Hundreds of ADT Workers Join to Renovate Habitat House

Company expanded its participation this year as a team exercise for its staff, to strengthen relationships and give to the community.

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – About 200 ADT employees are participating in a Habitat for Humanity project here as part of a company exercise to strengthen staff relationships and perform community service.

The group is the largest from one company in Palm Beach County to participate in a Habitat project, the Sun Sentinel reports. ADT employees from various departments are competing for the “Golden Hammer,” a made-up trophy of a hammer painted in gold.

Teams will be judged by three members of Habitat and three employees of ADT on their participation,
attitude, performance and creativity in later presenting the project to other employees, according to the newspaper. 

“I’m having a blast,” Steve Shapiro, ADT’s vice president of industry relations, told the newspaper onsite this week at the project site. About 20 employees are working on the house at a given time with a goal to complete it by June 22.

Shapiro postponed a business trip to take part in the project. Taking time out of his day to work on the house is a better experience than writing a check, he said.

“We want to help people get into homes,” he told the newspaper. As a side benefit, “I’m meeting people here that I might never otherwise have met.”

Althea Ceasor, corporate development manager, said she’s glad she works for a company that shows corporate responsibility. “I get to be a role model for my daughter,” she said, pointing to her 15-year-old, whom she brought along to help.

Some workers were more familiar with renovation work than others.

Andy Droney, director of innovation programs, worked for a home builder after college. But he told the newspaper the hot summer day was giving him “new appreciation” for ADT field workers who go into crawl spaces and attics of homes to install security systems.

Sterling Anderson, innovation coordinator for ADT and the team captain on Wednesday, admitted he is not handy. “I’m more of a nerd,” he said. “But I’m getting good at putting nails into wood.”
The new owner of the house has not been chosen but will also be required to volunteer “sweat equity” with Habitat to qualify for the house.

When renovated, the house will be outfitted with ADT security equipment, with free monitoring the first year and a reduced price in years two and three, Alex Price, who works in community relations for ADT, told the newspaper.

Donika Kirk, vice president of operational excellence for ADT, said the renovated house will make a family feel safe and secure.

“There’s nothing more rewarding than that,” she said.

If you enjoyed this article and want to receive more valuable industry content like this, click here to sign up for our FREE digital newsletters!

Tagged with: Business News

Security Is Our Business, Too

For professionals who recommend, buy and install all types of electronic security equipment, a free subscription to Commercial Integrator + Security Sales & Integration is like having a consultant on call. You’ll find an ideal balance of technology and business coverage, with installation tips and techniques for products and updates on how to add to your bottom line.

A FREE subscription to the top resource for security and integration industry will prove to be invaluable.

Subscribe Today!

Get Our Newsletters