There are many spoils that go with winning a SAMMY Award. For last year’s winner of the Commercial/Industrial Brochure category Life Safety Engineered Systems President Robert Vezina, that included clearing his good name on Google.

Vezina and his Buffalo, N.Y., alarm firm rose to the top of the Google search engine on the Web after their win. You can join the winners in their excitement at this year’s free Security Sales & Integration SAMMY (Sales and Marketing) Awards at Las Vegas’ Venetian Hotel and Resort on the eve of this year’s International Security Conference (ISC) West.

Until now, Vezina had topped Google for the false accusations made by his former employer that he competed unfairly against them — a charge that was rejected in court. Winning the SAMMY proved to have an unexpected benefit for Vezina. Google his name now and leading the way is a mention that his company won a SAMMY.

“Since it seems everyone does a Google search on someone that they are anticipating doing business with, the award is a very positive benefit,” Vezina says. “The SAMMYs award program is very worthwhile because it encourages our industry to strive for marketing excellence.”

That SAMMY award, sitting atop the receptionist’s desk, is the first thing anyone sees when they walk into Life Safety Engineered Systems’ office. However, the value of winning a SAMMY is much more than just a trophy. The annual SAMMY Awards ceremony has become a favorite event during ISC West and a must for attendees.

This year’s awards saw a multitude of entries that exceeded that seen before. At the same time, there are many multiple-category finalists this year, including one electronic security company that racked up six nominations.

To jump ahead and see a complete list of this year’s finalists, go to page 82 of the print version of Security Sales & Integration magazine.

SAMMY Victors Are Recognized as Being Leading-Edge Companies
What does a company receive for winning a SAMMY? For starters, they receive a loud, boisterous ovation from their peers in what is always a standing-room crowd at the awards ceremony. There’s also that beautiful crystal trophy or plaque.

But any alarm professional that has seen their company win a SAMMY in its 11 years of existence will be quick to say that winning or even just being a finalist for the award has a long-term impact on their success. They’re part of an exclusive club of SAMMY honorees.

Winners and finalists end up being profiled in the pages of Security Sales & Integration magazine. Vezina says that also becomes a selling point, as he still hands out copies of his SAMMYs wrap-up coverage appearance in SSI.

Tom Brigham knows quite a bit about what it takes to be one of the top companies in the electronic security industry. Brigham has represented several of them as co-founder of Woodland Hills, Calif.-based public relations firm Brigham Scully. He also knows what it takes to win a SAMMY, as for the fourth-straight year he served on the judges’ panel that determined this year’s winners (see box on page 80 of the print version of Security Sales & Integration magzine). Brigham says those named SAMMY finalists and winners can never have that taken away from them, and it could prove to be a strong selling point to draw in customers and revenue.

Free Awards Ceremony a Must for Any ISC West Attendee
Coming a little less than a month after Hollywood gathers among the glitz and glamour of the Oscars, alarm dealers and integrators, and those who make their products, have their own date with destiny at the annual SAMMY Awards ceremony. Those attending need not worry about wearing a tux — the mode of dress has always ranged from casual to dressy.

While there may not be a red carpet, it’s also much cheaper to attend the SAMMYs as long as one has a way of getting to Las Vegas for ISC West. Even after 11 years, some still ask at the door how much it costs to go inside and attend the SAMMY Awards ceremony. The answer is nothing. The SAMMY Awards are free!

The annual ceremony not only features the revealing of this year’s SAMMY winners, but also the formal induction of this year’s additions to the SSI Hall of Fame (see the January issue). For the first time, this year’s event will also include the award ceremony for the inaugural Police Dispatch Quality Award (PDQ).

Not only does the free admission include the excitement of the ceremony itself, but also a free selection of drinks and hors d’oeuvres. Probably more valuable than the free food, however, are some of the best networking opportunities one will find at ISC West.

Those who attend the SAMMYs will bump shoulders with some of the top names and figures in the electronic security industry — not only among dealers and integrators, but also among the manufacturers, distributors and other security professionals.

It all adds up to building the SAMMYs reputation as a must go-to event at ISC West.

HSM, Guardian Protection, ADT Among Top Finalists in 2006
A year ago, HSM Electronic Protection Services was still known as Honeywell Security Monitoring and still getting its feet wet as an independent entity after Honeywell sold off its monitoring unit in 2004.

This year, those representing HSM at the SAMMY Awards will have a hard time keeping their seats warm with the number of chances they have of winning. HSM has made SAMMY history as one of the most-honored finalists in the awards program’s history. The company is a finalist in six of the 12 categories, including for Overall “Integrated Marketing Program” and the grand prize of Commercial/Industrial Integrated Installation of the Year. Perennial SAMMYs contender Guardian Protection Services of Pittsburgh has made another strong showing in this year’s awards program with three nominations, equaling that of alarm-systems powerhouse ADT.

Also receiving multiple nominations are Exton, Pa.-based The Protection Bureau, fellow Pennsylvanians Vector Security of Pittsburgh, and Green Brook, N.J.’s Haig Security Systems. All three companies were finalists in two categories.

Join the winners, finalists and the rest of your peers at the 11th Annual SAMMY Awards in Casanova Conference Room 601 of the Venetian at 4:30 p.m. on April 4. For more information on the SAMMYs, or to start contemplating your entry for the 2007 awards, go to www.thesammyawards.com.

Vector to Be Honored for Stopping False Alarms
Vector Security Inc. will be honored as the first-ever winner of the Police Dispatch Quality Award (PDQ) at this year’s SAMMY Award ceremonies!
PDQ sponsor Honeywell Security will pay for a representative from Vector to travel to Las Vegas for the ceremony.
For more on what set Vector apart and more on the PDQ program, go to page 15 of the print version of Security Sales & Integration magazine and see the May issue of SSI.

Here Come the Judges A collection of judges consisting of some of the top security industry marketing/PR representatives plowed through the stacks of nominees for this year’s SAMMYs to determine the entries that stood out as winners.
Here’s a little bit of info about
each member of this year’s SAMMYs jury. The publisher, editors and rest of Security Sales & Integration’s staff give their heartfelt thanks for their time and effort.

Tom Brigham, principal of Brigham Scully Communications
Tom Brigham started Brigham Scully Advertising and Public Relations in 1974. The agency was named HID Corp.’s Vendor of the Year in 1998.
Today, among other clients, the agency provides communications services to security industry leaders GE Security, Ingersoll Rand Security Technologies’ Schlage electronic locking systems and biometric groups, Delta Scientific and Zebra Card Printer Solutions.

Jon Daum, co-founder of Daum Weigle

Jon Daum is a partner and co-founder of Daum Weigle Inc., a San Diego-based public relations agency. Founded in 1986, the agency specializes in security industry clients, having worked for numerous manufacturers and system integrators since 1990.

Daum also works with clients in the areas of law enforcement and computer software. He began his career as a reporter covering government for newspapers in San Diego County. Daum graduated from San Diego State University with a bachelor’s degree in Journalism.

Richard Hahn, president of Richard Hahn & Associates

Richard Hahn has been involved in the security industry for more than 15 years, working in both editorial and marketing areas.

He is president of Richard Hahn & Associates, a marketing communication company specializing in the alarm industry and offering a full line of strategic and creative services, including marketing, public relations, advertising and design.

Beverly Steinberg, president of GBL Public Relations

Beverly Steinberg founded GBL Public Relations in 1980. She is responsible for corporate communications as well as marketing for firms in the security, personal care, automotive, financial, HVAC and home building industries.

Steinberg lives in Southern California with husband Gary. They have two daughters, one living in New York City, and the other in Boulder, Colo.

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