Two firms named new CEOs last week, and both moves reflected the trend of companies looking for experienced, steady hands.

Albert Bender is the new chief executive officer at LVL7 Systems. The former CEO of optical networking firm Cirrex in Atlanta, which folded, was recruited to position LVL7 for growth in the networking market.

Bender was recruited by LVL7 investors, including H.I.G. Ventures in Atlanta, a backer of Cirrex.

“The company’s business was really flat for the past two years,” Bender says. “Now it’s ready to take off. It was time to bring in an executive with a lot of experience who knows how to branch a company during growth.

“Not that the founders couldn’t do this,” he adds, “but they didn’t have the experience I do.

“You only get one shot for that home run.”

In Atlanta, Glenn McGonnigle, one of the co-founders of Internet Security Systems, is the new chief executive officer at VistaScape Security Systems.

“We are not competitive with ISS, which is an information security company,” he says. VistaScape focuses on physical security software rather than keeping out hackers and crackers. But McGonnigle also says the companies share some of the same objectives.

“I do see a lot of similarities,” he says. “VistaScape is applying the principles of info-security to the management of physical security. In fact, the two markets are ultimately converging around policy-based processes: what to detect and how to respond.”

VistaScape has developed integrated security and surveillance software that integrates such diverse systems as closed-circuit TV, radar, global position satellite and access controls. And in the post 9-11 secure conscious world, the new CEO believes the company is positioned for strong growth.

McGonnigle replaced Bill Green as CEO at VistaScape last week. Green had recruited McGonnigle for VistaScape’s advisory board, recognizing his experience in software, and then groomed McGonnigle as his replacement. Green said VistaScape needed someone with more software experience in charge, and he remains actively involved with the firm as an advisor.

In the headlines:

SOFTWARE:

SAS Launches New Customer Service Web Site on Eve of Annual Users Conference – www.localtechwire.com/article.cfm?u=3670

Red Hat Just Misses Being in the Black; Stock Takes a Hit –www.localtechwire.com/article.cfm?u=3648

NETWORKING:

Tower Operator SpectraSite Reports Losing $775 Million in 2002 –www.localtechwire.com/article.cfm?u=3657

Taking LVL7 to Next Level Is Task for New CEO Albert Bender –www.localtechwire.com/article.cfm?u=3650

NC Internet Service Providers Strike Deal, Get Grant To Lower DSL Costs –www.localtechwire.com/article.cfm?u=3647

Broadband Wars: BellSouth, EarthLink Team Up for More DSL Access –www.localtechwire.com/article.cfm?u=3638

Security Means Business for Glenn McGonnigle; One of ISS Founders Takes on CEO Role at VistaScape –www.localtechwire.com/article.cfm?u=3634

ENTREPRENEURSHIP:

Winning at the Rollover Game: Entrepreneur Reginald Bowser’s Startup Targets 401(k) Market –www.localtechwire.com/article.cfm?u=3649

VENTURE CAPITAL:

Another Brick in the Wall — Arsenal Digital Secures $10.5M – www.localtechwire.com/article.cfm?u=3639

STI Knowledge, an Enterprise Support Solutions Firm, Lands $14M –www.localtechwire.com/article.cfm?u=3633

BIOTECH:

Paradigm Moves To Capitalize on Growing Microarray Testing Market –www.localtechwire.com/article.cfm?u=3659

Tranzyme Receives $500,000 Grant for Alzheimer’s Research –www.localtechwire.com/article.cfm?u=3637

EXECUTIVE SUITE:

Tech Fights Hunger: Cisco Exec, Employees Team Up for Food Bank –www.localtechwire.com/article.cfm?u=3661

Believe It: Tech Cheers as Republican Senator Chastises NC Leadership –www.localtechwire.com/article.cfm?u=3651

The Tangled Exodus of a Tech Executive: Lessons To Be Learned – www.localtechwire.com/article.cfm?u=3671

Attention, Mr. CEO: Is Your Computer System an Asset or Liability? If You Don’t Know, Find Out –www.localtechwire.com/article.cfm?u=3627