IPVM Editorial Staff

IPVM has the largest and most experienced editorial team covering physical security technology, including video surveillance, access control, weapons detection, and more.

Ethan Ace is a Researcher focusing on video surveillance and physical security technology and testing. He has over a decade of experience at IPVM, including publishing over 900 reports, primarily on video analytics and surveillance. Previously, Ace was a regional security integrator's Director of Sales Engineering. Ace has also installed low-voltage systems throughout North America.

Nadhir Cherfaou is a Research Engineer focusing on video surveillance, analytics, and access control. He is responsible for IPVM AI data management. Cherfaou graduated from Virginia Tech with a BS and MEng in engineering mechanics.

Angelique Chen is a business reporter at IPVM, focusing on company financials, interviews, and news. She has written just over 300 reports in two years. Before joining IPVM, she covered M&A at Reuters and cryptocurrency markets at CoinDesk. Angelique has a Master's degree in business journalism from New York University and a Bachelor's degree in international business from National Taiwan University.

Nikita Ermolaev is a Senior Research Engineer who leads new technology reporting at IPVM and focuses on public safety companies and IPVM's expansion into weapons detection, with over 250 reports in three years. He has a Bachelor's Degree in Physics from Moscow State University and a Master's in Applied Physics from Yale University.

Katie Ferry is a business / technology reporter at IPVM, focusing on acquisitions, company financials, and interviews. She has a Master's degree from Rutgers and a Bachelor's from Stony Brook University.

Conor Healy is IPVM's Director of Government Research, focusing on government use and regulation of technology, including international sanctions, policy and enforcement, security risks, human rights, and public interest issues. Frequently cited in the media, his analyses inform policymaking and draw international attention. Healy is known for researching China’s surveillance systems and manufacturers, notably providing expert testimony at the Uyghur Tribunal. Originally from Toronto, Canada, he developed an interest in surveillance as a teenager, once arranging for Edward Snowden to speak at his high school. Conor is also a peer-reviewed author in the Journal of Biomedical Optics. He holds a B.A. in Government from Harvard University and joined IPVM in 2020.

John Honovich founded IPVM in 2008. Honovich is the CEO. With over a decade of experience exposing unethical activities, underperforming products, and major industry trends, Honovich has also run product management for a video analytics startup and general management at a security integrator and graduated from Dartmouth College.

Mert Karakaya is a Senior Research Engineer at IPVM, specializing in emerging technologies. Karakaya focuses on access control systems, cybersecurity vulnerabilities, generative AI, and robotics. He holds a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from New York University (NYU), with a research focus on biomimetic and bio-inspired robotics. He also earned his Master's from NYU and a Bachelor's from Purdue University, both in Mechanical Engineering. His analytical approach challenges conventional industry perspectives, advocating for fact-based improvements. He also contributes to the development of IPVM AI by researching new techniques and testing the system.

Robert Kilpatrick is a Research Engineer focusing on generative AI and video analytics. In his eight years at IPVM, Kilpatrick has contributed to hundreds of tests, including rankings across Generative AI, license plate recognition (LPR), video analytics, and video surveillance.

Don Maye is the head of operations. He contributes to investigative reporting and research on security companies and technology. He graduated from the United States Military Academy and received his MBA from the NYU Stern School of Business.

Jack Parkin is a Research Engineer focusing on body-worn cameras, access control testing, and video surveillance. He contributes to testing and rankings, most notably the Body Worn Camera Guide, a first for IPVM. He graduated from Virginia Tech with an undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering in 2023.

Brian Rhodes is a Research Engineer focusing on access control. He has over 850 reports, including various interviews, to date. Previously, Rhodes managed engineering at a security integrator and graduated from Southwestern Oklahoma State University.

John Scanlan is the Manager of Testing, supporting a team of research engineers at our test facility in Bethlehem, PA. He has personally conducted and managed hundreds of tests, including access control, cybersecurity vulnerabilities, networking, weapon detection, and video surveillance. Scanlan has provided technical advisory to various end-users, including Fortune 100 companies and US federal agencies. Scanlan previously worked as a Field Engineer for several retailers and banks, owned a communications equipment business serving hedge funds, and was a Regional IT Manager, leading a team across 10 campuses.

Christie Smythe is a Senior Reporter at IPVM focusing on investigating and exposing legal issues and controversies involving security technology companies, with over 175 reports in the past two years for IPVM. Based in New York City, she has over 15 years of experience covering complex corporate legal actions. Before joining IPVM, she covered law for Bloomberg News and was an assistant managing editor for Law360. Smythe has a Master’s Degree in Journalism from Columbia University.

Jermaine Wilson is the Head of Editorial. He leads all of IPVM's publishing, research, testing, and reporting. His research focuses on breaking news, market trends, and problems in video surveillance and access control, including over 170 reports in a single year, the most ever on the publishing team. Wilson was previously a non-commissioned officer (NCO) in the US Army Reserves, where he led several satellite communications teams on various missions and was at the top of his NCO training academy.