Josh Peabody, ASSA ABLOY
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. With a background in aerospace engineering and an interest in production, he embraced the opportunity to solve customer needs by improving the quality and integrity of the HES electric strike. He has been an instrumental influence on the evolution of electric strikes, from their inception to today.
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. Evident from their contributions, the team echoes Josh's commitment to evolution and innovation, having matured into industry pacesetters who continually rise to challenges and drive advancements.
Contributing to Josh's successful career are his early mentors, such as Lee Hanchett, founder of HES and one of the inventive minds behind the electric strike. Under Lee's influence, Josh developed tenacity and a spirit of innovation, components that are foundational to his success. He also worked under Michael Webb, the former President of HES. Michael further instilled in him a passion for constant improvements and market responsiveness – a legacy he perpetuates through his team.
Encouraging curiosity within his team, Josh emphasizes the significance of experiential learning and client engagement as the key to superior product design. This philosophy extends beyond the office, into the real world where problems are confronted and solved. By advocating for close observation, continuous questioning, and an inquisitive mindset, Josh steers his team toward delivering the best products on the market. He holds a steadfast belief that first-of-a-kind engineering solutions occur not inside but outside the office walls – on everyday doors and frames. 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.
In a career defined by steady advancement, patented solutions, and inspiring leadership, Josh symbolizes the very essence of progress and the spirit of continuous improvement. His nomination for this distinguished award is a tribute not just to his accomplishments but to the culture of growth and exploration he has nurtured here at EMS.
Josh is active in the Builders Hardware Manufacturing Association (BHMA) organization. The organization strives to improve product standards and define industry excellence through the knowledge of subject matter experts like Josh. His initiatives focus on elevating product standards and advocating for industry excellence. 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, where he contributes his knowledge to the writing and decision-making processes regarding industry-wide standards updates. He also recently led the subcommittee responsible for the electric strike standards, reinforcing the importance of routine evaluation and continuous improvement. Josh's dynamic, iterative process in standards creation ensures the industry remains nimble and responsive.
By actively redefining excellence, Josh has raised the benchmark, compelling companies to excel in quality, and benefiting the entire industry with clearer, elevated standards.
