NAPA VALLEY, Calif. — The Monitoring Association (TMA) convened here to host its Annual Meeting, offering attendees a full slate of general session and committee meetings, plus recreational and networking activities that ran the gamut from winery tours, horseback riding, cycling and hot air ballooning.
Well over 200 participants attended the event, held Oct. 12-16, with panel sessions throughout to inform on technology advances, legal affairs, government relations, AHJ/public safety and more.
Gary Garfield, former CEO of Bridgestone Americas, served as a featured keynote to discuss “How to Manage Through Disruption and Achieve the Changes you Want.” Referred to as “America’s turnaround CEO,” Garfield discussed how to identify disruptors, prioritize goals and achieve change in the professional monitoring industry.
Parks Associates President Elizabeth Parks presented a session to address growth and disruption in the home security market, including growing RMR trends and opportunities as well as the impact of DIY solutions on traditional security services.
She was followed by TRG Associates President John Brady presenting findings from his company’s 2018 attrition measurement study. In the accompanying image gallery, you can click through information from both Parks’ and Brady’s sessions.
SSI “Monitoring Matters” contributor Peter Giacalone was a featured guest for the panel, “Seeing 20/20 in 2020: Leveraging Modern Telecommunications Opportunities in a Legacy World.” Joined by Jon Wolf of ATL Communications, networking specialist Jim Losinger and Derek Peabody of Verizon, the panel explored various transitional opportunities of redundancy and diversity associated with legacy PRI and SIP communications.
These a just some of the panels and other goings on from the event. For instance, a fundraising raffle was held to benefit the Cope Family Center, a family resource center with a mission to empower parents, nurture children and strengthen communities. The Center provides parents with the education, resources and support they need to raise children who thrive.
TMA donated 100% of the proceeds, which initially totaled $1,750. Three prizes were awarded, however, all three winners graciously rolled over their gift cards to the charity, making the total donation from the TMA 2019 Annual Meeting $2,275.
The lucky winners:
- First prize, $300 gift card and bottle of Napa wine – Ivan Spector, Alarme Sentinelle
- Second prize, $175 gift card and bottle of Napa wine – Peter Giacalone, Cloud Communication Technologies
- Third prize: $75 gift card and bottle of Napa wine – Mark Melendes, CIBC Bank, USA
The 2020 TMA Annual Meeting will be held at the JW Marriot Beach Resort in Marco Island, Oct. 24-28.
