Monitronics launches dealer training program

DALLAS - To better equip its dealers with the latest strategies for customer acquisition and retention, Monitronics International launched a new initiative under the banner of Authorized Dealer Sales Training Program. The new program includes seminars that cover operational concerns such as recruiting and retaining sales representatives, motivating employees, best practices for leads, presentations and networking. “The major change is we formalized training. It’s a three-day course at Monitronics, with a broaden scope for dealers - more in-depth - and how to support customers and sales and marketing,” said Michael Gregory, vice president of marketing Monitronics. The company began rolling out the program in August at its headquarters in Dallas. The program is being promoted heavily to new dealers-although, it is open to any of its approximate 400 dealers. As a result of the new program, Monitronics hired Hank Groff as its new national manager of sales training. Groff will head the program and work with the dealers that participate. He joins the company from ADT Security Services, where he served as regional manager of training. Groff is excited about the program and how it promotes dialogue between the company and its dealers. “We are their partners, we help them set goals and achieve them,” said Groff. “Setting goals is one of our major components.” Before working for ADT, Groff established LifeShield Security, an alarm company in Florida, where he served as president and director of sales. This experience, in particular, helps him identify some of the struggles dealers face on a day-to-day basis, one of which includes seeing a plan to its end. “As trainers, we hold them accountable (for the goals they set), sometimes they need someone there to say ‘come on you can do it,’” said Groff.