The Monitoring Association (formerly Central Station Alarm Association) - Experts & Thought Leaders

The Monitoring Association (TMA) announced that COPS Monitoring, a major provider of professional monitoring services in North America, has deployed the Automated Secure Alarm Protocol (ASAP) across its UL-listed monitoring stations. With this launch, COPS Monitoring joins an already extensive list of major alarm security firms using the ASAP Service. Today, ASAP is the only digital alarm solution standardised with all major alarm security firms nationwide. Collectively, those companies monitor around 80 percent of all alarm systems in the United States—underscoring ASAP’s broad reach and critical role in public safety. Emergency communication centres ASAP digitally delivers verified alarm notifications directly to emergency communication centres  Developed jointly by TMA and the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials (APCO), ASAP digitally delivers verified alarm notifications directly to emergency communication centres (ECCs). With ASAP, alarm calls no longer need to be routed through nonemergency administrative phone lines. Instead, alarm details, such as the type of emergency, address, and contact details, are transmitted instantly and accurately, accelerating dispatch and enabling real-time, bi-directional status updates. On average, ASAP saves about two minutes or more per call – time that can be critical when lives and property are at risk. Introduction of ASAP COPS Monitoring continues its commitment to adopt technologies that improve outcomes  With the introduction of ASAP, COPS Monitoring continues its commitment to adopt technologies that improve outcomes for all stakeholders. "Our launch of ASAP represents another significant investment in technology and public safety," said Jim McMullen, President of COPS Monitoring. "By enhancing response times and the accuracy of emergency dispatches, we are not only helping to protect lives and property but also supporting the evolving needs of our dealers, their customers, and the first responders who serve our communities. We are proud to be part of this critical innovation." "The adoption of ASAP by COPS Monitoring is another strong indicator of the momentum behind this service," said Steve Butkovich, President at The Monitoring Association. Integration with ASAP COPS Monitoring’s integration with ASAP also sets the stage for future advancements, including the secure transmission of video, audio, photos, sensor metadata, and other contextual data designed to improve situational awareness and provide first responders with more actionable intelligence. 

The Board of Directors of The Monitoring Association (TMA) announces the appointment of Whitney A. Doll as the organisation’s new CEO. A dynamic association executive with over 18 years of experience, Doll has dedicated her career to helping mission-driven organisations expand their reach, optimise operations, and deliver unparalleled value to members, customers, and stakeholders. Doll will assume executive management responsibilities at TMA effective October 1, 2025. Commitment to innovation "We are thrilled to welcome Whitney to TMA. Over the course of her career, she has consistently demonstrated a distinct commitment to innovation and customer success,” stated TMA President, Steve Butkovich. He adds, “The depth and breadth of her leadership skills set her apart among the candidates we met. With her combination of knowledge, talents, and experience, she is uniquely qualified to strengthen our value proposition and to accelerate membership growth and engagement.” “I am honoured to join TMA as its CEO, and I look forward to working with TMA's board, members, and stakeholders to advance professional monitoring through education, advocacy, and standards,” commented Whitney A. Doll, adding “Together we will create a safer world and ensure a bright future for the association and the professional monitoring industry.” Successive executive positions Whitney A. Doll has served successive executive positions at the International Code Council (ICC), the major global source of model codes and standards and building safety solutions, over the past eight years, most recently serving as the executive vice president of customer engagement. Before ICC, she held multiple positions on the communications team, at CNA, a nonprofit research and analysis organisation dedicated to the safety and security of the nation.

The Monitoring Association (TMA) is pleased to announce David Charney, senior vice president video command centre, Everon, will deliver the keynote address at the 2025 TMA Virtual Mid-Year Meeting on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, at 10:00 AM/ET. His address, titled, 'Inspiring Leadership in a Changing World,' will speak directly to the evolving landscape of leadership in the monitoring industry. The 2025 TMA Virtual Mid-Year Meeting will take place virtually over three days, Tuesday, April 29th-Thursday, May 1st. New video technologies and AI solutions “The monitoring industry is in a transformative phase as new video technologies and AI solutions have emerged and introduced new heights of efficiency and effectiveness,” stated TMA President Steve Butkovich. “We’re grateful to have David to deliver the opening keynote address at this year’s meeting. He is a dynamic, seasoned, and respected pioneer who has successfully navigated change and inspired transformation. His unique insights are certain to inspire our attendees.”  How to cultivate a leadership mindset Charney will examine changes in leadership and how to cultivate a leadership mindset that embraces change In his keynote presentation, Charney will examine changes in leadership and how to cultivate a leadership mindset that embraces change and drives innovation. “No matter who you are, what your purpose and your level of comfort, we are all going through change. Perspective matters,” stated David Charney. “My comments will help monitoring professionals navigate through monitoring industry adaptations taking place now and provide key steps for success along the way.” Prior roles of Charney  Charney joined Everon in March 2025 after more than 15 years at Stealth Monitoring, where he served in four successive positions, beginning as President in October 2011 and concluding as Chief Customer Officer. Charney was responsible for 17 offices in three countries and more than 1200 employees in his role as Chief Operating Officer at Stealth. An avid public speaker, he speaks to crowds on topics ranging from thought leadership across technical topics to motivational speeches at University Campuses. 

There is a growing trend towards more outsourcing of the monitoring function among security companies. Technology developments are accelerating and increasing the need for monitoring companies to invest. The barriers to entry are higher than ever. These are some of the trends covered in a discussion at Securing New Ground 2019 titled ‘Monitoring: New Models and New Monetisation Strategies’. A panel of monitoring company executives addressed topics centered on how the industry is changing and evolving. New entrants in the monitoring space New entrants in the monitoring space face barriers to entry, in particular the need for more investment"“New entrants in the monitoring space face barriers to entry, in particular the need for more investment in infrastructure and expertise,” said Spencer Moore, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Rapid Response Monitoring. ”Because of the expense of new technologies, more full-service monitoring companies are outsourcing the monitoring function to existing wholesale monitoring companies.” “The cost of entry has gone up, and companies are trying to preserve capital,” agreed Jim McMullen, President/COO at COPS Monitoring. “Larger companies are realising wholesale monitoring does a better job from a customer service viewpoint. We are more focused on monitoring and the quality of service. It takes a lot of money to keep up with the cyber world,” added McMullen. Wholesale monitoring companies Wholesale monitoring companies are finding that they need petabytes of storage space, among other expensive requirements. “The trend is toward technology evolving quicker, and that often requires investment and training in a monitoring center,” said Daniel Oppenheim, CEO of Affiliated Monitoring. “Because trying out new technology is so important, wholesale monitoring centers often find that they serve as a ‘laboratory’ to experiment with newer technologies. Limited trials often expand later to broader outsourcing of a company’s monitoring services”, said Oppenheim. Automated Secure Alarm Protocol “What people miss out on is that monitoring is quite complex, and there are specialised services and skillsets, and barriers to entry from a regulatory perspective,” said Moore. Adding value to the monitoring function is The Monitoring Association’s ASAP-to-PSAP service Adding value to the monitoring function is The Monitoring Association’s ASAP-to-PSAP service. The national service saves time, improves accuracy and increases efficiency in communications between monitoring centers and public safety answering points (PSAPs). The service uses the Automated Secure Alarm Protocol (ASAP). Public Safety Answering Points Up to 60 PSAPS have joined the programme, although the low number is misleading, given that a single PSAP could represent the ‘City of Houston’. (There are an estimated 6,000 total PSAPs nationwide). It has taken six to eight years to develop the program from its genesis to where it is today, when more participation is finally creating a critical mass. Technology is fundamentally changing monitoring companies. “We used to be a services company powered by a little bit of technology, but we’re now moving toward a technology services company,” said Moore. Critical ‘filtering service’ Monitoring provides a critical ‘filtering service’ between public requests for emergency service and those tasked with providing the services. In effect, monitoring centers work with manufacturers to make them more resilient to false alarms. Monitoring companies also provide a human touch in a time of need, and emotional empathy. Today, emergency information is being transmitted to PSAPs electronically, which saves time and money. The current low-taxation environment means there are fewer resources for municipal governments, so cost savings make a difference. Monitoring, a specialised skillset Increasingly, monitoring is becoming a business that requires a more specialised skillset Increasingly, monitoring is becoming a business that requires a more specialised skillset. Regulation, and the need for increasing investment, is driving consolidation. “With a decreasing number of monitoring companies, there are fewer customers for software developers and other tools. Less outside innovation makes it more likely monitoring centers will have to ‘go it alone’ and develop software and other tools internally,” said Oppenheim. Importance of monitoring systems “In effect, consolidation will serve to limit technology choices, and to increase the need to in-source a lot of expertise”, agrees Moore. Tying monitoring systems into other software systems is another continuing challenge. “People want our system tied into their system,” said McMullen. “I have two people who focus full time to tie our systems into other systems. There will be more computers talking to computers.”

Angela White was sworn in as President-elect of ESA at the ESX show in June and will take office July 1 The Electronic Security Association (ESA) wrapped up its annual ESX conference June 8-10 at a new location in Fort Worth, Texas, with keynote speakers, educational sessions, networking events, exhibitions, awards and the installation of new officers. Logging its ninth year, ESX is jointly owned and sponsored by ESA and the Central Station Alarm Association (CSAA). This year’s show hosted some 2,000 security industry companies and personnel as well as central station owners, while some 200 exhibitors participated. Marshall Marinace, outgoing President and Chief Executive Officer of ESA and the President of Marshall Alarm Systems Corp., Yorktown Heights, New York, received one of the association’s highest accolades, named as the 2015 Morris F. Weinstock Person of the Year. ESA welcomes four new board members In addition, ESA installed Angela White as the 2016-2018 president. White, who is an equity partner and the Executive Vice President of Central 1 Security in Brookfield, Wisconsin, is currently Vice President, President-elect of ESA and will take office July 1. Other board members elected include: Vice President Tim Creenan, Chief Executive Officer of Amherst Alarm, Amherst, New York; Vice President Chris Mosley, President of Complete Security Systems Inc., Marlboro, New Jersey; Vice President G. Thomas Eggebrecht PhD, President and Chief Executive Officer of Bonds Alarm Co., Phoenix; and Secretary Jon Sargent, Industry Relations/Government Affairs, Tyco Integrated Security, Hayward, California. In addition, Ken Nelson, Vice President of OEM sales for Interlogix, Lincolnton, North Carolina, was re-elected to a two-year term as an associate member representative. Marinace will continue to serve on the Executive Committee for two years as immediate past president. “I look forward to focusing on the full deployment and success of the programmes and initiatives ESA has embarked upon over the last few years”, commented ESA President, Angela White Impressive industry credentials White is a 30-year veteran of the electronic security industry whose background includes positions as installer, service technician, sales, general management and company owner. She also was the founder and previous owner of Pro-Tech Systems of Vermont, where she co-authored state licensing as the president of Vermont ESA. White says no other event comes close to providing the inclusive professional experience of ESX. “ESX remains a personal event that gives dealers direct access to vendors and allows for one-on-one discovery of new products and solutions," says White. "The ESX Innovation Awards and TechVision Challenge have really gained momentum over the last couple of years, and that is evidence of the vibrant ecosystem that the show creates within the channel. I left ESX inspired and excited about where our industry is headed and what that means for my business." As president, White says she will focus on the future of the organisation and continuing its legacy. “ESA has an incredibly strong foundation that was constructed by the diligence of those who proceeded me," she adds. "In collaboration with other team members and our professional partners, I look forward to focusing on the full deployment and success of the programs and initiatives ESA has embarked upon over the last few years. Specifically, these include enhancements to the quality training and insurance solutions we provide along with the ESA mentorship programme and workforce development project for the industry. "ESA has dramatically raised the bar as it relates to the value delivered to members, and we will continue to do so. This will ensure continued success as the number one trade association in our field. In addition, the inclusion of our rising leaders for new ideas, energy and vision will position them for leadership roles within ESA and our industry and will provide current leaders comfort in knowing that the association will thrive.”

Improved alarm verification standards will help reduce the number of false dispatches of law enforcement officers The verification of alarms continues to progress with more affordable technology as well as an updated industry standard set for release as soon as the end of February 2016. The definition of alarm verification is getting a makeover in the standard, guided by a range of stakeholders including the security industry, law enforcement, associations and other interested groups whose overall mission is to quell false dispatches and make sure residential and commercial alarms are responded to quickly and effectively. The draft Central Station Alarm Association (CSAA)/American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Standard is prepared under direction of the Security Industry Standards Council: CSAA CS-V-01-20XX Alarm Confirmation, Verification and Notification Procedures (DRAFT, Version October 12, 2015). The standard has undergone the comment period and will be sent to ANSI, with its release coming as soon as the end of February, says Lou Fiore, Principal of LT Fiore Inc., Sparta, NewJersey. Fiore chairs the CSAA Standards Committee and also chairs the Alarm Industry Communications Committee (AICC). Fiore says alarm verification as defined in the standard involves video and audio. Confirmation is what the industry commonly refers as two-call verification, in which the central monitoring station contacts two responsible parties on the alarm user’s list before referring to authorities. “Now we have a much stronger standard and a better way to know there is a crime in progress,” Fiore says. “It’s critical to have a standard for alarm companies, and it helps reduce false alarms and increase captures.” (Hold up and panic alarms are generally excluded from verification requirements.) Adding video to the verification mix The topic of verification and especially video has become increasingly important as cities, towns and municipalities burdened with false alarm dispatches require some form of verification or threaten non-response. According to the Security Industry Alarm Coalition (SIAC), Frisco, Texas, fewer than 30 police agencies out of 18,000 have some form of verified response, and that’s because of proactive industry involvement. Ron Walters, Director of SIAC in West Hills, California., says the standard has been an important part of elevating the stature of the technology in the eyes of the industry, law enforcement and users. “It’s important to continue to tweak the definitions and educate people. I think video has found its niche. It’s not part of every alarm system yet, but it has a huge place in commercial specifications,” he says. Video is becoming increasingly integrated with alarm verification, as well as ‘two-call verification,’ in which the central monitoring station contacts two responsible parties on the alarm user’s list before referring to authorities  Improved indoor/outdoor video verification According to Keith Jentoft, President of Videofied-RSI Video Technologies Inc., Vadnais Heights, Minnesota, cameras have become much less expensive for both indoor and outdoor video verification applications. “There are two possibilities for video verification. Internet Protocol (IP) cameras, which are becoming cheaper and in which on-board analytics are becoming more common. The other option is Videofied. We are unique in that we don’t need a power cord. The monitoring is also becoming less expensive and with more options. For about $4 per month you can have outdoor monitoring,” he says. Jentoft, who is also the partnership liaison for Partnership for Priority Verified Alarm Response (PPVAR), Henderson, Nevada, adds that consumers are becoming more educated and alarm contractors more aggressive, leading their sales and marketing efforts with video verification. “They see it as a point of differentiation for their services,” Jentoft says. Complying with law enforcement standards The CSAA/ANSI draft standard has adopted the language of law enforcement, through the PPVAR and originally the Texas Police Chiefs Association, agreed upon: “Verified Alarm shall be defined as an electronic security system event in which a trained central station operator using a standardised protocol has determined the presence of humans and the high probability that a criminal offense is in progress.” In addition, it states: “A law enforcement agency having jurisdiction to respond to Verified Alarms has the autonomy and authority to increase the priority of Verified Alarm calls to increase the arrest of offenders and reduce property loss.” Jentoft says the most important thing about the standard is that it reflects the definition law enforcement embraces, instead of one created by the alarm industry.