Director of Technology at United Security

John Yakawiak, Director of Technology at United Security

1. What are some of the current challenges and trends that impacting the security space?

Some of the major challenges impacting the space are as follows:

a. The biggest challenge is to keep talent in the industry. I have been seeing a major shift when it comes to employees that start with USI. Once trained up to the USI Standards, they attempt to make a move specifically related to pay scale rather than the overall broader picture of how they can continue to grow with a company. 

b. Customers (specifically at the C-Suite level) understand the need to budget for integrated systems. Since most do not see or understand the broader picture, getting the message through regarding the company's needs related to all life-safety systems is very difficult.  

c. Another challenge is the ability to receive electronic components in a timely fashion. I say this as it is not just about the lack of vendor stock (which is getting better), but this goes all the way up to the federal level related to guidelines and restrictions from some of the largest outsourcing countries. I do not see this getting back to post-COVID levels anytime soon.

d. There is an overall lack of understanding when it comes to companies and their integrated systems. I have attended many trade shows, including ASIS, GSX, and ISC, and every attendee is at a security or IT level, not from the C-Suite level.

2. What keeps you up at night regarding some of the major predicaments in the security space?

Right now, I am seeing three major issues that keep me up at night:

a. The first, which is now becoming a major issue, is the cloning of credentials in the access control market. A customer called me yesterday and told me that their tenants were going to Home Depot and having their key fobs cloned to include the facility codes! Not only can they clone the credentials no matter the format, but the current access control vendors, including the companies supplying the readers and credentials, do not have an easy fix. If they do, it would be extremely costly, and the customers cannot comprehend how the industry does not have a quick and inexpensive fix to correct the issue despite the technology being available at a local hardware supply.               

b. When bidding work, the constant worry that pricing will increase even with 30-day quote terms. It was difficult to make an end-user understand why we take a hard stand on 90-day terms when we submit quotes. However, we are currently down to 30-day quote terms, and there is still a bidding risk, as pricing levels could change with little or no notice. Additionally, integrated companies are even more at risk regarding competitive bid quotes. This reduces margins significantly, which increases the risk tenfold.                

c. As mentioned before, there is a constant struggle to recruit and keep talent in the industry while maintaining the company's competitive spirit and ensuring that the end user is cared for. 

3. Can you tell us about your latest project and what technological and process elements you leveraged to make the project successful?

The one that comes to mind is a very large access control project where the customer was considerably over budget due to the upfront engineering in collaboration with the engineering firm. Since they are one of our key channel partners and end users, we were able to design a system that met the customer's needs while keeping them within budget. I have had several projects in the past three years where this played a pivotal role in getting work from new and existing customers. This means having the integrator of choice assisting the engineers to create “custom systems”.

4. What are some of the technological trends which excite you for the future of the Security Space?

AI is, without a doubt, the one that excites and scares me the most. This technology will continue to be a game changer in the integrated market. However, based on the fact that other than fire alarms have a specific code (NFPA 72), AI currently grows at a much faster pace than it should be, with little or no oversight at any level. 

5. Could you briefly overview your career path leading up to your current position as Director of Technology at United Security, highlighting key roles and milestones?

I have been in two different industries for over 40 years. I began my career in 1983 as a delivery truck driver for an electrical contractor. I spent 20 years in the electrical field before being asked, based on my skills and training, to join a TYCO-based company called SimplexGrinnell in 2004 as a project manager. From there, I have seen many milestones in the 20 years I have been in the integrated space, including being promoted three times at SimplexGrinnell. In 2013, I moved to Johnson Controls as an Operations Manager and was promoted twice in the six years I was in the company. From there, I took on a couple of GM roles at smaller companies before landing at USI Integrated (a division of USI Security), with its corporate headquarters in Red Bank, New Jersey. USI asked me to join during COVID-19 to re-structure their integrated division to promote world-class systems, including establishing channel partnerships with some of the world's largest integrated system suppliers. At this point, I have found the place where I will retire because the proprietors of this company treat their employees like family, and I cannot imagine making another transition at this time.

6. Given the industry's rapid evolution, how have you adapted and grown throughout your career?

I have made it a priority to continue my education related to new certifications, re-certifications and staying up to date with new technologies with every channel partner I am or have ever been associated with. I do this for a couple of reasons. The 1st is to make sure to stay ahead of the ever-changing market. The other is to be able to support my field personnel. Nothing supports a field representative more than being able to visit a site and assist when an employee runs into issues. As the field employees are the first line for our customer base, they must know I am there to support them and to be a moderator for the customer so the work is completed. Both my internal and external customers are supported the way they expect.