Security Industry Association to Present Wayne Esser and Dhira Gregory With 2019 SIA Statesman Award

Esser and Gregory will be honored for their work with SIA and the National Capital Region Security Forum at SIA GovSummit in Washington, D.C.

SILVER SPRING, Md. –The Security Industry Association (SIA) has named Wayne Esser, director of the National Capital Region Security Forum (NCRSF), and Dhira Gregory, director of marketing and communications for NCRSF, as the 2019 recipients of the SIA Statesman Award. The awardees will be honored at the upcoming SIA GovSummit, taking place June 26-27 in Washington, D.C.

“Through their work at NCRSF and participation in SIA, Wayne and Dhira have been instrumental in guiding the association, connecting with key federal agencies and personnel and assisting with program development and participation growth for the annual SIA GovSummit,” said Jake Parker, director of government relations at SIA. “We congratulate these leaders on their outstanding achievements and look forward to continuing to partner in addressing issues that matter to our members and to safety and security as a whole.”

Established in 2006, the Statesman Award is an annual award presented to SIA member volunteers who have made an extraordinary contribution of professional time, leadership and resources to position SIA to address the public policy challenges impacting the security industry. 

“It’s been a privilege working on the alliance between the NCRSF and SIA over the past several years,” said Esser. “To receive this award is an amazing honor.”

The NCRSF (formerly the Northern Virginia Security Forum) was created to bring security professionals throughout the D.C. metro area and those associated with the industry together monthly to share ideas and network. The organization collaborates with SIA and other organizations, helping security professionals offer leading-edge security services and products.

“Recognition by SIA, our industry’s preeminent organization, is an honor,” said Gregory. “I look forward to continuing to provide an atmosphere of even greater cooperation between industry, agencies and affiliations.”

SIA GovSummit – the annual government security conference hosted by SIA – brings together government security leaders and private industry technologists for top-quality information sharing and education on security topics affecting federal, state and even local agencies. Attendees will find specialized sessions on topics such as modernizing federal physical access control systems, the U.S. Department of Defense’s unified facilities criteria for security systems, facial recognition technology use for public safety and homeland security missions and helping communities protect religious institutions, crowded spaces and other soft targets.

SIA GovSummit is free for all government employees, including federal, state, county and municipal-level staff (both domestic and international), plus all military, law enforcement and public safety representatives. To learn more and register, visit govsummit.securityindustry.org.

This event is made possible thanks to the following sponsors and partners: Premier Sponsors LenelS2, HID Global, Tyco Security Products and Allegion; Event Sponsors AMAG Technology, American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers, Axis Communications, B&B Roadway Security Solutions, Calpipe Security Bollards, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate, dormakaba, Gallagher, Genetec, Gibraltar, GSA Schedules, Inc., Hanwha Techwin America, HySecurity, IDEMIA, Identiv, ISC Security Events, Louroe Electronics, Marshalls, Milestone Systems, the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Careers and Studies, NetApp, Panasonic, the Secure Worker Access Consortium and TCP Security Solutions; and Media Partners Campus Safety, Government CIO Outlook, Security Systems News and Security Technology Executive.

Follow SIA GovSummit on social media using the hashtag #SIAGovSummit.

About SIA

SIA (securityindustry.org) is the leading trade association for global security solution providers, with nearly 1,000 innovative member companies representing thousands of security leaders and experts who shape the future of the security industry. 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. As the premier sponsor of ISC Events expos and conferences, SIA ensures its members have access to top-level buyers and influencers, as well as unparalleled learning and network opportunities. SIA also enhances the position of its members in the security marketplace through SIA GovSummit, which brings together private industry with government decision makers, and Securing New Ground, the security industry’s top executive conference for peer-to-peer networking.