SIAC Recognizes Ron Walters for His Contribution to Our Industry

TMA learned of the passing of Ron Walters, a highly respected and much beloved contributor to the security industry. The following is a reprint of a press release distributed by SIAC.


Frisco, Texas (April 30, 2018) – Ronald “Ron” Walters has retired as director of the Security Industry Alarm Coalition (SIAC) after a stellar career that included work in law enforcement, corporate security, an alarm company owner and director of the Security Industry Alarm Coalition.

“Ron’s leadership role in our industry helped lay the foundation for creating SIAC. He would fly to a city on a moment’s notice and meet with adversarial city council members to convey our factual information,” said Stan Martin, SIAC executive director. “He was very effective and everyone in our industry has benefited from his groundbreaking work with dealer education and standards development related to alarm management.”

Walters gained prominence through his work on a number of industry issues. Among them was his role in the Model States Program in 1997. Walters was selected to coordinate data collection in the state of Florida, working with more than 30 police departments to study the causes and potential solutions of false alarm dispatches. The results were combined with information from three additional states ending with the publication and distribution of the Model States Report in 1998, a document that still influences the industry today. He also contributed to the Coordinated Alarm Reduction Effort (CARE) led by the NBFAA and IACP from 1999-2003.

In 2004, Walters received the prestigious William N. Moody award that acknowledges individuals “who unselfishly give of their time and talents to alarm management issues and who reflect the attributes of Bill Moody which include integrity, fairness and perseverance in the face of adversity.” Very unique qualities in honor of a very special person indeed.

“It has been a real privilege to work with my colleagues at SIAC as well as leaders in law enforcement and elected officials throughout the country,” said Walters. “Our industry would be in a much different place today if we had not come together with law enforcement to develop real solutions to the false alarm issues while maintaining police response to alarms.

“I think we all know that the fight isn’t over and that there are still individuals who unfairly attack our industry and try to undermine its ability to protect citizens and property,” he said. “We must continue to be vigilant and support SIAC’s efforts, or we will continue to face misguided legislation that can have a severe impact in our industry.”

“It has been a real privilege to work with Ron,” said Martin. “I know his family will enjoy spending more time with him, and Ron can enjoy some downtime from a long and successful career.”

“When I walked into the Miami Police Academy in 1968 I never dreamed I would spend the next 50 years working every day to keep people safe,” said Walters. “Here I am at the end of two decades of working for our industry and for alarm users everywhere. In that capacity I have traveled well over a million miles, visited virtually every state, made hundreds of presentations and most important met thousands of some of the best people in the world. Thank you all for the many great memories.”

TMA Welcomes its 126th ECC to ASAP-to-PSAP

The Henry County GA Emergency Communications Center is the 126th ECC in the United States and the 5th agency in the state of Georgia to implement the Automated Secure Alarm Protocol (ASAP).  The Henry County ECC went live April 18, 2023 with: Rapid Response Monitoring, Vector Security, Johnson Controls (Tyco), Securitas, Stanley Security, Guardian Protection, Security Central, United Central Control, CPI Security, Alert360, Affiliated Monitoring, Brinks, National Monitoring Center, Protection One, ADT, Vivint and ESC Central.

The ASAP implementation was managed by Glen Parnell.

Michael Venoit Appointed New NAPCO Vice President of Sales, Fire & Security

NAPCO Security Technologies, Inc., is pleased to appoint Michael Venoit, as the New Napco VP of Sales, Fire & Security, managing all Napco Security Regional Sales Managers and accounts. Venoit, who joined NAPCO, as the Continental Access Division VP of Sales in 2021, is a proven leader, and additionally has decades of experience growing revenue in the commercial fire and intrusion categories, as well.  

 

Reporting to Stephen Spinelli, SVP of Sales for all NAPCO divisions, Stephen said, “Michael, has proven himself as an effective sales leader for NAPCO Security Technologies, and he’ll be an ideal fit for growing the Napco Security Division business and managing that team, at a particularly exciting time, with the nationwide rollout of StarLink MAX 5G Universal Cell Communicators, the expansion of FireLink Commercial Fire FACP line, and the debut of Napco Prima Residential All-in-One Super Panel, early this summer.”

Based in greater Boston, Michael’s career spans decades in the electronic security industry. Feel free to reach out and/or congratulate Michael Venoit, Napco VP of Sales, Fire & Security directly at MVenoit@napcosecurity.com or cell 631-275-2784 or stop by for a visit at the ESX or NFPA Shows coming this June.

 

Introducing NAPCO’s Continental Access Division’s New Vice President of Sales, Aaron Black

Continental Access, a division of NAPCO Security Technologies, Inc., is pleased to introduce Aaron Black as the new Continental Access Vice President of Sales, replacing Michael Venoit, who is moving to head up the NAPCO Security Division. Aaron comes to Continental with a successful track record of driving sales and meeting or exceeding goals, for ROI and customer satisfaction. Having worked for several well-known industry manufacturers in access control, video, and security, Aaron will now report to Stephen Spinelli, SVP of Sales for all NAPCO divisions. Aaron will be charged with managing the Continental Access accounts and the full sales team, including the Division’s Regional Sales Managers & VP of Business Development.


Spinelli added, “Aaron will be great for the Continental Sales Team, he has a lot of experience in the marketplace, and will be spearheading the creation of a brand new Napco Access Pro Dealer Program, benefitting our current and new integrators’ businesses with new excitement, options & value across the board.” 


Based in Fort Worth, Texas, Aaron’s career encompasses decades of success in access control, video, and electronic security technology. Reach out to Aaron Black, VP of Sales, at Continental Access directly at
ABlack@napcosecurity.com or cell 817-888-4872.

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:

TMA Dispatch – Spring Issue Now Available

What’s keeping you up at night? TMA members are saying the post-COVID hiring challenges are at the top of their list. The spring issue of the TMA Dispatch dips it’s toes into the challenge. Read how two TMA member company HR leaders are confronting the issue and how you can bets position your company for successful recruiting, as well as retention. In a related article, a guest columnist shares five ways your company continue to enhance your brand image to attract multigenerational talent. She poses the question, “Would your employees recommend your company to others in the community?”

You’ll also find:

  • Guest Column – Every three years, NFPA 72® is updated. The 2022 edition of the standard was published in the fall of 2021. Honeywell’s Richard Roberts provides a high-level summary of the new requirements for NFPA 72.
  • Standards – TMA-AVS-01, TMA’s groundbreaking standard, is officially an ANSI standard. T h e next step is implementation. Learn more and find out about our new, proposed ANSI standard that is taking on active threats.
  • Research – Parks Associates’ Research Analyst Frank Saldana takes a close look at how issues of warranty and data security will continue to rise with the sale of security and smart home devices into the residential market increases.
  • CEO Q&A – Meet one of the most accomplished and respected women in security industry leadership today in this issue’s CEO Q&A. Read our interview with Joey Rao-Russell, President & CEO of Kimberlite, Corp.
  • More!

Read it today –

TMA President Inducted into SSI Hall of Fame

TMA President Morgan Hertel was inducted into Security Sales and Integration Magazine (SSI) 2023 Hall of Fame at ISC West in Las Vegas. According to SSI Editor-in-Chief Scott Goldfine, “the SSI Hall memorializes those whose work is in fact connected with life-and-death outcomes. Everyone in the security and fire/life-safety industry plays a part in the grand scheme to protect people, property, and assets.” As of today, more than 120 high achievers have been elected to the SSI Industry Hall of Fame.

Goldfine further states, “Those chosen for this special recognition often demonstrate coveted qualities such as talent, vison, passion, skill, dedication, focus, tenacity, and intuition. However, rising to the lofty level of all-time greatness also brings into play admirable characteristics like integrity, honesty, humility, ethics, and philanthropy. Those attributes embody the exemplary persons who since 2004 have been inducted into the SSI Industry Hall of Fame — including this year’s heroic half-dozen.

In his profile, Morgan shared his biggest wish for the industry change as, ““I would like to change people’s attitude toward change itself. It’s a human trait to push back against change because it can be scary. But it’s necessary in our industry.”

Read Morgan’s full profile on the SSI website.

Welcome TMA’s Newest Team Member – Keely Daugherty

The TMA team is thrilled to welcome meeting and events professional Keely Daugherty! The new Director of Meetings, Daugherty joined the small staff just ahead of McDonald’s departure. She brings nearly 10 years of experience working in meeting and events for non-profits and membership associations. Most recently, Daugherty managed conferences for the U.S. Department of Defense.

“I have always loved bringing people together to celebrate, meet, and learn. I also love seeing the organization’s hard work come together in a tangible way,” shared Daugherty, “I am excited to meet TMA members at events and create both engaging and meaningful experiences for them to network and share ideas.”

A proud graduate of the University of Alabama (Roll Tide!), Daugherty is currently in the process of earning continuing education credit to obtain her Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) certification.

Outside of work, she enjoys cooking for family and friends, a good book on the beach, going to the driving range, and spending time on the Chesapeake Bay or in the Shenandoah Mountains with her dog, Wrigley.