Associations
Lewis Alessandrini
Yankee Security Convention
Pasek Corporation
Lewis Alessandrini’s dedication to the locksmith industry is evident to anyone involved in the Yankee Security Convention, an organization Alessandrini volunteered with for more than 35 years. He helped establish and maintain the Yankee Security Convention as the premier regional security professional event in the United States. He and his wife Betty spend countless hours each year as the backbone of the organization. His devotion to the locksmith industry was evident in the passion and devotion he brought to this organization.
Alessandrini was the owner and manager of Pasek Corporation, the largest security business in the greater Boston area, until his retirement in 2019, at which time the company was sold to DH Pace. Pasek was known for expertise in commercial electronic and mechanical security, locking hardware, and key systems. As the owner, he mentored many new security professionals. He is also a long-time adviser and supporter of the North Bennet Street School’s locksmith training program. He was always willing to share his knowledge and expertise with others in the trade.
A founding member of the Massachusetts Locksmith Association, Alessandrini had a wide impact on locksmithing in New England. He treated everyone with respect – employees, salespersons, competitors and strangers. He was always a soft-spoken gentleman, but his word carried a lot of impact.
William Lynk
ALOA
In addition to his professional career, Lynk serves as ALOA’s Director of Education, teaching classes, designing curriculum and mentoring locksmiths.
“It is with great enthusiasm that I present to you my esteemed boss, a true luminary in the field of locksmithing. With a wealth of experience and a collection of accolades that speak volumes about his expertise, he stands out as one of the finest professionals in the industry. His profound knowledge and skills in locksmithing surpass those of anyone I have ever encountered, making him an invaluable resource and mentor to all who work alongside him,” stated his nomination from his ALOA colleagues.
Lynk has been owner of Interchangeable Core Lock Systems since 1985 and is a well-known author of several books on interchangeable cores and master keying, most recently Positional Master Keying Unveiled.
Manufacturers/Distributors
Louis Bunnick
Allentown Architectural Hardware
An undergraduate degree (Lehigh University) and a graduate degree (Case Western Reserve University) in Metallurgy, along with an MBA in Marketing (Baldwin Wallace University), gave Lou Bunnick a rock-solid foundation for his years in the industry, a career that started as a Metallurgist at US Steel and a Senior Product Manager at The Ridge Tool Company.
In 2000, Lou joined the Baldwin Hardware Company as the Director of Marketing, responsible for new product development for the lock hardware product lines, developing locks for the famous Baldwin brand.
Seven years later, Lou founded the Allentown Architectural Hardware in Emmaus, Pennsylvania. Lou’s company, a leading architectural hardware showroom, became a direct source for more than 30 makers of door, cabinet, window, and specialty hardware.
Today, the Allentown Architectural Hardware Company is the premier architectural hardware showroom in the greater Philadelphia region. With a staff that has more than 35 years of experience in the industry, Lou has built a company with a goal of providing its customers with the exact right product that will fit their “function, style, and finish wishes – hardware that will stand the test of time and bring years of enjoyment.” As Lou says, “We are Philadelphia’s hardware experts!”
Jerry Burhans
ALCEA
Jerry Burhans and Gale Johnson were both from Chicago and while Jerry was VP of Sales at Eastern Company (CCL), Gale would stop by from time to time for friendly visits and talk locks. Gale lived a few minutes away from the Eastern Company office in Wheeling, Illinois. Gale worked for ABLOY years ago and enjoyed reminiscing with Jerry about his trip to Scandinavia.
In addition to serving as managing director of ALCEA (formerly ASSA ABLOY Critical Infrastructure), Burhans is a former SHDA Committee Member, SIA Utilities Committee member, ITSA Committee Member and ASIS Chicago Chair of Education, Membership.
Christopher Clark
Allegion (retired)
Clark began his career in the industry in 1975 as an apprentice with a locksmith. While working at another shop in 1984, he saw a want ad for a locksmith at UCLA. He got the job right before the 1984 Olympics and eventually became a superintendent with responsibility for the Lockshop, Fire Extinguisher and Tool Crib departments.
In 1999 he left UCLA to work for Ingersoll-Rand (now Allegion) as an End User sales consultant, focusing on key systems and electronic access control. Clark was also a regular contributor to Locksmith Ledger.
Thomas Rescinti Demont
ASSA ABLOY Technical Services
Tom Rescinti Demont is a 50-year veteran of this industry, starting his career in his father's shop. He served 10 years in the Navy as a Locksmith Physical Security Specialist. Demont worked as Director of Sales/Marketing for ASSA High Security Locks for more than 11 years. In addition, he developed, wrote manuals, taught many certified courses and published numerous articles in trade publications. He wrote "How to Run a Successful Service Company" – donating 1,000 copies to the ALOA Scholarship Fund.
Demont holds almost every industry designation in existence: AHC, CAL, CFDI, CFL, CMIL, CML, CMST, IFDI, ICML, LSFDI, ARL. He has served as ALOA president and on its board of directors.
Demont gives 150% back to this industry and has mentored/taught valuable lessons and skills, generously sharing both his knowledge and time. He is also the founder of The Antique Key Machine Museum.
Nick Gartner
LaGard
In Memoriam: Aug. 7, 1936 – Sept. 5, 2023
Robert Goff
KoreLock, Inc.
As the VP of Product and Co-founder of KoreLock, Robert Goff’s focus on designing user-friendly, cost-effective, and accessible smart lock solutions has propelled industry evolution.
Rob's most remarkable accomplishment is his pioneering work in energy-efficient IoT technology. His patented technology platform that controls a lock's Wi-Fi radio on and off state has brought advanced intelligence and power savings to the market, successfully extending smart lock battery life while functioning on existing Wi-Fi networks. Rob's forward-thinking approach led to the creation of four patents, offering new options for Wi-Fi direct locking devices and introducing innovative technology that expanded the possibilities for smart lock features.
KoreLock's IoT technology patent encompasses a method for operating Wi-Ficonnected access control with a system of dynamic wake-up schedules for a wireless transceiver. These schedules control the frequency and what prompts the wireless transceiver to 'sleep' or 'wake up' to transmit or receive information. This intelligence saves significant energy when the Wi-Fi is not in use. Today, KoreLock's IoT-connected technology is installed in over 75,000 devices worldwide, in homes, hotels, vacation rentals, offices, or public buildings.
The integration of Rob Goff's IoT technology platform has significantly reduced time to market, product development costs, and risks for lock manufacturers
Lori Greene
Allegion
With more than 35 years in the door hardware industry, Lori Greene, DAHC/CDC, CCPR, FDAI, and FDHI, has developed a deep understanding of the code requirements relevant to doors and hardware. She is an engaged participant in various industry organizations, including BHMA (Codes & Government Affairs Committee and Marketing Committee chair), DHI, and PASS. Throughout her dedicated career, Lori’s unwavering commitment has earned her wide respect and trust within the door hardware industry.
She achieved a significant milestone in her career by establishing iDigHardware.com in 2009. This website serves as a valuable resource for industry professionals, offering access to information related to door and hardware codes. It also provides a platform for technical inquiries and knowledge-sharing within the door and hardware industry. Over time, iDigHardware.com has gained popularity among locksmiths, hardware distributors, facilities managers, and other industry stakeholders.
Tom Harris
ASSA ABLOY
Tom Harris spent his entire 43-year career working in the security industry. Starting with assembling products in the factory and quickly moving to sales and new product development, Tom began his career with well-known door hardware brands like Yale and Arrow, before eventually earning leadership roles under the ASSA ABLOY umbrella, including general manager and head of sales. In April 2024, Tom retired from his position as VP of Business Development, Marketing & Product Management for ASSA ABLOY’s Access & Egress Hardware Group.
During his time with the company, Tom witnessed several critical industry transformations, from the passing of ADA regulations in the ’80s to more recent demands for school security, privacy within a variety of applications, touchless door operation, behavioral health safety, high security mechanical and electronic locks with keyless and mobile access solutions, and growing demand for more decorative choices in terms of finish design, and aesthetics.
During his tenure, Tom conducted business in 43 countries and had a front-row seat to many of the world’s most significant historical events, including being one of the earliest visitors to China, living on a project site in the jungle of Brunei, selling mechanical hotel locksets in India, visiting nuclear facilities in Korea, doing door take-offs in Guam, working on a high-security military base in Italy, and being in the Eastern Block soon after the fall of the Berlin Wall.
Tom has seen the industry move from knob locks to lever locks, from cross bar exit devices to push bars, and from mortise locks fashioned from cast iron to those constructed of steel today. But he is quick to say that his favorite product sold over the years are status indicators. “With the growing need for privacy, there’s no end to the products that benefit from having a status indicator – so folks can quickly see if a space is occupied or vacant and if a door is locked or unlocked.”
Clayton Miller
Q Security, NL Lock
James Clayton “Clay” Miller comes from a long line of security professionals. He began in the industry at a very young age and continues to leave his mark on the industry today.
His grandfather, John C. Miller, worked with Diebold, erecting vaults in the early 1900s. Clay joined his father, Harry C. Miller, at Sargent and Greenleaf in 1962, becoming president in 1976. He continued his career at S&G until 1981. Clay then left S&G, purchased Lockmasters from his father and began learning this business with his son, Mark Miller. In 1986, he founded the Safe & Vault Technicians Association. Along with his brother, Benson Miller, he was instrumental in establishing LockNet in 1993.
Through the years, Clay has been an entrepreneur and an inventor – most notably of the X-0 line of electro-mechanical locks. He has served the government and commercial security industries through Lockmasters, Lockmasters Security Institute, Lockmasters Technologies, Inc. and currently NL Lock, QTactical and QSecurity Industries.
Josh Peabody
ASSA ABLOY Electomechanical Solutions
As the Vice President of New Product Development at ASSA ABLOY Electromechanical Solutions (EMS) in Phoenix, Arizona, Josh has been a driving force behind product development for four industry-leading brands, including Hanchett Entry Systems (HES), Securitron, Alarm Controls, and Adams Rite.
Josh started his career at HES after graduate school in 2002 as one of two engineers. Progressing through a variety of roles – from chief engineer to manager, and directorate positions to his current vice presidency – Josh has woven his expertise and knowledge through the very fabric of the company with each person he mentors. Josh has demonstrated that determination steers one’s professional destiny by embracing opportunities and responsibilities.
He fostered the Phoenix office's engineering division from a modest duo to an impressive group of 26 under his guidance. Josh's ingenuity is substantiated by his involvement in over 20 patents, though his true success lies in mentoring and inspiring a team whose unique products have repeatedly achieved patented recognition.
Josh is active in the Builders Hardware Manufacturing Association (BHMA) organization. He has played a pivotal role in evolving the specifications and defining the benchmarks for top-tier products, including electric strikes. Together with a collective of contemporary subject matter experts, Josh has updated the electric strike specifications to provide a unified industry standard that has widespread acceptance and application. Josh also serves on steering committees for Underwriters Laboratories (UL) standards. He recently led the subcommittee responsible for the electric strike standards, reinforcing the importance of routine evaluation and continuous improvement.
Julie Pilgrim
KDL Hardware
From Julie Pilgrim: Farewell and thanks for the memories. It’s been a blast!
Sept. 30, 2024, will mark the conclusion of my incredible 50-year career at KDL Hardware Supply. It has been an amazing journey from my start in the inventory and receiving department, through customer service and into a management role of this fine company. As early as the days in which I worked as the Will Call CSR, it was apparent how special our locksmith customers are. From the hard working, independent small business owners to the diligent locksmiths for large industrial entities. Will Rogers said, ”I never met a man I didn’t like.” I could say the same of locksmiths (with 99% honesty!!). It has been a rewarding experience to have worked with so many of them through the years.
There was much fun along the way. 40 KDL regional trade shows, decades of hosting NWLA meetings and locksmith training classes, KDL employee picnics and some very memorable holiday parties. I thank our local factory representatives who have been so helpful and accommodating to KDL. We couldn’t have produced a show or classes without their input.
At the close of 50 years, in many ways, it feels like the departure of an older generation making way for the fresh start of a younger group with new technology to offer and different paths to explore. Our customers are in capable hands with Marc Snyder, the current KDL President, and Emily Schei, Office Manager, who has been with KDL since 2002, and their staff who are experienced in sales, service and locksmith technology.
Clyde Roberson
Medeco
Joy Skowron
Detex
Joy Skowron has been in the industry for more than 40 years. She started out on the automotive side working for Briggs & Stratton, followed by STRATTEC, Bianchi/Keyline, Ilco and now works for Detex. She has been involved in producing books and literature that was centered around the locksmith and what locksmiths need to do their jobs. She has taught classes and is very knowledgeable in her field and knows how to explain it in a learnable manner.
“I am beyond honored! To be associated with an award in Gale’s name is unbelievable to me. He was invaluable to the industry for decades and an incredible man,” Skowron said.
Ned R. Urschel
Sargent and Greenleaf
Ned R. Urschel has dedicated more than three decades of his career to the locksmith industry, making profound contributions that have shaped the security sector. His work at Sargent and Greenleaf, beginning April 28, 1986, as the North American Sales Manager and concluding with his retirement as Vice President and Managing Director, Global Sales, on March 31, 2020, demonstrates an unwavering commitment and a visionary approach to advancing security technology worldwide.
Urschel's 34-year tenure at Sargent and Greenleaf is marked by relentless dedication, during which he transformed the company's product line and market approach. His leadership in transitioning from traditional mechanical locks to innovative electronic security solutions revolutionized how security is perceived and implemented in the modern world.
Among Urschel’s numerous achievements, his role in the development and launch of Sargent and Greenleaf's electronic locks stands out, particularly the Model 6120, which set a new benchmark for security technology worldwide. Contributions and Innovations: Urschel's vision led to the creation of eight new mechanical and four new key-operated safe locks, as well as the high-security retail door lock, Arm-A-Dor.
Ronald Weaver
Accredited Lock Supply
In Memoriam: June 9, 1948 – Sept. 2, 2022
In 1974, shortly after completing his service in the United States Army, Ronald W. Weaver embarked on a remarkable journey, founding what would become a locksmith legacy—Accredited Lock Supply. At its inception, the company was a modest operation with Ron, his father, and grandfather as its sole employees. Little did they know, this small venture would evolve into the nation's largest single-source wholesale distributor, serving clients not only across the United States but also internationally.
Ron was more than just a business leader; he was a man of kindness, genuineness, and unwavering principles. His impact on the lock and hardware industry is nothing short of legendary, and his absence leaves a void that will be deeply felt by many.
Accredited Lock Supply remains rooted in the family values instilled during its humble beginnings. Ron, alongside his wife Pam, formed the cornerstone of the team, which has now grown to more than 50 members. Today, their sons, Charlie and William, carry forward the legacy, upholding their father's commitment and dedication to both the company and the industry.
Ron's charitable spirit extended beyond business. His honesty, straightforwardness, and willingness to offer advice made him a mentor to many.
Erin Wilson
dormakaba
Erin Wilson is the face of influencer education, consulting, and design for dormakaba North America. In 2022, Erin passed the EHC Credential exam, making her one of 15 AOCs in the world, the second woman to earn this credential, and the fourth person to achieve all six credentials offered by the Door and Hardware Institute (DHI). Her official credentials (AOC, CFDAI, CSI, CCPR, DHT, DHC) tell only part of her story, however. Erin’s unique skill set is her ability to translate and articulate customer facility needs into a design need for access solutions. She understands the functions of a facility and its openings on a fundamental level so that they can be put into a format or specification that will bring building tenants a safe, secure, healthy, and productive environment.
Erin has realigned dormakaba’s training programs for spec writers and technical customers to assure that they remain aligned with industry best practices and set the stage for future advancement. She has also been instrumental in helping to design and develop dormakaba’s spec processes. In addition, she actively recruits emerging talent.
Erin describes herself as an educator, hardware geek, code geek, and influencer. She is a regular speaker at leading industry events. In 2022, she started “The FACTS that Matter,” a dormakaba YouTube series discussing hot topics in the security industry. The diverse program content has included discussions with experts about multihousing trends, impacts of the great resignation on workforce skills, digital native education, and women in the security industry workforce.
