Breakout
Grants for Physical Security: Maximizing Funding Opportunities
Federal and state governments allocate millions of dollars annually in grant funding for physical security solutions across multiple sectors—including school security systems, law enforcement technology upgrades, drone detection and mitigation solutions, and critical infrastructure protection. This panel features government agency experts and security grant subject matter experts sharing knowledge on identifying the right grants and crafting competitive applications.
Speakers
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Dave McCarthyProgram Manager, Government Relations
Axis CommunicationsDave McCarthy is an experienced public policy professional with a decade of experience in technology and government relations. After completing a B.A. in Economics and Political Science from Florida State University, McCarthy worked in government advocacy at the federal, state, and local levels. He joined Axis Communications’ government relations program, where he focuses on technology policy issues facing the security industry. In his position, McCarthy oversees legislative and policy developments, manages collaboration with industry associations, and works internally to ensure product line compliance with government regulations.
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Elisa MulaFounder
EM DesignsElisa Mula is the founder of EM Designs, LLC (est. 2004), a security consulting firm. With a master’s in protection management from John Jay College and a bachelor’s in economics, she brings over a decade of hands-on experience across the physical security industry—spanning manufacturing, integration, and consulting. Mula’s expertise covers video surveillance, access control, biometrics, and AI-driven security solutions, as well as the funding of security programs. Through work with both public and private sector clients, she has developed a well-rounded, forward-thinking approach to identifying and addressing security threats and vulnerabilities.


