The Weinstock Person of the Year Award recognizes the best of the best, honoring someone who shines as truly stellar in the security industry. This year’s recipient, George De Marco, has well earned that distinction, having devoted the last 40+ years of his career to the industry. Like so many who have worked in the industry for decades, De Marco started in the industry purely by chance and has decidedly remained in it purely by choice.

“I grew up in a family with a strong Italian heritage, where many of our relatives and close family friends were business owners,” De Marco said. “They came from all walks of life, but they all shared that same entrepreneurial spirit. Being around that had a big influence on me. I always knew I wanted to build something of my own, I just didn’t know what that would be.”

His moment of realization came in the early 1980s, when he saw an advertisement for a Directed Electronics distributorship. It highlighted their home security offering and positioned the alarm industry as a ground-floor opportunity — at a time when market penetration was only around 2%. That, De Marco says, immediately caught his attention. He took the leap, and his company – Greater Alarm – was born.  He quickly realized that Directed Electronics’ products weren’t the right fit for the U.S. market and pivoted to traditional security products. He initially focused on selling right in his own backyard – Southern California – and grew the company from a small local startup to a nationally recognized leader in the electronic security industry.  

De Marco’s first exposure to a national trade organization was born out of practical reasons: accessing the programs and benefits of the National Burglar and Fire Alarm Association that supported his business at Greater Alarm. “What truly pulled me in was advocacy, industry insight and the power of learning from others,” he said. “As challenges and opportunities arose, the importance of a strong collective voice became undeniable.”

His Association involvement began in the mid-1980s at the local level with the Orange County Alarm Association, where he served in several leadership roles including president. OCAA was one of eleven regional chapters of the Western Burglar and Fire Alarm Association, which eventually became the California Alarm Association.

He has served in committee and board positions, helped launch the Executive Symposium — Foundations for Growth, which ran for 24 years, served as a founding member of the WBFAA Apprenticeship Program, and was appointed by the State of California to the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services. During that time, DeMarco was also involved in addressing some of the industry’s most pressing challenges, including non-response policies from municipalities, Regional Bell Operating Companies (RBOC) issues and licensing requirements. The WBFAA’s charter chapter program further connected him to ESA, laying the groundwork for what came next on a larger stage with a national organization.

“I was approached early on by John Galante, George Gunning and John Murphy and asked if I would consider serving as chairman to help get ESX off the ground,” De Marco said. “The vision was simple but powerful: create an event built by the industry, for the industry. The first event was launched in 2008 in Nashville through a collaboration among the Central Station Alarm Association (CSAA), the NBFAA and AE Ventures. Over time, the structure evolved, with ESA ultimately assuming full ownership in 2021. This role as ESX chairman deepened my involvement with ESA significantly, particularly in the formative years of guiding and building the event into what it is today. At the time, the expectation was that I would help for a few years, but here we are, 18 years later, and I’m still in the chair.”

George De Marco’s ongoing industry contributions have earned him recognition through the California Alarm Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award, the ESA’s Sara E. Jackson Award, and recognition as a Life Safety Alliance Top 40 Thought Leader.

“George De Marco exemplifies the very best of our industry,” said Merlin Guilbeau, CEO, ESA. “He is a true servant leader with an unwavering commitment to advancing ESA and the broader security community. His contributions over the years have helped shape our association and strengthen the professionalism of our field. It is only fitting we recognize George as the 2025 Morris F. Weinstock Award recipient for his lasting impact and dedication.”

Kevin Stone, chairman of the board, ESA, and chief operating officer, Doyle Security, added, “As the highest recognition of leadership excellence within the Electronic Security Association, the Morris F. Weinstock Award is perfectly suited for George De Marco. George actively pioneers the vision, integrity and dedication that bolster our entire profession. We honor George for his visionary contributions, and having made a tangible, lasting impact on the Security and Life Safety industry.”

De Marco said, “To be included among those recipients is one of the greatest honors of my career. What makes it especially meaningful is that it comes from peers who understand the work, the sacrifice and the commitment required to advance something bigger than yourself. This recognition belongs as much to the mentors, colleagues, employees and family members who supported me along the way as it does to me. I’m deeply grateful. I never set out to win awards — I was just trying to build a good company, do right by our customers and be a good steward of the industry.”