Was the below meant to be the other way around?
'Still, NSCA emphasizes that A/V integrators tend to be concerned about life safety issues with security work, and security integrators tend to be concerned about delivering quality audio.'
NSCA Profile: CEO Speaks On How A/V And Security Are Converging
Published Mar 18, 2024 15:09 PM
The NSCA (or National Systems Contractor Association) is one of a few associations that represent systems integrators, with NSCA being especially focused on audio / visual (A/V) and security.
We spoke with the NSCA's CEO, Chuck Wilson, about who the NSCA is, what benefits they offer, how they relate to organizations such as ESA and SIA, and how they see A/V and security converging.
NSCA's Chuck Wilson is also the Chairman of the Partner Alliance for Safer Schools (PASS) (see our interview and profile). Starting this April, he will hand the NSCA CEO position to Thomas LeBlanc, a former editor of Commercial Integrator Magazine and a current executive director at NSCA. Wilson will then focus his efforts on the education foundation within NSCA to encourage younger talents to join the industry.
Executive *******
**** ********* ****** ********* ** **** integrators **** ******* *** ****** ********* and *****-****** ******. ***** ** ** more ****-***** *** ******* **** */* integrators, **** **** ** ***** **** integrators **** ** **** */* *** security.
*** *********** ** */* *** ********, NSCA **** *** ******* *******: *** growing ********** ** **** ************ ******* crosses *** **** ******* */* *** security, ***** *** ******* ***** *** both */* *** ******** ** ** on ** ******** ******* ********** ********* barriers. *****, **** ********** **** */* integrators **** ** ** ********* ***** life ****** ****** **** ******** ****, and ******** *********** **** ** ** concerned ***** ********** ******* *****.
**** */* *********** *** ******** ********* into ******** **** ******** *********** **** A/V, **** *** **** ***. *** reason *** **** ** **** ******* (gross *** ***) *** ****** ** security **** */*, ** */* *********** have **** ********* ********** ** ****** greater ******* **** *** ***** *** around.
A/V *** ******** *********** **********
****** **** ** ******** ****** ****'* members *** *** ****** **** ***** that */* *** ******** *********** ***** are "****** ********":
****'* ****** *********** ***** **** ** that **'** ****** ****** ********** ** the ****** ****** **** *** ** university ******** *** **** ***-**** **********, we're ****** **** [***** **] */* and ******** ****** ********.
****** ******* **** ******** ** *** this *********** ** ********* ** **** notification ******* *** ********** ************** ******* audio-visual, *****, *** ******** ******* ** make ********* ******** **** *********:
**'* ****** ********. * *** *** schools ** ** *******, *** ** large ****** ******. ***** ** ** emergency ************** *** **** ************ ******. Those *** ************* **** ** *****-***** system *********** ** ********* **** ** the **** ***** **** *** ** attachment ** *** ***** ****** ******* and *** ********* ******* **** ***** tell *** ** **** ***** ** to ******** ** ******** *** ********* is.
*** **** ***** ** *** ************* side **, ***'*communicate ****'* ***** **. At transit stations and airports, the A/V integrators do the messaging boards. You can go into an airport or a university, and you'll see displays all over the place [on] wayfinding and how to get from here to there.
*****'* *********** [***] *********** ********* ***** we *** **** **** **** ***** in *** ********* **** **** ** emergency ************** ******* ****, ***** ** instantly ***** **** *** *********** ** the *****. ** *** ********* ****** systems, **** **'** ******* *** ** all ***** ** *** ************ ***** to ** *** ** ** ******* able ** *********** ** ****** **** the ********* ** *** **** **** need ** **.
*** ** ***** ************** *** ***** and ************, *********** ** */* *** security *** ******** ** ***** *** other **** ** *** ********, ****** said:
**'** *** ********* **** *** ***** the ********, *** ************ ****** ***** systems, ****'** **** ******** **** **** the ***** ** ********* **************. *** likewise, *** ********* ************** *********** *** getting ******** ** ** ****** ******* and ***** ************ ** *** ******** side. ** *** ***** ***** **, why ***? **'* ****** ******* ** see *** **** ******** ****** **** to **** ** ** ***** */* and *** **** */* ****** **** to ***** ***** ******** ***.
Both */* *** ******** ******* ******* ** ** ********
******* *** ********** ******** ****** *********** between ******** *** */* ******* ** that **** *** ******* ** ** Networks ********. ****** ********:
********** ** ***** **** ** ** IP ************. **'** *** ** **** network. ** **** *** *******, ******* APIs *** ************, ** ****** ********** between *** ******* *** ** ** able ** **** ****** ****** *******.
Risks *** ********** ** **********
******* **** *********** ** **********, ***** exist *** *********** ******** ** ********** market, ********** **** ***** *** ********* compliances ** ******. ****** ********** ** what **** *** **** ** ******* its ******* *** **** ** ******* into *** ***** **** ** *** market:
**** ** ***** ************* *** ******* at *** *** ************ *** *** the ********* *********** ******* ******* ***** systems. **** ** ** ** *** side [**] ** **** **** **** it's *** **** *********.
** ***'* **** *** ** *** to **** * ***** ** * hospital. ***'* *** ***** *** **** in *** ***** ** ********* **** govern *** *********, ******* ******, *** all ***** ***** ** ******** ********. We're ******** ** * *** ** different ****** ** *** ******** **** safety ****, ***we're ******* *** ******* ********** *** **** *** ************* *** **** *** **** ***** *** ** ***** ****. [Emphasis added]
**'* * ***** ********* *****. **** a ******** ******* **** **** **** alarm, *****'* * ***** ********* **** profile **** *** **** ** *** that's **** **'** ****** **** **. It's ****** **** **** ****** ********** the ****-****** ****.
Worries ***** ******** *** ***** **** ** *** *********** *****
**** "**********," **** */* *********** *** security *********** **** ******* ***** *********** and ******** ***** ** *** ***** side. ******, *** **** *** **** A/V *** ******** ***********, ********* **** phenomenon **** ********* ***:
****'* ** *********** ***** **** ** the */* ****** *** ********, "** my ****, **** **** ** **** is *****, *** ****'* ** ********* provider ***** ** ***? **** ** I **** ********* **? **** ** somebody **** **** ** ********* *****'* work, *** **'* ** *****? ****'** worried ***** ****.
** *** ******** ****, **** ******* into */*, ****'** ****, **** ** it *****'* ***** ****? **** ** we ***'* **** ***** ** *** things?
**'* ** ***** ** *** *** that. *'** **** **** ** ***** career. ** ** *** *******, ** did ******** *** */*. ** ***** dawned ** ** **** ************ **** one **** *** **** *** *****, but **'* *********** ** ***** *** it **** **** ****.
Security *** ****** ******* **** */*
** ****'* ****** *** ********* ********, A/V *********** ********* ******** * ***** margin **** ******** ***********, *** ***** call ************ ******* ***** ***** *** highest ******, ****** ****:
**** ** ** *** ********* ******** of *** ********, ** ***** *** what ***** ******* ********** ** **** they ******* *** **** ****** **** provide ** **. ** *** **** A/V ** ********* ** * ***** margin.
The ******* ******* *** ***** ** *** ******** ****. Not so much fire alarm, but on the security, life safety side of things, especially nurse call systems, things where we have a very sophisticated system that requires someone highly skilled on the programming side and the implementation side and who understands how to work with nursing teams, or on the education side, how to work with the security office. That's where the margins are at right now. [Emphasis added]
More */* *********** ******** ******** **** *** ***** *** ******
****** ** *** ****** ****** *** demand ** *** ******** *****, **** A/V *********** *** *** **** "**********" A/V *** ********, *** *** ***** way ******, ****** ********:
*** ******** ****** *** *********'* ********. They *** **** *** ******** **** security *** **** ****** *** ** great **** *** ******.I *** **** */* ********* **** **** ******* ********* ******* **** ******** **** * ** ****** * ******** ********** ***** **** */*. [Emphasis added]
M&A ****** ** **** ******** *** */*
******* *********** ******* */* *** ********, Wilson **** ******** *** ***** ** systems *********** ************* **** ****** **** via ************:
*** ******* *** ************ *** ***** on. **'** ****** ** ** **** whole **** *****, *** ** * sudden, ** **** *** ******* ** this ***** ** **** *** **** someone *** **** ** *** ******** them.
****** ******* ****** ********* ***** *** the ****** *********** ***** **** ****** amid **** ************* *****:
**'** ********** ******** *** ******** ** make ** ******** **** ***'* ****** who. **'* ********* *** **** *** place, *** * ***** * *** trend ** ***** ** ** **** the ****** ***** **** *** ** A/P ** ******** & **** ****** integration ******* **** *** ** ** 150 *********. ****'* ***** *****, ** what **** ***** ****** **** **** compared ** ******* ******-***** *********?
NSCA's ******: **** ** */*, **** ** ********
******* ** ** **** ******, ****** elaborated ** *** ********** ******, **** half ** */* *** *** ***** half ****** **** ********** ** *** security ********:
**** ** **** ** ** ***** 1000 ****** *********** *********. *******half ** **** ***** *** ****'** ** */* **********. The ***** **** ***** *** **** *** ********, **** ******, ********* **************, ****** *******, *** ********** *************. In the healthcare facility, our members do many nurse call systems, which is technically life safety. [Emphasis added]
** ** * *** ** **** them ********** **** ***** ***** ** two ********* ***-******* *******. ** ***** the ***** ** ********** **** ******** 27 ** *************** **************, ***** ** ************** **********, *** division **, ***** ** ********, **** safety, ******, *** ************.
*** ******* *** **** ** ***** classify ** ******* ***********. ** ** not ******** ** */* ** ******** or **********, ** ****, *****, ** that **** ** *****.
NSCA ****** ********
**** *** ********** ******* ** * wide ***** ** *****:
***** *********** **** ********** *** *** members, *** ** **** **** ***** integrators ** ****, **** **** ** ten *********.
************, ****** **** **** **** ** NSCA's ******* **** ** ********** ******:
** **** **** *** ********* *******. We ***'* **** * *** ** companies **** ***** ** ******* ** retail ****** ** ***** **** *********** stores. **** *** ******* ***** ** is *********, ********** ********, *** ***** education **********, ************, **** ** **** large ********** ****** *********** *****.
NSCA's *****: **** ********* *** ******** ******
******* ******* ******** ** ***** *** market ** *****, ****** **** ********* to **** **** **** ******** ** its ******* - ******** **** ** integrator ******** ********** *** ******** ***********:
*** ******* ** **** *****, **** business ********, *** **** ******* *******. What ** ** ** **** ** help ********* *** ***** ******** ****** from * ********* **********, [*********] ********** training, ******* ** *** ************** *********, providing **** **** **** ********* *** everything ** *** ** ****** *** the ********.
****** **** ********** ** *** ***** most ****************, ***** ******, ******* ******* **** ****. *** first *** ** *** ******** ********* research *** *******; ****** ********:
** ** * *** ** ********. Part ** *** ********* ********** **** we ***, ******** ******* *** *******, research ********. *** **.* **** **** in *** **** *** ** *** Financial ******** ** *** ********.
** ****** ******* ** *** ***** and *** ****** ***** ******* ** benchmark **** ***** **** ** ***** business **. [**** **], "****'* **** material ****; ****'* **** ******* *****; here's **** ***** ****; ****'* **** expenses."
***** ****** *** **** ** ***** company *** ******* **** **** * company ** ******* **** *** * similar ****** ** *** ** ****'** way *** ** ***** ** ****'** over ********** ** ***** ** ************* [and ***** *******].
*** ****** **** **** ******** ** its ******* ** *** ***** *** regional ******** *** ***********, ****** *****:
*** ****** ** *** ***** ** State *********. ** *** ***** ***** security, ************** **********, **** ******, *** fire ******, ** ***** ***** *** even ** *** ******* *****, [***** are] ********* ********** ************ *** ********* licenses **** *** ******** *** ****** installers ** *********.
*** ***** ** ***** ********* **** through ***** ***** *** ** ***** about *** ** **** ** ** licensed ** ***** ** ** **** type ** **** **** ** **.
*** ***** ******* **** ** ******* among **** ******* ** *** ***** Installation ********, ***** ******** *********** ** typical **** ****** *** ******** ***** of ****, ****** ****:
** **** **** * ****** ******* tool **** ** * ********* **** says *** **** ** ***** ** [install]. ** **** ***** ***** ********* in ************ ************** ********* ** *** 28. *** *** ************** *** ******** and **********.
**** [*****] *** ***** **** ******, [indicating] *** **** ** ***** ** put ** ** ** ****** ** a ****** ***********, [**] * ********* project [*****] *** **** ** *** a ****...***.
** ***** ***-***** *** **** **** our ******* [*** ***] *** **** it ****** **** *** ** *** in **** [*******]. [*******] *** [****] compare ***** *** *********** ** ***** crews. **** *** ***** ***** *********** to *** ** ****'** ***** ** or ****** ******** ******** ** ****. It's * ***** ******** **** ** make **** **** ***'** ******* *** proper ****** ** **** ** ***** project.
****** *** ***** ************ ********, **** provides ******** ** ********** ***** ************ as ***, ********* ** ******:
** **** ** * *** ** work ** *** ***** ** ***** laws *** ********** ********** ****. *** members ********** **** ********** ** * prevailing **** *******, *** **** ***'* always **** *** ** ********* ** it ** * ********** **** ******* before **** *** ***** ***** ** it. ** **** **** * **** price ***** **** * ***-********** **** to * ********** ****. ** ** help ******* ******** ** ****** **** that. ** ** *** ******** *** them *** *** **** **** **** type ** ******* ** ** ***** on.
NSCA **-****** ******
**** ***** *** **-****** ****** * year, ********* *********** *** ********** **********, ***** ******* ** ******** ********** and ********** ****** *** ******* *******, and ******** ** ****************, ***** ******* ** *** ***** generation ** *******. ****** ********** ** the **** ******** *** ********** **********, which *** *** ****** ********* ** late ********:
** **** *** *** ** * wildly ********** [*****] ****** *** ******** and ********** **********. ** *** * sold-out ******** *****. ** *** ******** integrators. ** *** ************* ******* [***] A/V ******* *********** **** *** **** together ** ****** **, *** ***** economists **** ***** **** ** ***** the ****** ** ***** ** **** like ** ***** ** ********* *** all *** ****** **** ******** ***** and *** **** ** ******* ********. We ** **** **********, ****** **** accountability [***] ******** *******. ** *** a *** ***** **** ****, ** course, **** ********* ********** ** *** that's ***** ** ****** ********'* **** and ** *** *********** *****.
** *** *********** ** ****** ** some ** ***** *****-******** ******* **** about ***** ** ***** *** ******** is ****** ** ** *** *** out ** ***** ** **** *** build *** ************* ***** ** *** just *** ***** **** ** **** today *** ***** **** **** **** in *** ******.
**** ** *** ******** *** **** of *** ***** **-****** ***** ***** October,***** ** ******, **** *** ********** ** ******** Operations **********, ****** ****, ****** **** this ********** ** *** ********* ** identify ******* ******* ** *** ********:
**** **'* ******** *** ** *** next ********** ** ******* ****** **** a ******* ** *** ******* **** be **** ** ******** * ****** star, * *** *******, ** * new ****** **** **** **** ** bring **** *** ********** ** *** company. **** ********** ******* *** ********** the ********** *** *** ****** ******, so **'* ***** ** ** * way *** ** ** ***** *** to * ******* ********, ******** ****** in **** **** **** *** ***** of ****** ** ** ********** ** we ********** ***, ** **'** ****** excited ***** **** ***.
Complementing ***** ** */*: ***** **** *** ********
******* ****'* *****, ***** *** *** other ***** ******** ***** ***** ****** A/V ***********, ********* ************* **** *** ******** ****** *********. ****** ******* ********* *** difference ******* *** ***:
*** ***** ** *** *** ***on *** *********** */V ****. Infocomm in June will be the big one *** *** ************ */* ****. That's where they go and look at new technology and new displays, new digital signage. [Emphasis added]
A/V *********** ******** ********
***** ******** ************* ****** *** */* space ************(***** ****** *** ********** ********** ***********), which ***** *** ******** ****, *** industry *********,********** **********(******** **** *** ******** *********** *************, ***** *** ***********), ******(****** ********** ****). ***** ****, *** releases *** "*** *** **" ***** ****, ******* */* *********** companies ** * ******* ****** ** its ************* ***** *** ******** *********** *****.
NSCA *****' *********: *** ******** ** ********** *** **** *** ** *** *** ********
****** ***** ***** **** ** ********, CEDIA ****, *** *** ****, ***** focus ** ********** *** *************, ****'* two ***** *** **** *** ******* to *** *** ** ********** *** focus ** *** ** "*** * company," ****** ****:
** *** *** **** *** *** Infocomm ****. *** **** *** ***** trade *****, *** **** ** **** opportunity ** **** ** ********** *** new ********. **** ** ****** *********** is ** *** *** ******* ** come ** **** **********, *** **not **** ** ********** *** ***** ****. [Emphasis added]
**** **'** ****** **** **, ***'* step **** **** **** *** * moment *** ***'* **** **** ***** what *** *** **** **** ** run * ******* **** **** *** technology **** ** **. *** *** to **** ***** ** ** *** aside ***** * ********** ******. * love *** **********, *** *** * second, ***'* **** **** *** ***'* figure *** ** ***** ** * better *** ** *** *** ********, a ****** *** ** ******** *** structure ** *** *******, * ****** way ** *** ********** *****. ****'* really **** **** ********** ** *** about.
Comparison **** ***
**** ******* ****** ***** ** *** commercial *****, *** ***** *** *** many **** ******* ********* ***** *******, Wilson ****, ******** *** *** ************'* main ********** *******, *** ***** "********** **********" ****** made ** ** *********** ** *** security ****:
**** *** ** **** ** **** alarm *******. ** ***'* **** *** residential ** ***. ** **** ** our *** **** ** ************ ********** type [**] **********. ****'* *** **'** always ****** ** *** ** *** alarm ****** **** ****** **** ** the ***** ****-***, ********** ******* *********** side.
*** *** ********** ************* *********** ****** on ********** ******* *********** ** ****, Wilson ****:
***'* ********** ******* ***** ** ****** strong ** ****. ** *** ******** every ****** **** * ***** ** systems-based ************ ** **** ***** *** these ***** **** ** **** ********, and ** *** ** ** *** same **** ** ****** **** ***** bill **** ** ***.
Partnership **** ***
**** ** **** ********** **** *** (The ******** ******** ***********) ** ***********, Wilson ****:
** **** * ***** ************ **** SIA *** ** **** **** ***** together. **'** ***** ** **** **** the ******* ******. *** * ******** SIA ** ** **** * ***** relationship *** ***** * *** ** time ************* ** ***********. ****'** ****** good ** ******* ***********. **'** ****** good ** *** ***** ***** **** more ***** *****, **********, **********, ******* ordinances, *** ****** ** **** ******.
****, ****** **** **** ***** *** and *** ***** **** ** ********** technology *** ************ *** ************* ** the ********, **** ******* ** *********** and ***** ******** **********:
*** *** ****** **** **** **** from ******* **** ************* *** **** working ** *** ********** ****.
**** **** ** ********* * *** of ************* ** *** ******** [***] life ****** *****, ** **** ** represent ****** *********** ** **** *****.
Comments (1)
Troy Dickinson
Mar 19, 2024