Tag Archive for: TMA

Product iQ: UL’s Next-Generation Online Certification Directory

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UL LOGOUL is pleased to announce the availability of Product iQ, a certifications platform that marries the longstanding UL certification data with the intuitive design and user-friendliness of a modern search engine.

UL is committed to ongoing digital transformation across the enterprise. Product iQ is one of several initiatives designed to meet the growing demands of a digital world. Product iQ is designed to create new value, support transformation and evolve with changing needs.

Product iQ is built on a modern digital platform with a streamlined user interface and a fast, robust search capability. Features such as guided keyword search, search refinement and the ability to email search results improve the user experience. Additionally, a new, premium subscription offering allows users to purchase access to enhanced tools: saved searches, tagging and confirmation letters.

Product iQ also enables our customers to promote and differentiate their products and company through the use of digital media services and targeted email campaigns. Platform analytics can help our customers connect with other UL customers and provide transparency to industry and platform trends.

Access to UL’s certification information will always be free. Upon registration, users access exactly the same certification information as in the old platform at no cost. Upgrade to a premium subscription is available for those interested in the more advanced tools.

The platform technology underlying Product iQ was selected based on its ability to expand and grow with the information needs of UL’s stakeholders and customers. It is UL’s vision to use this platform to create premium value for UL clients and stakeholders by helping them both identify safer, more compliant products and services, and help them promote the same to potential buyers.

Product iQ will be available concurrently to the original Online Certifications Directory (OCD) for some time to allow users to register and learn the new platform. The OCD will be decommissioned later in 2018 and its links will be redirected to the new Product iQ platform.

For more information and account registration, visit https://iq.ulprospector.com/info.

“World’s Youngest Venture Capitalist” Will Share Insights at 2018 TMA Annual Meeting

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What will the world of business look like thirty years from now? And how will the nuanced, and often misunderstood, habits of millennials shape your company’s growth? Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree and “world’s youngest venture capitalist” Alex Banayan has the answers.

Alex Banayan

Alex Banayan, author of “The Third Door,” will present How 5 Millennial Trends Will Transform the Next 30 Years of Business at the 2018 TMA Annual Meeting, October 13-17 in Palm Beach, FL.

Banayan will expound on topics ranging from the pervasiveness of artificial reality to the automation revolution in his insightful and mind-expanding presentation for TMA members. Weaving in examples from Snapchat to Tesla, Banayan will share how the products millennials are obsessed with can clue us in to the habits his generation will perpetuate over the coming decades. You’ll leave with the insights you need to better understand your millennial employees and their effect on the future of your business.

The program to date, along with registration, travel, and hotel information, is posted at TMA Annual Meeting.

Finalists for 2018 TMA Excellence Awards Announced

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Four Winners to Be Revealed at ESX on June 19

VIENNA, VA (May 7, 2018) – The Monitoring Association is pleased to announce the twelve finalists for the 2018 TMA Excellence Awards. Listed in alphabetical order by company within each category, they are:

  • Monitoring Center of the Year Finalists
    ADT, Affiliated, Vector
  • Monitoring Center Operator of the Year Finalists
    Duane Hilton, ADT; Linda Reed, Dynamark; Patricia Fody, Vector
  • Monitoring Center Manager of the Year Finalists
    Shari Wilson, ADT; Carmelo Mosca, Affiliated; Bill Fisher, UAS
  • Monitoring Center Support Person of the Year Finalists
    Beth Bailey, ADT; Lamar Shroyer, Dynamark; Boris Pejic, G4S

“We congratulate our finalists for being recognized as the best of the best,” said Elizabeth Lasko, Vice President of Communications, TMA. “Our judges really had a challenging time choosing the finalists, let alone the winners, from all the nominations. Our applicants all submitted stories that clearly demonstrate the breadth of excellence in companies and individuals across our industry.”

The TMA Monitoring Center Excellence Awards recognize any FM Approvals, Intertek/ETL or UL-listed monitoring center (TMA members and non-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.

The TMA 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 blue-ribbon volunteer judging panel appointed by TMA. The four winners will be announced at the Opening Reception of the 2018 Electronic Security Expo (ESX) on Tuesday, June 19. For past winners and more information, visit www.tma.us.

Security Central’s McCall Joins TMA Board of Directors

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This week, TMA President Ivan Spector announced the appointment of Mark E. McCall to the position of contact monitoring company representative on the TMA Board of Directors. McCall will serve a recently-vacated position through October 2019.

McCall is the General Manager and Vice President of Operations for Security Central in Statesville, NC. He has been with Securmark McCallity Central since 2014. Previously he was Director of Information Technology for United Central Control and Station Manager/Project Manager for SentryNet. He is an active member of TMA, serving as co-chair of the Contract Monitoring Council. He participates in AICC, the TMA UL Standards committee, and PPVAR. He was a member of the TMA CS-V-01 update committee in 2016 and the 2018 ESX Education committee as a representative of TMA, among many other industry activities. McCall holds numerous technical certifications and is recognized for his strong analytical, troubleshooting and customer skills.

“Mark is an incredible industry volunteer who works extremely well with other volunteers and staff and has a great track record of helping TMA resolve issues,” noted TMA Executive Director Jay Hauhn.

— May 3, 2018

TMA Joins SIAC in Recognizing Ron Walters for Industry Contributions

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Walters’ Leadership on Alarm Issues Spans Decades

2014 CAA San Francisco Convention - Public SafetyRonald “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.”

“On behalf of the members of The Monitoring Association, I thank Ron for his time as a law enforcement enforcement officer that carried over to his SIAC career, where he continued to promote public safety in his tireless efforts to maintain the effectiveness of alarm systems,” said TMA Executive Director Jay Hauhn.

Source: SIAC, April 30, 2018

 

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.