Rick Britton
SSI Hall Of Fame: 2006
Current Status: President/CEO of Digital Monitoring Products Inc. (DMP)
Why He’s On the List:
- Has a reputation for business integrity
- Is as well known for his generosity and commitment to customer service as he is for innovation and profitability
- Treats employees as family members, often intervening when they are in need
- Has crafted DMP into one of the industry’s most successful independent manufacturing companies
- In 1996, DMP made perhaps its greatest contribution: establishing control panel communications from digital dialer to digital network, which has been instrumental in developing commercial markets for IP-ready alarm systems
Something People Might Not Know: He loves jet skis; he pitched two perfect fast-pitch softball games; and he is a jet-rated pilot.
Most Memorable Moment:“A few years ago, we demonstrated alarm transmission over the Internet at the CSAA [Central Station Alarm Association] meeting in Monaco. DMP control panels were programmed to send signals to four central stations in Honolulu, Chicago, Los Angeles and Raleigh [N.C.]. The operators were conferenced back to the meeting room in Monaco. As the zones were tripped, the operators reported when the signals were received. Test equipment indicated the signals were acknowledged from around the world in less than one-third of a second. Needless to say, all were extremely impressed.”
How Things Have Changed: “Overall, security equipment is now manufactured to higher quality standards. Also, there has been increased consolidation of manufacturers and more regulations.”
What the Future Holds: “Residential may go more self-monitoring with Internet and digital cell phones, while commercial will continue with central station monitoring systems with more integrated video and security. I also think we’re going to see some real design innovations in the user interface. We’ve only begun to make important strides in that area via keypad design.”
Reaction to Being Inducted: “It is always an honor to have your life’s work recognized. Still, I am humbled, knowing I didn’t get here without the efforts and encouragement of many. Hundreds of individuals have made contributions to the company during the past 30 years. We hire talented, hard-working people just like any other company, but there’s a real difference at DMP. The persons who stay here – the ones who really love it – are interested in growing personally. They’re less interested in climbing a corporate ladder or disappearing inside a conglomerate. To me, being inducted validates all the individual efforts that have gone into our growing together as a company.”
Career Highlights:
- Born into the security industry as son of Atlas Security Service and Alarm Control Center founder Marvin Britton, who recently passed away (see page 10)
- Worked for his father as a teenager, learning the business and as an installer and service technician
- In 1973, he assumed the position of installation manager at Atlas
- Helped Atlas develop its own product that allowed traditional direct wire systems to be computer-automated
- In 1975, Digital Monitoring Products (DMP) was formed as a research and development branch of Atlas
- In 1991, Rick Britton purchased DMP from his father, becoming the owner and president
- He continues to be involved in growing the business and guiding further innovations
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