Finalists for 2018 TMA/SSI Monitoring Technology “Marvel” Award Announced

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Marvel-LogoWinner of Inaugural Award to Be Revealed at ESX on June 19

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

  • Ackerman Security
  • COPS Monitoring
  • National Monitoring Center

This new 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 is to provide recognition for monitoring centers creating and/or using cutting-edge technology and to raise awareness of these new technologies. “Technology is consistently mentioned as one of the most important challenges our industry faces. We are pleased to team up with SSI to spotlight these innovators in our industry,” said TMA Technology Committee Co-Chair Steve Butkovich.

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 winner of the Marvel will be announced on June 19 in Nashville (as part of the 2018 Electronic Security Expo) and will be featured in the August 2018 Monitoring Issue of SSI. Runners-up will also receive coverage in the issue.

About The Monitoring Association
The Monitoring Association (TMA), formerly the Central Station Alarm Association (CSAA), is an internationally-recognized non-profit trade association that represents professional monitoring companies, including those listed by a TMA-approved Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory, such as FM Global, Intertek/ETL or UL. Incorporated in 1950, TMA is legally entitled to represent its members before Congress and regulatory agencies on the local, state and federal levels, and other authorities having jurisdiction (AHJs) over the industry. TMA’s mission is to advance the professional monitoring industry through education, advocacy, and public safety relationships. www.tma.us. For more information, contact Elizabeth Lasko at TMA, 703-242-4670 x 16.

 

About Security Sales & Integration
  “The #1 Technology & Business Authority Since 1979” reaches executive, sales & technical professionals who recommend, buy and/or install electronic security equipment, including video surveillance, access control, biometrics, IT networking, intrusion, fire alarm, home controls/automation plus other security products and services. Editorial features include commercial & residential product applications, technology updates, systems design installation techniques, sales & marketing case studies, statistical research and operation management. A publication of Framingham, MA-based EH Media, SSI is celebrating its 40th year in 2018. For more information, visit www.securitysales.com.

In Memoriam: Patricia M. Smith

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The TMA community remembers Patricia M. Smith, who died on April 17, 2018, in Bethesda, MD. An industry and community leader, Pat held leadership roles with many associations and charities. With her husband, Thomas F. Smith, she ran a successful family business, Security, Inc. She was elected president of the National Burglar and Fire Alarm Association (1988-1990) and received the Weinstock Award in 1989, among other awards and honors in her career.

Her husband Tom (who passed away in 2016) was president of TMA (then CSAA) in 1989-91. “Pat followed me as President of NBFAA,” remembered TMA past president Robert Bonifas. “Their presidential terms overlapped for a short while. When NBFAA was in serious financial shape, Pat, who lived nearby, would go to the NBFAA office every week to talk to and manage the few employees remaining until Chuck Lavin was hired as executive director.”

“Pat was a very important figure in the history of our industry. She was a respected, much-loved person who worked tirelessly for the industry for many years,” said TMA past president Louis T. Fiore.

Read Patricia Smith’s obituary for more details about her life and family. TMA extends our sincere condolences to Pat’s children and grandchildren.

Tom Smith Funeral 2017

From left: Bob Bonifas, Michel Fiore, Lou Fiore, Patricia Smith, Pat Egan, Ben Dickens, and Susie Dickens in April 2016. 

Amherst Alarm Steps Up to Help SIAC Fight Harmful Ordinances That Target the Alarm Industry and Its Customers

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Frisco, Texas (April 19, 2018) – Industry leader Timothy M. Creenan, CEO of Amherst Alarm, Inc., is calling for others in the alarm industry to join the fight against harmful ordinances that threaten the industry’s ability to protect lives and property, such as the ordinance put in place by Sandy Springs, Georgia.

Tim_Creenan

Tim Creenan

Creenan says that his company will donate 10 cents for each of its customers to the Security Industry Alarm Coalition (SIAC), resulting in a substantial donation. The donation will be divided between the fund established to fight the Sandy Springs ordinance and funding for SIAC’s ongoing nationwide activities to promote a “Model Alarm Ordinance” that has dramatically decreased false alarms in communities nationwide.

“There is no question that cities such as Sandy Springs negatively impact our business and our customers with ordinances based on misinformation or animosity toward our industry,” said Creenan. “A small investment now will pay tremendous dividends if ordinances that fine alarm companies, impose outrageous fees for registration and false alarms, and generally discourage or punish people from protecting their lives and property go unchallenged.”

SIAC is providing the background information for and organizing the legal challenge to the Sandy Springs ordinance in U.S. District Court. In addition, SIAC’s professional staff meets with public safety leaders throughout the United States and interfaces with leading public safety organizations to promote proven solutions that include the Model Alarm Ordinance, created with input from law enforcement.

“Let’s not kid ourselves,” said Stan Martin, SIAC executive director, “there are individuals in the country who spend a considerable amount of their time trying to undermine our industry’s credibility and promote ordinances that either fine alarm companies or severely limit police response to alarms. Their misinformation campaigns can take root when there is no alternative voice to provide expertise on the issue.

“Without a proactive program to engage the nation’s 18,000 public safety agencies these efforts will gain momentum, harm our relationship with customers and place excessive administrative and financial burdens on our businesses,” Martin continued.

Creenan urges other companies to make the same donation of 10 cents per customer:
“I can’t think of any investment with a higher potential ROI than funding SIAC’s well-established track record for promoting the Model Alarm Ordinance and fighting back when our industry and those we serve are attacked. It is clearly a case of pay now or pay much more later.”

Donate to SIAC Now

From TMA President Ivan Spector: Register Now for ESX 2018

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Passionate security professionals will convene in Nashville this June for ESX 2018. TMA President Ivan Spector invites you to join us there — register before April 22 to take advantage of early bird rates! Find the latest ESX news here. 

For more information, including the program of education sessions, networking events, general sessions, and travel information, visit www.esxweb.com.

 

TMA Response to Sandy Springs, GA Action Against Alarm Companies

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Earlier this week, the City of Sandy Springs, GA revoked the registration of 39 alarm companies operating within the city “due to delinquent payment of fines for violations” of the Sandy Springs false alarm ordinance. Alarm companies which do not have a current, valid registration with the city are not eligible to request emergency personnel response in connection with their activated intrusion (burglar) alarms systems within Sandy Springs. The registration is revoked when an alarm company does not pay fines for alarm user-caused false alarms.

Among other troubling legal concerns, this ordinance, which went into effect in September, violates the due process clause of the Constitution because it makes alarm companies responsible for the actions of a customer over whom they have no control. That hasn’t stopped Sandy Springs from revoking registrations from TMA member companies.

Sandy Springs’ actions are a threat to public safety. Other municipalities are watching what happens in Sandy Springs. We must prevent this from becoming a precedent for other municipalities — and preserve our ability to provide services to those who use security systems to protect their homes, businesses and properties.

TMA and our partners are fighting this ordinance through the Security Industry Alarm Coalition (SIAC). Contributions are needed now to fund our legal action.

Please visit SIAC to make a donation. Should you have questions or need guidance, contact TMA Executive Director Jay Hauhn at jhauhn@tma.us.

“Leaders Must Build Trust During Change” is Keynote Message at 2018 Annual Meeting of The Monitoring Association

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October 13-17 in Palm Beach is a “Can’t Miss” Event for Monitoring Industry Leaders; 2018 Plans Reflect Attendees’ Desire for a More Streamlined Schedule

The Monitoring Association announced the keynote speaker for its 2018 Annual Meeting (October 13-17 in Palm Beach, FL). David Horsager, CEO and best-selling author of “The Trust Edge,” will present Build Trust or Die Amidst Change:  How to Build Trust, Lead Others & Grow Revenue through Times of Transition.

“Change is constant–and the speed of business is faster than ever before,” says Horsager. “How do you build trust and keep things running smoothly during major business transitions or uncertain political climates? In this session, I’ll show leaders how times of change are the greatest opportunity to build trust and achieve business results in the face of uncertainty.”

Attendees will benefit from these key takeaways from Horsager’s presentation:

  • The single most important driver in communication during times of transition
  • How to accelerate decision making and keep momentum moving for those you lead
  • Why the “How” is more important than the “Why”

David Horsager, MA, CSP, CPAE is the CEO of Trust Edge Leadership Institute, national bestselling author of “The Trust Edge,” inventor of the Enterprise Trust Index™, and director of one of the nation’s foremost trust studies: The Trust Outlook™. His work has been featured in prominent publications such as Fast Company, Forbes, The Huffington Post and The Wall Street Journal. Horsager has advised leaders and delivered life-changing presentations on six continents, with audiences ranging everywhere from FedEx, Toyota and global governments to the New York Yankees and the Department of Homeland Security.

The 2018 TMA Annual Meeting will continue to build on the improvements and successes of the past years, presenting the strong education program and unparalleled networking only found at TMA’s annual event, along with the unique opportunity to interact with AHJ representatives. “We hope all TMA member companies will be represented in Palm Beach this year,” said TMA president Ivan Spector. “It’s always beneficial to see your fellow members in person and learn from the best of the best!”

This year, there is an adjustment to the traditional schedule. “Member feedback from recent years indicated that attendees want the Annual Meeting to be more streamlined,” continued Spector. “To that end, we are compressing two days of board and committee meetings into one. Committee members now do not need to arrive until early Sunday afternoon. However, we hope that if you can, you will come as early as Friday to take advantage of our spectacular location.”

Additional education sessions (October 15-17) at the Annual Meeting will focus on helping leaders address critical issues and challenges facing the monitoring industry, such as the millennial workforce, executive management, technology trends, and telecomm issues. The complete roster of speakers will be announced over the summer.

Rooms are available now at the 5-Star, 5-Diamond Eau Palm Beach Resort, located on the south end of Palm Beach Island, an 18-mile long Atlantic coast barrier island. For reservations call 855-388-0537 or use the TMA online portal. Registration will open in April. For more information, visit tma.us/2018am.
Preliminary Schedule (Subject to Change)

Saturday, October 13
Evening — Board and AHJ Dinner

Sunday, October 14
Morning — Board of Directors Breakfast and Meeting
Afternoon — Executive Committee Meeting, TMA Committee Meetings
Evening — Welcome Reception/Buffet

Monday, October 15
Morning — AHJ Representatives Breakfast, General Business Meeting/Keynote
Afternoon — AHJ Open Forum and Luncheon
Evening — Theme Night Reception/Buffet

Tuesday, October 16
Morning — General Session
Evening — Open

Wednesday, October 17
Morning — General Session
Evening — President’s Reception and Dinner/Dance

–March 26, 2018

 

 

Prince George’s County, MD Goes Live with ASAP for Faster, More Accurate Emergency Response

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ASAP-Concept1DTechnology Automates Emergency Response for More Speed and Accuracy

Prince George’s County, MD is the latest municipality to implement Automated Secure Alarm Protocol (ASAP), a service designed to automate communication between alarm monitoring central stations and public safety dispatch/911 centers. Prince George’s County is the 37th PSAP to implement ASAP, and at 499 square miles, the second largest.

Electronic data transmission results in the following benefits for residents and first responders:

  • Fewer phone calls to emergency response centers. Alarm center data is passed to public safety dispatch/911 operators electronically within seconds and then provided to first responders upon dispatch to the location.
  • Quicker processing times. Data doesn’t have to be input manually or communicated verbally, resulting in reduced hold times, less chance of human error and faster responses.
  • Greater accuracy of information transmitted.
  • More prompt action during natural disasters. It’s common for public safety dispatch/911 centers to be overwhelmed with calls during these types of emergencies.

With ASAP delivering alarm notification information directly from central stations to public safety answering points (PSAPs) and public safety dispatch centers via computer rather than by phone, the municipality expects alarm response times to drop significantly. These benefits will extend across Prince George’s County police, fire and emergency medical services.

Vector Security customers went live on March 21, followed by customers from other security companies. Nearly 3,400 Vector Security customers in the county will benefit from improved emergency response times. “We are constantly working to provide a safer environment for the public,” said Anita Ostrowski, Vice President of Central Station Services, Vector Security. “We’ve come a long way since being the first alarm company to introduce ASAP to Richmond, VA in 2012, and we are glad to see the technology make its way into more communities across the nation.”

ASAP was formed following a partnership between The Monitoring Association (formerly the Central Station Alarm Association) and the Association of Public-Safety Communications Professionals.

For more information on the benefits and features of ASAP, visit www.tma.us/asap.

New Licensing Fees Coming in California

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The California Alarm Association reported on March 20 that, as a result of legislation (SB 547, Chapter 429) signed into law in 2017, effective July 1, 2018, there will be new fee amounts for most license types regulated by the Alarm Company Act, Collateral Recovery Act, Locksmith Act, Private Security Services Act, and Proprietary Private Security Services Act.

Please note that SB 547 did not affect the fees in the Private Investigator Act.

Submitting Initial Applications for Licensure: The date the application and payment for initial licensure is submitted will determine whether the current or new fee will apply:

  • If the application is submitted by mail and postmarked before July 1, 2018, the current fee will apply.
  • If the application is submitted by mail and postmarked on or after July 1, 2018, the new fee will apply,
  • If the application is submitted by BreEZe or in-person before July 1, 2018, the current fee will apply.
  • If the application is submitted by BreEZe or in-person on or after July 1, 2018, the new fee will apply.

Submitting Renewal Applications: The expiration date for your current license, registration, certificate or permit determines whether your renewal payment is the current fee or the new fee amount. If the expiration date is before July 1, 2018, the current fee will apply. If the expiration date is after July 1, 2018, the new fee will apply even if you pay the renewal fee before July 1, 2018.

To see a breakdown of the application fee amounts per license type, please visit the following link: http://bsis.ca.gov/forms_pubs/newfees.pdf

2018 TMA Tech Summit: Onsite Reports

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The 2018 TMA Technology Summit has concluded! Scroll down for photos and check out our #TMATech18 hashtag on Twitter for more photos and updates.

Tech Summit 2018 Fortinet

Wednesday March 21 – Next Generation Firewalls – The Cyber Security Tool for Maximum Security
Speaker: Jason Graun, Systems Engineering Manager, Office of the CTO, Fortinet

Tech Summit 2018 Rubrik

Wednesday March 21 – Data Backup and Disaster Recovery Explained – Is Your Solution the Right One for You?
Speaker: Evan Shelley, Engineer, Rubrik

Tech Summit 2018 I View Now

Wednesday March 21 – Video Monitoring and SNMP Traps for Inline Video Monitoring Speakers: Larry Folsom (left) and Ashley Bradford, I-View Now

Tech Summit 2018 Parks

Wednesday March 21 – How AI and DIY Will Transform the Residential Security Business
Keynote Speaker: Tom Kerber, Director, IoT Strategy, Parks Associates

Tuesday March 20 – Groups reporting back about takeaways and priorities after roundtable discussions.

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Tech Summit 2018 Roundtable Report 2tech-summit-2018-roundtable-report-3.jpg

 

 

Tech Summit 2018 Secuvant.jpg

Tuesday, March 20: Todd Neilson, Co-Founder/COO and Kevin Howard, VP Security Engineering, Secuvant are presenting “What the Dark Web Can Teach Us about Cybersecurity”

 

Tech Summit 2018 AT&T

Tuesday, March 20: Chris McConnell and Timothy Shira, Internet of Things Solutions, AT&T Business, present “3G, LTE, FirstNet and Beyond”

Tech Summit 2018

Tuesday, March 20: Keynote speaker Jeff Freeman, VP worldwide systems engineering, Rubrik, speaking about understanding Cloud data management solutions

 

Tech Summit 2018 Jay Steve Sascha

Tuesday, March 20: TMA Technology Committee Co-Chairs Sascha Kylau (far left) and Steve Butkovich (center) with TMA Executive Director Jay Hauhn (at podium) welcome attendees to the 2018 TMA Technology Summit.

 

ASAP Surge: Phoenix and Collier County/Naples

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ASAP-Concept1DThe Phoenix AZ Police Department went live with the ASAP service in March, the third in Arizona and the 34th agency in the United States to launch ASAP.

Collier County/Naples, FL also recently went live with ASAP, the fourth in Florida and the 35th agency in the United States to launch ASAP.

This post will be updated.