AMAG Technology, Torrance, Calif., recently invited some of the security industry’s top consultants to Tampa, Fla., to learn more about the company’s solutions, partners and end users at its Security Engineering Symposium (SES).

The symposium provided attendees with a number of opportunities to network with others, engage in conversations about trends, end user expectations and partner integrations. AMAG also introduced several new products it will be launching at ISC West, reviewed the company’s product roadmap and demonstrated an integrated security solution that included all of its technology partners who sponsored the SES. Breakout sessions allowed for further discussion about these and other topics.

A friendly design competition that included AMAG’s Symmetry SR Controller retrofit solution integrated with all technology partner products that were at SES was one of the main highlights of the event, said Sarah James, AMAG’s director of business development.

“This year’s Security Engineering Symposium generated more engagement at a higher level than ever before,” she said. “The consultants were presented with a design challenge where they designed and specified a security system using Symmetry and all the partners’ products. Feedback was amazing and the consultants approached the challenge with an intensity that impressed me.”

AMAG technology partners ASSA ABLOY, HID Global, NEC, Salient, SRI International, STENTOFON, Winsted, Arecont Vision, Entertech and Avaya hosted educational breakout sessions during the symposium, which was well-received by attendees.

“AMAG set up this great event in a way that offers stress-free learning for the weekend,” said R.K. “Biff” Brown, a U.S. Marine Corps electronic systems subject matter expert. “AMAG is a customer-focused company, and that is refreshing these days. I valued the interaction with their strategic technology partners who sponsored the SES. It was a joy to work with the AMAG staff, complemented by the interaction with the security consultants, and security designers participating in the symposium. AMAG really cares about their customers." 

AMAG’s partners also found a lot of benefit in the SES.

“ASSA ABLOY has been participating in the symposium for a number of years now and we find the quality of attendees from a consultant standpoint is always top notch,” said Mark Duato, senior director, integration sales, for New Haven, Conn.-based ASSA ABLOY Americas. “We get an opportunity to talk to attendees about the many ways which our integrated Aperio solutions assist consultants and their end customers in innovative applications today. We also discuss where the technology addresses important new applications in a budget-sensitive marketplace. AMAG’s SES provides a venue for us to have these important discussions.”

For some, the SES has become an annual event that’s not to be missed. For other sponsors, SES made a great first impression.

“We are a first time sponsor of the symposium and we are thrilled to be here,” said Tom Chamard, vice president of national accounts for Salient Systems, based in Austin, Texas. “We recognize the value of AMAG in terms of their technology, their personnel and their ability to integrate our system in a way that puts us both in a really good light. The consultants in attendance are well informed, very attentive and we’ve gotten some compelling feedback. It’s a fantastic event all the way around.”

One long-time sponsor has found that SES delivers a great return on its investment and plans to continue supporting the symposium in coming years.

“STENTOFON has sponsored the SES for 13 years, and we look forward to fully supporting it in the future,” said Dan Rothrock, senior vice president of OEM global sales for STENTOFON USA, located in Kansas City, Mo. “For us, this educational seminar and the interaction with the consultants is invaluable and provides us with not only great insight into the security market, but also allows us to understand today’s critical communication needs and requirements. The consultants leave our break-out sessions understanding the importance of incorporating IP audio into the security mix, why our products are different from our competitors, and all our latest product offerings. The SES, by far, offers the best ROI for our marketing dollar.”

The consultants themselves are what make the conference successful, said Dean Forchas, consultant relations manager, North America, for Austin, Texas-based HID Global.

"The quantity and quality of consultants attracted to the Security Engineering Symposium speaks volumes about the AMAG brand and reputation," he said. “This event is being held at a great venue; it’s very organized and the attendance outshines many other similar events.”

For Randy Smith, president of Minneapolis-based Winsted, this year’s SES outshined those that have been held in the past.

“This is the eighth year we’ve been a sponsor of the Security Engineering Symposium, and it gets better and better every year,” he said. “The SES gives us a chance to get in front of the A&Es and answer their pertinent questions. We are also getting constructive feedback on our software, products and design. This event helps build important relationships with the consultants so they understand our products and can specify them in future projects.”