TRADE SHOW INSTRUCTORS

Seth Blumberg

Seth Blumberg is an ACE instructor for ALOA and a certified instructor for the Kaba Mas X-10 high-security lock. He served in the military before entering the trade and worked for multiple lock shops in Michigan and Arizona. He opened Interstate Lock & Safe in 1987 and began teaching the Kaba Mas X-0 Series in 1992. His certifications include GSA Inspector and Safe Technician credentials, among others. He is a member of both ALOA and SAVTA. His work with government agencies gives him direct experience with the security requirements and specifications that apply to federal installations.

Seth teaches high-security lock and safe courses, including the Kaba Mas X-10, the Sargent & Greenleaf 2740, and the LKM10K. He also instructs fire door inspector certification courses. His government security background informs courses on GSA-approved containers and the protocols required for servicing locks in federal environments. Students learn safe manipulation, high-security lock servicing, and the compliance standards applicable to government and institutional accounts, practical skills for technicians working in or pursuing contracts with federal agencies.

Guy Robinson - ASSA ABLOY

Guy Robinson is the founder of the ASSA ABLOY Locksmith Academy, established to address the industry's growing shortage of trained technicians. He holds a master's degree in communication, which he applies directly to instructional design and adult learning methodology. His teaching philosophy is built around structured repetition, hands-on sessions, and condensed daily class time to maximize retention for adult learners. He continues his own education by teaching alongside experienced industry instructors and staying current on hardware and access control developments.

Guy's curriculum at the ASSA ABLOY Locksmith Academy is built for entry-level and apprentice locksmiths, with the foundational apprentice track requiring ten full days of instruction. Courses break down core locksmithing fundamentals into sequenced, hands-on sessions designed to build competency progressively rather than overwhelm students with volume. His approach prioritizes retention over coverage, a practical framework for training technicians who need skills that hold up on the job, not just in the classroom.

Lee Schofield - dormakaba

Lee Schofield has more than 30 years of experience in the security industry. He holds multiple certifications including NTS Certified Alarm Technician Level II, and three AESBL credentials: Certified Locksmith, Certified Access Control Technician, and Certified CCTV Technician. He has served as Chairman of the Alabama Locksmith Association and was a chief contributor to locksmith licensing legislation in Alabama. That combination of technical credentials, industry leadership, and regulatory involvement puts him among the more credentialed instructors active in the Southeast.

Lee teaches courses covering dormakaba mechanical door hardware, mechanical push button locks, and stand-alone electronic push button lock systems. He also instructs on safe and safe lock servicing. Students in his courses gain hands-on knowledge of both legacy mechanical hardware and the electronic standalone systems that are increasingly common in commercial and residential installations. His breadth across mechanical, electronic, and CCTV disciplines makes him particularly useful for technicians looking to expand beyond a single specialty.

Matt Smith - Allegion

Matt Smith is an instructor for our LCN, Von Duprin, and the Preparing for Fire Door Inspection classes. Prior to joining the training team in 2024, he spent four years as a Business Development Consultant in the Midwest Regional Sales Office for Allegion calling on commercial locksmiths. Prior to that, Matt spent 13 years as the Assistant Director of Access Control at Ohio University, including supervision of the university Lock Shop. During that time, Matt developed an appreciation for the quality, craftsmanship, support, and reliability of Allegion hardware.

Matt enjoys traveling, seeing new places, and finding that unique little unknown restaurant in each city he stays in to experience a new meal and new adventure. When not on the road, he lives in a sleepy little town in Southeast Ohio with his wife and children and two dogs, Archie and Hiccup. He enjoys biking, kayaking, hiking, and outdoor adventures. He’s a drummer, a Jeep enthusiast, and a lover of Tolkein. As a lifelong learner Matt appreciates the privilege of teaching new industry professionals about the difference Allegion makes in the hardware industry and about all the details that set Allegion apart as a manufacturer, employer, and industry resource and partner.

Andy Phelps - ALARM LOCK/MARKS USA

Andy Phelps holds the Certified Alarm Installer (CAI) designation from ALOA, which he earned after completing ALOA's instructor training in 2017. He also holds the Certified Registered Locksmith (CRL) designation. He worked as a licensed locksmith in Tennessee from 1991 to 2014, running a mobile commercial and residential shop before expanding into automotive locksmithing. In 2010, he founded the Locksmith Academy of Nashville. He has served as National Training Manager for Alarm Lock since September 2014 and added trainer responsibilities for Marks USA in 2018, along with a role as School Sales Support Specialist for NAPCO Security Technologies.

Andy teaches courses on Alarm Lock access control products and Marks USA hardware. His curriculum covers interchangeable core servicing, automotive key generation, and transponder programming, topics he developed from hands-on shop experience and years of classroom instruction. Students leave his courses with practical skills in standalone and networked access control systems, exit hardware, and automotive entry techniques. His background running a licensed locksmith business in a regulated state gives him direct insight into the compliance and documentation side of the trade.

Phil Agius - Framon

Phil Agius has worked in the locksmith trade since 1992, joining his family's full-service lock shop at age 22. He expanded the business into hollow metal and commercial door hardware and has been the primary family member operating the shop. He played an active role in the 2017 acquisition of Blue Dog Keys and has been heavily involved in new product development throughout his career. He currently leads contract hardware projects from the shop floor, maintaining direct hands-on engagement with the work his courses cover.

Phil teaches key coding and key generation through Framon, with a focus on the Genericode (Gcode) program, a key bitting and code software platform his company has developed and refined since 2000. He provides technical support for Gcode, including new code entries, key cutting applications, and program updates. Students in his courses gain working knowledge of key code software, code-cutting workflow, and the practical application of key generation systems used in full-service locksmith operations.

Chad Bryant - Centrios

As Sales Director at Centrios since May 2023, I bring over 25 years of sales experience to providing leading small business solutions with a focus on new business development, sales management, and key account relationships. My work emphasizes fostering strategic partnerships and delivering targeted solutions to drive business growth.

With a strong background in sales and marketing leadership, including previous roles as Managing Director at Fundermax North America, running a small business and Sales Management at Hilti North America. I have consistently collaborated with teams across functions and borders to achieve impactful results. My commitment to building robust client relationships and driving success aligns with Centrios' mission to deliver exceptional solutions to its clients.

John Husemoller

John Husemoller is a Senior Solutions Architect at Amazon Web Services (AWS), currently focusing on Financial Services payments customers. With 25+ years of experience blending technology with business strategies across FSI, Healthcare, Retail, and Manufacturing, he specializes in cloud-native architectures, hybrid cloud modernization, and Digital transformation. Talk to John about strategies to deliver business capabilities faster with Agentic tools while preserving governance, DevEx, and CX.

Travis Howell - ILCO/Advanced Diagnostics

Travis Howell is the Aftermarket Sales Manager for Kaba Ilco Corp and has spent over 15 years working in the locksmith and security industry. Along with supporting distributors and locksmiths across the western U.S., Travis has also run his own automotive key business, giving him hands-on experience with the same tools and challenges many locksmiths face every day. He enjoys helping others learn the automotive side of the business and is passionate about finding practical ways to make key cutting, programming, and new technology easier to understand and more profitable.