News
NJBFAA 2010 Symposium Hits the Jackpot with
Record Numbers
of Attendees, Exhibitors and Training
Classes
The alarm industry in New Jersey hit the
jackpot this year as the New Jersey Burglar
& Fire Alarm Association (NJBFAA) 2010
Symposium held in Atlantic City continued to
grow strong, surpassing expectations and
providing a well rounded convention filled
with attendees, exhibitors, training,
important guests and camaraderie.
Held January 27-29 at the Tropicana Hotel,
the 2010 Symposium shattered attendance
records with more than 600 people attending
the training, Expo, and General Meeting.
With the August 2010 licensing deadline
quickly approaching, the three-day event was
built around training and license renewal.
The association offered 21 training classes,
for a total of 16 NJ-Approved CEUs, allowing
many of the NJBFAA members to complete their
training requirements.
Classes ranged from technology, legal and
sales sessions and included courses such as
Basic Alarms and Card Access, Electricity
101, Six Sigma for the Security Industry,
Fire Alarm Inspection Test and Maintenance
of Existing Systems, NFPA 72 – The National
Fire Code, The Art of Buying and Selling an
Alarm Company and Customer Needs Focused
Selling. Classes were given by well-known
industry veterans including Bob Shoremount,
Eric Pritchard, Esq, Jeffrey Zwirn, John
Drucker and Joe Russotto.
Outside of each training class, fingerprint
biometric machines were placed to help
streamline the state-required sign in
process. This gave each member an
opportunity to interface with technology
that relates to the security industry and to
add to their company’s offerings.
The Expo portion of the symposium also was
increased dramatically. The 28,000 square
foot expo floor area was over 4 times the
size of the venue in 2009. The floor was
filled with 62 vendors, nine carving
stations, and five open bar areas. A total
of $10,000 in door prizes was raffled to
attendees.
The ESA (formally NBFAA) supported the NJ
state association with representatives
attending the Symposium. On the tradeshow
floor, ESA distributed important industry
information, and spent some one-on-one time
with the members. They helped close the
General Meeting with a reminder of all the
benefits of belonging to ESA and the NJBFAA.
“We are truly proud of the dedication and
collaboration of every member of our
association who attended the Symposium and
who helped in making it possible,” said
Chris Mack, NJBFAA president. “I’d like to
add a special thanks to ESA for their
support, attendance and encouragement.”
The last day of the event included the
NJBFAA General Meeting Session and Luncheon.
A new Board of Directors was elected, and
prominent members of the Association were
recognized.
Ira Hosid from I.R.A Security was voted
Dealer of the Year, Joe Camarata from
Mid-Atlantic Reps was chosen as
Associate-Member of the year. From the
public sector, the NJBFAA recognized Chief
John F. Lightbody of Ocean County, NJ and
special guest, the Honorable Vincent Prieto
was the recipient of the NJBFAA
Distinguished Public Service Award. The
final presentation honored Chris Mosley,
past president and owner of Complete
Security Systems with the President’s Award.
“The 2010 Symposium was well run and the
training classes were top-notch,” said
attendee Bill Chernack, owner of Alarms Plus
of Flanders, NJ. “The association did a
phenomenal job of putting on one of the most
professional and well attended conventions I
have been to. As an alarm company owner, I
received more than I could have hoped for,
especially being able to complete the
licensing requirements.”
NJBFAA Bestows Awards to Recognize
Leadership, and Dedication
During the recent and successful New Jersey
Burglar & Fire Alarm Association (NJBFAA)
Annual Symposium, several statewide awards
were bestowed on deserving individuals to
recognize leadership and dedication to the
industry.
The awards were given during a special
membership luncheon held Friday, January 29.
Alarm Dealer of the Year
The first award, Alarm Dealer of the Year,
was presented to Ira Hosid, of Paramus-based
IRA Security Systems. Hosid, who is
celebrating his 40th anniversary in the
business, was chosen for putting family
first, a decision he made at the inception
of his alarm career. The basis for his
business plan was not to be the largest
alarm company in New Jersey, but to make
sure there was time to go to family affairs.
The ‘mom and pop’ business flourished, and
now maintains around 1,000 monitored
accounts.
During Hosid’s ‘free time’, he is an active
member of BARA, Bergen County Amateur Radio
Association, which provides communications
during disasters, and helps organizations
such as the Red Cross both in N.J. and the
country.
Hosid always tries to help anyone in the
business with service/installation problems.
He has never missed an NJBFAA meeting or
trade show since joining many years ago,”
commented NJBFAA president and emcee Chris
Mack.
Associate Member of the Year
The Associate Member of the Year Award went
to Joe Camarata of Mid-Atlantic
Representatives. Born and raised in
Woodbridge, Camarata received a Bachelor of
Science degree in electronic engineering
technology from Fairleigh Dickinson
University. Mid-Atlantic Representatives,
owned by David Lund, has been a well
respected industry supporter for over thirty
years. Joe joined Mid-Atlantic in September
2006, and is a proud member of the NJ
chapter of InfraGARD, a partnership between
the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the
private sector, including businesses,
academic institutions, state and local law
enforcement agencies, and other participants
dedicated to sharing information and
intelligence to prevent hostile acts against
the United States. He is also a member of
CERT – the Community emergency response
team, which serve as first responders to any
manmade and natural.
NJBFAA Frank Smith Memorial Award
The recipient of the NJBFAA Frank Smith
Memorial Award for Public Safety was Chief
John Lightbody, who currently serves as Toms
River Township Fire Prevention & Protection
Officer, as well as Toms River Township’s
Fire Subcode Official.
Lightbody received the award for serving
tirelessly on numerous committees at the
state level, most recently supporting the
inclusion of sprinklers in residential
housing. He has received numerous state and
local accommodations and awards and is an
adjunct instructor at Ocean County College,
teaching fire and building courses.
Lightbody is the proud second generation of
firefighters, and the father of the third
generation – his son, John F.
NJBFAA Distinguished Public Service Award
The Honorable Vincent Prieto was the
recipient of the NJBFAA Distinguished Public
Service Award. Since 2004, Assemblyman
Prieto has proudly represented the 32nd
district, which encompasses Hudson County,
serving as the deputy majority whip of the
General Assembly, and chairman of the
Assembly Regulated Professions Committee. He
is a construction code official, and served
on the Secaucus Planning Board.
“Prieto is in a unique position to fully
understand and support the work of the
members of NJBFAA and has agreed to champion
new legislation that addresses several flaws
from the original licensing law,” said Mack,
who thanked Prieto for coming to Atlantic
City to participate in the convention. “We
look forward to working with him this
session towards passage of this important
measure.”
President’s Award
The final presentation honored Chris Mosley
of Complete Security Systems with the
President’s Award. Chosen by the NJBFAA
President, Chris Mack, he selected Mosley
for going above and beyond the call of duty,
and serving the NJBFAA and the industry by
providing advice and assistance. Mosley
recently served as NJBFAA president for two
years and is currently the representative to
the Electronic Security Association.
Paramount to Chris’s success has been the
importance of family and community. Chris
gives tirelessly to the Marlboro community,
having served as fire chief, past chairman
of the Monmouth County Ducks Unlimited,
service to the Marlboro Township Office of
Emergency Management, and currently chairman
of the board of the Community YMCA.
“Chris is a leader in the community, trusted
advisor and friends, father, wife and son --
and a staunch industry supporter – both at
the state and national levels,” said Mack.
The NJBFAA Symposium was held January 27-29
at the Tropicana Hotel in Atlantic City.
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