“It’s an honor to receive this prestigious award from ASIS Canada,” commented Mark Folmer, CPP, RAD President and COO. “I have remained an active member of ASIS International, and I look forward to many more years of involvement and service to their important mission.”
The Canadian Security Industry Pioneer award was established in the late ‘90s to recognize the contributions of ASIS Canadian members who had distinguished themselves through contribution to the growth and professionalism in the security industry. The security practitioners that initiated the award looked not only at the contributions that individuals made to the Canadian Security Industry and contributions to ASIS International in Canada but also to ASIS International globally.
Ron Minion, CPP, was the first recipient of the award in 1999. Ron was instrumental in bringing ASIS to Canada. He along with others primarily in western Canada, specifically Edmonton and Calgary worked tirelessly to establish the first Chapter in Edmonton and then in Calgary. Ron passed away a few years ago after a lengthy battle with ALS also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.
“Of course, Mark won. It’s because he’s awesome,” commented RAD CEO Steve Reinharz upon learning of Folmer’s award win. “It’s been one heck of a week, first winning CBRE’s Innovation Challenge, Mark being awarded this ASIS Canada honor, and another award win we will announce in the next few weeks.”
Mark’s professional background is in security services, corporate security, and technology. After graduating with a business degree, he progressed in senior roles responsible for various security business units. He launched a consulting business focused on physical security and then served as Senior Manager, Corporate Security at Canada’s largest telecommunications company. He created the security industry function for security focused software company. Mark is an ASIS International Community VP and a past chair of its Security Services Community. On a part-time basis he teaches in the Security and Police Studies program at University of Montreal. In 2020, Mark joined Robotic Assistance Devices and was appointed President and Chief Operating Officer in July 2021