The Security Industry Alarm Coalition (SIAC) honored alarm industry veteran Sharon Elder with the 2013 William N. Moody Award. Elder, vice president of sales for the National Monitoring Center in Aliso Viejo, Calif., will receive the award on June 18 at the Electronic Security EXPO Icebreaker Luncheon in Nashville.

The William N. Moody Award recognizes alarm industry leaders who take the lead to implement ordinances that incorporate the "best practices” of alarm management, allowing law enforcement more efficient use of their resources to improve public safety.  Elder is known by law enforcement agencies in Southern California as the “go to” person to address alarm issues.

Elder has successfully worked with officials in many southern California communities. She proactively sought out and met with police executives and elected officials in Anaheim, Calif., where officials decided they would stop responding to alarms. Sharon met with the leaders and using SIAC guidelines provided them with a better solution for the community.  She then helped them fine tune and work their ordinance through the legislative process. 

“Having Sharon in Southern California is like having a SIAC employee or ambassador on the ground,” said Stan Martin, executive director of SIAC. “She does a terrific job for us and the industry.”

Elder said that none of this would be possible were it not for the support of her husband Mark and her son Markallan. “Without their support I couldn’t attend all of the meetings or meet the travel demands it takes to do my job and help the industry. They are literally the ‘wind beneath my wings.’”