A Look Into This Year’s Inductees
View Timeline of SSI's Industry Hall of Fame Inductees
Keith Baird
Resideo
Dale Eller
ITZ Solutions
Bob Harris
The Attrition Busters
Jim McMullen
COPS Monitoring
Ron Walters
Security Industry Alarm Coalition (SIAC)
Keith Baird
Senior Director of Sales,
National Accounts,
Resideo
Why He’s on the List
THE BAIRD FILE
• Born in Endicott, N.Y., in 1958
• One of three brothers, father was a chemical engineer for IBM, mother a homemaker
• Engaged to Honeywell Security’s Shellie
Redden; has a college-aged daughter
• Other honors include Phi Beta Kappa national honor society; received award for work with local Multiple Sclerosis Society chapter
• He is a wine connoisseur, stemming from working in a wine shop his freshman year of college
• Says if career had taken another path he might have followed footsteps of fellow SUNY Oswego alumni Linda Cohn and Steve Levy and pursued sportscasting
• Other interests include golf, travel, cooking and reading
Keith Baird
Why He's on the List
View Full Profile
35+ years leading with class and by example to guide and mentor teams of young professionals that built future industry leaders, and working tirelessly to support myriad trade associations including AIREF, ESA, SIAC and CAA
Security industry start began in 1984 when SSI Industry Hall of Famer Ben Cornett hired him as West Coast sales manager for Blue Grass Electronics, which was acquired in 1995 by ADEMCO (Pittway), itself then acquired in 2000 by Honeywell, and recently spun off into Resideo
Executive sales roles include Blue Grass Electronics (1985), western V.P. for ADEMCO (2001), national accounts V.P. (2004) and senior V.P. (2012) for Honeywell (2004), and national accounts V.P. with Resideo (2018)
Uncommon resiliency, adaptability and perseverance to stay the course through multiple and significant reorganizations by one of the industry’s largest suppliers, greatly contributing to its retention of strong dealer relationships
Recruited by SSI Industry Hall of Famer John Jennings several years ago, he has served as an influential board member of AIREF (now FAST), including co-chairing an annual golf outing tied to ISC West that is critical as the organization’s only fundraiser
Industry accolades include CAA Mark Schubert Award finalist (2004), CAA Mid-California Alarm/Silicon Valley Alarm Member of the Year (2004) and CAA Mark Schubert Memorial Award finalist (2015)
Owner,
ITZ Solutions
Dale Eller
THE ELLER FILE
• Born in Erie, Pa., in 1959
• One of three children, father founded Glenwood Fire & Security where mother ran the office
• Married to wife Paula for 38 years, with one daughter and one son
• In 1977, enlisted in U.S. Navy, serving six years and earning several communications and electronics certifications
• Security honors PBFAA Leadership Award (1987, 1999, 2010), ESA/NBFAA Executive Director of the Year (2000, 2002) and ESA NTS Instructor of the Year (2013)
• Hosted a monthly radio program on a local talk radio for six years
• Says if career had taken another path would have remained in the U.S. Navy or become a private contractor to it
• An avid lifelong Pittsburgh Steelers fan, his other interests include looking for hidden treasures with his wife at garage sales, antique shops and rummage sales
Nearly 40 years of prominence in industry advocacy, support and visibility working with and leading security trade associations and other professional organizations
Having founded consulting firm ITZ Solutions in 1998, he is currently executive director for Pennsylvania Burglar & Fire Alarm Association (since 1999), New York Electronic & Life Safety Association (since 2003), Ohio Security & Fire Alarm Association (since 2016), and association manager for Pennsylvania Association of Fire Equipment Distributors (since 2005)
Gained frontline dealer experience as GM and president of Glenwood Fire & Security Systems (1983-1995) and
GM of Doyle Security Systems (1995-1998)
Certified ESA National Training School (NTS) instructor since 1989, also served as ESA Director of Education
& Standards (2004-2011)
Other trade groups roles include program manager for Installation Quality (IQ) certification, chairman of ASIS’ Lake Erie chapter and multiple times ESA Board member
Long service on Gifts for Kids Board of Directors,
a Pennsylvania State Police-run charity patterned after Toys for Tots
View Full Profile
Dale Eller
Why He's on the List
Why He’s on the List
Why He’s on the List
Managing Director
and Founder,
The Attrition Busters
Bob Harris
1959-2020
THE HARRIS FILE
• Born in 1959 in Chicago
• Eldest to two sisters, father was an administrator at Cedar Sinai, mother was a homemaker
• Married to wife Marilou for 27 years, with one daughter and one son
• As president of Pacific Alarm Systems where Harris worked, father-in-law Herman Cohen served as a mentor
• Very involved in local church and children’s ministry, also led men’s bible study groups
• If career had taken another path might
have become a standup comedian or
radio personality
• Landed a role as Krampus for Universal Studios’ Halloween Horror Nights, and as Twisty the Clown in the attraction’s commercial
• Other interests included family time and travel, golf, scuba diving, dining and socializing
View Full Profile
Bob Harris
Why He's on the List
For 45 years, stood tall as a pillar of honor, integrity, goodwill and business acumen among the security companies in which he served, his own businesses, the industry itself, his peers, and family and friends
In 1975 while in high school, began his security career as an installer/wire-puller for Country Club Electronics of Chatsworth, Calif., then installed bank alarm systems for Diebold (1977-1982) and moved into service management with Allstate Security (1982-1986)
Mastered all aspects of running a dealer business, especially customer relations, as an executive for most
of his tenure at Pacific Alarm Systems (1986-2003), where he managed a staff of 43 people
A frequent editorial contributor to security trade publications and associations, he conducted hundreds of senior management-level customer relations seminars that not only included some of the most prominent security companies but adjacent industries as well
Devoted much time and effort to his church and community, and often paid for the meals of police officers and occasionally the poor
Integration Editorial Advisory Board at the time of his passing
Parlayed his decades of expertise, proven results and enthusiasm for delivering premium customer experiences into launching The Attrition Busters
(2003-2020)
Why He’s on the List
President and COO,
COPS Monitoring
Jim McMullen
• Born 1952 in Camden, N.J.
• An only child, father was a press operator for Edward G Budd Co. and mother a home-maker
• Married to wife Cindy for 47 years, with a daughter and three grandchildren
• Spent two years in college for electrical engineering
• As a student, awarded for rising from the bottom to finish top of class; says since then, “I’ve always tried to be ‘head of the class’ in everything I do.”
• Named an NJESA Member of the Year and received Who’s Who Among Outstanding Business Executives Award; COPS won several industry awards including Central Station of the Year and the TMA/SSI Marketing Marvel
• If career had taken different path says likely would have become a software programmer
• Other interests include family time and travel, Disney World, and “shared adventures” with grandkids
THE McMULLEN FILE
View Full Profile
Jim McMullen
Why He's on the List
More than four decades of dedicated security industry leadership and service, including in 1978 founding (with friend George Frick) one of the foremost wholesale central station businesses, COPS Monitoring
Career in security career began after being appointed to install alarms systems for a furniture store chain
Pioneered high quality professional wholesale alarm monitoring, making it available to dealers of any size at an affordable price
Developed UL-Listed monitoring platform designed specifically for reliable high-speed monitoring and with the tools required to support independent
alarm dealers
In 2016, led acquisition of San Antonio-based monitoring firm United Central Control (UCC), moving forward with unusual strategy of operating it as a separate brand
Active in alarm associations and committees such as AICC, CSAA, ESA and SIAC, including PBFAA treasurer and helping create TMA’s Video Verification ANSI standard
Why He’s on the List
Director (retired),
Security Industry
Alarm Coalition
(SIAC)
Ron Walters
• Born 1948 in Portsmouth, Va.
• Middle child to two sisters, father was a WWII U.S. Navy surgical nurse and Navy pharmacist, mother a homemaker
• Divorced with three daughters (one deceased) and one son, with two granddaughters
• Completed three years at Miami Dade Junior College in criminal justice and municipal management
• Other honors include Miami Police Bronze Star for Valor (1975), Alarm Association of Florida Most Valuable Member (1990), FARA Member of the Year, SIAC William N. Moody Award (2014)
• Says if career had taken a different path would have stayed in law enforcement in some capacity
• Other interests include woodworking and building furniture, especially from reclaimed lumber, and painting, watercolor landscapes in particular
THE WALTERS FILE
View Full Profile
Ron Walters
Why He's on the List
A half-century of distinguished service and unique contributions to the mission of safety and security through a three-phased career in law enforcement, the alarm business and national trade groups
From 1968-1979, worked for the Miami (Fla.) Police Department, receiving commendations and merits for exemplary service
Served as president /CEO of Secure America, delivering alarm and security systems, services and monitoring
to commercial and residential clients throughout Miami area
As regional coordinator of the Model States program, in 1996-1997 worked with 30+ Florida law enforcement agencies in landmark study of false alarms
Went on to become a field director for AIREF and Coordinated Alarm Reduction Effort (CARE),
and eventually director of SIAC
20+ years of alarm management advocacy and law enforcement relationship building was an invaluable asset to the profession
Contributions spanned dealer training, writing educational material, authoring dozens of issue-solving articles, addressing city councils and engaging law enforcement on onerous ordinance provisions
