The annual First Alert Professional Convention, replete with educational and business-building activities, held sway Nov. 13-16 at the JW Marriott Orlando Grande Lakes Resort in Orlando.
With the working theme “Creating Magic,” the event attracted about 800 attendees from among First Alert’s roughly 340 member companies. The goings-on included addresses from Honeywell Security President Ron Rothman and First Alert Professional President Joe Sausa, product demos, more than a dozen educational sessions and robust social events.
The opening general session featured the presentation of the Life Safety Award. This year it was given to Lt. Michael “Chip” George, a 16-year veteran of the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department, who demonstrated uncommon bravery not once but twice in 2008.
Among the pearls of wisdom served up by keynote motivational speaker Robert Stevenson: Pay more attention to male customers or prospects at your own peril; statistics show that men tell 2.6 others about service experiences while women tell 21.
During the closing session’s awards program, eight companies were honored for their community service involvement. Guardian Protection Services’ Mary Lynn Moriarity spoke of the many benefits of community involvement and dismissed the notion that it takes too much time or effort to participate in community service programs.
“It is an investment that returns to you 100-fold,” she said. Also noteworthy, ADS Security Chairman and CEO Mel Mahler was awarded the 2008 First Alert Professional Medal of Honor for his service in promoting the First Alert/Honeywell Security dealer network. The 2009 installment of the convention will be held in San Diego.
