Elite Interactive Solutions announced the company was recognized this month as runner-up for the 2024 Police Dispatch Quality Award (PDQ). The prestigious honor, which is organized by the Security Industry Alarm Coalition (SIAC), was presented during a ceremony at the recent Electronic Security Expo (ESX) held in Louisville.

Since 2005, the PDQ program promoted security companies and law enforcement agencies working together as partners, sharing information and communicating frequently to protect public safety and serve their communities. It identifies providers that exemplify cooperative best practices to reduce unnecessary dispatches that drain precious resources and give officers the most complete information when responding to security incidents.

Elite, which has now twice been named PDQ runner-up and won the award in 2020, is the first provider to have completely eliminated false alarms and false dispatches to law enforcement.

“There are many security systems and monitoring providers in the industry that talk about more effectively managing and stopping false alarms, and many do an admirable job, but many also fail to put teeth into that talk or stop at lip service only,” says Elite Founder and CEO Aria Kozak, who earlier this year was named to the Industry Hall of Fame. “Elite has developed the most proven and effective mitigation of false alarms and dispatches the industry has ever seen. Our revolutionary remote video guarding service reports zero false alarms to responding law enforcement, which is unheard of.”

During the 2023 evaluation period, Elite accomplished zero false alarms while also assisting police in achieving more than 1,000 arrests and detainments. In addition, the company registered nearly 73,000 crime interventions through the swift, expert actions of its command center agents, who are all former military or former law enforcement. With forensically designed systems on customer sites and using a custom calibrated technology stack that filters out most of the “noise,” Elite agents address any suspicious activity with a live voice-down in an average time of 7 seconds.

As for building police relationships, Elite may be the only provider that has an in-house Law Enforcement Advisory Board (LEAB) comprised of active and former LE command staff and executives. They are fully engaged in the daily activities of Elite’s subterranean, UL-Listed command center. The LEAB trains Elite agents, reviews and ensures calls for dispatch follow best protocols, and routinely communicates and meets with agencies around the country to facilitate optimal support and collaboration.

A 2023 letter of commendation from Peace Officers Association of Los Angeles County Board President Anthony Miranda states: “During the years of our association with Elite, we have witnessed the evolution of procedures and technology where your company went from significantly reducing to now virtually eliminating false alarm calls. The impact on reducing unnecessary police response to alarms, enhancing officer safety when response is merited and the prevention of losses at your protected premises is extraordinary.”

Allied Universal Named to Newsweek’s 2024 Greatest LGBTQ+ Workplaces

Reprinted from SDM, June 6, 2024

Allied Universal has been recognized on Newsweek’s list of America’s Greatest Workplaces for LGBTQ+ 2024. Achieving 4.5 out of a 5-star rating, the company was acknowledged for its meaningful initiatives in fostering an inclusive culture for employees of all sexual orientations and gender identities.

“It is an honor to be included in the 2024 Newsweek List of America’s Greatest Workplaces for the LGBTQ+ community,” said Steve Jones, global chairman and CEO of Allied Universal. “This recognition reflects our dedication to creating a welcoming and inclusive corporate culture. We believe that when employees can be their authentic selves, they perform at their best. At Allied Universal, we are committed to nurturing a workplace where every voice is heard, every idea is valued, and every individual is empowered to succeed.”

Allied Universal said it remains dedicated to enhancing diversity, equity, and inclusion within its workplace, reinforcing its commitment to becoming an Employer of Choice by supporting employees of all sexual orientations and gender identities.

To read more about Newsweek’s ranking, go here.

TMA Members Recipients of ESX 2024 Innovation Awards

The Electronic Security Expo (ESX) announced the winners of the 2024 Innovation Awards, recognizing excellence and innovation within the electronic security and life safety industry. Each year the awards program highlights next-generation products and services that present significant growth opportunities for integrator companies.

An independent panel of judges selected the winners based on a comprehensive set of criteria, including ingenuity, applicability, response to market needs and more. The 2024 ESX Innovation Awards judging panel, led by Preston Atkins, systems engineer at Certified Alarm Co. of AL Inc., also included Richard Tampier, vice president of Everon Solutions, Jamie Byrd, vice president of business development at Security Central, and Gregory R. Breyer, director of fire business development at Zeus Fire & Security.

Congratulations to the TMA member companies who were recognized as 2024 ESX Innovation Award Winners:

FIRE/LIFE-SAFETY

Detection Appliances – Smoke / Heat / Gas Detection Services

  • FireProtect 2 RB (Heat/Smoke/CO) UL Jeweller by Ajax Systems

Cellular / Radio Communications

  • Super Dual StarLink Fire Max2 Supervised Dual SIM/ Dual Path Communicator by NAPCO Security Technologies

INTRUSION SYSTEMS

Outdoor Detection

  • MotionCam Outdoor (PhOD) Jeweller by Ajax Systems

VIDEO SURVEILLANCE

Video Analytics

  • Alarm.com AI Deterrence (AID) by Alarm.com

Megapixel / HD Cameras

  • First Alert VX3 HD Outdoor Camera by Resideo

IP Cameras

  • TurretCam (8 Mp/2.8mm) by Ajax Systems

The ESX Innovation Awards ceremony was held during the ESX 2024 Expo in Louisville, Ky.

NAPCO Security Technologies Wins 2024 Innovation Award at ESX

NAPCO Security Technologies is pleased to announce that its new Super Dual™ StarLink Fire Max2 Supervised Dual Sim/Dual Path Communicator was named 2024 Innovation Award Winner at the Electronic Security Expo (ESX) in Louisville, KY. ESX Innovation Award winners are selected for innovation and driving efficiency and profitability, by an independent panel of industry judges who use a specific set of criteria, including ingenuity, applicability, response to market need, etc, each year at the Annual Exposition for the largest professional membership association in the security industry.

Stephen Spinelli, SVP of Sales at NAPCO commented “We are honored to receive the prestigious 2024 ESX Innovation Award for our Super Dual StarLink Fire Max2 Dual Sim FACP Communicator, it is the latest labor-saving product in the StarLink Series for Fire & Life Safety, uniquely saving dealers time by eliminating the need for an IP /IT connection in UL 864-Listed Dual Path reporting requirements, while maximizing dependability. The initial market response in sales orders has been very gratifying as well.  ”

The Super Dual is a NAPCO exclusive, dual supervised cell-only option, available on all its dual sim StarLink Fire Max2 5G cellular FACP Communicators, now at all distributors at new low equipment and service rates (w/ instant rebate). UL 864 Listed Super Dual™ plan uses two supervised dual cellular-network communication paths, Verizon + AT&T – instead of IP connections (a red and blue color LED indicators onboard shows which is active.) By automatically switching between the supervised cell carrier paths dynamically, it can provide better supervised life-safety reporting by avoiding reliance on IT networks, prone to future changes, reboots, updates, etc.  Super Dual saves dealers significant time, labor, and pain points by eliminating IP connection hassles, IT delays &/or firewall issues.

Available at all Napco Distributors, StarLink Fire Max2 Dual Sim/Dual Path FACU Communicator is the ideal UL 864-Listed solution that maximizes your commercial fire business’ Recurring Monthly Revenue (RMR) while minimizing accounts’ operational expenses vs POTS lines. It is easy to standardize on, as just one model, for both Verizon & AT&T, can be stocked on the truck, working seamlessly, regardless of the installation location or code requirements. It offers three modes: Sole path cellular, traditional dual path cell/IP, and the industry’s only Super Dual™ supervised dual cell-only or dual path (selectable by plan).

For more ask your Napco RSM, take a free class online or in person, and the StarLink Fire Max2 will be featured at NFPA Fire Expo in Orlando, June 17-19, Booth 1927.

Watchful Founder Named Hi-Tech Young Achiever

Joshua Parson, the founder of one of TMA’s newest members, Watchful, received the award for Hi-Tech Young Achiever at the New Zealand Hi Tech Awards 2024. Headquartered in Auckland, Watchful is an automated decision-making software that monitors security systems with an unparalleled level of detail. The company offers services in New Zealand, Australia and the United States.

About The NZ Hi-Tech Awards

The New Zealand Hi-Tech Awards celebrate the success of our producers of goods and services from the software, electronics, telecommunications, mobile, agritech, creative and other high-tech industries. The Awards are run by the NZ Hi-Tech Trust, a not-for-profit organization aimed at promoting and supporting the wider industry. The board is comprised of  trustees: David Downs (Chair), Amber Taylor, Rob Ellis, Neil Hamilton, Marian Johnson, Mike O’Donnell, Mandy Simpson, Sarah Ramsay, Sir Ian Taylor and Andrew West.

The awards ceremony was attended by more than 1,300+ including several senior Government Ministers, at Auckland’s Spark Arena making it one of the biggest awards nights to be held in New Zealand.

More than 80 local and international judges contributed to the judging of the Hi-Tech Awards which continues to see a year-on-year increase in submissions with an increasingly high caliber to match. Of the 2024 Awards New Zealand Hi-Tech Trust chair David Downs saw the achievement of the Tech sector as a pride that all of Aotearoa could share in; “We’re witnessing an industry that is continuing exceptional growth as well as innovation.”

“The continued increase of diversity across the finalists is a reflection of the fact that there is a place in Tech for all New Zealanders.”

Read the full press release at https://www.hitech.org.nz/news/202-nz-hi-tech-awards-winners-announced/

TMA Member IronYun Wins Industry Best New Product Award

Congratulations to new TMA member #IronYun for winning the SIA NPS prize Best New Product Award and the Managed Services Award for its Vaidio AI Vision Platform 8.0 product. The awards were presented at ISC West on April 10th.

Congratulations also to these TMA members who also took home prizes:

#AXISCommunications – Won multiple awards, including: Threat Detection and Response Solutions Award for its AXIS D2210-VE Radar and Video Surveillance Awards for its AXIS W110 Body Worn Camera

and its AXIS Q9307-LV Dome Camera, which won Honorable Mention in the same category.

#Bosch – Won Hosted Video Solutions Award for its Bosch IQsight Data Fusion

#Evolon – Won Commercial Monitoring Solutions Award for its Evolon Insights

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.