Join TMA’s NextGen Spring 2026 Empowering Leadership Series Webinar

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TMA’s NextGen Committee invites you to join our Spring 2026 session in the Empowering Leadership Series on Thursday, May 28, 2026, beginning at 1:00 PM ET.

Open to all TMA members, this engaging session will feature Christine Brideau, Edmonton Station Manager at Armstrongs, a Becklar Company, as she explores key leadership concepts from Simon Sinek’s bestselling book, Leaders Eat Last.

Drawing from her professional experience in the monitoring, safety, and security industry, Christine will share practical insights on:

  • Building trust within teams
  • Creating a strong workplace culture
  • Supporting and empowering employees
  • Leading with purpose in high-responsibility environments

The session will begin with a brief presentation followed by Q&A, giving attendees the opportunity to share perspectives, ask questions, and connect with fellow industry professionals.

Whether you are an emerging leader or an experienced professional, this conversation will provide valuable leadership takeaways that can be applied across all areas of the industry.

Register at https://themonitoringassociation.growthzoneapp.com/ap/Events/Register/lzF2eKmsjC5Cw

Note: It is not necessary to read Leaders Eat Last before the session in order to participate or benefit from the discussion.

We hope you will join us for this insightful and interactive conversation.

Longtime Member and Volunteer Leader Jerry Howe Passes

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The Monitoring Association (TMA) is saddened to share the passing of Peak Alarm Founder and CEO Jerry Howe, a visionary entrepreneur, devoted family man, and proud veteran. Jerry passed away on May 12 at the age of 83.

Following his military service, Jerry began his career in the security industry at Bay Alarm in Oakland, California, where he developed the skills and experience that would shape his future in the field. In 1969, he and his wife, Gayle, moved to Salt Lake City in pursuit of the American Dream and founded Peak Alarm Company, Inc. Together, they built a life and legacy that would span more than six decades and include six children.

Under Jerry’s leadership, Peak Alarm grew from a local startup into one of the largest multi-regional security companies in the United States, providing safety and peace of mind to thousands of customers. At its peak, the company employed nearly 500 people across Utah, Idaho, and Colorado, reflecting Jerry’s impact as both a successful entrepreneur and a respected member of the business community. His lifelong dedication to the industry was recognized in 2023 when Peak Alarm received the prestigious National Dealer of the Year award.

Jerry was also a committed supporter of the professional monitoring community. He was an active member of CSAA and served on its Board of Directors, contributing his experience and leadership to help advance the industry.

Beyond his professional accomplishments, Jerry was deeply devoted to his faith, family, and community. An active member of the LDS Church, he spent many years mentoring young men as a dedicated Scout leader. He also found great joy in his renowned show car collection, his many loyal dogs, and his lifelong love of the outdoors.

Funeral services will be held privately by the family. In lieu of flowers, donations in Jerry’s memory may be made to Alzheimer’s charities.

Read his full obituary HERE.

Celebrating Our Volunteers During Volunteer Month

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April is Volunteer Appreciation Month, and we’re proud to recognize the members who strengthen our professional community every day.

Across TMA, volunteers share their time, expertise and leadership – serving on committees, mentoring peers, and helping guide our work. Your contributions drive our growth, deepen our impact, and create meaningful opportunities for members and their companies.

Volunteering at TMA is about more than giving time; it’s about building connections and strengthening our industry together. We’re grateful for the commitment and leadership that each of our volunteers bring to this community.

To all who serve, thank you. Your efforts make a lasting difference.

Our gratitude to our Board of Directors and Committee Leaders:

Board of Directors

President
Alan Gillmore IV, Gillmore Security Systems Inc.

Vice President
Daniel Oppenheim, Affiliated Monitoring

Vice President
Mike Picciola, ADT, LLC

Vice President
Wes Usie, Guardian Alarm Systems

Secretary
Justin Bailey, Becklar

Treasurer
Shannon Woodman, Washington Alarm

Immediate Past President
Steve Butkovich, CPI Security

Special Advisors to the President

Jau Hauhn, Hauhn & Associates
Morgan Hertel, Rapid Response Monitoring
Pam Petrow, Vector Security

Directors
Caroline Brown, Security Central
David Charney, Everon
Chet Donati, DMC Security Services, Inc.
Jack Doyle, Doyle Security Systems, Inc.
Scott R. Elkins, Zeus Fire and Security
Richard Flores, Puget Sound Energy
Mark Hillenburg, DMP
Brandon Niles, Acadian Monitoring Services, LLC
Stanley Oppenheim, DGA Security Systems, Inc.
Mark Miller, Johnson Controls Security (JCI)
Joseph Pereira, Securitas Technology
Joey Rao-Russell, Kimberlite Corporation dba Sonitrol
Tim Westphal, Bay Alarm Company

TMA Committee Leaders

AICC
Tiffany Garlaza, ADT, LLC
Sascha Kylau, Jadugar

Associate Member Council
Mark Hillenburg, DMP
Jennifer Holloway, CIBC

Bylaws
Chet Donati, DMC Security Services, Inc.
Jay Hauhn, Hauhn & Associates

Compliance Community
Kate Fisher, Compliance Management Solutions, LLC
Tommy Whisnant, CPI Security

Education
John Brady, TRG Associates Inc.
Brandon Niles, Acadian Monitoring Services, LLC

Ethics
Jau Hauhn, Hauhn & Associates

Five Diamond
Caroline Brown, Security Central
Jeff Cohen, Quick Response
Ralph Sevinor, Wayne Alarm Systems

GSOC
Richard Flores, Puget Sound Energy
Randy Rickert, Thrivent Financial

Government Relations
James Marcella, AXIS Communications
Tommy Whisnant, CPI Security

Marketing and Communications
Brandon Freedman, Wayne Alarm Systems
David Morgan, Security Dealer Marketing

Membership Development and Retention
Jack Doyle, Doyle Security Systems, Inc.

NextGen
Amy Becht, Vivint
Jessica Lambert, Becklar

Standards
Morgan Hertel, Rapid Response Monitoring

Surveillance Video and Verification
David Charney, Everon
Wes Usie, Guardian Alarm Systems

Technology
Stephen Kovacsiss, Radionix
Matt Narowski, Security Central

If you’re interested in getting more involved, we encourage you to explore volunteer opportunities within TMA. Whether you can contribute a few hours or take on a leadership role, your involvement helps us strengthen our network and support the success of professional monitoring.

TMA Is Hiring: Director of Certification

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The Monitoring Association (TMA) is seeking an experienced and strategic professional to join our team as Director of Certification.

This leadership role is responsible for overseeing and advancing TMA’s certification programs. The Director of Certification will guide program strategy, certification operations, and stakeholder engagement while working closely with volunteer leaders, committees, and industry professionals to maintain the high standards that define TMA credentials.

The ideal candidate is a strategic, execution-focused leader with deep experience in certification programs and a strong business mindset. They have a proven ability to grow and optimize underperforming programs while identifying new opportunities such as micro-credentials and workforce certifications. This individual is both detail-oriented and visionary, able to build high-quality programs while driving measurable growth and engaging industry stakeholders.

This is an exciting opportunity to help shape the future of professional certification.

View the full job description at:
https://tma.us/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Job-Description-Director-of-Certification.pdf

Interested candidates should submit a cover letter and resume to jfranklin@tma.us.

Public Safety Organizations Sign Joint Letter Opposing NextNav Petition to the FCC

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The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials-International (APCO), International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) and National Sheriffs’ Association (NSA) signed a joint letter to the FCC outlining their concerns that NextNav’s proposed PNT solutions could negatively affect existing incumbent operations essential to the preservation of life and safety.

The letter references the evidence from recent reports and studies, such as the engineering review submitted into the record by Pericle that highlights potential risks of NextNav’s proposal to critical life safety systems noting that these systems are prevalent throughout our country, especially in Americans’ homes and businesses. The letter states that the rule changes requested in the NextNav petition could have significant negative consequences for public safety.

The letter, dated November 13, 2025,  calls out key examples of devices that could be affected if NextNav’s proposals were allowed to proceed:

  • Man down systems/solutions. These devices and solutions help provide public safety agencies with the location of first responders and other pertinent life-safety data while on the scene of an incident. They are especially critical for public safety personnel, because they provide critical tracking data for first responders in unfamiliar settings.
  • Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) systems. SCBA systems provide respiratory protection for first responders in hazardous environments, including fire and areas with toxic gas. These devices may incorporate connectivity features over the Lower 900 MHz band to monitor firefighter status, air supply levels, and environmental conditions. This enables remote monitoring of air cylinder pressures, automatic alerts if a wearer is in distress or immobile, and integration with incident management software for real-time safety oversight.
  • IoT wildfire sensing and wind profile radars. Connected cameras and sensors equipped with AI use the Lower 900 MHz band to detect environmental conditions conducive to wildfires and create wind predictions for wildfire mitigation. These systems provide early warning and situational awareness to inform public safety decision-making and resource deployment.
  • Preemption of traffic signals. These devices help emergency vehicles override typical traffic signal operations. They ensure that emergency vehicles have the right-of-way and can reach the incident scene in a quick and timely manner.
  • Automatic utility gas/electric shut off capabilities. When first responders encounter a scene where live electricity or a gas leak is present, often their first call is to utility companies. Remote shut-off systems operate on the Lower 900 MHz Band. If gas and electric companies cannot operate their remote shut off systems, first responders’ lives and safety could be at risk.
  • Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors: These detectors can be found in the homes of most American citizens. These devices alert people to unsafe levels of smoke or carbon monoxide present in residences or businesses, so that people can evacuate safely. These detectors are often connected directly to alarm companies to allow first responders to arrive on the scene more quickly.

Read the full letter.

Latest News on NextNav Petition to the FCC Focus of SIA Webinar, May 11th

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The lower 900 MHz band (902-928 MHz) is used by millions of Part 15 low-power, radio frequency security and life safety devices such as consumer electronics and appliances, wireless alarm systems, smart home equipment, electronic access control devices and others essential for protecting homes, small businesses and critical infrastructure. A monopolistic proposal from a single company before the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) seeks to reallocate portions of this band of spectrum for an exclusive license and remove an FCC rule that has protected Part 15 devices from harmful interference and preserved this ecosystem for decades. The Security Industry Association (SIA) and numerous other public safety organizations are opposing this proposal and are fighting it on Capitol Hill.

Join this webinar presented by SIA to learn about the proposal, get an update on where our advocacy efforts stand and discuss the impacts on the security industry devices that communicate in the spectrum.

Panelists will share:

  • An overview of the petition and where it stands today
  • A look at our technical analysis of how this will impact devices in the band
  • A snapshot of SIA’s advocacy on the issue
  • What you can do to help protect this band for security products and services

Speakers:

Jake Parker, senior director of government relations, SIA

Lauren Bresette, senior manager of government relations, SIA

Date: May 11, 2026, 1:00 PM/ET

REGISTER 

 

TMA Standards Chair Heads ISC West Panel on ANSO/TMA-ATN-01

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Enter TMA's 2026 Awards with a deadline of April 3, 2026.TMA Standards Committee Chair Morgan Hertel, Rapid Response Monitoring, facilitated an educational session at ISC West in Las Vegas on Tuesday, March 24th on TMA’s newest ANSI standard – Active Threat Detection Standard (TMA-ATN-01). The session highlighted how implementing the standard can increase efficiency, accuracy, and speed for monitoring centers and responding agencies in an active threat event.

The presentation panel also featured Mike Picciola, ADT; Megan Bixler, RPL, CPE, APCO International; and Richard Onofrio, Shooter Detection Systems (pictured here). All contributed to the development of the standard, which was released in 2025.
Learn more TMA-ATN-01 and download the standard at https://tma.us/standards/tma-atn-01/.

Congressional Fire Services Institute Annual National Fire and Emergency Services Dinner

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Enter TMA's 2026 Awards with a deadline of April 3, 2026.TMA CEO Whitney Doll attended the Congressional Fire Services Institute Annual National Fire and Emergency Services Dinner on March 19th in Washington, DC. The event brings together leaders from across the fire and emergency services community to connect, share insights, and advance critical priorities.

Also in attendance were members of the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) Fire and Life Safety Section (FLSS) Board of Directors.

“I enjoyed seeing many familiar faces and learning more about the issues shaping the future of fire prevention and life safety.. It was such an inspiring evening and a powerful reminder of the importance of collaboration in advancing safety and security,” she shared.

Thank you to Richard Roberts (pictured here with Whitney) and Honeywell for the invitation to attend.

Security Industry Unites on Capitol Hill for Fourth Annual Hill Walk

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More than 70 professionals from across the electronic security and monitoring industry convened in Washington, D.C., on March 5 for the fourth annual Hill Walk, a coordinated advocacy effort designed to amplify the industry’s voice with federal policymakers.

This year’s Hill Walk was jointly organized by the Security Industry Association (SIA), the Electronic Security Association (ESA) and The Monitoring Association (TMA), marking the second consecutive year the three leading industry organizations formally co-sponsored the event.

Participants conducted a full day of meetings across Capitol Hill, visiting a total of 55 legislative offices spanning both chambers of Congress and both political parties. The delegation included representatives from monitoring centers, security integrators, manufacturers, and other industry stakeholders, underscoring the breadth of the security ecosystem and its shared policy priorities.

Enter TMA's 2026 Awards with a deadline of April 3, 2026.

Unified Voice on Critical Industry Issues

A central topic of discussion during the meetings was a petition before the Federal Communications Commission submitted by NextNav. Hill Walk participants encouraged lawmakers to urge the FCC to dismiss the petition, citing concerns about its potential impact on spectrum resources and the reliability of services that support alarm monitoring and emergency communications.

In addition to the spectrum issue, representatives from The Monitoring Association highlighted several policy priorities of the industry’s public safety partners, reinforcing the close relationship between professional monitoring services and first responders. These conversations emphasized the importance of protecting communications infrastructure and maintaining reliable pathways for emergency signaling that communities depend on every day.

Broad Engagement Across Capitol Hill

The Hill Walk’s meetings included offices in both the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate, providing an opportunity for industry leaders to educate lawmakers and staff about the role of the security sector in protecting homes, businesses and critical infrastructure.

Advocates also shared insights about the industry’s economic impact, technological innovation and longstanding partnerships with law enforcement and emergency response agencies.

Strength in Collaboration

Leaders from the three sponsoring associations emphasized that the event’s success reflects the growing collaboration across the security industry.

“The security industry is strongest when we speak with one voice,†said Alan Gillmore, IV, president of TMA. “By bringing together SIA, ESA and TMA, we demonstrated the power of collaboration and ensured that policymakers heard directly from the professionals who design, install and operate the technologies that help keep people safe every day.â€

Building Momentum for Future Advocacy

The Hill Walk continues to grow in both participation and impact. The event highlighted the security industry’s shared commitment to proactive advocacy and constructive dialogue with policymakers and to advancing technology and communications policies that support public safety and innovation.

Security Hill Day – Policy Priorities Papers

More than 20 ECCs set to go live with ASAP

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Within the next several months, the following ECCs serving over 8 million in population are expected to go live.

  • Brevard County, FL – ~644K population
  • Oklahoma City, OK – ~709K population
  • St. Joseph County, IN – ~272K population
  • Montgomery County, MD – ~1.09M population
  • Cleveland, OH – ~362K population
  • Galveston, TX – ~370K population
  • Louisville, KY – ~750K population
  • Arlington County, VA – ~240K population
  • Mesquite, TX – ~147K population
  • Delaware County, NY – ~44K population
  • Alexandria, VA – ~159K population
  • Rochester-Olmstead County, MN – ~166K population
  • Burlingame, CA – ~36K population
  • Sangamon County, IL – ~198K population
  • Montgomery County, TN – ~239K population
  • Shelby County, TN – ~910K population
  • Bartlett City, TN – ~57K population
  • Central County, MO – ~703K population
  • Paducah McCraken, KY – ~67K population
  • LakeComm, IL – ~709K population
  • St. Mary’s County, MD – ~113K population
  • Peoria, IL – ~125K population

Learn more about TMA’s ASAP service at https://asap911.org/.

 

Enter TMA's 2026 Awards with a deadline of April 3, 2026.