2023 TMA/SDM Excellence Awards Finalists Announced

The Monitoring Association (TMA) is pleased to announce the finalists for its 2023 Excellence Awards. This year, the awards competition received a total 36 entries across five categories. Listed in alphabetical order by company within each category, the finalists are:

Monitoring Center of the Year – Enterprise

  1. ADT
  2. COPS Monitoring
  3. CPI Security

Monitoring Center of the Year – SMB

  1. Central Monitoring & Dispatch, Inc.
  2. Habitec Security
  3. Statewide Central Station

Monitoring Center Manager of the Year

  1. John Turner, ADT
  2. Larry Esposito, Affiliated Monitoring
  3. Alexandria Keen, EPS Security
  4. Tracy Ehrsam, Habitec Security
  5. Fiore Ayala, Rapid Response Monitoring Services, Inc.

Monitoring Center Operator of the Year

  1. Samantha Marzilli, COPS Monitoring
  2. Jennifer Labrecque, Habitec Security
  3. Loretta Grubb, TELUS Smart Home

Monitoring Center Support Person of the Year

  1. Jamie Mashike, ADT
  2. Michael Bolton, Holmes Security Systems
  3. Brian De Carlo, Rapid Response Monitoring Services, Inc.

“We were pleased to welcome some new companies to this year’s competition,” remarked TMA President Morgan Hertel. “I was impressed to see how TMA members are evolving and expanding their businesses in new directions and positioning their teams for greater success. By embracing new technologies and innovating new services, businesses are increasing efficiencies and raising the bar on customer service. It’s a time for great opportunity for our industry.”

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 the winners later this summer. Entries are judged by a volunteer judging panel appointed by TMA. The five winners will be announced at a virtual award ceremony presented on April 17, 2023 at 4:00 pm ET. For past winners and more information, visit https://tma.us/events/awards/excellence-awards/.

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.

Evolon Appoints Robert Putica as New Vice President of Sales

Evolon Technology, Inc. announced the appointment of Robert Putica as the company’s Vice President of Sales. Putica will be responsible for serving Evolon’s customers and channel partners with AI-based perimeter security solutions that provide real-time threat detection, situational awareness, and insightful forensic searches to protect people and assets.

Putica comes to Evolon with over 20 years of sales and business development experience in the security industry. Most recently, Putica was with Dell Technologies, where he led business development efforts for the company’s Western US region. He also held sales management roles with Razberi Technologies, FLIR Systems, Digital Monitoring Products, Hikvision USA, and Enterprise Security, Inc. Prior to this, he co-founded Integrated Electronics, a system integrator business based in Fresno, California. Putica holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from California State University, Fresno, and a Master of Business Administration from the Essex Business School.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Robert to Evolon,” said Tom Galvin, Evolon’s President and CEO. “Robert is the perfect fit to lead Evolon’s work to serve our public safety and enterprise security customers with mission critical perimeter security solutions.”

DMP Releases The New 7-Inch Touchscreen Keypad

Digital Monitoring Products (DMP) announces the release of their latest touchscreen keypad designed for residential and commercial applications. Compatible with all DMP’s XR and XT Series panels, the new keypad is fully loaded with high-functioning features such as:

  • View live and recorded video from connected cameras
  • Integration with the V-4061video doorbell allows someone to see and speak with visitors
  • An onboard camera that captures snapshots of who’s arming and disarming the system
  • Easily arm areas all on one screen
  • Enhanced Z-Wave control for thermostats, lights, and door locks

According to Matt Dean, Product Manager for DMP, “This new keypad provides security, video, and automation, all in a large-format touchscreen. Utilizing large text, icons and intuitive graphics, the new keypad delivers the same exceptional image quality and ease of use one would experience with a smartphone.”

In addition, firmware updates are pushed to the keypad remotely via DMP’s administrative portal. When connected to wi-fi, the keypad will remain up-to-date with features and functionality.

“A 7-inch keypad is a standard across the security industry and has frequently been requested by our dealers. Expanding DMP’s Touchscreen Keypad Series with a 7-inch model allows our dealers to increase their business among customers who prefer a large-format interface with best-in-class intrusion,” said Alee Rouhani, Director of Marketing.

The 7-inch keypad will be part of DMP’s popular Touchscreen Series in addition to the high-security and wireless 5-Inch keypad models. For more information and full capabilities of the new keypad, watch the spotlight video at www.dmp.com/7inchkeypad.

WA and VA ECCs Go Live with TMA’s ASAP Service

TMA welcomes its 121st and 122nd ECCs to its ASAP-to-PSAP service – the Snohomish County WA 911 (Sno911) in Washington and the New River Valley Emergency Communications Regional Authority (NRV 911 Authority) in Virginia.

Snohomish County WA  #121

The Snohomish County WA 911 (Sno911) is the 121st ECC in the United States and the 5th agency in the state of Washington to implement the Automated Secure Alarm Protocol (ASAP).  The Snohomish County ECC went live January 31st, 2023, with: Vector Security, Rapid Response Monitoring, Security Central, Guardian Protection, Securitas, United Central Control, National Monitoring Center, Johnson Controls (Tyco), Affiliated Monitoring, Protection One, Brinks, Stanley Security, Vivint and ADT.

Andie Burton, Director of Operations, Snohomish County said, “The installation of the Automated Secure Alarm Protocol program into our system will streamline and increase efficiency of processing various alarm calls for service.  Use of the program will also free up call takers to answer other incoming 9-1-1 calls.  In a large Emergency Communications Center environment, preserving these precious resources will help provide better service to our community.”

New River Valley (Montgomery County) VA  #122

The New River Valley Emergency Communications Regional Authority (NRV 911 Authority) is the 122nd ECC in the United States and the 22nd agency in the state of Virginia to implement the Automated Secure Alarm Protocol (ASAP).  The NRV 911 Authority went live February 27, 2023 with: Rapid Response Monitoring, Vector Security, Stanley Security, Securitas, Protection One, United Central Controls, National Monitoring Center, Guardian Protection, Affiliated Monitoring, Brinks Home Security, Vivint, Security Central, CPI Security, Johnson Controls (Tyco) and ADT.

Learn more about ASAP-to-PSAP service HERE.

TMA to Host Automation Summit, 3/28 in Las Vegas

Please join TMA in a meeting with the industry automation vendors to discuss TMA-AVS-01 implementation on March 28th, 3:30-5:00pm in Las Vegas, NV (see complete details below). For those unable to join us in-person, TMA is exploring a virtual alternative.

The meeting goals are:

  • To introduce the five levels of alarm metrics as defined in the standard;
  • To explore the use of different types of external data used to determine levels, using presence detection or other platforms like customer video, apps, SMS, etc.;
  • To gain an understanding as to when to calculate the score;
  • To discuss compliance, reporting, self-evaluations, etc.; and,
  • To review how to send a standardized CAD update message with the priority levels in it while the ASAP-to-PSAP 2021 edition is being implemented.

There will also be time reserved for Q&A.

DATE/TIME: March 28th, 3:30-5:00pm

LOCATION:
Keep Memory Alive Event Center
888 W Bonneville Ave.
Las Vegas, NV 89106

Please RSVP at https://tma.us/events/automation-vendor-meeting/