Security Industry Association Announces 2026 Winners for James Rothstein Business Scholarship

Manuel Alejandro Fernández Mena of Johnson Controls and Jonas Rosa of Convergint will receive scholarships to support their education and career development at the Securing New Ground conference.

SILVER SPRING, Md.—The Security Industry Association (SIA) has named two recipients for the 2026 James Rothstein Business Scholarship, a program supporting emerging professionals in the security industry and students entering the industry by providing financial assistance to attend the Securing New Ground (SNG) conference. The 2026 Rothstein Scholarship awardees are Manuel Alejandro Fernández Mena of Johnson Controls and Jonas Rosa of Convergint.

This competitive scholarship program—named after Rothstein, president of Sequel LV and a past member of SIA’s Board of Directors who served as chair from 2022 to 2024—covers SNG conference passes and travel expenses, enabling recipients to attend and grow their careers at the security industry’s executive conference.

Manuel Alejandro Fernández Mena is a security pod leader at Johnson Controls, where he leads a team focused on supporting security solutions and operational excellence initiatives. With experience in customer operations, sales support and team leadership. Fernández Mena is passionate about developing talent, driving continuous improvement and enabling organizations to deliver exceptional customer experiences. Based in San José, Costa Rica, he is committed to advancing his leadership capabilities and contributing to the growth and innovation of the security industry.

“Receiving the James Rothstein Business Scholarship is both an honor and an exciting opportunity at an important stage in my career. As I begin my journey as a Security Pod Leader at Johnson Controls, I am eager to learn from industry professionals, connect with peers, and gain new perspectives that will help me grow as a leader. I look forward to bringing those lessons back to my team and continuing to make a positive impact within our organization and the security industry.”

Jonas Rosa, global account manager, LATAM, at Convergint, is a global account management and business development professional with experience in the electronic security industry, working with multinational organizations across Brazil and Latin America. His career has been built at the intersection of commercial strategy, technology and international business, with a strong focus on developing long-term relationships and navigating complex global environments. Rosa holds an executive MBA from FGV-EAESP and is passionate about leadership, continuous learning and the evolution of the security industry. With an increasingly international focus, he is particularly interested in connecting markets, exchanging perspectives across regions and contributing to the future of the global security community.

“I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to attend SNG in New York. I see SNG as a unique opportunity to learn from some of the brightest minds in our industry, exchange perspectives with professionals from around the world and better understand the trends shaping the future of security,” said Rosa. “As someone who aspires to continue growing my career internationally and become more connected with the U.S. security industry, this opportunity is particularly meaningful to me. I’m looking forward to building new relationships, bringing fresh perspectives back to Latin America and making the most of every conversation and learning opportunity throughout the event.”

“I am pleased to congratulate this year’s scholarship winners, Manuel Alejandro Fernández Mena and Jonas Rosa,” said Rothstein. “These inspiring young leaders have already had impressive careers across sales, operations, team leadership, business management and more, and at Securing New Ground they will get the unique opportunity to examine industry trends, form meaningful connections and propel their growth and business expertise. We are proud to recognize them and look forward to seeing them at SNG.”

In 2024, SIA and the Board of Directors established the James Rothstein Business Scholarship program in recognition of the commitment to business leadership and education Rothstein demonstrated during his term. His comprehensive understanding of the security industry business landscape and untapped growth opportunities for SIA member companies has informed the strategic decision making of many companies seeking to expand into new markets, and his guidance has helped businesses to innovate while remaining agile amid challenging economic shifts and world events. In his role as a leader on the SIA board, Rothstein played an instrumental role in the development of the annual SNG conference, and he continues to support industry education and career advancement opportunities for early career professionals and students through various advisement and volunteer service roles.

SNG, hosted by SIA, is the security industry’s executive conference, with the 2026 event taking place Oct. 20 –21 at the New York Marriott Marquis in New York City. Each year at SNG, the security industry gathers for top-level information sharing, networking and business analysis. The 2026 conference program will explore the most current and cutting-edge issues, like what artificial intelligence means for the business of integrated systems, the tech trends and customer needs shaping global security technology markets and the security operations of tomorrow; showcase in-depth one-to-one interviews with top executives in the industry; and foster new connections through interactive sessions and dynamic roundtable discussions. Learn more and register to attend here.

Learn more about the Rothstein Scholarship here.

About SIA

SIA is the leading trade association for global security solution providers, with over 1,700 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.