Security Industry Association Announces 2026 Winners for 25 on the RISE Awards

This scholarship and award program, presented by SIA’s RISE community, recognizes 25 new and emerging leaders each year for their impact in advancing the security industry.

SILVER SPRING, Md.—The Security Industry Association (SIA) has revealed the 2026 honorees for the 25 on the RISE Awards—a program presented by SIA’s RISE community for emerging security leaders and generously sponsored by Axis Communications, Genetec, Grid Squared Systems and HID. This initiative honors 25 security leaders of today and tomorrow for their impactful contributions to advancing the security industry. The 2026 class of awardees will receive funding to attend Securing New Ground (SNG), the security industry’s executive conference, and be recognized during a special ceremony at the conference.

SIA 25 on the RISE Awards nominations were open to security industry professionals who are under 40 or who have less than two years of experience in the industry. This year’s 25 on the RISE honorees, recognized across six award categories, are:

Branding

Awarded to individuals who excel in content creation and authentic personal branding to build a unique value proposition and gain influence for themselves and/or their companies

• Roslyn Barranca, founder, Aegis Stratos Consulting
• Kristin Shockley, manager of segment marketing, North America, Genetec
• Marissa Vacek, managing director, Swell Marketing Agency, PSA

Culture

Awarded to individuals who are committed to elevating diversity, equity and inclusion and/or corporate social responsibility by creating impactful change within the security industry

• Vivian Brown, lead agent, BOS Security
• Joseline Farias, project manager, Convergint
• Alicia Janowicz, HR business partner, Axis Communications
• Josh Tucker, territory sales manager, ASSA ABLOY Door Security Solutions

Frontline

Awarded to individuals actively and physically in the field who are going above and beyond to provide customer service/installation in the security industry

• Sebastian Pérez, field engineer, professional services, Genetec

Growth

Awarded to individuals who have made significant progress towards developing, implementing and streamlining business-related programs to create a competitive advantage and achieve success

• Jim Hamilton, enterprise customer success manager, March Networks
• Tradd Kendrick, business development manager, System Surveyor
• Colby Mulry, director of channel sales, Ambient.ai
• Averie Oetjen, sales operations manager, Minuteman Security & Life Safety
• Fatima Spata-Buzzone, operations manager, Grid Squared Systems
• Steven Swavely, distribution account manager, Resideo

Innovation

Awarded to individuals who demonstrate thought leadership surrounding new security technology and reimagine traditional approaches to strategic management

• Brittany Dupree, senior director of marketing, Everon
• Alma Lundberg, AI product manager, HID
• Rushi Mehta, software developer, ZKTeco USA
• Nicole Swartwout, business development manager, body worn solutions, Axis Communications
• Sarah Teskova, vice president, Americas, Sharry

Leadership

Awarded to individuals in management who possess outstanding leadership qualities and set an example for others to follow

• Austin Bormann, channel sales executive, Motorola Solutions
• Cody Boyd, regional vice president, Tech Systems
• Rachel Brosey, customer service representative, dormakaba Americas
• Ligy George, program manager, security and electronic systems, M.C. Dean
• Hannah Livergood, director of marketing, Defined Marketing
• Maria Sturges, lead project coordinator, Northland Controls

“The 25 on the RISE program is the leading industry recognition program for young professionals, and we are proud to recognize the 2026 class of awardees,” said SIA CEO Don Erickson. “Now in its fourth year, the program had an outstanding candidate pool for 2026, and this year’s awardees are making meaningful impacts across their organizations and the broader security industry in areas like consulting, marketing, sales, tech innovation and executive leadership. We are thankful to our 2026 sponsors— Axis Communications, Genetec, Grid Squared and HID—for generously supporting the 25 on the RISE Awards and for their commitment to empowering our industry’s emerging leaders, and we look forward to celebrating this year’s impressive class of honorees at Securing New Ground.”

Learn more about the honorees here.

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 how top security leaders are navigating a new era, the state of the security integrator and how tomorrow’s tech advancements will change your business; share investment insights for the security industry; 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.

SIA RISE is a community that fosters the careers of young professionals and emerging leaders in the security industry. In addition to the 25 on the RISE program, SIA RISE’s offerings include an annual scholarship to further professionals’ and students’ education and career goals, fun in-person and virtual networking events for young professionals, the Talent Inclusion Mentorship Education (TIME) program for early and midcareer professionals, career growth webinars and trade show education tracks and the annual AcceleRISE conference—an essential event designed to ignite new thinking, strengthen leadership and sharpen business acumen in young security talent. The SIA RISE community is open to all employees at SIA member companies who are young professionals under 40 or have been in the security industry for less than two years; learn more and sign up to join here. 

About the Security Industry Association

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.