TMA: 2018 Year in Review

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.

2018 Annual Meeting Report: A Dynamic Gathering of Industry Leaders in Palm Beach

As it does every year, the 2018 TMA Annual Meeting brought together a most impressive group of industry leaders and influencers, who gained new connections and information to help them advance their businesses. Attendees praised the event, held in Palm Beach October 13-17, for its unmatched networking and high-level conversations supported by a leadership-focused program developed by the TMA Education Committee.

“The 2018 Annual Meeting lived up yet again to its billing as a gathering of the best of the best in our industry,” said TMA President Ivan Spector. “As we had expected, our event attracted the most engaged and committed people, enabling them to have conversations at a level above any other industry event and to take away information that will help them advance their businesses. I was gratified to see so many new members, first timers, and younger folk in Palm Beach, as well as our long-time stalwarts. You could really feel the dynamism of our association!”

TMA members at the Annual Meeting shared their enthusiasm for their organization by participating in the ongoing “TMA. That’s My Association” campaign. See more photos from the campaign here.

Keynote speaker David Horsager, author and CEO of “The Trust Edge,” set the tone for the meeting by sharing with attendees how trust, or the lack of it, can affect the success of their businesses.

Attendees engaged with each other in committee meetings, the general membership meeting, shared meal functions, theme events, special tours, and education sessions. “With the landscape and technology in our industry changing faster than ever it is important for us as members to gather together to identify and work towards solutions for our industries future,” said Wayne E. “Trey” Alter III, president and CEO, Dynamark Security Centers. “TMA has always been at the forefront of this and I can think of no better venue than our annual meeting.”

One of the buzziest sessions was “Valuations Evolve in the 2018 Market—Understanding How Today’s New Technology Players Impacts Your Place in the Alarm Industry” featuring a powerhouse panel moderated by John E. Mack III, Head of Mergers & Acquisitions, Imperial Capital. Pictured from L to R: John Robuck, Head of Security Finance and Managing Director, Capital One; Henry Edmonds, President, the Edmonds Group, LLC; Michael Barnes, Principal, Barnes Associates Inc.

 

TMA staff and leaders welcomed “NextGen” members with a special reception.

“It’s rare to meet so many accomplished visionaries and entrepreneurs and innovators all in one location,” said John Romanowich, President and CEO, Sightlogix. “I felt so welcomed here and had so many high level conversations — I really didn’t expect that at the first meeting I attended, and I just had a tremendous experience.”

The TMA Annual Meeting provided the unique opportunity to meet and engage with leaders from the AHJ organizations from the USA and Canada. Pictured from L to R: Mark Light (IAFC), Dan Eggleston (IAFC), Bill Moore (CACP), Rick Stanek (NSA), Leon Frederick (Nlets), Steve Correll (Nlets), Stan Martin (SIAC), Ivan Spector (TMA), Rob Baxter (TMA – sponsor); Paul Cell (IACP), Harlin McEwen (IACP), Jay Hauhn (TMA), Larry Folsom (sponsor), Joey Rao-Russell (TMA PSLC).

Related: Bud Wulforst Honored with Stanley Lott Award; Shane Clary and Rick Simpson Receive President’s Awards for NFPA-72 Efforts

The TMA Board of Directors, October 2018 (L to R): Bob Bitton, Lou Fiore, Don Young, Joey Rao-Russell, Shannon Woodman, Nigel Spinks, Dan Jackman, Bob Bonifas, David Carter, Ralph Sevinor, Alan Gillmore IV, Ivan Spector, Brandon Niles, Jay Hauhn, Morgan Hertel, Rick Sheets, Kevin Stone, Chet Donati, Stanley Oppenheim, Ed Bonifas, Graham Westphal, Ben Dickens, Steve Butkovich

TMA Executive Director Jay Hauhn retired following the Annual Meeting, after leading the association for 3-1/2 years. TMA created a special tribute video featuring members and colleagues to thank Hauhn for his service and contributions. It was shown at the General Membership Meeting.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Mark your calendar now for the 2019 TMA Annual Meeting. Join your colleagues October 12-18 in Napa Valley, CA to “Take Maximum Advantage” of your TMA membership connections!

For more photos and details from the 2018 Annual Meeting, read “TMA Sees Opportunities, Sun on Horizon at Palm Beach Meeting” from SSI.

TMA Staff at the 2018 Annual Meeting (L to R): Vice President of Meetings John McDonald, Member Services Coordinator Malory Todd, Vice President of Membership and Programs Celia Besore, Executive Director and CEO Jay Hauhn, Vice President of Education and Training Julie Webber, Vice President of Marketing and Communications Elizabeth Lasko.

Photos by Brandon Freedman,  Joey Rao-Russell, Elizabeth Lasko.

“TMA. That’s My Association” Connects Members at the Annual Meeting

TMA members at the 2018 Annual Meeting shared their enthusiasm for their organization by participating in the ongoing “TMA. That’s My Association” campaign, which was launched earlier this year at ESX. What’s your favorite T-M-A slogan? Got an idea for one to add? Contact communications@tma.us.

(Click on the photos to enlarge.)

 

Photos by Elizabeth Lasko.

 

TMA Virtual Product Review (VPR) Series: JCI’s PowerG (12/19/18)

Security professionals need to address an ever-evolving and rapidly changing list of threats to systems that are designed to keep our homes and businesses secure. Typical systems and devices installed in spaces may address the obvious, but do they really protect from the vulnerabilities that are behind the scenes? Without having an end-to-end solution that protects each signal sent and received, you may as well leave your door unopened. Find out how to get protection in this 15-minute Virtual Product Review.

Please join us:
Wednesday December 19^th at 1:00pm ET.
Speaker: Neil Evans, Sr. Product Manager, Johnson Controls, Tyco Security Solutions

Register online.

TMA Virtual Product Reviews are webinars inspired by the popular two-minute “lighting round sessions” we offer at TMA Annual Meetings, where our Sponsors and Associate Members have an opportunity to speak about their products. The Virtual Product Review expands the lightning round concept into a 15-minute virtual live product review from a current TMA advertiser, in which attendees can learn more about a new/improved product or service and ask questions.

The Monitoring Association Appoints Two New Directors

The Monitoring Association (TMA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Ms. Illeny Maaza to the position of Director, Membership and Programs and Ms. Leigh A. McGuire to the position of Director of Marketing and Communications. Both association management professionals joined TMA, an internationally recognized non-profit trade association that represents professional monitoring companies, in December 2018.

“Illeny and Leigh each bring a unique scope of knowledge, experience, and talents to their new roles within TMA,” stated Celia Besore, MBA, CAE, executive director, TMA, adding, “As TMA looks to build upon its firm foundation of excellence across the security industry, these two new additions to our team of professionals position the organization to advance its strategic goals in the core areas of membership, education, advocacy, and standards.”

Maaza comes to TMA from the American Telemedicine Association (ATA) where she served as Business Analyst and Member Group Liaison. Prior to ATA, she held the positions of Director of Certification & Systems Integration at Idealliance and Manager of Customer Solutions at the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA). Mazza brings a wealth of experience and expertise in project management, membership, and customer service to her new position in TMA.

McGuire’s career in the security industry began at ADEMCO (now Honeywell) on New York’s Long Island. After a short tenure in the company’s advertising and commercial marketing division, she relocated to Virginia where she joined the Security Industry Association’s (SIA) in 2000 and, later, ASIS International in 2008—serving both security industry organizations in various marketing communications, public relations, and event management roles. McGuire’s expansive skill set coupled with her security industry tenure and network open distinct and valuable new growth opportunities for TMA and its member companies worldwide.