Mark Russell NCSLVA President |
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| Dear NCSLVA Members & Industry Colleagues,
It is truly an honor to write my first President’s Message as the 2026–2027 President of the North Carolina Security & Low Voltage Association. I’m grateful for the opportunity to serve and to work alongside such a dedicated group of professionals who are committed to strengthening our industry. I want to begin by thanking the 2025–2026 Board of Directors for their leadership and service over the past year. A special thank you to Duncan Hubbard and Alan Yancey, who have served on our Board for many years. Your contributions have made a lasting impact on this association, and I’m grateful that you will continue to stay involved in advisory roles.
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I’m also excited to welcome and recognize my fellow 2026-2027 Board of Directors including:
This is a strong group, and I’m looking forward to what we’ll accomplish over the next 12 months!
In addition, we just wrapped up an incredible 2026 Annual Convention that was held last week on Wrightsville Beach, and I couldn’t be more pleased with the outcome. With over 150 industry professionals in attendance, the energy, engagement, and sense of community were evident throughout the entire event. It was a great opportunity to connect, earn our CEUs, dive into new products/technology, and celebrate our association and industry together.
I encourage everyone to take a moment to check out the full photo gallery below and relive some of those great moments. Thank you to all who attended, and a special thank you to our sponsors and exhibitors! Your support is what makes events like this possible and so impactful! As we move forward, I’m excited about the momentum we’re building and the opportunities ahead for NCSLVA. I look forward to working with all of you in the year to come and hopefully seeing you at our Summer Summit coming up in July! Sincerely, Mark Russell NCSLVA President |
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| Last weekend, Don Childers’ family hosted a truly beautiful memorial service in his honor that reflected the character, integrity, and life of service that defined him. Family, friends, and colleagues, came together to honor a life well lived that included full military honors, a fitting tribute to a man who gave so much of himself to others, both in his personal and professional life.
For many of us that knew Don, he was more than a member or industry instructor. He was an integral part of this association. |
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His tireless dedication, steady leadership, mentoring, instructing ability, and genuine commitment to helping others left a lasting mark that will not be forgotten. He gave his time freely, and was instrumental in the growth of our industry through serving as an instructor to so many for decades. Don helped shape the organization we are today and we will always be indebted to Don for everything he contributed. It was especially meaningful that, just prior to his passing, Don was awarded the 2026 Ralph C. Brown Sr. Lifetime Achievement Award, a recognition that so clearly reflects the impact he had on our association and our industry. It is an honor well deserved.
In tribute to his legacy, we are humbled to announce that this year’s golf tournament will be renamed the 2026 Don Childers Memorial Golf Tournament, taking place on October 1st. This event will serve not only as a time to come together, but also as an opportunity to honor Don’s memory and the incredible influence he had on so many. Don’s legacy will live on through this association and through the many lives he touched.
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Register Now for Our Upcoming 2026 Events: |
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Waves of Change: Driving Value for Our Members!! |
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There are moments when you can feel momentum building, and right now, that’s exactly where we are as an association!
As I reflect on the success of our 2026 Annual Convention, what stands out most is the energy behind it. With over 150 industry professionals in attendance, meaningful conversations and a renewed sense of engagement were everywhere. It’s clear that 2026 is shaping up to be a year of real progress for NCSLVA. |
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If you were there, you couldn’t help but notice the waves at Wrightsville Beach. There’s something powerful about watching them roll in—steady, building, and impossible to ignore. Each wave carries energy forward, building on the one before it. That’s exactly what we’re seeing within our association. We’ve ushered in changes designed to bring more value to our members with more opportunities to connect, more meaningful education, and more ways to engage with peers who understand the challenges and opportunities in our industry. The convention was a perfect reflection of that. From conversations between sessions to engagement on the expo floor, the message was clear: our members are invested and they are seeing the value!
Here’s what a few had to say:
"Wonderful convention, extremely organized and the learning atmosphere is at a good pace. You feel like you are actually learning something useful as opposed to just putting in your time for your CEUs."~ Gregory Reed - President AVIT LLC
"The 2026 NCSLVA Convention was the best one yet! Great people, the classes were excellent and the overall event was well run. The event hotel and venue was top notch! I'm glad I invested the time and resources to attend. Thanks to Shannon and her whole staff for making it a great convention!" ~ Tom Vermillion - CEO/Visionary DEPS
"I was honored to attend this year's convention where I received insight into the workings of both the NC electrical board and the NC security systems board, as well as being a part of my first NCSLVA board meeting. The classes had value for leadership at all levels, affirming that leadership is not just in a position but a mindset. It was great to be able to see some of the new products for the industry and speak with the representatives of those products. Last but not least, the food was excellent! Thanks for a successful convention!" ~ Kyle Trivette - Lake Hickory Security Inc.
"Attending the NCSLVA Convention was an outstanding experience from start to finish. The event was incredibly well organized, with a great balance of educational sessions, hands-on demonstrations, and opportunities to connect with others in the industry. I walked away with valuable knowledge, fresh ideas, and a stronger understanding of current trends and best practices.
What really stood out was the quality of the speakers and the willingness of everyone there to share insights and experiences. The networking alone made it worthwhile. I was able to build meaningful connections that I know will benefit me moving forward. The NCSLVA Convention exceeded my expectations. It was both inspiring and practical, and I'm already looking forward to attending again next year. Highly recommend it to anyone serious about growing in this field." ~ Allison Deal Adams- President/Owner Deal's Electronics LLC What excites me most is that this is just the beginning. The momentum we are building isn’t tied to a single event. It is part of a larger shift in how we deliver value as an association. It’s not just about attending an event. It is about what you take back with you: ideas, connections, and insights that help you build a stronger, more competitive, and more successful business. We’re just getting started!
Kind Regards, Shannon Few NCSLVA Executive Director |
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NCSLVA's All-New Online Training powered by Alarm Academy is Live!
The Freshest Industry Content, Affordable Courses, and Career-Boosting Education for Security & Life Safety Professionals |
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For assistance with joining NCSLVA or purchasing any of our training please contact Behrens Watkins
at Behrens.Watkins@NCSLVA.org today! |
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Sales Flat, Prices Down, and Supply is Healthier Research from Zonda |
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The day after the Super Bowl (February 9th this year) traditionally marks the unofficial kickoff to the spring selling season. As we entered the busiest time of year, home shoppers showed signs of renewed enthusiasm, supported by mortgage rates that hovered between 5.99% and 6.17% throughout the month. Improving weather across parts of the country following January’s harsh start, combined with widely available buyer incentives, also helped support the market.
Even so, what ultimately played out was more of the same. Home sales were largely flat, and the market remained classified as average according to the Zonda Market Ranking. Community counts trended higher, while standing inventory, a notable challenge for some builders, moved towards healthier levels. As one builder put it, “It still feels up and down, week to week. The market is not running, but we are able to chip away at inventory.”
“February trends already feel like old news, though,” said Ali Wolf, chief economist for Zonda and NewHomeSource. “Escalating geopolitical tensions, higher oil and gas prices, and mortgage rates moving back into the 6.29% to 6.55% range have quickly reshaped the narrative. While a core segment of home shoppers still wants or needs to buy today, others are slowing their search as they wait for greater stability.” Total new home sales slipped MOM
Zonda’s new home sales metric counts the number of new home contract sales each month and accounts for both cancellations and seasonality. This metric shows there were 694,552 new homes sold in February on a seasonally adjusted annualized rate. This was a decline of 3.6% from last month and an increase of 2.6% from a year ago. On a non-seasonally adjusted basis, 59,238 homes were sold, 2.2% higher than last year and 2.0% above the same month in 2019. |
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Thank You to Our Premier Partners!! |
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