Alexandria, VA - The Security Industry Association (SIA), along with the National Burglar and Fire Alarm Association (NBFAA) and the Central Station Alarm Association (CSAA), honored two members of the security industry at the Second Annual Tri-Association Awards Dinner, on Wednesday, August 24, in New York City. Marc Mineau, Brivo Systems, was presented with the Triton Award for industry statesmanship. David Avritt, SentryNet, received SIA's George R. Lippert Memorial Award, named for a man who dedicated more than 20 years of service to SIA for the overall professional enhancement of the security industry.
Mineau has long been praised for his work in the area of education. As an active member in NBFAA and CSAA, and as a past-president of SIA, Mineau has initiated and led several education initiatives that have had substantial impact on the industry. During his tenure as president of SIA, Mineau established a $500,000 development fund for security industry education programs. An advocate for NBFAA's Apprenticeship program, Mineau founded a $100,000 fund to support the development of this crucial professional accreditation.
Like Mineau, Avritt has served the security industry long and well. He has played an instrumental role in the establishment and work of SIA's Monitoring Industry Group. SIA's Central Station Monitoring Course (CSOp), now celebrating its 10th anniversary, is a direct product of David's vision for what he saw as the responsibility for the industry's associations. Today, all of the major security trade associations have embraced CSOp as the hallmark of Central Station training and education. Nearly 5,000 security professionals have attended the CSOp course across the country and in Canada.
"I never had the privilege of knowing Mr. Lippert, but I have had the privilege of knowing and working with most of the previous Lippert award winners," Avritt said. "All of these professionals are dedicated, honest, willing to share their knowledge and do what's best for the industry. I'm very honored to receive this award from a group for whom I have such tremendous respect. It is the highlight of my career to be counted among their ranks."
The KlaasKids Foundation was the beneficiary of a portion of the evening's proceeds. Joe Grillo, SIA, George Gunning, NBFAA, and Dick Sampson, CSAA, presented Mark Klaas, founder of the KlaasKids Foundation, with a check for $6,500. Klaas founded the organization in 1994 to attempt to give meaning to the kidnap and murder of his daughter, Polly. KlaasKids pursues its mission of Stopping Crimes Against Children by pursuing an aggressive child safety agenda that extends from the family kitchen table to the president's cabinet table.
The evening was capped off by a warmly-received performance by Bob Arno, international travel safety expert and master pickpocket.
The 2006 Tri-Association Awards Dinner is scheduled for Wednesday, October 24, in New York City.