TMA 2024 Award Winners Announced! ADT and Stealth Monitoring take top honors.

The Monitoring Association (TMA), in conjunction with its publication sponsors, presented the 2024 TMA/SDM Excellence Awards and the 2024 TMA/SSI Marvel Technology Award this afternoon at a virtual awards ceremony.

Please join in congratulating this year’s winners:

EXCELLENCE AWARDS

Monitoring Center of the Year – Enterprise
ADT Security Services

Monitoring Center of the Year – SMB
Stealth Monitoring

Monitoring Center Manager of the Year
Erik Chalifour, TELUS Smart Security & Automation

 Monitoring Center Operator of the Year
Brenda Eichfeld, COPS Monitoring

 Monitoring Center Support Person of the Year:
John Turner, ADT Security Services

MARVEL TECHNOLOGY AWARD

Elite Interactive Solutions

Winners will be featured in the August issues of SDM and SSI magazines.

TMA 2024 Awards Finalists Announced

The Monitoring Association (TMA) is pleased to announce the finalists for its 2024 Excellence Awards and Marvel Technology Award.

TMA’s Monitoring Center Excellence Awards recognize any FM Approvals, Intertek/ETL or UL-listed monitoring center (TMA members) and outstanding personnel who perform in the highest professional manner, thereby making a significant contribution to the betterment of the alarm industry and the alarm profession while demonstrating exceptional service to their customers and community.

The purpose of the awards program is to:

  • Establish and promote the inherent value of professional monitoring services in general.
  • Honor those who have made the most significant contributions to the service.
  • Promote the distinct level of professionalism attained by NRTL-approved monitoring centers.

TMA’s Monitoring Center Excellence Awards are co-sponsored by SDM Magazine, which will publish a feature story on this year’s award winners in its August issue. This year, the TMA/SDM Excellence Awards competition received a total of 32 entries across five categories. Listed in alphabetical order by company within each category, the finalists are:

Monitoring Center of the Year – Enterprise

  • ADT
  • Affiliated Monitoring
  • Rapid Response Monitoring

Monitoring Center of the Year – SMB

  • Kimberlite
  • Per Mar Security
  • Stealth Monitoring

Monitoring Center Manager of the Year

  • Jessica Lambert, AvantGuard
  • Claudia Torres, Rapid Response Monitoring
  • Erik Chalifour, TELUS Security

 Monitoring Center Operator of the Year

  • Esperanza Sena, ADT
  • Angelica Miranda, Affiliated Monitoring
  • Brenda Eichfeld, COPS Monitoring

 Monitoring Center Support Person of the Year:

  • John Turner, ADT
  • Jennifer Acevedo, Affiliated Monitoring
  • John Balthrop, Stealth Monitoring

TMA’s Marvel Technology Award honors innovations in monitoring center technology. It is co-sponsored by TMA and Security Sales & Integration (SSI) and coordinated by the TMA Technology Committee. The purpose of the Marvel Award is to provide recognition for monitoring centers creating and/or using cutting-edge technology to raise awareness of these new technologies and is presented to one overall winner for the “best adoption of new technology to advance your business.”

The finalists for the 2024 TMA/SSI Monitoring Technology “Marvel” Award are:

  • Elite Interactive Solutions, Inc.
  • Rapid Response Monitoring
  • Stealth Monitoring

Award entries are judged by a volunteer judging panel appointed by TMA. The winners will be announced at a virtual award ceremony presented on April 18, 2024, at 3:00 pm ET. Register to attend at https://themonitoringassociation.growthzoneapp.com/ap/Events/Register/n4HmaGMtXHNCZ

TMA Members Make SIA’s Women in Security Forum Power 100

TMA is proud to recognize its members who made the Security Industry Association’s (SIA) Women in Security Forum (WISF) Power 100 in 2024.  The program honors 100 exceptional women in security who are raising the bar, changing expectations and breaking barriers. They lead, they inspire change and they innovate, and this is their time to be recognized!

Join us in congratulating these amazing women for their outstanding accomplishments:  

JULIE BEACH
Vice President, SONITROL, Securitas Technology

KELLY DELEO
Director, Solutions and Services – Americas, Axis Communications

AMANDA EDWARDS
Senior Account Executive, Paladin Technologies

TIFFANY GALARZA
Senior Director, Telecom & End User Tech, ADT

HRISTINA KOLEVA
Vice President of Customer Success, Stealth Monitoring

RACHELLE LOYEAR
Vice President, Integrated Security Solutions, Allied Universal

CARLA MANZANILLA
Program Manager, Allied Universal Technology Services

CAROLYN MCGRATH
Global Senior Director, Security and Fire Services, Johnson Controls

CHRISTINA PARK
Global Account Manager, Axis Communications

NANCY PETERSON
Executive Vice President/North America General Counsel, Allied Universal

JOEY RAO-RUSSELL
President and CEO, Sonitrol

SHARI WILSON
Director of Monitoring, ADT

Telguard Wins 2023 TMA/SSN Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award

TMA President-elect Steve Butkovich and Security Systems News Editor Cory Harris presented the 2023 TMA/SSN Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award to Telguard President George Brody and Sr. Director of Technical Service Daniel Rosales at the 2023 Annual Meeting on November 7th in Maui, Hawaii. The award was established in 2021 to raise industry awareness of the importance and value of being a diverse and inclusive industry.

“Inclusion and diversity are not just buzzwords for us; they are the cornerstones of the corporate culture at Telguard. This recognition isn’t just a testament to our efforts, but to our collective commitment towards creating a workplace where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered. This achievement is a reflection of the hard work of every team member, the leadership’s unwavering commitment, and the spirit of collaboration that defines our organization.  We believe that diverse perspectives and backgrounds fuel innovation, enhance creativity, and drive better business outcomes. It’s not about meeting quotas; it’s about embracing differences and harnessing the unique strengths each individual brings to the table,” stated George Brody, President of Telguard.

View Acceptance Message

Telguard, a brand of Telular Corporation, provides industry-leading security and life safety technologies to independent security dealers for commercial and residential markets.  Telguard combines devices, communications, video, interactive service and alarm processing into turnkey systems for monitoring intrusion and fire systems without a traditional landline. Telguard offers the industry’s most versatile platform, outstanding solutions, and first-class technical-customer service. Telular Corporation is a business unit of AMETEK Inc. AMETEK Inc. (NYSE: AME) is a leading global manufacturer of electronic instruments and electromechanical devices with annualized sales of approximately $5 billion. 

TMA Presents 2023 Mel Mahler Award to Mark McCall, Immix Protect

The Monitoring Association’s (TMA) President Morgan Hertel honored one of TMA’s volunteer members with the Mel Mahler Award, formerly known as the President’s Award on Mon., Nov. 6th during its General Business Meeting at the 2023 Annual Meeting in Maui, HI. The Mel Mahler Award is presented at the discretion of the TMA president in recognition of outstanding contributions within his/her tenure. The 2023 Mel Mahler Award recipient is Mark McCall, global director of Operations, Immix Protect.

In presenting the 2023 Mel Mahler Award to McCall, President Hertel shared his personal and professional experience working closely with the awardee over the past 20 years. “I have great respect for Mark – both as a dedicated leader and colleague. Most recently, Mark chaired the development committee for the ANSI/TMA-AVS-01 standard. Without his guidance and expert stewardship, I am not certain that the standard would have been completed within the targeted timeline. He is a consummate professional. I am pleased to recognize his outstanding contributions to TMA.”

View Acceptance Message

Longtime Security Industry Contributor Dischert Honored with Top TMA Award, Nov. 7th

The Monitoring Association (TMA) had the distinct opportunity to recognize the exceptional contributions of Larry Dischert, LRD Consulting, on Mon., Nov. 6th during its General Business Meeting at the 2023 Annual Meeting in Maui, HI. TMA President Morgan Hertel presented the respected and esteemed volunteer with TMA’s highest honor, the Stanley C. Lott Memorial Award.

The Stanley C. Lott Memorial Award, established in 1991 to honor its namesake, a dedicated leader and past president, recognizes exceptional long-term leadership and support. In presenting the award to Dischert, TMA President Morgan Hertel shared, “In our industry, there is a whole subset of individuals who work tirelessly, doing the lion share of the work with little or no public recognition. This year’s Stanley C. Lott Memorial Award winner is one example of those that have been working in the background for many years. Over the course of five decades, his contributions to standards development within the security and monitoring industries have been immeasurable.”

From a blank piece of paper and assistance from a few industry peers, Dischert initiated the creation and development of UL1981 Central-Station Automation Systems and has since contributed to many UL standards. From an emphasis on the continuous maturation of UL1981 and UL827, he became a key contributor to UL STP 205 and its sub parts for all equipment and installation standards that impact the safe reliable operation of a monitoring center.

Most recently, Dischert’s involvement includes, but is not limited to, extensive work with TMA CS-V-01 Alarm Confirmation, Verification and Notification Procedures, and ANSI/TMA AVS-01 2023 Alarm Validation Scoring (AVS) Standard with the mission to increase the value of the Central Station service by greatly reducing or eliminating false dispatches.

“I can’t thank the TMA and industry leaders enough, for this recognition,” stated Dischert. “I’ve put 50 years of my life into this arena and have gotten much in return. And this rounds it out very nicely. Again, thanks.”

VIEW DISCHERT’S ACCEPTANCE REMARKS

NMC Wins Marvel Technology Award; CPI Security and Statewide Win Top Excellence Awards

TMA presented the 2023 TMA/SSI Marvel Technology Award and the 2023 TMA/SDM Excellence Awards at its annual awards ceremony on Monday, April 17th.

Award sponsors SSI and SDM magazines will feature winners, as well as finalists, it their respective August 2023 issues.

Join in congratulating our winners!

The 2023 winners are:

2023 Marvel Technology Award:
National Monitoring Center

2023 Excellence Awards:

Monitoring Center of the Year – Enterprise
CPI Security

Monitoring Center of the Year – SMB
Statewide Central Station

Monitoring Center of the Year – Manager
Fiore Ayala
Rapid Response Monitoring Services, Inc.

Monitoring Center of the Year – Operator
Samantha Marzili
COPS Monitoring

Monitoring Center of the Year – Support Person
Brian DeCarlo
Rapid Response Monitoring Services, Inc.

To view the full list of 2023 finalists, go to:

Finalists for 2023 TMA/SSI Monitoring Technology “Marvel” Award Announced

The Monitoring Association (TMA) and Security Sales & Integration (SSI) announced the finalists for the TMA/SSI 2023 Monitoring Technology “Marvel” Award. They are:

  • Edgeworth Security
  • National Monitoring Center
  • Statewide Central Station

This award honors innovations in monitoring center technology. It is co-sponsored by TMA and Security Sales & Integration (SSI) and coordinated by the TMA Technology Committee.

The purpose of the Marvel Award is to provide recognition for monitoring centers creating and/or using cutting-edge technology to raise awareness of these new technologies. “The monitoring industry is experiencing exponential shifts as new technology emerges,” said TMA Technology Committee Co-Chair Sascha Kylau, OneTel Security. “Our goal with this award is to bring those monitoring centers and their partners who are demonstrating how new technologies are allowing security monitoring providers to reach new levels of efficiency and service. It’s exciting to see the evolution first hand.”

The Marvel will be presented to one overall winner for the “best adoption of new technology to advance your business.” Submission categories included:

  • Best implementation of video verification
  • Best implementation of PERS monitoring
  • Best technology to build efficiency in monitoring
  • Best cybersecurity
  • Best new business model
  • Best migration to the cloud

The TMA/SSI 2023 Marvel Technology Award will be presented on April 17th in a virtual awards ceremony. The winner will be featured in the August 2023 Monitoring Issue of SSI. Runners-up will also receive coverage in the issue.

TMA Honors Fiore’s Lifetime Contribution with Everlasting Scholarship

The Monitoring Association’s (TMA) President Morgan Hertel announced the establishment of the Louis T. Fiore Electronic Communications Scholarship on Mon., Oct. 31st during the TMA General Business Meeting at the 2022 Annual Meeting on Marco Island, FL. The scholarship honors Mr. Fiore’s enduring contribution to the alarm industry and the Alarm Industry Communications Committee (AICC) and is intended to promote careers in electronic communications.

“How do you recognize someone who’s given his heart and soul for more than 30 years to an organization?” asked President Hertel when introducing the new scholarship. “Lou has served the alarm industry in many capacities. We wanted to honor his immeasurable contributions in an everlasting manner to make certain he and his work is never forgotten.” The room rose with a standing ovation as Fiore approached the stage to accept a small token of recognition from President Hertel.

“I am honored. As chair of the AICC for 30 years, I worked hard to make certain the Committee and its members thrived. The work was very close to my heart. Thank you very much. This is incredible,” stated Fiore in his acceptance comments.

The scholarship is open to anyone studying electrical engineering, specifically electronic communications, or software development related to electronic communications, regardless of financial need. Students at any nationally accredited educational institution, including vocational schools, two-year colleges, or other institutions of higher learning are eligible.

For more information on this scholarship, including donating, go to http://tma.us/louis-t-fiore-electronic-communications-scholarship/

Pictured (l to r): Bill Signer, Carmen Group; Ret. U.S. Rep. Peter T. King [R-NY]; and Louis T. Fiore