DGA Security celebrates 40 years with awards, new headquarters

NEW YORK—DGA Security Systems, a provider of security and fire systems based here since 1969, is improving operations in 2010 with a move into a new, larger facility and fulfilling the expectations of the awards it won in late 2009.

According to DGA's release, during its 40th anniversary year, DGA became the first company to be honored with both of the security industry's highest awards in the same year. On Oct. 21 at the CSAA Annual Meeting in Athens, Greece, DGA president Stanley Oppenheim was presented with the Stanley C. Lott award from the CSAA in recognition of his many years of service to the alarm industry. The Lott Award is not given each year and is reserved for those whose contributions to the industry have been most significant. “The Stanley C. Lott award is the highest honor the CSAA gives. I truly was sitting there, never expecting it. It was a great honor. I have the special experience of having known and worked with Stanley Lott and for me to receive an award named after him is especially poignant for me,” Oppenheim said. “Let's be blunt, it's nice to get a pat on the back. I've worked in the industry and in all the industry associations for many, many decades, and these recognitions are important because they mean your efforts have been recognized by your peers. They give you the reassurance that your work is appreciated and it spurs you on to work even harder. And it just spurs me on to continue the work I enjoy.”

Earlier in the year, during the CSAA Excellence Awards ceremony at the ESX show in Baltimore, DGA was honored three times, including taking the Central Station of the Year award and the Central Station Manager of the Year award (awarded to DGA central station manager James Riti) as well as receiving an honorable mention for Central Station Operator of the Year (for DGA dispatcher Charles Balletto).

The CSAA Excellence Awards recognize UL-listed central stations and their personnel who significantly contribute to the alarm profession while providing exceptional service to their customers and community. Judged by a blue-ribbon panel, the awards were established to honor those who have made the most significant contributions to the industry and promote the distinctive level of professionalism attained by UL-listed central stations.

DGA's new headquarters—at 45,000 square feet—is larger to accommodate DGA's growing customer base in 2010. It's part of business as usual according to Oppenheim. “We just moved into our brand-new building in the heart of New York City. It was custom built for us … It's going to be very tough next year because we can't top this year. Our central station manager was recognized as Central Station Manager of the Year, our central station as Central Station of the Year, and I got the Lott Award. I don't know what we'll do next year,” Oppenheim said. “We're just going to continue to grow and serve our customers, who ultimately are the people who've made our success possible … We have customers that we've had for 40 years and that's a very special experience when you have a customer who's been with your for 40 years call you.”

Oppenheim's son Daniel Oppenheim, DGA vice president, said 2010 was looking bright for DGA. “It's sort of a confluence of events, and we think it indicates the efforts that we make as a company day-in and day-out on behalf of our customers.”