Archive: November 2011
Hawk Security soars to top in employee survey
November 30, 2011Tess Nacelewicz
FORT WORTH, Texas—Hawk Security Services' staff is a major reason the company has been able to nearly quadruple the number of customers it serves from 12,000 to about 45,000 since being acquired by Interface Security Systems in 2005, according to Mike Shirley, company regional VP.“Mainly I think it's hiring good quality people and trying to go out and grow the sales engine,” Shirley told Security Systems News about the success of the company, which is based here and also has offices...
This Blog's on Fire (And Other Stuff)
Luxurious partnership for Honeywell
November 30, 2011Tess Nacelewicz
In this economic downturn, many security companies have bemoaned the fact that new housing starts are down. But Honeywell has formed a new partnership with Toll Brothers, a nationwide builder of luxury homes, that gives Honeywell an exclusive way to tap into the new construction market's lucrative side.
Here's more from the news release that Melville, N.Y.-based Honeywell issued today:
Honeywell has reached an exclusive agreement with Toll Brothers, America's Luxury Homebuilder,...
Lessons from the recession
November 29, 2011Tess Nacelewicz
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.—The economic recession took a toll on Safeguard Security, a family-owned, 50-year-old security company based here. Its annual revenues dropped from $34 million in 2008 to $29 million in 2010, company president John Jennings said.
However, he said he expects Safeguard's revenues to rebound to $30 million by the end of this year, and said the downturn provided important lessons for his company.
“It's been the hardest couple of years since I've been in...
This Blog's on Fire (And Other Stuff)
Tribute to John Mabry
November 28, 2011Tess Nacelewicz
I wrote last week about the loss of industry icon, John Mabry, 74, who died Nov. 18 in a car crash.
I recently received a copy of his moving obituary, which recounts many of his numerous accomplishments, and also describes Mabry, a Florida resident, as “ a lovable curmudgeon” who will be “long remembered for his outgoing personality, wry wit, high integrity, patriotism and strong dedication to family and friends.”
The obit also recounts some of his trademark saying, known...
This Blog's on Fire (And Other Stuff)
Yet another telecom enters security space!
November 23, 2011Tess Nacelewicz
Whew! It just doesn't stop. First, there was the news in October that Verizon had launched to its broadband customers nationwide the home security product it had debuted in January at the Consumer Electronics show.
Then I just wrote about Time Warner Cable and Frontier Communications now joining other cableco and telecom companies in launching home security/home automation offerings.
And now AT&T has entered the security space, according to a recent report of the Atlanta Business Chronicle. Here's...
Time Warner Cable, Frontier enter home security market
November 22, 2011Tess Nacelewicz
YARMOUTH, Maine—Time Warner Cable and Frontier Communications are now joining other cableco and telecom companies in launching home security/home automation offerings.Time Warner is selling its IntelligentHome security and home automation system in upstate New York, Southern California and North Carolina, according to a recent report by the Democrat and Chronicle, a Rochester, N.Y. newspaper.Also in Rochester, N.Y., Frontier is teaming up with ADT Security Systems to offer a variety of ADT...
Industry 'visionary' killed in car crash
November 22, 2011Tess Nacelewicz
YARMOUTH, Maine—Industry members are mourning the death of John Mabry, who died Friday in a head-on vehicle collision in Georgia while en route to visit family in that state.Mabry, Central Station Alarm Association (CSAA) president from 1981-1983 and also a longtime ex-officio board member, is being remembered this week for his expertise and dedication to the industry, and for his warm personality.“It's a big loss to the industry, no question, a big loss to ADS, and a big loss to me personally,”...
Devcon and Pinnacle to share services
November 22, 2011Martha Entwistle
OREM, Utah and BOCA RATON, Fla.—They've had the same private equity owner—Golden Gate Capital—since 2009, but traditional model company Devcon Security and summer-sales model company Pinnacle Security have always maintained separate operations, until now.At a Nov. 11 employee rally in Orem, Utah, executives from both companies announced that the two companies will have a much closer relationship starting in 2012.“What we're announcing is a shared services agreement, where...
UL, Intertek announce support for ASAP
November 22, 2011Rich Miller
CAMAS, Wash. and FAIRFIELD, N.J.—The monitoring industry's Automated Secure Alarm Protocol (ASAP) got a big boost recently when Underwriters Laboratories and Intertek both announced that the new program meets the requirements of the National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code (NFPA 72).
ASAP, developed by the Central Station Alarm Association (CSAA) and the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials, has been deployed in Houston, Richmond, Va., and York County, Va., with plans...
This Blog's on Fire (And Other Stuff)
Select Security lifesaver for nonprofit that helps disaster victims
November 22, 2011Tess Nacelewicz
This Thursday, on Thanksgiving Day, Tad Agoglia, founder of First Response Team of America—a nonprofit that uses specialized equipment to do rescue and recovery work around the nation for victims of such disasters as the deadly tornado that hit Joplin, Mo. in May—will be honored in a special television program called CNN Heroes. Agoglia's organization also was the winner of a Special Community Service Award at the Honeywell First Alert Professional 2011 Convention, held earlier this...