decisions. Nick Rios and Reece Freel with M&R Marketing, will share practical strategies for leveraging AI platforms and ensuring your business remains visible and competitive in a changing buying landscape. Whether you are responsible for leading your business, sales, marketing, or overall business strategy, you'll leave with actionable ideas you can implement immediately.
Beyond the educational program, we will also celebrate several important milestones for our association. During the meeting, we will announce the results of our 2026 GIA Annual Election and recognize the members who have stepped forward to lead our organization into the future. I'd like to thank every candidate for their willingness to serve and every member who takes the time to participate in the election process including:
- Vice President - Mike Richardson with Spartan Security Systems, Inc.
- District 3 Director - John Loud with Loud Security Systems, Inc.
- District 4 Director - Scott Tenney with Fire-X, Inc.
- Associate Director 1:
- Mike Putman with Legacy Security Services (incumbent)
- Adam Emmet with Security Central
- Bryan Pope with Alula | M2M
- Shaunte Sivas with Hanwha
- Cordell Vincent with SDi Fire
We will also have the privilege of announcing this year's GIA Youth Scholarship recipient and presenting the scholarship award. Supporting our first responder partners and investing in the next generation is an incredibly rewarding part of what we do as an association, and I look forward to recognizing an outstanding student and family during the meeting.
In addition, we will provide members with a preview of updates to our bylaws that the Board has been working on over the past several months. These changes are intended to strengthen the association and ensure our governing documents continue to support the needs of our growing membership. We will walk through the proposed revisions, so everyone has an opportunity to review them before the formal member vote at the Fall Summit in November.
Before we get to August 11th, I want to remind all members in good standing that your participation in our Annual Election is one of the most important ways you can help shape the future of GIA. If you haven't already done so, please take a few minutes to cast your ballot no later than Tuesday, August 4. Every vote matters, and your participation helps ensure our Board reflects the collective voice of our membership.
I hope you will join us on August 11th for an afternoon of valuable education, meaningful association business, and the opportunity to connect with fellow integrators before enjoying the Braves vs. Mets game together. These events are what make GIA such a strong organization!
Thank you for your continued support of GIA. I look forward to seeing you at the Cobb County Chamber of Commerce on the 11th!
Sincerely,
Brandon Shepard
GIA President |
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