Tag: Chris Newhook
Advances in monitoring technology changing the standards landscape
July 18, 2018Paul Ragusa
YARMOUTH, Maine—As technology continues to evolve at a rapid pace within security, monitoring companies and third party standards organizations such as UL are doing their best to understand what this means for central stations today, especially in regard to creating requirements that reflect the current state of innovation within the industry.In March, UL published a proposal to extend the effective dates for two sets of requirements that are new to the eighth edition of UL 827, The Standard...
Central Monitoring Operators: training, empathy and thinking really fast
August 30, 2017Kenneth Z. Chutchian
YARMOUTH, Maine—A central monitoring station can be a cool place to work—if your idea of cool is not knowing what's going to happen from one minute to the next, or talking people through crises, real and perceived, or getting information fast and accurate while determining whether lives are at stake.Experts at four security firms weighed in recently on the stressors and satisfaction that operators experience—and the kinds of support these employees receive to keep fresh.“It...
American Alarm sends first ASAP response in New England
April 29, 2015Spencer Ives
ARLINGTON, Mass.—American Alarm and Communications, an installing central station based here, says it is the first New England monitoring center to use the ASAP program to respond to an alarm signal.The Automated Secure Alarm Protocol enables central stations to compile information digitally—such as name, location, address and type of alarm—and send it to dispatch centers. It reduces verbal error and response time.“There is no way to get it wrong, from a spoken standpoint—nothing...
Northeast's snow and central stations
March 11, 2015Spencer Ives
YARMOUTH, Maine—Amidst record-breaking amounts of snow, totaling more than 100 inches in some cities this winter, central stations in the Northeast still needed to operate fully staffed.For American Alarm and Communications, based just outside Boston, which got walloped with 104 inches of snow by early March, that meant inflatable beds, hotel rooms and shovels. Amherst Alarm is based outside of Buffalo, N.Y., which experienced especially heavy snow in some parts and more normal accumulation...
American Alarm and Communications' unique approach
December 17, 2014Spencer Ives
ARLINGTON, Mass.—For American Alarm and Communications, it's not just about the growth of the company, but an invested growth in the individual—which, itself, facilitates company growth. The company on Dec. 15 hosted a visit for a new Security Systems News editor.Maria Moretti, Command Center manager, Chris Newhook, central station manager, and Keith Hunt, technical manager, all underscored the principle in American Alarm's philosophy that employees should follow what interests them,...
Touring and learning about an industry
December 17, 2014Spencer Ives
American Alarm and Communications, a full-service security company with a central station based in Arlington, Mass., was kind enough to host me Dec. 15 to help me learn about the industry I recently signed on to cover.
Maria Moretti, command center manager, Chris Newhook, central station manager, and Keith Hunt, technical manager, led my visit. Starting with a tour of the administrative offices, then into the “Command Center.” Ending with a session of observing central station operators.
Being...