Bart Didden

SSI Hall Of Fame: 2008

Current Status

President of U.S.A. Central Station Alarm Corp.

Why He’s On The List

  • As president of U.S.A. Central Station Alarm Corp. since its inception in 1982, he has set the course for high industry standards of professionalism and customer service
  • An industry crusader for maintaining level playing fields, encouraging competition and lowering artificial entry barriers, he is a past president of NBFAA and has served on the board of directors for AIREF, CSAA and SIA
  • Founded AIREF/NBFAA Hero’s Scholarship Program, which benefits college-bound children of NYPD, FDNY and Port Authority Officers who perished on 9/11
  • Has represented the industry to all levels of government, including the President, the Senate and Congress, as well as state, county and city officials and agencies across the country
  • Serves on the board of directors and as executive claims manager for the Security America Risk Retention Group (SARRG), NBFAA’s general liability and errors & omission insurance program

    Keys To Success

    “I recognized an opportunity in the early 1980s and was lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time. Other than that, the key to success is having great family support. It is also important to get involved with NBFAA as well as the local associations. Success is a lot like physics, the more you put in, the more you get out.”

    How Things Have Changed

    “We are in the middle of the most dynamic change in the history of the alarm industry. It has changed more in the past 30 years than the 120 before that, and we are just in the middle of wherever it is we are going. A big area of change has been the proliferation of national trade associations such as CSAA, NBFAA and SIA. When events occurred that spun first CSAA and then SIA the industry fractured itself only to the detriment of the industry as a whole.

    “Today, the three associations have duplicate committees all working on the same missions, with SIA, who represents manufacturers, being the furthest off course. SIA is taking a leading role in bringing buyers and manufacturers together, in effect cutting out the independent contractor. It was these very independent contractors, also known as alarm companies, who put these manufacturers on the map in the first place. Today alarm companies are seen and treated as an inconvenience.”

    Most Memorable Moment

    “During the 1995 industry fight against telecommunications issues in Washington, D.C., I purchased 600 loaves of round Italian bread and had a special bag made that said, ‘Don’t let the Regional Bell Operating Companies take the bread from our tables!’ I then delivered the loaves to every Congressional office the day before 1,500 NBFAA members made their legislative blitz on the Hill.”

    Something People Might Not Know

    In addition to his service to the industry, he has served as a director of his local YMCA, director of the Sound Shore Community Fund and was a member of the Port Chester NYFD, to name a few of those efforts.

    Reaction To Being Inducted

    “There is no equal than to be recognized by your peers for the efforts that you make, not just for you but for those who make the industry better for everyone.”

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About the Author

Contact:

Scott Goldfine is the marketing director for Elite Interactive Solutions. He is the former editor-in-chief and associate publisher of Security Sales & Integration. He can be reached at [email protected].

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