Mel Mahler, after 22 years with ADS Security, Nashville, Tenn., has stepped down as chairman and CEO to enter retirement. He speaks to SDM about the factors that led to his decision to retire, retirement plans, and reflections on his security career.

Vivint's candid CEO, Todd Pedersen, talks to SDM about the new acquisition agreement for the Blackstone Group to buy majority stake in the company. Pedersen reveals his growth strategy, new services, and what a $2 billion valuation means for the company.

This podcast centers on three trending areas that should be on the minds of all security dealers: copper theft, personal emergency response systems, and video intercoms. SDM Editor Laura Stepanek speaks with Linear LLC's Duane Paulson and Gary Baker, who describe how technologies in these areas have developed to provide specific functionality for today's lifestyles, as well as measureable security benefits.

Complex projects are very different from simple ones. With the recent rise of PSIM projects that encompass physical security, business continuity and operational aspects, security integrators are going head-to-head with business consultants, who do this routinely. This podcast with Dr. Bob Banerjee examines the characteristics that a successful security integrator will need. Dr. Banerjee is senior director of Training and Development for NICE Systems Security Division. He develops programs and initiatives to educate, train and support NICE's network of security system integrators and dealers, Dr. Banerjee holds a Ph.D. in Artificial Intelligence from the Advanced Research Center at the University of Bristol, England.

In this podcast, Bill Lawrence, director of Service Solutions and Platforms for ADT Security Services, explains the growing interest in video surveillance by both government agencies as well as businesses of every stripe. He discusses what any organization should consider before investing heavily in the technology. Lawrence is a 25-year veteran of both the information technology and physical security industries, with extensive experience in network video surveillance and physical security convergence.