CounterPoint of the Day: New Tax Law Explained and Enlightened

George De Marco has been involved in the electronic security industry since 1981. The company he founded, Greater Alarm, received nationwide recognition as one of the top 100 largest electronic security firms in the United States by Security Distributing & Marketing (SDM) magazine and received SDM’s most prestigious award, Dealer of the Year. In addition, Greater Alarm was named one of the INC. 500 fastest growing private companies in America for three consecutive years and was recognized as one of the leading custom electronics integrators in the United States by Custom Electronics Pro (CEPRO) magazine.

George is a published author of numerous industry publications and blogs, and continues to participate in industry conferences and events as a speaker and moderator. He received the President’s Award and Sara E. Jackson Award from ESA and a lifetime achievement award from the California Alarm Association for his industry contributions. George also was appointed by the Governor of California as a board member for the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS).

George is managing partner for DECO Ventures and the ESX Chairman.

Chester W. Grudzinski, Jr.'s practice centers upon federal, state, and other tax matters relating to various businesses and entities. He has represented many clients with the formation, operation, and liquidation of all types of business entities, including in that process many mergers and acquisitions. Mr. Grudzinski represents individuals, private business interests, and publicly traded companies. He also represents clients in tax controversy matters. His emphasis has been upon partnerships, limited liability companies, S corporations, and trusts that have engaged in a wide range of businesses, including investment activities, real estate activities, oil and gas activities, and other active businesses.

Chester is a Trustee of the Law School Foundation of Texas Tech School of Law. Chester is also an active member with the Partnership Tax Committee of the American Bar Association and has participated as a speaker and as a member of discussion panels for such committee. Chester has a commitment to the community through his service on the Board of the Longhorn Council, Boy Scouts of America, as a Westside Little League baseball coach, and as a volunteer coordinator at the Presbyterian Night Shelter in Fort Worth for All Saints Episcopal Church.

Chris Heaton has a 30-year history in advocacy as a volunteer leader or paid staff executive for member-based and trade associations at the local, state and national level.

He began his career in law enforcement where he served honorably for 20 years in a variety of assignments including patrol, burglary investigations and narcotics. He served as a volunteer leader during his tenure in law enforcement in local and statewide police associations advocating on an array of criminal justice and occupational issues.

He served as executive director of a 17,000 member law enforcement association in Texas for 10 years and has worked on local, state and federal legislative issues for the last five years with ESA.

Chris holds a Bachelors degree in Criminal Justice Administration from Stephen F. Austin State University and a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of North Texas.

Mitch Reitman is the Managing Principal of Reitman Consulting Group, Inc. which provides financial consulting, valuation, general accounting services, transactional services, tax compliance, and tax representation services to security alarm companies in twenty-three states, Mexico, Canada and the EEC.

Mitch has been in the security industry for twenty-two years and was Vice President of Acquisitions for Select Security, and Director of Acquisitions and Business Development for Protection One Alarm Monitoring. He belongs to several national, state and local associations and is on the Board of Directors of AIREF, the Texas Burglar and Fire Alarm Association, and the Editorial Review Board of Security Sales and Systems Integration Magazine. He began his career at Coopers and Lybrand, Certified Public Accountants where he was an audit manager. Mitch was elected to the Electronic Security Hall of Fame in April 2017 and was awarded the Mark Schubert Associate of the Year Award by the California Alarm Association in 2007