiating to stay competitive? What market forces are shaping their business? How is the growth of end-to-end systems and direct-from-manufacturer sales changing the integration landscape? Should integration businesses dive deep into select verticals to strengthen their value? Is the talent shortage beginning to ease—and where is workforce pain still being felt? How are they responding to the rapid influx of AI-driven solution providers and how are they integrating those solutions to solve customer challenges. It’s questions like these that the panel will address as we assess the state of the security integrator in this always relevant and always honest session!
Speakers
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Scott ElkinsCEO
Zeus Fire and SecurityScott R. Elkins is CEO of Zeus Fire and Security, a leading modern tech-enabled, national network of fire protection and security providers known for operational excellence across multiple service lines and end markets. A recognized leader in the security industry, Elkins has been instrumental in developing innovative business models that integrate emerging technologies into practical, scalable solutions. Scott serves on the boards of directors for The Monitoring Association and the Electronic Security Association and is a chair of NetOne. He is also a board member of The Constitutional Walking Tour of Philadelphia and the former chair of Valley Forge Educational Services. Additionally, he co-founded Catavault and served on its Advisory Board. Elkins is a principal inventor of U.S. Patent No. 7,155,739, which outlines a method and system for secure registration, storage and management of personal authentication credentials over a network. In recognition of his leadership and vision, he was named the 2025 EY Entrepreneur of the Year® Greater Philadelphia Award for his role in building Zeus Fire and Security into a successful, high-growth enterprise. Elkins earned a Master of Science in Organizational Dynamics from the University of Pennsylvania. He and his wife, Donna, reside in Wayne, Pennsylvania.
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John PalumboPresident, Commercial
Unlimited TechnologyJohn Palumbo brings more than 30 years of construction management and security experience to his role as President of the Commercial business for Unlimited Technology. John’s accomplishments at UT have been demonstrated by the exponential growth in recurring monthly revenue and the expansion of field office locations around the country. Prior to joining the UT team, John worked for more than 10 years in real estate project management and managed complex security integration projects for some of the most exclusive clients globally.
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John NemerofskyChief Operating Officer
SAGE IntegrationWith a remarkable career spanning over 25 years, John Nemerofsky has dedicated his career to advancing the innovation and integration of security technology – protecting the people, facilities and reputations of enterprise clients nationwide. In 2019, he assumed the role of chief operating officer at SAGE Integration, a national security integration provider operating across 62 major U.S. metro areas and boasting a team of over 19,000 installer partner specialists. Under Nemerofsky’s strategic guidance, the company has become a formidable force in the security industry. During his tenure at Niscayah – now Stanley Security Systems – Nemerofsky was instrumental in the organization’s growth to over $1 billion in revenue. Beyond his role at SAGE, Nemerofsky is deeply engaged in the security industry on multiple fronts, including his active involvement in the Foundation for Advancing Security Talent, where he serves as chair of the Board of Directors, and service on SIA’s Board of Directors and as chair of the SIA Member Engagement and Experience Committee. Nemerofsky also sits on the boards of PSA and Security Sales & Integration Magazine and is chairperson of the SecurityXchange and contributes quarterly columns to Security Business Magazine, sharing his expertise for the betterment of the industry.
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Ken PooleChief Revenue Officer
Security 101Ken Poole has been chief revenue officer of Security 101 since 2023. He brings a wealth of experience to Security 101, having previously held executive sales positions at notable companies including Orion Energy Systems, Inc., Johnson Controls North America, Tyco Integrated Security, and ADT Security Services. In his most recent role at Johnson Controls, Poole led a strategic accounts team with greater than $1B in top line revenue generation yearly. In previous roles he led a commercial security sales team with over 600 personnel across North America. Poole’s extensive background in project-based sales leadership and demand creation, coupled with his early entrepreneurial success in retail, positions him uniquely to lead Security 101’s revenue growth and expansion.
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Ken FrancisCEO
ActuateKen Francis joined Actuate as CEO in November 2024 after serving as the president of Eagle Eye Networks for eight years. Eagle Eye Networks has ranked four times on the “Deloitte Technology Fast 500” list spotlighting the fastest growing technology companies in North America. Before joining Eagle Eye Networks in 2016, Francis launched ADT Security Services back into the commercial marketplace following the spinoff and IPO of ADT by Tyco International plc in 2012.
Previously, Francis served as the vice president of sales and marketing for UTC’s Global Security Products Business Unit, led the GE Security, Integrated Systems Program as the Global Product GM and co-founded AMAG Technology. In all three roles, he was responsible for the growth of software-based access control and video technologies through the leadership of international product management teams and the expansion of global channels.
Francis earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from Florida State University and a Master of Business Administration from American University. He currently serves as chair of the SIA Executive Advisory Board.
