We are seeking nominees to participate in the new ESA Chapter Challenge Game Show that will take place during ESX on Thursday, June 17. ESA Chartered Chapter leaders are encouraged to nominate members of their chapter to participate in this Family Feud-style game show, designed to create a fun and interactive activity that will provide quite the buzz on the show floor as well.

Click here to submit your nominees. Each winning team contestant will receive a check for $200 for their chartered chapter! Contact Jessica DaCosta with questions regarding the program at 508-618-4226, jdacosta@ae-ventures.com.

The deadline for submissions is Monday, May 7, 2010.

During the recent and successful New Jersey Burglar & Fire Alarm Association (NJBFAA) Annual Symposium, several statewide awards were bestowed on deserving individuals to recognize leadership and dedication to the industry.

The awards were given during a special membership luncheon held Friday, January 29.

Alarm Dealer of the Year

The first award, Alarm Dealer of the Year, was presented to Ira Hosid, of Paramus-based IRA Security Systems. Hosid, who is celebrating his 40^th anniversary in the business, was chosen for putting family first, a decision he made at the inception of his alarm career. The basis for his business plan was not to be the largest alarm company in New Jersey, but to make sure there was time to go to family affairs. The ‘mom and pop’ business flourished, and now maintains around 1,000 monitored accounts.

During Hosid’s ‘free time’, he is an active member of BARA, Bergen County Amateur Radio Association, which provides communications during disasters, and helps organizations such as the Red Cross both in N.J. and the country.

Hosid always tries to help anyone in the business with service/installation problems. He has never missed an NJBFAA meeting or trade show since joining many years ago,” commented NJBFAA president and emcee Chris Mack.

Associate Member of the Year

The Associate Member of the Year Award went to Joe Camarata of Mid-Atlantic Representatives.     Born and raised in Woodbridge, Camarata received a Bachelor of Science degree in electronic engineering technology from Fairleigh Dickinson University. Mid-Atlantic Representatives, owned by David Lund, has been a well respected industry supporter for over thirty years.  Joe joined Mid-Atlantic in September 2006, and is a proud member of the NJ chapter of InfraGARD, a partnership between the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the private sector, including businesses, academic institutions, state and local law enforcement agencies, and other participants dedicated to sharing information and intelligence to prevent hostile acts against the United States.  He is also a member of CERT – the Community emergency response team, which serve as first responders to any manmade and natural

NJBFAA Frank Smith Memorial Award

The recipient of the NJBFAA Frank Smith Memorial Award for Public Safety was Chief John Lightbody, who currently serves as Toms River Township Fire Prevention & Protection Officer, as well as Toms River Township’s Fire Subcode Official.

Lightbody received the award for serving tirelessly on numerous committees at the state level, most recently supporting the inclusion of sprinklers in residential housing. He has received numerous state and local accommodations and awards and is an adjunct instructor at Ocean County College, teaching fire and building courses. Lightbody is the proud second generation of firefighters, and the father of the third generation – his son, John F.

NJBFAA Distinguished Public Service Award

The Honorable Vincent Prieto was the recipient of the NJBFAA Distinguished Public Service Award.  Since 2004, Assemblyman Prieto has proudly represented the 32^nd district, which encompasses Hudson County, serving as the deputy majority whip of the General Assembly, and chairman of the Assembly Regulated Professions Committee. He is a construction code official, and served on the Secaucus Planning Board.

“Prieto is in a unique position to fully understand and support the work of the members of NJBFAA and has agreed to champion new legislation that addresses several flaws from the original licensing law,” said Mack, who thanked Prieto for coming to Atlantic City to participate in the convention. “We look forward to working with him this session towards passage of this important measure.”

President’s Award

The final presentation honored Chris Mosley of Complete Security Systems with the President’s Award.  Chosen by the NJBFAA President, Chris Mack, he selected Mosley for going above and beyond the call of duty, and serving the NJBFAA and the industry by providing advice and assistance. Mosley recently served as NJBFAA president for two years and is currently the representative to the Electronic Security Association.

Paramount to Chris’s success has been the importance of family and community.  Chris gives tirelessly to the Marlboro community, having served as fire chief, past chairman of the Monmouth County Ducks Unlimited, service to the Marlboro Township Office of Emergency Management, and currently chairman of the board of the Community YMCA.

“Chris is a leader in the community, trusted advisor and friends, father, wife and son — and a staunch industry supporter – both at the state and national levels,” said Mack.

The NJBFAA Symposium was held January 27-29 at the Tropicana Hotel in Atlantic City.

Following more than two years of determined effort, and overcoming steep opposition, the Electronic Security Association (ESA) is pleased to announce that the New York State Apprenticeship Council has approved the New York Burglar & Fire Alarm Associations application for a Unilateral Apprenticeship and Training program for the occupation of Protective Signal Installer (Fire Life Safety and Electronic Security Installer).

The approval of the apprenticeship program will guarantee New Yorkers working in the electronic security industry an opportunity to submit bids on construction work in New York. A series of new local ordinances requires companies to have an apprenticeship program, whether prevailing wage or not. Because of these ordinances large security and fire alarm jobs were previously beyond the industry’s reach.

ESA’s apprenticeship standards were federally approved in September 2006. Following federal approval, interested ESA Chartered Chapters are required to locally adopt these standards and file with the state agency for approval. The acceptance of the application gives NYBFAA member and non-member companies the ability to fill the void for qualified security and fire alarm technicians in New York and to provide structured, quality training to the industry at a reasonable cost.

“It took 28 months from application to approval but the ESA apprenticeship program was finally accepted,” said Ron Petrarca, former chair of ESA’s Apprenticeship Committee. “During our lengthy application process we watched and applauded the ESA Chartered Chapters Louisiana, Missouri and Nevada as they obtained their registered apprenticeship programs. Their success also reinforced our conviction that this was an important effort to the future of our industry and gave us the incentive to continue on with the job of securing a registered program in the state of New York.”

Michael A. Miller, president of the Electronic Security Association, said, “This is exciting news for NYBFAA. We want to commend Ron Petrarca who has worked so diligently on this apprenticeship program, along with members of the NYBFAA. We know, at the New York state level, that Ron has been the main driver of this effort and we truly appreciate all he has done.”

The Wisconsin Electronic Security Association (WIESA) is the latest state to take part in ESA’s Youth Scholarship Program. Since its inception in 1996, the association and its affiliated Chartered Chapters have awarded more than $300,000 in scholarships to students whose parents are police and fire officials.

“Pursuing a degree in today’s colleges is stressful enough.  College is becoming more and more difficult to afford – add to that the worry of tuition, books, housing and related expenses.  Scholarships are not merely financial aids; they also serve as opportunities for students to reach more than they aspire for.  It is the goal of WIESA to help offset some of that stress for two of Wisconsin’s hard working high school seniors,” said Maureen Mecham, WIESA scholarship coordinator.

According to Mecham, WIESA is participating in the Youth Scholarship Program simply because the chapter believes it important to give back to the men and women who put themselves in harm’s way on a daily basis in service to the community.

“We would like to say ‘Thank You’ by recognizing the academic and community achievements of two of their children through the WIESA Youth Scholarship program,” she said.

WEISA will award a $750 scholarship to a deserving son or daughter of both a police office and firefighter. One will be chosen to compete at the national level for an opportunity to win a $7,500 or $2,500 scholarship.

If your state is interested in taking part in this program, visit www.alarm.org/pubsafety/ysp or contact Jason Smith, ESA communications specialist, at (888) 447-1689 ext. 231.

The much-anticipated ESA logo was unveiled during the ESA Update meeting on Wednesday, January 13.  Dave Simon, chairman of the Public Relations Committee, presented the logo with these remarks:   “This is an exciting time in our history – we’re moving forward, incorporating the technology of the future into our association.  With that came our name change in 2009 and now, ladies and gentlemen, let me present… the new logo.”

After a dramatic video presentation, Dave gave the rationale behind the logo:  “This logo was designed to represent our evolving security industry.  The shape evokes two light shields radiating protection and energy.  They represent ESA’s duty and mission to proactively protect its members and the environment in which they conduct business with the ultimate mission of enhancing public safety. The shields also create a unified formation just as the ESA is a force of unified companies who are the collective voice of the industry. The forward nature of our letterforms, symbolize our dedication to reaching beyond our present and looking always to the future. The colors represent authority, security and faithfulness which reflect the character of ESA.”

The new logo is available to members and chapters to use on company/chapter material and Web sites. To download the new logo, visit www.alarm.org and click on the link below the new logo announcement.

A record 200 plus industry leaders, chapter leaders, business owners and managers descended upon Fort Worth, Texas last week to take part in the annual ESA Leadership Summit.

It was a productive event that was packed with high-level association meetings, training seminars and social and networking events that left no one out of the fun. A full recap of all the exciting developments at this year’s event is provided below. Photos, presentations and documents from the event can also be downloaded by visiting the event recap pages online.

Many thanks to the Executive Strategic Partners who stepped up to sponsor individual events.  GE Security was the corporate sponsor, Honeywell sponsored the Leadership Awards dinner, ADI sponsored the networking lunch, Altronix sponsored the Chapter Appreciation Reception, and Security America Risk Retention Group and Diebold sponsored the Leadership Breakfast.

Board approves an ex-officio seat for Young Security Professionals

Recognizing the importance of Young Security Professionals (YSP) in the future of ESA, the board approved a motion to include the chairman of the YSPs as an ex-officio member.  Currently, Trevor McEnany serves as the YSP chair and will represent YSP in this position.

New format for next year’s Leadership Summit announced

At the State Leadership Breakfast on Wednesday morning, John Galante of AE Ventures presented the new format of the 2011 Leadership Summit.  The summit will be comprised of two parts:  a two-day hosted event followed by two days of the traditional Leadership Summit format.

The hosted event will be headed by AE Ventures. Integrator members of the ESA board of directors, executive committee, committee chairs and senior executives from the top-dollar volume members of ESA will be eligible for hosting benefits which include air fare, ground transportation in the host city, food and beverage and lodging. In recognition of these benefits, guests agree to attend all general sessions, boardroom presentations and one-on-one meetings with vendor sponsors. Vendors choosing boardroom sponsorships will have appointment times with senior decision makers from industry-leading companies. Sponsorship opportunities for social functions and general sessions are also available.

The second half of the event will feature two days of the valuable association meetings, social functions and topical seminars that all ESA members have come to appreciate and enjoy.

Leadership awards

ESA honored several outstanding individuals and states for their dedication to the electronic security industry during the 2010 Leadership Summit.

Instructor of the Year

Don Childers won this year’s Instructor of the Year award because of his tireless work on behalf of NTS.  He developed courses, got them approved by the necessary regulatory agencies, scheduled and promoted a statewide and year-long training program, all while never accepting any compensation for the hours of planning and instructing he personally conducted on behalf of his state and NTS. All of these accomplishments were done in a spirit of honest and humble service to the association and its members. Dom D’Ascoli, ESA Vice President/President-Elect, accepted the award on Don’s behalf.

State Training Coordinator of the Year

Because of his commitment to the training activities of his Chartered Chapter, John Yusza from Connecticut was awarded State Training Coordinator of the Year. His work developing the training program and coordination the state certified instructors, as well as taking on the responsibility of submitting NTS course materials to Connecticut for approval as an alternative to the State’s Apprenticeship Training Curriculum to submit earned him the honor. Accepting the award on John’s behalf were state Education Committee Chairman Joel Kent and Connecticut 1st Vice President Jason Sokol.

Chapter Newsletter of the Year

InSecurity, published by the Arizona Alarm Association won the Chapter Newsletter of the Year award for its effectiveness as a member communications service, well-written articles that convey helpful information and strong support of ESA activities, consistent distribution, and quality layout and design.

Maria Malice, president of the Arizona Alarm Association, accepted the award.

Executive Director of the Year

Gwen Clavelle from the Louisiana Life Safety and Security Association exhibited the characteristics necessary to win:  she clarifies the vision of the chapter and puts that vision into action, she solidifies the relationship between their chapter and the national association and is a leader within the security industry, her community and her personal spheres of influence. LLSSA President Mary Ferguson accepted the award on her behalf.

President of the Year

Because of her hard work and the ability to lead people from different backgrounds and the initiative she takes to get things done, Maria Malice was honored with the President of the Year award.  She was a driving force in doubling the chapter membership, hiring a lobbyist to work on state-wide licensing issues and making the chapter newsletter a leading newsletter among chapter newsletters.

Chapter of the Year

The chapter of the year award was bestowed on the Arizona Alarm Association because of its dedication to the betterment of, and unwavering loyalty to, the industry. Other criteria were effectiveness of meetings, engagement in industry issues at local, state and national levels, vision and results demonstrated by volunteer leadership and/or paid staff, effectiveness and quality of products and services provided to members, its communications, public relations, and government relations, its training and the networking opportunities it presents.

Rodney Bosch, managing editor for Security Sales & Integration, was one of the more than 300 attendees at this year’s California Alarm Association (CAA) Winter Convention that was recently held at the Hilton San Francisco near Union Square.

“The significance of the CAA’s positive impact on installing security contractors was on fine display during its winter convention in San Francisco,” Bosch wrote on his blog after the event. (Read the full article.)

The event featured three days of networking, educational sessions, vendor exhibits, and a tribute to George DeMarco, recipient of the 2009 George A. Weinstock Lifetime Achievement Award.

Check out these exciting pictures from the event.

ESA President Michael A. Miller addresses attendees during the general session at the CAA Winter Convention.

More than 300 industry leaders attended the 2009 CAA Winter Convention at the Hilton San Francisco Union Square December 10-12, 2009. California Attorney General Jerry Brown gave the welcome address. The program included workshops, CAA Executive Symposium and the CAA Tribute Dinner.

CAA George A. Weinstock Award recipient George De Marco received a surprise performance by his daughter, Lauren, at the CAA Tribute Dinner in San Francisco.

Past recipients Harvey Eisenstadt, Roger Westphal, Bruce Westphal, Ron Spiller, Frank Burke, Lessing Gold, George Gunning, Tony Smith, and Rod Uffindell celebrated the awarding of the CAA George A. Weinstock Award to George De Marco (center) at the CAA Tribute Dinner in San Francisco.

Mark your calendar and start making plans to attend these exciting ESA events in 2010.

ESA Leadership Summit: Embracing the Future

Jan 12 – 14, 2010
Fort Worth, TX

This year, the annual Leadership Summit will be held in historic downtown Fort Worth. Featuring three full days of important meetings and networking, the summit will also include valuable seminars addressing industry trends and how chapters can generate non-dues revenue.

ESA has contracted a negotiated rate at the Fort Worth Renaissance hotel for $179 per night.

Registration for the summit will be accepted through January 5 at a cost of $125. On-site registration will be available for $150. A cancellation fee of $125 will apply for cancellations after December 15.

AIREF Golf Classic

March 23
Las Vegas, NV

You know you love it – the annual AIREF Golf Classic in Las Vegas. Make sure you’re there to take part in a day of world class golfing with your industry colleagues and golf without guilt – because you’ll be supporting a great cause!

ESA Day on Capitol Hill

April 27 – 28
Washington, D.C.

The premiere lobbying event of the industry, Day on Capitol Hill offers ESA members an opportunity to sit down with their elected officials and lobby for programs and initiatives to benefit the electronic security industry and your business.

ESA has once again received a negotiated rate from St. Gregory Hotel & Suites. Attendees can receive accommodations at $240 per night. You may register at www.alarm.org beginning February 1, 2010.

Looking forward: 2010 ESA Summer Conference

June 14 – 18
Pittsburgh, PA

The ESA Summer Conference is where association leaders help shape the future of ESA and work to improve the business environment for the security industry. You can make a difference – join us for the 2010 ESA Summer Conference. To view the exciting Welcome to Pittsburgh 2010 video, click here.

Electronic Security Expo (ESX) – Where Leaders are Made
June 14 – 18
Electronic Security Expo experienced its second year of success and the excitement continues to build. Be sure to register early for 2010 ESX – Where Leaders are Made. Book your hotel rooms in advance to ensure discounted, convenient accommodations. Arrangements have been made with the following hotels:

• Renaissance – $129 per night
• Westin – $179 per night
• Omni – $179 per night