Here are the highlights from a most eventful year.
TMA thanks our members for your support and participation!

January

With an eye to safeguarding the interests of monitoring company customers, TMA begins the NFPA-72 engagement campaign to help ensure monitoring companies can perform the public safety services needed to protect lives and property.

March

• TMA presents its inaugural “TMA Technology Summit” as part of its strategic goal to assist its members with problem-solving technology challenges. Nearly nine out of ten attendees surveyed said they would recommend the event to a colleague.
• Prince George’s County, MD goes live with ASAP. It is the first PSAP in Maryland to connect with the service.
• In response to member requests, TMA launches The Compliance Community – a new interest group for licensing, permitting and regulations management.

April

• TMA supports the actions of the Security Industry Alarm Coalition in Sandy Springs, GA when the city revokes the registrations of 39 companies over alarm user-caused false alarm fines, spotlighting an important issue that would impact other jurisdictions.

May

• Maryland State Police’s Christopher Corea receives the 2018 TMA Public Sector Award for his efforts to bring ASAP to Maryland.

June

• At the NFPA Technical Meeting in Las Vegas, NFPA members vote overwhelmingly to accept updated language on fire alarm monitoring. The change to the code would have a direct impact on alarm companies and monitoring stations because it involves where and how fire alarm monitoring is provided to commercial locations.
• TMA co-hosts the 11th annual Electronic Security Expo (ESX) in Nashville, TN. TMA launched a new membership engagement campaign, “That’s My Association.” Executive Director Jay Hauhn announces his retirement after 3-1/2 years leading the association staff.
• At ESX, TMA presents the 2018 TMA Excellence Awards winners:
  • Monitoring Center of the Year: Affiliated Monitoring
  • Monitoring Center Operator of the Year: Patricia Fody, Vector Security
  • Monitoring Center Manager of the Year: Carmelo Mosca, Affiliiated Monitoring
  • Monitoring Center Support Person of the Year: Beth Bailey, ADT LLC
• NMC Receives the inaugural TMA/SSI Monitoring Technology Marvel Award for innovations in monitoring center technology.

July

• TMA releases the 5^th edition of A Practical Guide to Central Station Burglar Alarm Systems. Updated for 2018, this guide is particularly valuable for insurance agents, underwriters and loss-prevention specialists.

August

• ASAP Arrives in Georgia with implementation in Alpharetta.
• TMA appeals to the NFPA Standards Council, following the Technical Committee’s overruling of the June 2018 vote. The appeal was not successful, but TMA members resolved to continue pushing the effort into action during the next cycle.

October

• Celia T. Besore, MBA, CAE is named the next executive director of TMA.
• TMA holds its annual meeting in Palm Beach, FL, highlighted by the presence of US and Canadian AHJs, new and first-time members, and NextGen energy.
• Bud Wulforst receives the Stanley C. Lott Award, TMA’s highest honor.
• Shane Clary and Rick Simpson receive the President’s Special Recognition Award for their efforts on the NFPA-72 initiative.
• TMA members donate nearly $1500 at the Annual Meeting to support the West Palm Beach community through New Hope Charities.
• TMA announces an expansion of the Five Diamond program for dealers coming in 2019.

November

• TMA Standards Committee opens CSV01 for public comment.
• The TMA Fall Operations Management Seminar, featuring a tour of ADT’s National Accounts Monitoring Center, focuses on leadership and team building in the unique environment of the monitoring center. Attendees represented over 1,098 years of experience in the alarm industry.
• TMA announces details for a new False Alarm course for public education; an online cybersecurity webinar series, and Level 2 operator training in 2019.

December

• The number of students who have registered for TMA’s online training since the program’s inception reaches 28,000.
• Throughout the year, TMA’s Alarm Industry Communications Committee has followed and acted on issues including copper retirement notice requirements, the Telephone Consumer Protection Action, rural call completion, and others. Complete regulatory action reports appear in each issue of TMA Dispatch.
• In 2018, 140 member companies earned the prestigious TMA Five Diamond® designation.
• At year’s end, the ASAP service has been implemented by 44 PSAPs in 14 states. The program remains one of TMA’s most important initiatives, and is considered a “win-win” for public safety and the alarm industry.
• TMA welcomed 45 new member companies in 2018, setting the stage for a new year of increased activity and engagement.

We look forward to serving our members next year and working together to advance the professional monitoring industry! Please contact us (communications@tma.us) with ideas, issues, concerns and questions.