Central Station Alarm Association International on Monday announced that Pamela Petrow, president and CEO of Pittsburgh-based Vector Security, has been named as its new president. She is the first woman to serve as president of CSAA, which was founded in 1950.
“It is an honor and a privilege be able to lead the CSAA during this period of transformation for the alarm industry,” said Petrow. “As president, I will build on our past successes, looking to transition the Association to meet the current and future needs of our members.”
Petrow said that her vision for her term focuses specifically on member engagement and membership value. “My objectives are threefold,” she said. “One, to improve membership value and relevance; two, to help our members position their companies for the future; and three, to grow membership overall.”
“I believe in the power and value of associations, and I also understand the challenges they face in communicating their benefits to members, both current and prospective,” said Petrow. “We have already begun a review of the structure of CSAA, because our members are diverse and need more customized benefits than they have received in the past. Over my term, CSAA leadership and I will talk to every member to discuss their individual needs and determine how to bring them relevant and valuable benefits.”
In addition, she said, “One of my biggest challenges will be to reawaken enthusiasm and participation among our members. We will discover new ways that every member can make a contribution, to volunteer and share in our association community.”
“We must build on our members’ passion and tap into their expertise to improve and advance the whole alarm industry,” concluded Petrow.
Petrow has served as CSAA First Vice President since October was slated to become the organization’s president in October 2015. However, she will now assume the role earlier following the resignation of former president Jay Hauhn, who stepped down in March to become CSAA’s executive director.
Petrow previously held leadership positions in the Pennsylvania Burglar and Fire Alarm Association (PBFAA), Electronic Security Association (ESA), and CSAA, where she also co-chaired the Education Committee and served on the Executive Committee. She is involved with the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials- International (APCO), and received its President’s Award in 2009 for her outstanding contributions to the electronic transmission of signals between central stations and 911 dispatch centers. In 2014, she was presented with an Ernst & Young (EY) “Entrepreneur of the Year Award” in the Western Pennsylvania and West Virginia program.
