Outgoing CSAA President Ed Bonifas (left) hands over the presidential gavel and congratulates incoming President Bob Bean. PHOTO BY CHESTER M. DONATI, COURTESY OF CSAA

As the newly installed president of CSAA, I am grateful for all of the exceptional work of our past presidents, boards and committees. However, I also am mindful of the magnitude of issues facing our association and our industry.

As an Executive Committee member for many years, I have watched CSAA grow, despite numerous downturns in the economy. This is due, in large measure, to the meaningful programs that we deliver to our members and the industry.  Many people have been instrumental in developing these important programs over the years; here are a few that have come about in recent years.

The Automated Secure Alarm Protocol or ASAP program, in development now for many years, is nearing fruition. Thisprogram will revolutionize the way we do business with the AHJs, and show the rest of the alarm industry how central stations continue to be on the forefront when it comes to embracing new technology.

Our CSAA Five Diamond Program has been adopted by nearly 75 percent of our membership and has helped to raise the bar to even higher levels. Part of the Five Diamond Program, which strives for excellence in all areas of central station operations, is our Online Operator Training Courses Level I and II. These extremely beneficial training courses for central station operators and managers have become an industry standard, and are being taken all over the globe. In fact, we’re proud to announce that we recently passed the 10,000^th graduate mark.

Our Fall Operations Management Seminar continues to evolve and grow, and our central station managers continue to share their expertise and best practices.

And, as an ANSI-accredited standards developer, CSAA is now moving ahead with a host of standards upgrades, including one that addresses video verification and new standards for central stations.

On the political front, we’re facing many important issues. We’re also working with the AHJs even more deeply than in the past on NFPA codes and standards, and other issues. We truly value our partnerships with these AHJs, and are grateful to be singing with them from the same page.

Our Alarm Industry Communications Committee is at its highest membership level as it deals with future technologies that will affect not only our industry, but others, as well. There are so many communications-related issues crucial to our industry. The AICC has become such an important vehicle from which to address these issues, and respond when necessary.

Our relationship with the property/casualty insurance industry also is beginning to take hold, and we’re making progress in getting our message of service excellence across to such a huge industry.

CSAA’s involvement in all of these activities — and I am only scratching the surface — is backed by our members, who are active in more than 30 committees and subcommittees. These central station professionals contribute an enormous amount of time and expertise, working on behalf of the association to the betterment of the central station industry as a whole.

This year, we also will bring on a new director of Education and Training. This individual will broaden and deepen our commitment to the highest educational products and training available, helping to further develop our ESX, annual meeting, and Fall Operation Management Seminars, as well as our webinars, wikis and social media contact groups.

Lastly, our International Subcommittee is working to further develop our global outreach effort. This will benefit our valued associate members through organizational affiliations, and our membership as a whole, for we cannot help but to learn from one another.

With so many dedicated people volunteering their time, and so many projects on the table, I will need all of your support to continue to make great progress, as we have in the past.