Volume 32 | August 29, 2025
Jon Polly | Security Agents of Change Issue #2 – Hear2There
In this edition of Security Agents of Change, discover how Hear2There Technologies is revolutionizing accessibility for the visually impaired with cutting-edge wayfinding tech using AR, Bluetooth, GPS, and UWB — empowering independence in spaces like hotels, airports, and campuses. If you think security is just about locks and cameras, think again — this is the future of inclusive innovation, and it’s happening now.
Robbie Jefcoat | The Magic of Showing
In a world of overproduced pitches and AI-polished content, the most powerful demos are the raw, real ones that speak the customer's language and show — not tell — how a product works. At BadgePass, “The Magic Show” isn’t about gimmicks; it’s about creating that undeniable lightbulb moment where the product proves its value live, without smoke and mirrors.
The Access Control Collective x Kyle Gordon | After ACS - Session 1
The conversations at ACS25 were just the beginning — now we're going deeper. After ACS is your exclusive chance to revisit the event’s most thought-provoking talks, starting with an inside look at strategy and impact with Kyle Gordon of AMAG Technology.
The Access Control Collective x Larry Gadea | West to East, Episode 4
Larry Gadea, CEO of Envoy, joins Lee Odess to reveal how to turn events into unforgettable, high-impact experiences. If you're ready to rethink ROI and unlock real strategic value, find the link below to listen now.
RealSense x The Access Control Collective | RealSense WhitePaper: The Ethical Application of Facial Authentication in Enterprise Access Control
Think facial authentication and ethics can’t coexist? This white paper challenges that assumption—revealing how smart regulation might be the secret to unlocking secure, privacy-first access control. If you care about the future of identity tech, this is a must-read.
The Access Control Collective | ACS LATAM
The Access Control Collective is heading to São Paulo for ACS LATAM 2025! In partnership with Google and with support from HID and ASSA ABLOY, this event is set to be a cornerstone gathering for the region. Don’t miss it. Find the link to register below.
The Access Control Collective x Bloxspring | RAMP: The Conference for Marketing Leaders in Security and Protech
RAMP 2025 is a conference designed specifically for marketers in built environment technology and security—bringing industry leaders together in New York City for a full day of insight, innovation, and meaningful connection. Find the link to register below.
The Access Control Collective | PhySecJobs.com
Below you will find all of the latest jobs in the physical security industry.
Find them all below!
Welcome to Issue #2, Security Agents of Change.
If you read Issue #1, I called it Technology Focused, and it is…
But this is not just a technology focused insight or even a trend of where technologies are taking the industry. If you are looking for that, check out my column at Security Business Magazine and SecurityInfoWatch.com called Tech Trends.
So, I’m changing the name.
To
Security Agents of Change
Sounds kind’ve like a superhero or a comic book.
Now, if I used ChatGPT or some other AI tool, I could probably have a snazzy graphic of a superhero secret agent, but alas, you get me. Not that I mind the use of AI, but when I write, it’s just my thoughts landing on virtual paper.
Why Security Agents of Change? Well, for one, Agents of Change had some trademark issues that I didn’t want to step on. And two, well, to me, these are companies that are actively innovating to solve next-level use cases. Notice, I didn’t say problems, because maybe there are no problems yet. Maybe the ordinary and the mundane work just fine. But… these are companies that are or are poised to be innovators to make change; creating the Art of the Possible – NOW!
These are companies that aren’t just striving to make a better product, but to make a better product that solves for use cases we haven’t begun to try to fix in our industry. Why? Because somewhere someone said these are not a problem, or more than likely, the tech to fix it doesn’t exist.
Maybe not, but there is some really awesome innovation happening in the security space, and I want to tell people about it.
Yes, as I said last time, I geek out over security tech and want to tell people about it. Welcome LinkedIn, you are a captive audience. And for anyone that knows me, sorry, not sorry, but I do communicate a lot.
I have a lineup of technologies, companies, and more that I hope will become a regular cadence of technology focused insights into the Art of the Possible – NOW.
Next up in that lineup…
The one that has been on my mind for a while is a company called Hear2There Technologies. I got a chance to meet these guys at #ISCWest and they did not disappoint. The story starts when Co-founder David Furukawa, PA-C Lion was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, an eye disease that causes slow but progressive loss of vision at age 23. David successfully practiced medicine until he lost his eyesight and was forced to retire early. If that wasn’t enough, after he lost his eyesight, a car ran a stop sign and hit David. David’s guide dog sacrificed itself to save David and his four-year-old son. Noble of the dog, but identifying again how frail life is.
Hear2There Technologies (H2T) was born out of this tragedy. Without sight, and without a guide dog; David had limitations to say the least. Long-term term there needed to be a solution. Lying in the hospital is when the would-be co-founders of H2T Chris Webb and David Furukawa, PA-C Lion decided to build a solution; the solution to geolocate a person to a space, to give them context to the space they could not see.
Here is what got me. Signage is posted in most commercial buildings with Braille to meet Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance. The reality is that today, less than 25% of blind people can read Braille in the US. Take that a step further. When you walk out of an elevator into a lobby, there is a sign, typically on the far side of the lobby, that describes where the rooms are. For most of us, we've seen it. And the Braille underneath the signage. But if you are visually impaired, how do you find the sign? Do you stumble across a lobby in search of a sign that may not be there? Once you get there, if you don’t read Braille, how do you read the sign? This is a problem in almost every vertical.
Another thing that I learned from the team, David Furukawa, PA-C Lion, Chris Webb, Jacob George, and Kerry Krause, and reminded me that I’m just in my own little bubble, is that those with disabilities and the community that supports them congregate to establishments that support them. Ah, novel idea. Go to places that cater to what you like. For me, that is a place with fresh fish and a glass of wine, but I’ll digress. Solving for this use case isn’t just solving a problem, but it is making an entire community’s life easier. Not to turn it into a numbers thing either, but there is an entire market NOT being connected with by most in our industry.
So what makes Hear2There a Security Agent of Change? They are an inclusive technology that is changing the lives of the visually impaired. Changing, not just aiding, but actively changing how visually impaired people do life. How they travel, go to work and school, shop, and more. Using augmented reality, H2T provides voice communication to the visually impaired community using a combination of Bluetooth, GPS, and ultra-wideband (UWB) technology in beacons and a phone app.
For anyone who has known me for a while, UWB is really fascinating, and we are only seeing its infancy in usage today.
The beacon is a small IoT device mounted on a wall or ceiling, or… well, let’s just say something really exciting is coming. The beacon connects to the app to provide descriptive audio prompts, enhancing the user’s spatial context, allowing them to navigate without the aid of a person or service animal. The descriptive audio prompts can identify locations and create wayfinding, allowing the visually disabled person the freedom to move throughout a space, indoors and outdoors, as someone with sight.
Let’s go back to the idea before with the signs. Imagine you are at a resort. H2T beacons are installed throughout the resort. From the time you enter the door, audible prompts direct you to the check-in desk. Once you check in, the system knows what room you were assigned. It directs you to the nearest elevator bank that accesses your floor. On your floor, there are five hallways, of which it wayfinds you to the appropriate hallway and tells you how far the distance is to your room, even to which side of the hallway it is on. After you drop your luggage, you go downstairs to the hotel restaurant where H2T beacons read the menu to you. This technology is being adopted by the hospitality industry, airports, hospitals, and higher education campuses. For companies that are already utilizing wayfinding for visitors and vendors, the depth of this technology may have secondary benefits to further enhance wayfinding in buildings.
Hear2There Technologies identifies itself as more than a company, but as a commitment to empowering individuals, breaking barriers, and making the world accessible for all; transforming accessibility for blind and visually impaired people with innovative technology that creates independence for their daily lives, with confidence. Sounds like a Security Agent of Change to me.
Don’t take my word for it, though. In April 2025, H2T, based in Atlanta, GA, was accepted into the Georgia Institute of Technology Advanced Technology Development Center’s (ATDC) Accelerate program. ATDC is a premier technology incubator.
I said this before, and I think this will become my closing remarks moving forward.
The Art of the Possible is NOW. It is exciting to see Hear2There Technologies and companies with that mindset becoming Agents of Change, offering a fresh take on what we as a security industry can do. I make no apologies, I want to be an Agent of Change, not to tear down the security industry, but to help change mindsets and focus, before the industry gets left behind. Let's learn from the lessons of old, but be willing to grow using that knowledge.
ProTecht Solutions Partners, LLC is your security advocate: a security technology consulting firm dedicated to helping companies keep people and assets safe. We realize security technologies are part of a larger solution for most companies, with requirements to bring business intelligence, sustainability, and more. With ProTecht Solutions Partners, LLC tions Partners, the system you implement is always tailored to the specific needs of your company. If this, or any of the technologies mentioned in Security Agents of Change are interesting to your company, please reach out for a more in-depth discussion.
Why Authenticity Matters
In today’s world of polished AI content and overproduced videos, authenticity often gets lost. For the most part, customers do not care about how long you have been in business or your list of accolades. What they do care about is if your product is real, if it works, and if it solves their problem(s).
I have fallen into the trap of trying to keep up with competitors, mimicking styles or overproducing presentations that were not really me. Customers can sense that disconnect and lack of authenticity instantly.
My greatest demo successes have been the ones without PowerPoints and without stats or company history slides… just me, our software, and an open conversation with the customer.
The Lightbulb Moment
At BadgePass, we call our product demos “The Magic Show.”
Not because we pull rabbits out of boxes with door readers on them (although, yes, we have done that in the past) or because we dress up as magicians (yep, we have done that too).
It is magic because we create the lightbulb moment: when someone watches a live demo, in real time, and sees the transformation with their own eyes.
For BadgePass, we simply illustrate how we start with a blank inactive card. They see it. Then, after the software does its thing, the same card comes out of the printer personalized with an amazing card design and also can immediately be used to open a door. No extra steps. No smoke and mirrors. It just works.
And that moment is magic.
Is it risky? Absolutely. Live demos always carry a little risk, especially in high-stakes opportunities. It’s why so many sales reps shy away from doing them at all.
And yes, there have been times when things did not work perfectly.
But those moments are far outnumbered by the times things DO work perfectly, and the impact of showing a product live absolutely worth the risk.
Beyond the Demo: The Magic of Marketing Realness
This philosophy extends past demo rooms into how we market our products. We have tried polished campaigns, flashy productions, and scripted messaging. But the efforts that stick, and the ones that resonate most, are always the ones that cut through the noise and go straight to the heart:
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How does it work?
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More importantly, how does it work for me?
Overproduction can actually get in the way of that message.
Sometimes the most powerful content is also the most raw.
A Universal Desire for Real
I see this everywhere: in my kids, in my community, and even in myself. We are living in a world flooded with clickbait, misinformation, and AI-generated everything. And what people crave more than ever is what is real, transparent, and organic.
Organizations that embrace this truth, and lean into showing instead of just telling, will be the ones who leap ahead. Because while anyone can make noise, very few can make magic.
You spoke, we listened.
One of the clearest takeaways from ACS25 was the call for more meaningful conversation. Attendees wanted more time to ask questions and explore ideas, and speakers were eager for space to dive deeper.
That’s why we launched After ACS. After ACS is a new series designed to continue the dialogue. We’re revisiting five to ten standout talks from ACS25, not to repeat them, but to expand on them. Think of these sessions as a chance to explore what’s been on your mind since San Sebastián and to keep the momentum going.
First up, Kyle Gordon EVP, Global Sales, Marketing, & Commercial Excellence at AMAG Technology. This conversation is available to members only and can be accessed by logging into your www.leeodess.com account, and navigating to the ACS Videos page. There, you will see a section titled “After ACS”.
In this episode, Lee Odess sits down with Larry Gadea, Founder and CEO of Envoy, for a conversation that challenges conventional thinking around trade shows. Together, they explore how Envoy approaches these events not just as marketing opportunities, but as powerful platforms for creating lasting impressions and meaningful engagement. Gadea shares insights on measuring ROI in ways that go far beyond simple badge scans, emphasizing the importance of experience design and strategic follow-through. From redefining event success to turning bold ideas into tangible business outcomes, this episode offers a fresh perspective on how to make every moment count.
Click here to listen now.
What if the very regulations you believed were slowing down the adoption of facial authentication... were actually the foundation for doing it right?
That’s the surprising insight at the heart of our latest white paper, developed in partnership with The Access Control Collective and the team at RealSense:
The Ethical Application of Facial Authentication in Enterprise Access Control in Western Markets.
This paper explores how privacy laws and regulatory frameworks—often viewed as obstacles—can actually guide the responsible and scalable implementation of facial authentication technologies in enterprise environments.
Special thanks to Mike Nielsen, Eyal Rond, Penny Malsch, and the entire RealSense team for their invaluable collaboration on this important project.
Now available for download — click here.
Below are the highlighted jobs and companies this week. New jobs are bolded.
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- Regional Sales Manager - South - apply here
- Director of Sales - apply here
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Lockmasters, Inc. - VP of Specialty Door Division - apply here
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EyeOTmonitor - Account Executive - apply here
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- Senior Product Manager, Government Solutions-North America – apply here
- Product Manager, Mercury Controllers – apply here
- Senior Product Manager, Readers – apply here
- Senior Product Manager, Biometric Readers – apply here
- Senior Software Engineer Java – apply here
-Pre-Sales Consultant – apply here
-Staff Engineer – apply here
-Channel Account Manager DACH – apply here
-End User BDM - Emerging Technologies – apply here
-Director of Quality – apply here
-Director of Product Management - Readers – apply here
-Sales Development Representative – apply here
-Product Manager, Credentials – apply here
-Business Development Leader, Controller Apps – apply here
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Kastle - Project Manager, Implementations - apply here
