Safeguards Consulting’s Mark Schreiber Honored with Sandy Jones Volunteer of the Year Award at ISC West’s Advance 2026

Safeguards Consulting is proud to congratulate our President and Principal Consultant, Mark Schreiber, on receiving the prestigious Sandy Jones Volunteer of the Year Award. The honor was presented this Tuesday, March 24, at 10:30 a.m. during The Advance 2026, held at The Venetian Expo as part of ISC West.  

Named in tribute to Sandra Jones, Principal of Sandra Jones and Company, a dedicated Security Industry Association (SIA) volunteer, and co-founder of the executive conference Securing New Ground, the Volunteer of the Year Award recognizes an SIA volunteer who demonstrates exceptional dedication to expanding SIA’s programs and services. This distinguished award is presented annually during The Advance, SIA’s flagship membership event at ISC West. 

Over the years, Schreiber has served through his SIA membership by:  

- Serving as a member of the Voice of the Industry (VOI) Steering Committee for Security Practitioners Advancing Real Conversations (SPARC), the Security Industry Association’s (SIA) technical end-user forum. The VOI committee provides industry insights and supplier/vendor expertise in a vendor-neutral capacity to support SPARC’s community of security practitioners and practitioner teams. 
- Volunteering as the primary author for the VOI committee’s SPARC Intelligence Report, delivering authoritative guidance on evaluating AI vendors and service providers. 
- Participating actively on multiple SIA committees and working groups, including the Learning and Development Committee, Video and Vision Subcommittee, Utilities Advisory Board, Drone Security Subcommittee, and Autonomous Solutions Working Group. 
- Engaging in the collaborative partnership between SIA and the International Association of Professional Security Consultants (IAPSC) to foster collaboration, generate impactful content, facilitate knowledge sharing, and enhance awareness within the security industry. 

Upon accepting his award, Schreiber took a moment to express his heartfelt gratitude to the Security Industry Association (SIA). He emphasized the vital role that industry professionals play in actively engaging with organizations like the SIA, noting that such involvement not only strengthens individual careers but also drives the overall growth and innovation within the industry. Schreiber also highlighted the incredible sense of camaraderie he has experienced among fellow SIA volunteers, attributing much of his motivation and success to this supportive community. He also acknowledged the unwavering dedication of the SIA staff, whose tireless efforts create a foundation for volunteer impact and industry advancement. For Schreiber, volunteering has been more than just giving back; it has been a deeply rewarding journey that has enriched him both personally and professionally. 

Congratulations once again to Schreiber for this well-deserved recognition, and congratulations also to Daniël Reichman, CEO and chief scientist of Ai-RGUS, on receiving the Sandy Jones Volunteer of the Year Award as well! Their commitment and passion continue to inspire us all and set a shining example of leadership in our industry. 

To read more about the award, visit:  

Security Industry Association Names Daniël Reichman and Mark Schreiber as 2026 Sandy Jones Volunteers of the Year - Security Industry Association 

To learn more about Schreiber’s recent involvement in SIA, click:  

Schreiber Joins SIA’s Voice of the Industry (VOI) Committee — Safeguards Consulting, Inc. 

Schreiber Aids SIA’s SPARC and VOI Committees with Their New Artificial Intelligence (AI) Report — Safeguards Consulting, Inc. 

To read the SPARC Intelligence Report: Guidance for Evaluating Artificial Intelligence Vendors/Service Providers, visit:  

SPARC Intelligence Report: Guidance for Evaluating Artificial Intelligence Vendors/Service Providers - Security Industry Association 

Strengthening Security: Milestones for Schreiber and SIA's Counter-UAS Working Group

Safeguards Consulting is proud to share an exciting update from our Security Industry Association (SIA) friends and our Founder, Mark Schreiber!  

Our firm is proud to have had Schreiber actively representing us within SIA's Counter-UAS Working Group for the past few years since its inception, and we are excited to see what they achieve together within this new year. This group of esteemed experts, founded in 2023, focuses on actively supporting, "the work needed to accomplish the recommendations of the Domestic Counter-UAS National Action Plan put forth by the Biden administration and further educate and give authorities options to mitigate UAS attacks".  Additionally, the group also collaborates with external organizations while also recruiting other industry experts aligned to track and monitor supportive legislation; and identify, educate, and engage with legislators. 

Some of their major milestones thus far include:  

+ Leading presentations at the SIA GovSummit and ISC Security Events conferences 

+ Authoring a series of articles on important drone and counter-UAS topics.  

+ Communicated support for S. 1631, the Safeguarding the Homeland from the Threats Posed by Unmanned Aircraft Systems Act of 2023.  

+ Providing topic input for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security speaker at the SIA National Capital Region Security Forum’s June 2023 counter-UAS event 

And so much more!  

However, the group has also recently provided guidance to SIA in their new blog post, "How to Spot a Drone: Guidance From Experts in SIA's Counter-UAS Working Group - Security Industry Association". In the blog post, Lauren Bresette, Senior Manager of Government Relations at SIA, outlines essential strategies for identifying drones in various environments. The post also emphasizes the importance of understanding drone characteristics, including size, shape, and sound, as well as the context of their operation, such as location and time of day. Additionally, Bresette highlights various guidance from the Counter-UAS Working Group, providing readers with practical tips for recognizing drone activity and distinguishing it from other aerial objects. The piece advocates for awareness and vigilance in both public and private spaces to enhance safety and security, especially in sensitive areas.  

We hope you will consider reading their piece in full as linked below as it serves as a valuable resource for those seeking to improve their ability to spot drones and respond appropriately.  

Stay tuned for more updates as they continue their efforts to combat drone threats!  

To learn more about SIA's Counter-UAS Working Group, visit:  

Counter-UAS Working Group - Security Industry Association 

To read the full article, visit:  

How to Spot a Drone: Guidance From Experts in SIA's Counter-UAS Working Group - Security Industry Association