The Monitoring Association Celebrates Mel Mahler Award Winners’ Contributions
The Mel Mahler Award is presented at the discretion of the TMA president “in recognition of outstanding contributions within his/her tenure.
Logo courtesy of The Monitoring Association
McLEAN, Va. – The Monitoring Association (TMA) president Steve Butkovich recently honored four of the association’s long-serving volunteers for their contributions to TMA’s ASAP service with the 2024 Mel Mahler Award, formerly known as the President’s Award.
The Mel Mahler Award, given out at the 2024 TMA Annual Meeting in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, on Oct. 9, is presented at the discretion of the TMA president “in recognition of outstanding contributions within his/her tenure,” according to the association announcement. The 2024 recipients are Bill Hobgood, CommSys Incorporated; Jennifer Holloway, CIBC Bank; Daniel Oppenheim, Affiliated Monitoring; and Pam Petrow, Vector Security.
Pictured (left to right): Daniel Oppenheim, Jennifer Holloway, Pam Petrow and TMA president Steve Butkovich. (Photo courtesy of The Monitoring Association)
Holloway, the managing director – market lead, Security Industry Group, CIBC Bank USA, was recognized for her expert counsel and partnership in navigating a pathway forward for ASAP to achieve its full potential.
“You’ve collaborated with our leaders to develop a bold, strategic financial plan to ensure its long-term success,” said Butkovich during the award presentation. “You’ve been a valued collaborator and ally, engaging and proactive in raising the funding required for technological enhancements and expansive service adoption.”
“I am deeply honored to receive the Mel Mahler award from TMA for my work on ASAP,” says Holloway. “I’m grateful to have an opportunity to contribute to this life-saving initiative. The progress made on ASAP to PSAP over the last year is a testament to the remarkable leadership of Steve Butkovich and the invaluable contributions of ASAP co-chairs Daniel Oppenheim and Pam Petrow.
“This award holds special meaning for me, as Mel was my client at CIBC Bank for many years, and I admired his unwavering commitment to the industry and TMA,” she says.
When awarding the Mel Mahler Award to Oppenheim, CEO of Affiliated Monitoring, Butkovich called attention to his “uncompromising vision, fierce determination and intense passion for ASAP,” noting he’d been a pivotal, driving force for change and growth.
“You’ve worked tirelessly in pursuit of excellence at every turn,” he said during the award ceremony. “Under your leadership, ASAP has set a course to achieve heightened levels of service quality and accelerated expansion and adoption. Through your unwavering efforts, more lives will be saved in communities nationwide. TMA is indebted to you.”
More About the 2024 Mel Mahler Award Winners
Petrow, president and CEO of Vector Security, was recognized for her “uncompromising leadership and unmatched depth of commitment to ASAP since its inception almost two decades ago,” according to the TMA announcement.
“You’ve invested countless hours to ensure the successful implementation and operation of the ASAP service,” said Butkovich during the awards ceremony. “You’ve established strong, positive, productive partnerships across all ASAP stakeholder communities. You not only laid the foundation upon which ASAP is built, but you’ve also played a crucial role in defining its future.”
“It is truly an honor to receive the Mel Mahler Award,” says Petrow. “It has been a privilege working with Daniel and Jennifer to create and implement the next generation ASAP initiative.”
Bill Hobgood and TMA president Steve Butkovich (Photo courtesy of The Monitoring Association)
When presenting the 2024 Mel Mahler Awards to Hobgood, a consultant at CommSys Incorporated, Butkovich expressed his sincere appreciation to the lead ASAP implementer.
“To many, you have been the face of ASAP,” said Butkovich. “You’ve been on the front lines, working closely with ECCs and supporting monitoring centers in securing the necessary certifications. You’ve been a champion for the service at every step in its journey.”
“Receiving the Mel Mahler Award from TMA is an incredible honor and truly humbling experience,” says Hobgood. “This award is a testament to the collective effort and support of my colleagues and loved ones who have been instrumental in my journey with the ASAP program since 2004.
“I am profoundly grateful to TMA and President Butkovich for this recognition. It inspires me to continue striving for innovation and excellence in our public-private partnership surrounding the ASAP program,” he says.
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