Red Hawk, a UTC Fire & Security company, Chicago, hosted Security Expo 2008 in August at the Field Museum in Chicago.

“The Field Museum is a wonderful location to hold this event,” Red Hawk sales manager Steven Wehofer said. “The Field Museum is a long-time customer of ours and a showcase of the work we do. Add the beautiful backdrop of the lake along with the museum, and our customers have extra incentive to come bring their families, network, meet each other, meet manufacturers, see new technologies, and learn something from the speakers we bring together,” Wehofer said.

The event included educational sessions with four industry-leading speakers and exhibits from 19 companies. Speakers included Randy Braverman, a senior consultant for RETA Security Inc. and a member of the Illinois Terrorism Task Force; Tim McCarthy, Orland Park chief of police, and a former Secret Service officer who was shot during an attempted assassination during the Reagan Administration; Ron Cundiff, director of Safety, Security and Telecommunications at Lake Forest Hospital; and Earl Zuelke Jr., the deputy director of the Office of Emergency Management for the city of Chicago.

According to Tim Brooks, eastern regional manager for PSA Security Network, Westminster, Colo., which was one of the event sponsors, regional events like Security Expo 2008 have a valuable place in the security industry.

“Not everyone has the chance to attend national shows and travel great distances, so an event like this is an opportunity for them to still have the chance to come and get education while acquiring product knowledge and see industry trends and new technology first hand,” Brooks said.