2018: Year in Review

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2018 was a year full of growth and change for Open Options. As we celebrated our twenty-first year of business, we also mourned the unexpected and tragic loss of Jonathan Berman, who had been an integral part of the Open Options family for nearly two decades. In mid-December of this year, our team announced we were to be acquired by ACRE, which will provide new opportunities for growth and expansion for both ACRE and Open Options. We want to thank our customers, dealers, and partners for your continued support and let you know how much we truly value your relationship to Open Options. Continue reading below for some more highlights from 2018.

Company Growth

Open Options continues to experience growth in the marketplace, and consequently, in personnel. Throughout 2018, we welcomed several new employees to the Open Options team in various departments across the company:

  • Lauren Yonis – Marketing & Communications Coordinator
  • Brittany Tate – Technical Trainer
  • Zack Davis – Technical Support Representative
  • Ephraim Wiggins – Technical Support Representative
  • Joy Doherty – Production Manager
  • Brent Mucher – Pacific Northwest Regional Sales Manager
  • Jose Charco – Technical Support Representative
  • Shannon Diddell – South Central Regional Sales Manager

We also had some promotions take place during the year. At the beginning of 2018, we established a Professional Services department with William Murphey announced as the Professional Services and Engineering Manager. In his new role, William is responsible for creating the infrastructure to grow and manage this department. To learn more about the services we offer, visit our website. Nic Robran was promoted to Technical Support Supervisor, where he will oversee the technical support department and ensure customer satisfaction through our support team.

Software & Integrations

Our development team works tirelessly to ensure DNA Fusion is equipped with the feature set necessary to provide the most advanced access control solutions possible. This year we had nine major software releases, and also executed several new third-party integrations as well as updated and improved various existing integrations:

  • Mirasys video integration
  • Kone elevator integration
  • Added support for the Mercury Series 3 product line
  • ISS video integration
  • Hikvision video integration
  • Schindler elevator integration
  • Allegion backend support for ENGAGE IP Gateway (full release Q1 2019)

We look forward to continuing to provide our customers with the best technology available through our third-party offerings in 2019.

Tradeshows & Events

Open Options participated in several tradeshows and events throughout the year. We once again exhibited at ISC West, where we showcased DNA Fusion and its powerful components to 30,000 security professionals. While we didn’t have a booth space at GSX in Las Vegas, we were still a co-sponsor of the 15th annual Security Industry Party. In November, we also exhibited at ISC East in New York City.

In October 2018 we hosted our first-ever A&E Summit just outside Austin, Texas, where A&Es and consultants gathered to learn more about Open Options as a company and our numerous product offerings. Click here for a recap of the event.

Open Options also attended several partner events throughout the year put on by Mercury, Milestone, and Knight Security, to name a few. We enjoy being able to support our partners and highlight our relationships through this avenue. The Open Options sales force also attended and exhibited at various regional events, including the MSMA Fall Conference and the Campus Security Summit both in Orlando and Phoenix hosted by Campus Security & Life Safety magazine.

Philanthropy

Open Options was proud to support many charitable efforts and events throughout the year:

  • At ISC West, we participate in the Security 5/2K benefiting Mission 500, a nonprofit organization that works closely with the security industry to provide aid to children and families living in poverty in the United States.
  • Every spring, Open Options holds a company crawfish boil and silent auction, with all proceeds from the auction going to our local Ronald McDonald House.
  • This past summer, Open Options was a sponsor of the ASPIN Saltwater Fishing Tournament in Matagorda, Texas. ASPIN is a nonprofit dedicated to meeting needs of professionals in the security industry affected by man-made or natural disasters, illness, accidents, or death. dedicated to meeting the needs of professionals in the security industry affected by man-made or natural disasters, illness, accidents, or death.
  • Each October, Open Options serves as a gold sponsor for the Southwest Airlines LUV Classic golf tournament and party. Since 1985, this event has donated more than $16 million to deserving children’s charities.
  • Lastly, every holiday season we host a Toys for Tots toy drive at our corporate headquarters. Donations received during the drive are distributed locally to children in need.

Again, we want to thank all of you who helped make 2018 such a success. We are looking forward to a great 2019 together!

To our Friends, Partners and Valued Customers

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Dear friends, partners, and valued customers:

I wanted to reach out to each of you and thank you for the outpouring of love and appreciation for our loss of a great friend and leader, Jonathan Berman. This was a great shock to the entire industry and was a tragic loss to our team. We deeply appreciate your patience with us as we continue to heal.

Yesterday, we made a formal announcement of our transition and the sale of our company to the holding company ACRE. This transaction had been in the works since late summer and was clearly the dream of Jonathan as he was a big part of the process. With his sudden and untimely loss, it completely left us shorthanded and the work of our external announcement to our partners and customers fell behind. For that, I personally apologize.

The sale of Open Options was a strategic decision that was uniformly supported by every level of our executive management.  As the industry continues to consolidate, we identified many reasons why we believe this direction provides deeper strength to our longer-term mission of bringing the best in open architecture to our customers. Open Options will continue to move forward as a standalone company under the umbrella of ACRE, and our brand, staff, and products will continue to remain the same that we have offered in the past. The scheduled release of our latest software and hardware products are continuing on track.

To summarize, we will continue to move forward with the great ideas, products, staff, and purpose that we have since our beginning. We have lost a great friend and leader, but have rededicated ourselves to his memory with purpose. If you have any specific concerns, please feel free to contact me directly.

Thank you for your support as we all look forward to the conclusion of a great year in business and a continuation of what we have always provided.

Sincerely,


 

 

 

Steve Fisher

In Memory of Jonathan Berman

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Jonathan Berman tragically passed away early Saturday morning, December 8, 2018. JB was an exceptional, loving, father to his three children Lauren, David and Jonah, and a beloved member of the Open Options family, where he worked for nearly 20 years. As this was a sudden and unexpected loss, there is an immediate need for financial assistance for multiple expenditures; however, funds raised through this specific GoFundMe campaign will be given directly to Dawn Berman, the mother of their children, and invested in the long-term well-being and future of Lauren, David, and Jonah, including educational expenses. JB’s impact was far-reaching, and those who knew him absolutely loved him. He will be missed and in our hearts forever.

If you would like to make a donation, please visit our GoFundMe page. Thank you to those who have already donated.