It is with great excitement that we introduce SDM’s new Contributing Technology Writer, Roy Pollack, to you. Roy will be writing the monthly 5-Minute Tech Quiz. If you have your January 2011 issue handy, please turn to page 65 to take Roy’s first quiz on monitoring technology. The quiz also may be found online at:
5-Minute Tech Quiz
Ron Nelson, director of technical services at Mutual Central Alarm Services Inc., had written SDM’s 5-Minute Tech Quiz for 16 years. After his passing in January 2010, we knew it was going to be difficult to find an author who could take over Ron’s job with same accuracy and skill that Ron had put into his writing. Ultimately, we found Roy Pollack, CPP SET, a former colleague of Ron’s, who is the director of compliance at Devcon Security Services Corp., Hollywood, Fla.
In addition to holding NICET Level IV certification, Roy offers a vast amount of experience, skills and credentials to SDM’s readers. We are humbled by his affiliation with SDM. You may read more about Roy’s background below…
Roy Pollack, CPP SET
Roy has been an active industry participant and leader for 35 years. He is a graduate of Long Island University, C.W. Post College, with a BS degree in Marketing.
He started his career in the early ‘70s as a member of the Jericho Fire Department in New York, attaining the rank of Lieutenant, Paramedic and Assistant County Fire Inspector, before relocating to Florida in 1987. During Roy’s fire department service he served as instructor for several fire programs including engineer, CPR and EMT.
Roy formed his own security company and was an active member of the Metropolitan Burglar Alarm Association in New York for many years before relocating to Florida and re-establishing a security installation and consulting practice in Boca Raton. In 1997 he merged his company with Guardian Int’l and joined the management team as codes and compliance manager. In March 2005, when Guardian was acquired by Devcon Security Services, he became the director of operations of Devcon.
His exceptional technical skills and on-hand experience led him to participate as an industry trainer for both the Alarm Association of Florida (AAF) and the National Burglar & Fire Alarm Association (now known as ESA), training more than 500 industry technicians and management personnel. He is a licensed contractor in Florida, Georgia, New York, New Jersey, and North Carolina, as well as New York City Fire Department Certified.
In 1991, Roy earned the title of Certified Protection Professional (CPP) from ASIS (the American Society for Industrial Security). In 1995 his experience in fire alarms and fire protection was quantified by achieving his Level IV certification in the field of fire alarms from NICET (the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies). Fewer than 400 individuals nationwide have earned this level of distinction.
The NBFAA recognized Roy’s efforts with its Training Coordinator of the Year Award in 1995 and its State Association President of the Year Award in 1999; and both the AAF and the Palm Beach Chapter of ASIS named him its Most Valuable Person of the Year, also in 1999. Roy has served on the board of directors of both the AAF and the NBFAA.
Roy is a published author and a panelist, moderator, lecturer and guest speaker on security at a number of industry events. He is the author of 13 different training programs of which six are used by the AAF exclusively for their training school.
He currently serves on the Palm Beach County Fire Department board of rules and appeals and has served on the board of directors for AAF for the past 14 years. Roy was the AAF’s president in 1999 and 2000 and was reelected to president in 2004 for another two-year term.
Roy is currently employed as the director of compliance for Devcon Security Services Corp. in Hollywood, Fla.
You may contact Roy through SDM at sdmtechtips@bnpmedia.com.
