By Melissa M. Courville, Client Services & Head of Marketing, DICE Corporation

Finding out that Pittsburgh is the next stop for the industry-changing ESX conference was a thrill!  Having lived in Pittsburgh for a few years, with family ties to the area, it’s easy to fall in love with the city that mixes both history and the NOW, harmoniously. From the architecture of the widely-renowned PPG building, Heinz Ketchup factory and Andy Warhol museum, to the bustling shops at Station Square and beauty of Point Park, Pittsburgh was deservedly voted one of the safest and cleanest cities in the United States, and has been for years.

ESX has already become a highlight in my plans, where security life meets industry-specific networking.  The ESX event continues to be a focal point for security integration and monitoring companies with showcases for the ESA Weinstock/Jackson Awards, CSAA anniversary and the SDM Gala, as well as the niche-focused tradeshow, seminars and conferences.  As the head of marketing for DICE Corporation, I’m very glad that we’ve continued to invest in and make it our commitment to attend each event.  The rewards are priceless.

ESX 2010 addresses the industry’s most vital topics with valuable content from the industry’s best presenters. Fifty seminars are organized into the following tracks:

Business Development and Management Track

This track covers a host of powerful and dynamic sessions which will provide every employee in your company with the ideas and tools to make better decisions when it comes to managing and developing your business. Some seminars in this track include: “Good-to-Great Employees” and “Financial Accounting for Security Companies.”

Central Station Operations Track, sponsored by Sur-Gard

This track covers key topics from technology to procedures and techniques to management and development of central station operators. Some seminars in this track include: “Central Station Supervision and the Law” and “PERS as a Profitable Solution.”

Installation Management Track

This track is filled with pragmatic tips and processes for increasing the productivity and quality of the installation function, whether it’s installing alarms, access control or video systems. Some seminars in this track include: “Installation Estimating for Profit” and “The Substance, Impact and Future of NFPA 731.”

RMR Track

This track will help you get on top of methods to maximize and capitalize on RMR—whether it’s tied to traditional alarm monitoring, next generation monitoring of video, managed access control or even service and maintenance contracts. Some seminars in this track include: “Pricing and Selling Service RMR” and “Turning the iPhone and Remote Updates into RMR.”

Sales and Marketing Track, sponsored by Videofied

This track provides the expert strategies, tactics and practices you need to succeed. Some seminars in this track include: “High Impact Sales Management” and “Building Your Referral Network: Peer-to-Peer, Real-World Tips.”

Technology Track, sponsored by ADI

This track tackles the most compelling, opportunity-rich and challenging tech topics in the electronic security industry. Some seminars in this track include: “Migrating to IP Technology” and “Using Technology for Residential Lifestyle Enhancements.”

CEDIA Mini-Track

This track includes CEDIA courses that provide great primers on residential systems that are a natural extension of a home security integrator’s business. The CEDIA courses offered are: “Fundamentals of Residential Lighting and Lighting Control,” “Fundamentals of Multi-Room Audio Systems” and “Fundamentals of Home Theater Design.”

Young Security Professionals Mini-Track

This track tackles new and innovative approaches to security integration and monitoring and the challenges of leadership for a new generation of security professionals. The seminars included in this mini-track are: “From Soup to Nuts: An Employment Law Primer for Young Security Professionals” and “Next Gen Business Systems.”

All ESX Seminars and Workshops are available as a-la-carte purchases, starting at just $59 for members. Deluxe packages are also available to allow you access to all seminars, workshops and a number of special events.

Click here for a complete listing of seminars and their affiliated track.

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.

Recently, the Alarm Industry Communications Committee (AICC) – whose membership is comprised of representatives from ESA, the Central Station Alarm Association, the Security Industry Association and several national companies – submitted comments to the Federal Communications Commission in response to AT&T’s recent filing concerning the transition from the circuit-switched network to broadband and IP-based communications.

As part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, Congress directed the FCC to create a national broadband plan by March 17, 2010 that seeks to ensure that all Americans have access to broadband capability.  As part of their plan development, the commission, in December, sought comments on the transition from a circuit-switched network to an all-IP network. The FCC is trying to determine whether or not new policy should be considered and what relevant questions should be raised on how best to monitor and plan for such a transition.
Read the FCC public notice.

On December 21, AT&T filed a comment with the FCC that, among other things, explicitly called for the phasing out of the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN).  In their filing AT&T states (emphasis added), “Due to technological advances, changes in consumer preference, and market forces, the question is when, not if, POTS service and the PSTN over which it is provided will become obsolete. In the meantime, however, the high costs associated with the maintenance and operation of the legacy network are diverting valuable resources, both public and private, that could be used to expand broadband access and to improve the quality of broadband service. It is for that reason that one of the most important steps the Commission can take to facilitate an orderly transition to an all-broadband communications infrastructure is to eliminate the regulatory requirements that prolong the life of POTS and the PSTN.”
Read AT&T’s comments.

Today, approximately one-third of Americans live in, work in and go to premises where security systems are utilized. Accordingly, many Americans would be impacted if the PSTN is retired before there is a thorough understanding of how it is relied upon everyday in security applications to protect them from harm. Therefore, the AICC in its filing has called on the FCC to consider a plan of orderly transition to broadband and IP-based communications – one that ensures communications services to all Americans will operate with a high degree of reliability and compatibility with existing life safety services and equipment.
Read the comments from AICC.

ESA supports broadband development and IP-based communications. These developments carry great potential in connection with alarm services such as the ability to transmit more data at faster speeds from a protected premise to the monitoring station.

However, the ability of the alarm industry to rely on broadband and IP-based communications will be hindered if all aspects of the communications path are not reliable. Further, ESA and other industry groups support a gradual transition to broadband and IP-based communications to ensure compatibility with existing services and equipment. ESA realizes that their membership is composed of different types and sizes of companies and that the transition to broadband can be complicated and resource intensive. A gradual transition will provide smaller companies the opportunity to make the changeover in a more economically feasible manner.

As the FCC works on its National Broadband Plan, ESA, through its active involvement in the AICC, will continue to monitor, participate in and report back on the development and impact of the plan.

Awards program recognizes products’ business impact on installation and monitoring companies

The Electronic Security Expo (ESX) has announced the call for entries for the 2010 Maximum Impact Awards program. The awards are open to all manufacturers and service providers with products and services for the electronic security industry.

Winners of the 2009 awards were: AES-IntelliNet, Altronix, Axis Communications, Bold Technologies, Ltd., Connected Technologies, DMP – Digital Monitoring Products, e-DATA, EMERgency 24, Honeywell Security, SedonaOffice (from Perennial Software), Silent Knight by Honeywell, SureView Systems, System Sensor and Videofied – RSI Video Technologies

These awards are the first and only program to consider the business impact of a product or service on installation and monitoring companies as the foremost criterion for praise. The program will recognize both new and recently introduced products in a wide variety of electronic security product and service categories, including:

• Video Surveillance
• Access Control/ID Systems
• Accessories & Aids
• Intrusion Alarms
• Fire Alarms
• Central Station Equipment
• Industry Services
• Residential Custom Electronics

Judges will evaluate written entries submitted by supplier companies, with a focus on the products’ ability to increase revenue, profits and company value for installing and monitoring companies.

Products and services introduced to the market between January 1, 2008 – July 1, 2010 are eligible for the awards. All entries are due by March 19, 2010. Complete entry details and a submission form can be found at www.esxweb.com/max.

Winners will be announced on-site at the 2010 Electronic Security Expo in Pittsburgh on Wednesday, June 16.

The ESX Maximum Impact Awards are sponsored by Security Products magazine.

For more information on the awards program, contact Shannon Murphy at smurphy@ae-ventures.com or 508-618-4224. For complete ESX event details, please visit www.esxweb.com or call 877-628-9558.

New World Incentives offers free travel, gift cards, rebates and more that will open more doors, get more signed contracts and increase sales. Potential customers will be more interested in your service if you make the monitoring fee less. By giving away rebates which gives these same customers $20/month or a free trip to Hawaii, or a $1000 SavingsBucks Gift Card, etc., you will entice more customers to buy your product. Visit www.newworldincentives.com/videolibrary to learn how!

SureView Systems’ Immix is a UL classified automation software platform designed to receive alarm events from industry standard receivers, video, video analytics and access control systems. Immix associates events with on site video and audio devices displaying it to the central station operator in a way that is highly automated and easy to use. Combining the ability to receive events from UL certified burglar and fire alarm systems with video and audio confirmation; immix delivers a powerful and unique product to today’s central stations. Immix is an open architecture software product which integrates a wide range of security systems providing central stations with a single point of control and service delivery for diverse hardware configurations and to support developing customer needs. Visit www.sureviewsystems.com to learn more.

In an increasingly competitive market, consumers have many options when it comes to choosing a security and life safety provider. Making your company standout amongst the rest is a necessity for success, and one national award will give you the tools. The Police Dispatch Quality (PDQ) Award highlights one company that demonstrates excellence in customer protection and it’s easy to apply. “Atronic Alarms was very excited to be recognized by the PDQ Award for our dedication to reducing false alarms,” said Perry Atha, President and Developer of Atronic Alarms, last year’s winner. “We have always made false alarm prevention a priority and we were able to implement the PDQ Award into our marketing initiatives to further validate this commitment to our current and potential clients, as well our team members.” “We were extremely pleased that the efforts at ADS to work closely with our customers and local law enforcement officials was nationally acknowledged and rewarded through the PDQ Award,” said Robert A. Bonifas, ADS President and CEO. ADS won the PDQ the year before last. “Through this recognition, our clients and local officials were able to clearly see the pledge to safety that we pride ourselves on.” Created by the Security Industry Alarm Coalition (SIAC) and the False Alarm Reduction Association (FARA), and co-sponsored by Security Sales & Integration Magazine and Honeywell Security, the 5th Annual PDQ Award will recognize one North American security company that best demonstrates a dedicated and cooperative effort to reduce unnecessary alarm dispatches. In conjunction with national and local marketing campaigns to promote the winning company, award organizers will also provide the winner with hotel and airfare accommodations to attend the award ceremony at the 2010 Electronic Security Expo where the presentation will be made in front of hundreds of industry professionals. “The PDQ Award is a great way to highlight your company from many different standpoints,” said Stan Martin, Executive Director of SIAC. ”We are firmly devoted to the principles behind the PDQ Award and will do all that we can to assist the winning company with getting the message out about their extraordinary efforts. We have simplified the nomination application and look forward to finding out who will be the next PDQ Award winner.” To participate in the 5th Annual PDQ Award, monitoring and/or installing alarm dealers in the U.S. and Canada may download an official application at www.siacinc.org. Once completed, simply return the application to SIAC by mail, postmarked by Feb. 28, 2010. Previous winners of the PDQ Award include Atronic Alarms, Alarm Detection Systems Inc., Broadview Security, and Vector Security.

Jeffrey Atkins, President of Rapid Response Monitoring Systems, Inc., has announced the dates and location of RRUG 2010, the Second Annual Rapid Response User Group Event. The Company’s dealers, service providers, exhibitors and vendors are invited to attend the Event being held August 1-4, 2010 at the Turning Stone Resort and Casino in Verona, New York.

An active program of training courses and breakout sessions, technical orientations, guest speakers, exhibitions and tours of the Rapid Response facility, RRUG 2009, the inaugural User Group Event, was a resounding success attended by over 400 dealers. It was also held at the Turning Stone Resort, a world-class resort featuring lavish dining, luxury accommodations, gaming and PGA golf courses.

“The success of RRUG 2009 was very instructive,” added Atkins. “It became increasingly obvious during the Event that, in spite of hard times, if we just came together and shared a dedication to success, we could achieve it. Consequently, for RRUG 2010 we are designing our programs to emphasize teamwork and a more unified response to industry and business concerns that can lead to a successful future for all of us.”

The Installation Quality (IQ) Certification Program has announced the election of its 2010 Board of Directors and the election of officers.

The December vote added Michael Allen of Southern Utah Alarm as the newest member of the IQ Certification Board as well as Jackie Currier of Rapid Response Monitoring who served as a board member from 2007-2008. Deborah Sokol was elected to another two-year term.

Following are the 2010 IQ Certification Program Board of Directors with their terms in parentheses. Each elected IQ Board member will serve a two-year term.

• Timothy Creenan, (2009-10) Amherst Alarm
• Jacqueline Currier, (2010-11) Rapid Response Monitoring
• Ronald Galippo,  (2009-10) Total Watch Security, Inc.
• Dave Simon, (2009-10) Broadview Home Security
• Deborah Sokol. (2010-2011) Monitor Controls
• Michael Allen, (2010-2011) Southern Utah Alarm

The IQ Certification Board also re-appointed its three Public Safety Directors – Joseph  Benoit of the Greenwich Fire Department, Steven Heggemann of the Baltimore County Alarm Reduction Team and Matt Schue of the Oklahoma State Department of Health Alarm Division – to one-year terms.

The IQ Certification Board administers the IQ Certification Program and reviews each application for company certification and approves or denies certification based solely on the IQ Certification Guidelines. Board members prioritize initiatives for the year and determine the projects, activities and events to be undertaken.

Long-time board members, Dave Currie of Security Response Center and Gail Schreiner of Alarm Watch are retiring from the IQ Board this year. However, they will continue in new non-voting positions as committee chairs for Grievance and Membership respectively.

During the meeting, the board also elected officers from the board roster. Tim Creenan will again serve as chairman, Dave Simon will serve as vice chairman, Jackie Currier will serve as secretary and Deborah Sokol will serve as treasurer.

“We’ve made considerable progress these last few years in spreading the word of IQ as the leading installation quality certification program for security alarm systems, developing new marketing materials and adding new members,” said Dale Eller, executive director of the program. “The 2010 IQ Certification Board will continue the work in realizing our goals.”

Some of the goals for 2010 include working more closely with the industry associations and developing closer ties with the public safety community.

Cernium Corporation’s CheckVideo intelligent video solution for remote video monitoring is revolutionizing the way central stations monitor and verify alarms. Incorporating advanced video analytics at an affordable price, CheckVideo is a hosted solution with video management functionality that takes only minutes to configure, deploy and maintain. For over a decade, Cernium has brought advanced video technology to customers worldwide, from residential and small-medium business consumers to Fortune 100 manufacturers, government, healthcare, education, and major cultural institutions. For more information, visit www.cernium.com.

Madico’s SafetyShield Window Films stop intruders in their tracks. When struck, the glass will break, but not shatter, preventing the intruder from entering quickly, and leaving him wondering what to do next. In most cases, the answer is simple: move on. SafetyShield® 1500 is among the first films in the world to pass the UL972 standard for Anti-Intrusion – making it the easy choice to help secure your home or business from theft and intrusion. For more information, visit www.madico.com.

The Leads Network delivers home owner prospects who want to speak to you now about a home security system. These hot prospects are checked, filtered, guaranteed exclusive and delivered in real-time. They have agreed to speak to you and are waiting for your call right now. For more information, visit www.theleadsnetwork.com.

Broadview to be Combined with Tyco’s ADT Business Creating Stronger Player in North American Residential and Commercial Security Industry –Acquisition Expected to be Accretive in First Full Year Following Closing

Tyco International Ltd. (NYSE: TYC) and Brink’s Home Security Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CFL) today announced a definitive agreement for Tyco to acquire Brink’s Home Security Holdings, now operating as Broadview Security. Following the closing of the transaction, Tyco intends to combine Broadview with Tyco’s ADT security business. The cash and stock transaction is valued at $42.50 per share or approximately $2.0 billion. The transaction has been unanimously approved by the board of directors of each company.

The transaction combines two of the premier companies in the North American residential and commercial security industry. Broadview Security is one of the leading monitored security companies in North America. ADT is the world’s largest electronic security provider. Tyco intends to combine the two businesses under the ADT name.

Excluding transaction and integration-related expenses, Tyco expects the transaction to become accretive to earnings before special items by approximately $0.07 in the first full year after closing, increasing to approximately $0.14 in year two. The combination is expected to result in operating synergies of approximately $150 million.

“This transaction provides us the opportunity to further strengthen our position in the residential and commercial security industry, while advancing Tyco’s overall strategy to increase its presence in its core security, fire and flow control platforms,” said Tyco Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Ed Breen. “Broadview’s strong presence in the North American security market, significant recurring revenue and attractive margins will enhance ADT’s financial performance and support our long-term growth in this large, fragmented and highly competitive industry.”

Bob Allen, President and Chief Executive Officer of Broadview said, “We are proud of all we have achieved as a company to increase our customer base, and to grow our revenue and income in a challenging economy. We view this transaction as the culmination of these efforts, providing our shareholders with an attractive premium for their shares, including cash consideration and an opportunity to participate in the future growth of Tyco International.”

“ADT and Broadview are an excellent strategic fit. We have highly complementary product and service offerings, strong sales and marketing organizations and a shared dedication to quality customer service,” said Naren Gursahaney, President of ADT Worldwide. “We expect this combination to result in an even more efficient, more successful ADT.”

Broadview Security has more than 1.3 million recurring revenue accounts throughout North America with annualized revenue of approximately $565 million. ADT has more than 7.4 million recurring revenue accounts globally and generated revenue of $7.0 billion in fiscal 2009. ADT’s North American residential and small business operation, which is the most comparable to Broadview, has 4.8 million recurring revenue accounts and revenue of $2.2 billion in fiscal 2009.

The Arizona Alarm Association (AzAA) has scheduled its annual Conference and Public Safety Appreciation Days for Sep. 16 – 17 at the Scottsdale Civic Center Library.

The program is specifically designed for alarm coordinators, security company owners and staff, monitoring station personnel and others in the security industry.



Presentations include:
• NICET Level I-II Test Prep Fire Alarm Class – a two-day training class
• Understanding Alarms – a four-hour class for non-techical personnel will be offered on two different days for your convenience
• Proposed State Licensure Process for Alarm Companies
• ID Theft
• Xanboo
• Mesa Crime Prevention
• Amber Light
• Collections
• Twitter
• New Industry Products
• Alarm School

The Public Safety Appreciation Dinner will be on Sep. 16 at Don & Charlie’s where AzAA will hold a raffle for a $1,000 gas card. Tickets are only $25. Anyone wishing to purchase a ticket may do so. You need not be present to win. To purchase a ticket email info@azalarms.org or call (480) 831-1318.

Download Conference Packet and Registration Form

Directions to the Scottsdale Civic Center Library

Directions to Don & Charlie’s

The May State Legislative Report, researched and compiled by the NBFAA Government Relations department, is now available online. The report is located in the Members section under Government Relations at www.alarm.org. To access the report you will be required to log in using your member user login and password.

Each month, we monitor all 50 states and track hundreds of bills introduced during the month and select those for the NBFAA State Legislative Report. We also have “input” on state legislation from manufacturers, suppliers, chartered state associations and allied industries. New developments in the past month are underlined in the comprehensive state report.

The report contains subject highlights of bills followed for the month of May 2009:
• 20 bills relating to Alarms
• 7 bills relating to Automatic Contract Renewal
• 7 bills relating to CCTV
• 63 bills relating to Licensing
• 8 bills relating to Taxes
• 2 bills relating to Line of Duty Act fees for Alarm Companies

Of particular interest this month, NY A 7546, a bill relating to small business tax credits, this bill would provide a tax credit against franchise taxes for small businesses that purchase and install a security system which is 50% of the cost of the system up to $750; or H 3475, a bill relating to apprentice electricians requiring the State Apprenticeship and Training Council to adopt rules that modify circumstances under which apprentice electrician may work without direct supervision; and NC H 1532, a bill relating to fire alarm contracting licensing which would require that fire alarm contractors be licensed in the state.

Questions or concerns regarding the information contained within the report should be directed to our Director of Government Relations, John Chwat at Gov.Info@alarm.org.