The IQ Certification Board recently elected Ron Petrarca, operations director of Huntington, N.Y.-based Electronix Systems Central Station Alarms Inc. as the newest member to join the board. He will serve a two-year term.
Before entering the industry, Petrarca served 10 years in the U.S. Air Force in various locations worldwide, involved in security design and application. Ending his military service in Southeast Asia in 1968 he came home to apply his training to the security industry where he worked for a few companies and opened his own installation business in 1972. In 1982 he sold the business and moved into central station operations.
One of the founding fathers of The Long Island Alarm Association, Petrarca served as president of that chapter as well as the New York State Electronic Security Association (NYSESA) and the New York Fire Alarm Association (NYFAA). As president of the NYSESA, he was instrumental in obtaining approval from the N.Y. State Labor Department for an industry apprenticeship program while serving as ESA’s apprenticeship chairman. Petrarca received the NYBFAA Member of the Year award in 1991.
Petrarca served as a member of the NYS Department of State Alarm Advisory Committee since its inception, working extensively with the Division of Licensing’s Bureau of Educational Standards on the industry’s required curriculum for training for new licensees. He was an ESA instructor, authored various NTS courses and served on the ESA Education Committee for 12 years.
Petrarca is a NYS Department of State Registered Alarm Instructor, NYS DCJS Security Guard Instructor, NYS Office of Homeland Security Certified Enhanced Security Guard Program Trainer and an OSHA Industry Outreach Trainer. Recently he has worked on NYFAA group projects for the New York City Fire Department updating Certificate of Fitness study materials and examinations for licensing requirements set forth by the FDNY for different industry disciplines.
“Electronix Systems has been an IQ Certified company for many years,” said Petrarca. “I believe in the values that IQ brings to the industry, which often has had difficulties with quality standards and false alarms. IQ can help alleviate some of the problems but unfortunately the program is not recognized enough. My goal as an IQ board member is to work to improve the program and make more companies aware of IQ and its many benefits.”
IQ Certification gives consumers a way to identify alarm companies that are committed to providing them with high-quality security and life safety systems and aims to reduce the burden and risks false alarms place on police.
“Ron’s long list of accomplishments, devotion to our industry and work in education is an asset to the IQ Board and Program. I know that he will bring fresh ideas to IQ and work hard to spread the message to the industry,” said Lynn Comer, IQ chair and president of Shenandoah Valley Security in Waynesboro, Virginia.
