Talking keypads and panels with Karen Sullivan

MEMPHIS, Tenn.—Recently named sales manager at Z-Tech Central, based here, Karen Sullivan will be responsible for managing the sales department for the company's UL-listed and FM-certified central station. She has a lot of experience in the alarm industry, and not just on the security side. Sullivan transitioned to the industry after working as a 911 manager at a PSAP call center in Athens, Tenn. After the city deconsolidated the call center, she was approached by an alarm company that installed cameras for the city. “They talked me into coming to work for them,” Sullivan said.
She's been in the industry since then. Here's how Sullivan handles security at home.

What kind of system do you have?
I have a DMP XT30 panel, and I have probably had it since they first came out with it.

Why this particular setup?
I chose this particular setup because it's not dependent on phone lines. In addition, it allows you to arm/disarm and check system status via both text and application, which meant lower equipment costs. We have nine outside doors and different members of our family use different doors for different things, so every door needed to be an entry/exit, and that's a lot of keypads. So the ability to disarm via text and app meant that all of the family members had a keypad with [them].

What is the one aspect of your security system you wouldn't want to live without?
Definitely the texting and applications to arm and disarm. The interactive services are phenomenal. If I leave home and I'm unsure if the system is armed or if one of my sons leaves after me and I'm unsure if they armed the system, I can just hit a button on my phone and tell if it's armed right then. Also, when you're heading to the airport on vacation there's no running home to check if you remembered to arm your system.

Where do you see security going next? What are some big trends?
I believe the next big trend will be GPS monitoring of PERS, including the ability to monitor Alzheimer's patients and track them if they wander off to find them more easily, and being able to track them and find them more easily. I see the potential of lone worker monitoring as well. All of your service providers who are working alone in attics and such will have the ability to press a button so their supervisors can immediately be alerted to where they are and their need for assistance.