The Access Control Executive Brief

Recorded live at Intersec Dubai 2026, I sat down with leaders shaping the security market across the Middle East.

In this episode, I’m joined by Joachim Mahlstedt, Chief Commercial Officer DAS & Managing Director Kentix GmbH at ASSA ABLOY. We talk about why the Middle East continues to be a major proving ground for large-scale security innovation, how the region is accelerating the convergence of mechanical and digital security...

Recorded live at Intersec Dubai 2026, I sat down with leaders shaping the security market across the Middle East.

In this episode, I’m joined by Allan Chester from Any2Any, Juergen Sept from Tanlock, and Tünay Karatekin from Ones Technology. We talk about how the region has clearly moved into a more mature market, why interoperability and ecosystem thinking are replacing point solutions, and how Intersec Dubai is becoming a uniqu...

ISC West is officially next month, and in Episode 9 of West to East, Lee Odess breaks down where the industry is truly showing up — and why it matters.

This episode isn’t about broad predictions or trend lists. It’s about activation. Lee walks through three specific areas at ISC West that signal where security is headed next: the new Digital Trust & Identity Stage, the Startup Pavilion, and the Experience Center. Each represent...

Recorded live at Intersec Dubai, I sat down with leaders shaping the security market across the Middle East.

In this episode, I’m joined by James Clark from AMAG. We talk about how 2025 marked a real shift from product-led selling to end-user–driven problem solving, why identity and private cloud are becoming central to access control strategy, and how the Middle East market is maturing faster than many people realize.

More convers...

Recorded live at Intersec Dubai, I sat down with leaders shaping the security market across the Middle East.

In this episode, I’m joined by Matt Bennett from Alert Enterprise. We talk about what stood out in 2025, why the Middle East is a critical — and often misunderstood — market, and why the next phase of access control is about democratizing identity and mobile credentials by reducing cost, complexity, and friction.

More conver...

Recorded live at Intersec Dubai, I sat down with leaders shaping the security market across the Middle East.

We talked candidly about reflections on 2025, why this region matters to the global business, and what’s coming as we look toward 2026.

This marks the start of a new podcast series, Secured: Live from Intersec Dubai 2026.

The first release features Alex Holmstrom from Acre, where we dig into how the market is moving beyond t...

In this solo year-end episode of West to East, Lee Odess reflects on the momentum coming out of ISC East and looks ahead to what’s shaping up to be a high-energy ISC West in Las Vegas this March.

Lee shares how the show continues to return to — and surpass — its pre-COVID form, with bigger booths, bolder activations, and a clear shift toward ISC West as the place where companies launch new technologies and ideas. He breaks down sev...

Episode 7: What’s New and Next at ISC East with Mary Beth Shaughnessy and Scott Dunn

In Episode 7 of West to East, Lee Odess is joined by Mary Beth Shaughnessy, Event Director at RX, and Scott Dunn, Chair of SIA and Senior Director of Business Development at Axis Communications, for a deep dive into what’s ahead at this year’s ISC East in New York City.

Together, they explore the show’s new activations and programming — from the im...

Episode 6: The New York Vibe of ISC East with David Furcayg (Ruben & Company)

In Episode 6 of West to East, Lee Odess is joined by David Furcayg, Vice President of Ruben and Company, to bring a true New Yorker’s perspective on ISC East - how it’s evolved, what makes it distinct from ISC West, and why its energy is unlike any other show in the security industry.

Lee and David discuss the rebranding and renewed investment in ISC ...

Access the Future | Episode 7: Permission to Level Up Presented by Acre Security and The Access Control Executive Brief

In this episode, host Lee Odess reconnects with Kumar Sokka, CEO of Acre Security, to explore what it means to have permission to level up.

After six episodes covering vision, customer change, talent, AI and data, platforms, and channel evolution, this conversation brings everything full circle.

Lee and Kumar disc...

Episode 5: The End User Perspective with Shanel Balloo (Salesforce)

In Episode 5 of West to East, host Lee Odess flips the script to explore trade shows from the end-user perspective. Joined by Shanel Balloo, Senior Manager of New Technology and Innovation at Salesforce, they discuss how enterprise security leaders evaluate ISC West and East, what makes these events valuable, and the signals that make them worth the investment.

Sha...

Access the Future | Episode 6: The Channel, Discovery, and Go to Market Strategies Presented by Acre Security and The Access Control Executive Brief

In this episode, host Lee Odess talks with Paul DiPeso about the evolution of channels and go-to-market strategies in the security industry. They discuss the shift to SaaS and service-driven models, how buyers are discovering solutions in new ways, and why integrators remain essential ...

Episode 4 – Exhibitor Edge: How Envoy Thinks About Trade Shows

In this episode of West to East, Lee Odess welcomes Larry Gadea, Founder and CEO of Envoy, to unpack the evolving role of trade shows from the inside out. As a perennial standout on the ISC show floor, Envoy is known for more than eye-catching booths—it’s a brand that brings intentionality, energy, and strategic clarity to every event.

Larry shares how Envoy evaluates t...

Brief 109 provides insights into the access control and security industry, specifically focusing on observations from Australia and New Zealand (ANZ). Lee Odess shares experiences from a trip, highlighting the unique challenges and opportunities of doing business in the ANZ region, such as the vast distances and the strong local relationships. The Brief also re-evaluates the role of distribution in the physical security sector, pro...

Access the Future | Episode 5: The Evolution of Data and AI in Physical Security Presented by Acre Security and The Access Control Executive Brief

In this episode, Lee Odess is joined by Jeff Groom, Director of AI Engineering at Acre Security, to unpack one of the most pressing shifts in the security industry: the rise of data and AI.

Jeff shares his journey from Silicon Valley to physical security and explains how AI—when implemen...

Episode 3 – The Trade Show Shift: Strategy, Experience, and the Future of ISC

In this episode of West to East, Lee Odess sits down with Jordan Tuchband, Senior Vice President at RX, to explore how trade shows like ISC are adapting to a new era of professional engagement. From the rise of experience-driven design to smarter use of data and personalization, they dig into what exhibitors and attendees really want, and what the industr...

Episode 4: Platform vs. Product – with Sara Rodrigues

Presented by Acre Security and The Access Control Executive Brief

In this episode of Access the Future, Lee Odess is joined by Sara Rodrigues, Chief Product Officer at ACRE Security and former Amazon/AWS product leader. Together, they explore one of the most critical shifts in the security industry: moving from standalone products to integrated platforms.

Sara brings deep experi...

Episode 2 – Behind the Numbers: How ISC West 2025 is Evolving the Security Industry

In this episode of West to East, Lee Odess talks with Mary Beth Shaughnessy and Trish Moubayed of RX to unpack the numbers, trends, and strategy behind ISC West 2025. From a record-breaking 22% growth in conference participation to rising end-user engagement, they reveal what’s driving the show’s continued success. Hear how attendee feedback, new te...

In the final episode of our three-part series, we shift from theory to application.

Lee Odess sits down with Esteban Pastor, Senior Product Manager at ZKTeco USA, to explore how flexibility becomes real at the door—through the products, decisions, and strategies that are shaping access control today.

What we cover:

Why Multi-Tech readers are redefining versatility—and why it matters now more than ever

The growing role of mobile cre...