Intertek Group plc - Experts & Thought Leaders

The Monitoring Association (TMA) is pleased to announce that ADT – Knoxville, Tennesse has received the prestigious 'TMA Five Diamond Monitoring Center' designation. This designation is granted annually to monitoring centres that satisfy all of the requirements of the 'five points of excellence': Commitment to ongoing job-related education and testing by having 100% of its monitoring centre operators certified using the TMA online training series on industry best practices. Commitment to random inspections and quality criteria standards by a nationally recognised testing laboratory, such as FM Approvals, Intertek/ETL, and UL. Commitment to raising the industry standards through TMA membership and participation in its activities. Commitment to reducing false dispatches. Commitment to the highest levels of customer service. Five Diamond designation TMA’s Five Diamond designation means, in particular, that a monitoring company has demonstrated an exceptionally high degree of responsibility to their local community and their customers through the investment of time, money, and commitment to quality operator training. Operators serve as the life-saving link between residential or business properties and the police, fire, and emergency services in local areas. The TMA Monitoring Center Operator course covers virtually all phases of monitoring centre communications with customers, police, fire, and emergency services communications centres. Criteria for designation To achieve the Five Diamond designation, every operator must not only pass the course and recertify every three years, but demonstrate: Proficiency in alarm confirmation process, which helps reduce false alarms. Proficiency in communications with Public Service Answering Points, such as the Emergency 911 centres. Knowledge of electronic communications equipment, including, cellular, radio, and internet communication systems. An understanding of the codes and standards of such organisations as Underwriters Laboratories, Factory Mutual, the National Fire Protection Association, and others. Proficiency in the area of emergency preparedness under a wide scenario of possibilities. UL827 registered TMA In 2022, Five Diamond has expanded to include TMA Member video monitoring companies that are hosted by a UL827 registered TMA member data centre and fulfill all other program requirements. There are approximately 2,700 monitoring centres in the United States that communicate and interact with police, fire, and emergency services agencies. Of this group, fewer than 130 monitoring centres have achieved the Five Diamond designation, setting these companies apart.

The Board of Directors of the Global Life Safety Alliance has approved a new slate of officers: President, Michael Gips Vice President, George Strom Treasurer, George Bish The demise of Jack O’Brien The GLSA also acknowledges the recent and unexpected passing of Jack O’Brien. Jack was a founding member of the Global Life Safety Alliance. Jack was the initial Vice President, later acting as the CEO of the organization until his untimely passing.  Jack has served the security industry for decades as the COO of Ackerman’s Security; VP of Security Networks; Director of North American Services for Siemens; Director of SecurityLink from Ameritech; the Director of Rollins Protective Services; General Manager of ADT Fire and Security, and the GM of Wells Fargo Alarm Services.  Jack’s International Consulting firm and his decades of industry service added to GLSA’s knowledge and expertise of the industry and lent great value to the GLSA. He is sadly missed by our organisation and will be missed by his many friends and associates in the security industry. Past-president, Julio Fumagalli Macrae The GLSA thanks Julio Fumagalli Macrae, its recent past president, for his contributions to the alliance from its time of inception to the present. Julio is the President of IRIS – Instituto Rector de la Industria dela Seguridad. He works and lives in Argentina, and he has accepted the position of GLSA’s Director of Education moving forward.  Julio has enhanced organisational effectiveness, led change initiatives, and developed creative solutions Julio brings a wide-ranging professional experience and a strong team approach that benefits his clients and partners in the United States, Canada, Argentina, and elsewhere in South America. Julio has enhanced organisational effectiveness, led change initiatives, and developed creative solutions and strategies for his clients. He has led inter-cultural environmental initiatives with a style and vision that integrates global, regional, and local issues. Michael Gips,President  Michael Gips, JD, CPP, CSyP, CAE, is a security professional, attorney, writer, and business executive. He is the principal of Global Insights in Professional Security, where he consults for security executives and security firms alike. Previously he served as the Chief Global Knowledge and Learning Officer for ASIS International, where he oversaw Learning, Content, Certification, Standards & Guidelines, Production, and other departments. Work experience He developed the CSO Roundtable (now CSO Center) as a membership group within ASIS. He also served as editor and publisher of Security Management, where he authored hundreds of articles. Mike is also a senior advisor for Cardinal Point Strategies, a senior advisor for the Network Contagion Research Institute, and a Partner in the Knowledgebase of Insider Threats. He is also an associate with the Netherlands-based insider risk firm Signpost Six and serves on the advisory boards of several organisations. Research publications, columns Mike frequently presents on security and legal topics on topics such as disinformation, insider threat Among his many research publications are papers and reports on ESRM (2010), the security sector (2012, 2014), convergence (2019), blockchain (2020), business continuity and Covid (2021), and a forthcoming article on security professionalisation co-authored with Dr. Alison Wakefield (2022). Mike writes a monthly leadership column for Security magazine and regularly contributes to Security Management, International Security Journal, and other publications. He frequently presents on security and legal topics at conferences and webinars, on topics such as disinformation, insider threat, trends in access control, and security skillsets. Recognitions Mike has received many commendations, including Outstanding U.S. Security Consultant (OSPAs, 2022), sixth most influential security thought leader (IFSEC, 2021), and one of the most influential people in security (Security magazine, 2019). He has received more than a dozen awards for his writing. Mike heads the security committee for a large house of worship. He is on the committee that is updating ASIS’s CSO standard, and he previously helped develop ASIS’s ESRM guideline. Education He also mentors many young professionals. Mike is a graduate of Tufts University (Phi Beta Kappa, summa cum laude) and Harvard Law School.  Mike also has obtained security certificates from R.L. Oatman & Associates (2006), Wharton (2015), Tel Aviv University International (2016), and IE Business School (2017). George Strom; Vice President George has worked with alarms, detectors, controls, or PPE and manufacturers globally George Strom is Business Development Director of IOT at Intertek, an FTSE 100 Company. George has worked with alarms, detectors, controls, or personal protective equipment and manufacturers globally to help them meet all their assurance, testing, inspection, and certification needs. George’s 25+ years in the Quality Assurance & Safety arena bring insight into the unique challenges of launching a product in today’s Connected World. Before Intertek, George worked in Sales and Marketing within the Computer & Office Automation Industry. He is a proud alumnus of U-Mass Lowell and lives in the Greater Boston Area. George Bish; Treasurer George is the vice president of Ring Protect, a division of Amazon. George is a NICET Level IV and Licensed Security Qualified Agent, in VA, NC, SC, TN, AL, GA, TX, FL, WA, AK, MS, and Licensed Electrical in NC, GA, MD, WA, ESA National Training School Senior Instructor (NTS), Virginia Certified Instructor, Texas Certified Instructor. Work experience George is an active professional sitting on SIA Data Privacy Advisory Board He is an active professional sitting on the SIA Data Privacy Advisory Board and a member from 2019 to present, on the NFPA 72 Chapter 29 Household from 2018 to present, NFPA 70 Technical Committee Panel member from 2008 to present, NFPA 730/731 Technical Committee member 2007 to present, on the ESA Standards & Fire Committee member, ESA By-Laws Committee member, ESA Education Committee member, Security Industry Standards Council Committee member, Past Treasurer and Executive Committee member of ESA, Past President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary of NCBFAA. Awards and recognition George has received the 2016 SBCA Presidents Award, 2015 ESA Sara E Jackson Award, 2000 NCBFAA Special Instructor’s Award, 1997 NCBFAA Person of the Year, 1996 NCBFAA President’s Award, 1996 NCBFAA Outstanding Service in Continuing Education Award, and the 1995 NCBFAA President's Award. Global Life Safety Alliance The Global Life Safety Alliance is educationally-based, focused on leadership, executive and business management, shared global risks, practices, policies, and standards of operations around the globe.  The Alliance represents a combination of security experts and professionals from the many different divisions of the Life Safety Industry, such as international and national corporations, publishers, associations, thought leaders, and knowledgeable professionals. 

ASSA ABLOY announces that Medeco Security locks has been recertified for ISO 27001 compliance by Intertek, an independent, multi-national testing and certification firm. ISO 27001 certification affirms that Medeco’s Salem, Va. operation adheres to internationally recognised standards for Information Security Management Systems (ISMS) in the production and sale of the Intelligent Key (electronic locking) systems XT and CLIQ. ISO 27001 certification provides requirements for setting up and maintaining an ISMS in order to keep information assets secure. Medeco’s ISMS is comprehensive, including internal information technology (IT) systems, technical and process controls, policies, procedures, data (Personally Identifiable Information and Intellectual Property) and personnel related to their Intelligent Key product lines. Information security management Continuing to adhere to and maintain ISO 27001 certification is an extremely high priority at Medeco" “Continuing to adhere to and maintain ISO 27001 certification is an extremely high priority at Medeco,” said General Manager Joseph Kingma. “The recertification validates Medeco’s ISMS that was already in place, and has improved upon the framework of policies and procedures that include all legal, physical and technical controls involved in our information security management processes.” ISO 27001 certification assures customers that information being stored on servers or cloud-based systems is handled in a secure manner, minimising the risk of the exploitation and takeover of data. Information assets can include financial information, intellectual property, employee information and details, and any information supplied by third parties, including vendors and end users. Continuous monitoring and improvement “Medeco’s ISO 27001 certification is of critical importance to our customers,” added Kingma. “They deserve the highest level of integrity from Medeco and, along with delivering the best products and services available in the industry, we must continue to fully protect the information and infrastructure that makes those products secure.”  Medeco’s ISO 27001 certification is valid for three years. Medeco maintains the integrity of its Information Security Management System through continuous monitoring and improvement.