The Security Industry Association (SIA) has selected Chris Grniet, CPP, as the recipient of the 2018 SIA Committee Chair of the Year Award, which recognizes individuals for excellence in leading SIA committees and advancing member objectives. SIA will present Grniet with the honor at The Advance, SIA’s annual membership meeting, during ISC West.

Grniet—a security industry veteran with over 26 years of experience in the field—chairs the SIA New Product Showcase Committee and also serves as regional vice president of the security and technology consulting division at Guidepost Solutions, a global security consulting and investigations company and SIA member. He has been involved with the SIA New Product Showcase (NPS) for nearly a decade, serving as a committee member and vice chair before becoming chair; he will chair his third SIA NPS program at ISC West 2019.

“I am truly honored to be recognized for my contributions as committee chair for the New Product Showcase and would like to thank Don Erickson and the rest of the SIA staff as well as my fellow NPS committee members and our judges for their trust, support and encouragement. I am passionate about the NPS vision – to be the premier source for the security industry in the identification of innovative security solutions,” said Grniet.

“While it serves as a valued marketing opportunity for program participants, I believe it also a cornerstone of the missions of SIA and ISC West – to educate professionals and fuel the advancement and success of the security industry.”

The SIA New Product Showcase, established in 1979, is the premier industry event to recognize new and innovative security products, services and solutions used to protect life and property in residential, commercial and institutional settings.

Notable accomplishments from Grniet’s time as chair of the New Product Showcase include an increased window of time in which judges deliberate on the Best New Product and Judges’ Choice Awards, an increased emphasis on judicial ethics during the judging process and expansion of the program from a 6-month-long project to a year-round effort.

“During his tenure as committee chair, Chris Grniet has demonstrated outstanding leadership and made notable contributions to the development and growth of the New Product Showcase program, including new insights into the newest technologies entering the security industry,” said Don Erickson, SIA CEO.

“Through Chris’ leadership and the involvement of our dedicated judges, the NPS program is more widely recognized as a unique platform for learning about security technologies being launched at ISC West.”

“We are very proud and supportive of the work Chris has done to support and enhance the NPS program. The fact that he is being recognized for his hard work is indicative of the effort and passion he puts into everything he does,” said Julie Myers Wood, CEO of Guidepost Solutions.

“We truly appreciate having him as part of the Guidepost Solutions team and are grateful to SIA for spotlighting his hard work and accomplishments as the NPS Committee Chair.”

The Advance will take place during ISC West 2019 on Tuesday, April 9, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. in the Sands Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. All SIA members are invited to attend. In addition to the presentation of the Committee Chair of the Year Award, attendees will enjoy a high-impact presentation from Sal Mani, security systems manager for Google, on the workforce imperative of developing cross-functional skill sets to stay competitive in the security industry.

SIA will also submit five nominations to the SIA Board of Directors for ratification and present the Milestone Awards, the SIA Chairman’s Award and the Sandy Jones Volunteer of the Year Award. Attendees of The Advance will also receive complimentary lunch and have the opportunity to network with industry colleagues.

SIA protects and advances its members’ interests by advocating pro-industry policies and legislation at the federal and state levels, creating open industry standards that enable integration, advancing industry professionalism through education and training, opening global market opportunities and collaborating with other like-minded organizations.