Russell Anderson is an outstanding nominee for the Locksmith Ledger All Stars Award, exemplifying innovation, leadership, and a deep commitment to advancing the locksmith industry. As sales director at INOX by Unison Hardware Inc. and a Master Trainer, Anderson has played a pivotal role in helping locksmiths navigate the rapidly evolving landscape of smart locks and access control. His work goes beyond product education; he has fundamentally reshaped how locksmiths approach and adopt modern security technologies.

With more than a decade of experience in the electrified door hardware industry, complemented by 20 years of low-voltage expertise in the United States Air Force, Anderson brings a rare combination of technical depth and real-world application. He has devoted countless hours to training locksmiths across the country, leading sessions through key industry partners such as Intermountain Lock (IML) and the International Distribution Network (IDN). His ability to translate complex access control systems into clear, practical knowledge has empowered locksmiths to confidently expand their capabilities and service offerings.

Anderson’s impact lies in his ability to bridge the gap between traditional locksmithing and the future of integrated electronic security. At a time when many in the industry are challenged by the shift toward smart and connected solutions, he has created a pathway forward — simplifying deployment, improving understanding, and demonstrating how these technologies can unlock new business opportunities. His training programs not only educate but inspire, encouraging professionals to rethink long-standing practices and embrace more scalable, efficient solutions.

Anderson is a true advocate for the locksmith community. His passion for education extends beyond the field, as he also teaches business, management, and finance at the university level. This broader perspective enhances his ability to connect with professionals at every stage of their careers, reinforcing both technical knowledge and business acumen.

 Russell Anderson embodies the spirit of the Locksmith Ledger All Stars Award — someone who refuses to accept “that’s how we’ve always done it,” and instead drives meaningful progress through education, innovation, and leadership. His contributions have not only elevated individual locksmiths but have helped move the entire industry forward.

Miguel Carrillo

Customer Service, Mister Key

“Miguel Carrillo is someone I am proud to nominate as a Locksmith Ledger All Star because he consistently goes above and beyond in his role at Mister Key. He has been a dependable and valuable resource to our company, always providing timely assistance, strong product knowledge, and excellent customer service,” said manager Michael Nettles in his nomination.“

In the locksmith industry, speed, accuracy, and reliability matter, and Carrillo consistently delivers in all three areas. Whether helping with orders, locating parts, answering questions, or assisting with product availability, he handles each situation with professionalism and a willingness to help. His responsiveness and follow-through make a real difference in our daily operations.

What stands out most about Carrillo is that he is solution-oriented and dependable. He understands the urgency that often comes with locksmith work and does his part to help make sure we can keep serving our customers efficiently. Having someone like Carrillo on the distributor side is a major asset to locksmith companies like ours.”

Mike Donohue

Outside Sales Representative, IML Security Supply

Mike Donohue, a long-time leader in the Seattle security community, received two separate nominations for this award.

From colleague Brian Adkins: Donohue has recently entered semi-retirement following a long and storied career in the lock Industry. Working with Frank J. Martin and Olympus Locks for years before joining IML as an Outside Sales Rep, he dominated the Seattle market for a decade and has more friends than I can count. Mike has innovated cabinet and padlocks during his earlier years and set every sales record possible at IML. I cannot think of a person more deserving of an All Star award.

From customer Don Kustus: Donohue is an innovative thinker, who finds solutions when faced by challenges that are most often not his, overcoming obstacles and solving problems. Donohue has helped the university with so many innovative ideas that it's hard to mention. His abilities to collaborate with IT, facilities and all others involved helps to achieve the best results for all. Donohue is always there at a moment's notice when you need an idea, a contact or just a part. He has bailed us out that Friday afternoon, just before quitting time, with just the right idea. He serves all of his customers at 1000%.

Bill Fenwick

Inside Sales Manager, Top Notch Distributors

Bill Fenwick is the kind of leader who sees a gap and brings people together to solve it. As inside sales manager at Top Notch Distributors, he and his team recognized that gaining real expertise in commercial door hardware, where knowledge is difficult to acquire, can take years. That delay impacts both employees and customers. Instead of accepting that timeline, they built a better path forward.In 2025, Fenwick and his team launched an intensive training program designed to fast-track less experienced employees into confident, knowledgeable professionals. This was not a passive learning initiative. Fenwick played a hands-on role throughout, leading training sessions, working one-on-one with participants, and making sure no one fell behind, while his team helped reinforce the structure and execution. Senior employees were paired with newer team members, creating a mentorship culture that supported learning through real-world experience.

The results spoke for themselves. Five employees completed the program and passed challenging exams with outstanding results. More importantly, they emerged ready to support customers at a much higher level, with the confidence and technical understanding needed to handle complex situations in the field.

Throughout the process, Fenwick and his team consistently demonstrated Top Notch’s core values in action. He led with integrity and humility, taking responsibility for the program’s success while remaining reliable and approachable. He fostered a true team environment by creating a safe, supportive space where collaboration and shared learning could thrive. His focus on building deep product knowledge strengthened the customer connection, ensuring employees could deliver dependable, trustworthy results. At the same time, this initiative reflects a long-term investment in both people and the business, while also recognizing and celebrating the daily progress and achievements along the way.

What sets Fenwick apart is how he leads. He brings his team into the process, values their contributions, and creates an environment where people grow together. This program required a significant investment of time and energy, and he helped guide that effort with focus and purpose. The outcome is a stronger team and a better experience for customers. It has also set a standard we strive for, where employees mirror Bill’s enthusiasm and genuine care for customers.

Fenwick’s perspective is shaped by experience. He started in the warehouse at Top Notch in 1995 and worked his way through multiple sales roles before becoming inside sales manager. That journey gives him a unique ability to connect with his team and understand what they need to succeed.

This effort is not a one-time success. The program will continue to develop current employees, and a new group began their training journey in Q2 2026. By rethinking how knowledge is developed and shared, Fenwick and his team have strengthened their organization, improved the customer experience, and set a higher standard for training within the industry. Their work is not just impactful, it is lasting.

Doug Hotaling

Director of Business Development, Electronic Access Control, ASSA ABLOY

Doug Hotaling consistently challenges traditional business practices within the access control and security manufacturing industry, pushing both our organization and peers to rethink how work is done. Rather than accepting “the way it’s always been,” he actively identifies inefficiencies — especially those tied to paper-based systems — and replaces them with modern, technology-driven solutions.

A strong advocate for digital transformation, Hotaling has led the adoption of tools that streamline operations, improve accuracy, and increase accountability, specifically for several of our integrator training programs. By transitioning away from paper and into integrated digital systems, he has helped create efficient workflows and a transparent and scalable business model.

What truly sets him apart is his mindset. He approaches technology not as a trend, but as a strategic tool for solving problems and doing work more efficiently. Whether integrating data across departments or encouraging teams to adopt new workflows, he prioritizes long-term sustainability and measurable results. Most recently, he served as manager of electronic access control (EAC) Programs at ASSA ABLOY and has since been promoted to director of business development for EAC Programs. In this role, he continues to demonstrate strong leadership while driving future-forward thinking that builds stronger, more modern business practices across teams.

Beyond internal improvements, Hotaling also influences the broader community by challenging outdated assumptions and demonstrating that innovation can coexist with craftsmanship and service excellence. His willingness to evolve, experiment, and lead change exemplifies what it means to be an All Star in today’s locksmith industry. He gets his teams excited about technology and challenges them to see things differently to establish better outcomes.

Through forward-thinking leadership and a relentless drive to modernize operations, Hotaling has positioned ASSA ABLOY — and the industry — as better prepared for the future.

Dennis Ma

Founder and President, Townsteel

Dennis Ma is the founder and president of TownSteel, Inc. and has dedicated four decades to solving real problems and innovating practical solutions in the hardware manufacturing industry. Over the course of his career, he has built multiple successful businesses by combining design acuity, creativity, and a genuine commitment to addressing customer needs. To date, Ma holds more than 30 United States patents, with each representing a tangible contribution to the architectural hardware field.

Ma played a pivotal role in the design and development of ligature-resistant hardware, pioneering the first ligature-resistant levered cylindrical lock in the industry. He recognized a need in behavioral health facilities for hardware designed specifically for patient safety, and he set out to fix it. This product line is now recognized by the New York State Office of Mental Health and is widely installed in behavioral health facilities across the United States. His work in this area reflects a steadfast emphasis on safety, reliability, and user-centered design.

Ma is also deeply engaged with the Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association, where his leadership and expertise have helped advance industry standards. He takes pride in delivering ANSI/BHMA Grade 1 products across multiple lock types, reflecting his commitment to top-tier quality and performance in architectural hardware. For Dennis Ma, door hardware is more than a professional focus, it is a passion that informs every aspect of his work.

At TownSteel, Inc., he leads a team of engineers with a clear, outcome-driven approach: create, design, innovate, and deliver results. This philosophy guides the company’s product development and customer partnerships, ensuring that solutions meet the highest standards of durability, safety, and aesthetic value.

In short, Dennis Ma stands out as a leading figure in architectural door hardware, consistently driving innovation, quality, and impact. He is, without question, a distinguished contributor to the industry and a trusted partner to clients and colleagues alike.

Guy Robinson

ASSA ABLOY Academy Training Specialist

Guy Robinson’s unwavering dedication to the locksmith industry and the locksmith channel has made a lasting and meaningful impact through his work at ASSA ABLOY. At a time when the security landscape is rapidly shifting toward electronic access control and integrated solutions, Robinson stands out as a strong advocate for the craft of locksmithing — ensuring its foundational skills remain valued while helping professionals prepare for the future.

As an ASSA ABLOY Academy Training Specialist, Robinson focuses exclusively on training, especially with the locksmith community, delivering education that seamlessly blends traditional mechanical expertise with modern access control technologies. His training reinforces that locksmithing is not a fading trade, but a respected, evolving, and highly rewarding career path.

That impact is most evident through the ASSA ABLOY Locksmith Academy. As a founding member and its primary instructor, Robinson played a critical role in developing this educational program. Launched five years ago, the Locksmith Academy is an intensive 10-day training experience combining in-depth classroom instruction with hands-on application. The program equips locksmiths with practical, immediately applicable skills they can take back to their shops to improve operations, expand capabilities, and better serve customers.

Robinson’s influence is reflected throughout ASSA ABLOY Academy’s curriculum and structure, which is designed to accelerate learning and deliver real-world value. His leadership helped create a program that not only transfers essential skills, but also strengthens the profession by attracting new talent, preserving core locksmith knowledge, and preparing participants to succeed in an increasingly complex security environment.

Through his commitment to education and the locksmith community, Robinson is demonstrating that training is more than instruction — it is a means of preservation, growth, and leadership. His work supports stronger businesses, greater customer trust, and a more sustainable future for the locksmith channel.

Corey Thompson

Head of Retail Marketing, Alfred International

Corey Thompson, head of retail marketing at Alfred International, has played a defining role in reshaping how emerging smart lock brands enter — and succeed — in the North American market. Since joining Alfred International in 2019, Thompson has challenged long-standing assumptions about retail timelines, channel strategy, and how security products reach both consumers and professionals. His work reflects a consistent focus on removing friction from the buying journey while maintaining the integrity and performance expected within the security industry.

In an industry where new hardware brands often take years to achieve meaningful retail presence, if they make it there at all, Thompson refused to accept that path as inevitable. Instead, he rethought the go-to-market model from the ground up, aligning product design, packaging, pricing, and channel strategy to dramatically accelerate time-to-shelf. Under his leadership, within just 12-18 months, Alfred products secured in-store placement at major national retailers including Costco Canada, Walmart Canada, Home Depot Canada, Canadian Tire, and Amazon — an achievement that is exceptionally rare for a new entrant in the category. This level of execution required strong relationships, as well as deep understanding of merchandising strategy, supply chain coordination, and retail operations at scale.

Thompson’s impact goes beyond retail distribution. His approach has helped bridge the gap between customer accessibility and professional-grade security solutions, expanding awareness and adoption of smart locks while maintaining the performance and reliability expectations of the locksmith community. By increasing visibility and normalizing smart lock adoption at the retail level, he has helped drive downstream demand for installation, service, and integration—creating new opportunities for locksmiths to engage with connected access control technologies and participate in a rapidly evolving segment of the market.

What sets Thompson apart is the depth of experience behind his strategy. He began his career on the sales floor at Best Buy Canada and advanced through a range of operational and merchandising roles at Lowe’s Canada, ultimately managing more than $170 million in product categories spanning rough electrical, plumbing, and smart home as a senior buyer. This ground-up perspective gives him a rare, end-to-end understanding of how products are not only marketed, but sold, installed, and supported in real-world environments, including the needs of both DIY customers and professional trades.

Known for his integrity, tenacity, and collaborative leadership style, Thompson has built strong relationships across retailers, partners, and internal teams, earning a reputation for delivering results while elevating those around him. His ability to combine operational expertise with forward-thinking strategy has not only accelerated Alfred’s growth but has also helped redefine expectations for how innovative security products can reach the market. Corey’s work reflects a willingness to challenge “how it’s always been done” and replace it with smarter, faster, and more effective approaches—making him a strong candidate for the Locksmith Ledger All Stars Award.

Tyler Webb

Mobile Ambassador, Allegion

Tyler Webb is not just an ambassador for mobile access; he is a catalyst for the next chapter of the locksmith profession. His leadership, creativity, and refusal to accept “that’s how we’ve always done it” make him an exceptional candidate for the Locksmith Ledger All Star Award.