Two generations of the Pastore family direct Crime Prevention Security Systems—and consider employees their extended family. From left: Office Manager Jessica Pastore; Vice President of Sales Randi Elrad; President John

This year, as hundreds of companies all over the country shrunk and cut back, one security company in Provo, Utah, did something unusual. APX Alarm Security Solutions Inc. (APX) grew

When The Protection Bureau saw the recession coming, it decided on what some would call a risky course of action. The company chose to use an offensive — not defensive — growth strategy, expanding its offerings and growing its customer service department. It proactively connected with its current clients through a new Client Care Department and a company-wide, downright fanatical focus on customer satisfaction and intentional interaction.

Planning and communication took L.A.’s “Carmageddon” from a potentially disastrous main event to a successful non-event. The security industry does the same thing every day.

Vivint Inc., Provo, Utah, is not a security company. Well it is, but it isn’t. On the one hand, it sells security systems and is the No. 4 security company on the SDM 100, so some people call it a security company. On the other hand, it also offers a full line of home automation services, leading others to call it a home automation company. Confused?

Talk to a Protection 1 employee and there is a palpable energy that radiates outward about their job, the company and the customer. Chicago-based Protection 1, has always contained a deep-rooted love for the customer. But while employees embraced the concept, the execution was missing, as Protection 1 experienced declining growth for seven consecutive years.

Steady and rapid growth in the dealer program market, like the kind Security Networks, SDM’s 2012 Dealer of the Year Honoree, has had in recent years requires more than a good marketing program or exciting services. Security Networks, West Palm Beach, Fla., prides itself on an average of 40 percent growth year-over-year for the past eight years, its president, Richard Perry, tells SDM.

Protection 1, Chicago, acquired Vintage Security, Washington, D.C. The new addition is the largest acquisition in Protection 1’s history.

Redundancy via three central stations along with broader product offerings and services for dealers and a deeper opportunity for dealers nationwide to share best practices are just a few of the key benefits that Mace Security International, Cleveland, Ohio and Security Partners, Lancaster, Pa., believe will result from an acquisition by Security Partners of the Mace Central Station.

 ADS Security is a successful oxymoron. The company has a unique ability to combine the stability of a traditional, nationally recognized security company with the freshness of a young company with trending offerings. The results are solid growth, raving fans, and a bright future.  

Curious about who has won in the past? Over the last 38 years an incredible range of dealers have impressed SDM with their unmistakable success, innovation, use of industry best practices, and notable growth and accomplishments. Each year the winners are truly a snapshot of what is great about the industry.

SDM’s 2015 Dealer of the Year combines both old and new ideas to pave the way for the future.

They say necessity is the mother of invention.

SDM has extended the deadline to July 7 for companies to apply to become the 2017 SDM Dealer of the Year, an annual recognition of companies that demonstrate unmistakable success, a high level of innovation, the use of industry best practices, and notable growth and accomplishments in the security dealer industry.

The ADT brand is synonymous with security — instantly recognizable by virtually every competitor and potential customer in the United States. Its 143-year history, combined with its massive size (an estimated $4.3 billion in gross revenues in 2017 and ranked No. 1 on the SDM 100 Report every year since its inception in 1991) puts this security dealer in the ranks of some of the largest companies in the country.

Industry giant ADT is not only awake, it is focusing heavily on providing premium customer service and a better experience overall.

Lexington, Ky., is known for a few things: horses, bluegrass, bourbon, a historic downtown area, and — when it comes to security systems — Bates Security/Sonitrol of Lexington.

From its humble beginnings in a Toyota Corolla, CPI Security — originally Crime Prevention Inc. — has operated with a singular focus.

What do termites, diamonds and security have in common? All three are components of the history of this year’s SDM Dealer of the Year. Sonitrol began when Al Cronk, a police officer, was interested in verifying alarms using audio; Bob Baxter invented microphones to detect termites in trees.

With deep, long-standing roots in the community, this company’s service-based culture and strong commitment to both employees and customers have earned it the distinction of being named SDM’s 2021 Dealer of the Year.

When it comes to maintaining relationships with customers, this company is at the top of its game, all while increasing revenue and keeping employees healthy, happy and engaged. 

Faced with debt, higher than desired attrition, challenges in retaining employees, inflation and supply chain issues caused by a global pandemic, this company managed to get completely debt-free, lower attrition, raise both wages and prices, and still make a profit — all of which resulted in a “war chest” that helped them invest in key cyber and marketing efforts.

The GuardRite Retractable Barrier is a modular and self-storing barrier system that can withstand up to 30,000 pounds of impact at 4 mph, making it ideal for guarding rail docks, finger docks, and wide loading and flatbed loading areas, as well as protecting sensitive equipment and pedestrian areas

The Contractor+ family of harnesses now offers a more supportive, secure and sturdy fit while adding functional elements for all-day comfort to meet the demanding needs of workers.

This rescue harness provides safety, versatility and comfort.

Journeyman FLEX Aluminum and Steel Harnesses are rated to a 425-pound capacity and comply with OSHA regulations and ANSI standards.

The NEWTON EASYFIT HI-VIZ Fall Arrest Harness has a fluorescent-colored vest with reflective strips.

The ProForm F3 High-Performance Harness features built-in relief cords for after a fall, allowing a user to reach a gravity override seated position.

The Guardian Fall Protection S1 Safety Harness meets OSHA standards, exceeds ANSI standards and is CSA-certified.

The Blue Armor Arc Flash Harness is a durable fall protection harness specifically designed for workers who may be exposed to an electric arc.

The Werner H913001 Welding High Heat Harness is specifically designed for welding applications that have potential exposure to welding spatter.

The Checkmate Xplorer Industrial Full Body Harness – designed to be more comfortable than conventional harnesses during suspension and frequent loading – features visual-alert stitching, an intuitive way for the user to understand the correct way to wear the harness.

The Honeywell Miller H500 series of safety harnesses features specially formulated webbing that flexes to accommodate movement and body contours. Shoulder and back padding minimize overexertion and offer more breathability to keep workers drier and cooler, while an ergonomic waist pad provides optimum lumbar support.

The 3M Advanced Floor Care System is designed to achieve a high-gloss appearance with less labor and fewer chemicals over time.

Grade 43 Chain Positioning Lanyards are ideally suited for positioning or restraint applications when used in conjunction with a full-body harness with side or hip D-rings.

Cable Leading Edge Lanyards have the lightweight durability of a fixed-length lanyard and permit up to 12 feet of protection during a free fall from an at-height working surface.

FT-One is a patent-pending full-body harness designed and developed with input from contractors to achieve a new level of comfort fit and function.

The Kodiak is an adjustable full-body harness with a positioning belt. It has two side D-rings for work positioning, a quick-connect buckle on the chest straps, an adjustable tongue buckle on the leg straps, adjustable shoulder straps and one dorsal D-ring for fall arrest.

The FT-One Fit premium full-body harness enables women to achieve a customized fit. Features include an adjustable sub-pelvic strap to ensure a proper fit across a woman’s hips, along with abrasion-resistant shoulder panels and custom-designed gel inserts and padding.

User feedback steered the yearlong design process of the B7-Comfort Harness, which features adjustable waist padding that allows for greater comfort and fit while also doubling as a tool bag attachment system.

The development of the B7-Comfort Harness relied heavily on user feedback during a yearlong design process. The harness features adjustable waist padding that offers greater comfort and fit while also doubling as a tool bag attachment system.

Dallas – Gulf War Illness may cause memory problems in veterans, concludes a new study from the University of Texas.

Washington – Certain drivers transporting cargo for the U.S. military have been exempted for two years from a federal hours-of-service break requirement, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

Santa Monica, CA – Post-traumatic stress disorder and depression may be common among private military contractors, suggests a new study from RAND Corp., a nonprofit research institution.

Washington – The Department of Veterans Affairs has launched a registry to track the health of veterans exposed to burn pits and other airborne hazards in recent military operations, including Iraq and Afghanistan.

San Diego – Members of the military who have poor sleep habits are “less resilient” than service members with healthy sleep behaviors, according to a recent study from the Naval Health Research Center.

Washington – Military veterans who operated commercial motor vehicles during their service will have an easier time obtaining learner’s permits and driver’s licenses to become CMV operators as civilians, thanks to a recently published final rule intended to simplify the process.

Maywood, IL — Chest muscle tears caused by weightlifting were treated at an “alarming frequency” in 2013 and 2014 at one armed forces hospital overseas, according to a recent study conducted by military surgeons.

Rosemont, IL — Members of the military may face an increased risk of developing skin cancer, according to a recent study from the American Academy of Dermatology.

Washington — The Bureau of Justice Assistance, part of the Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs, has released a video intended to protect first responders who face potential exposure to fentanyl, a synthetic opioid considered up to 50 times more potent than heroin.