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TMA recognizes security leaders with awards at annual meeting in Hawaii

The Monitoring Association (TMA) held its annual meeting this November, awarding Larry Dischert, JCI, with its highest honour, the Stanley C. Lott Memorial Award.

Presenting the award to Dischert, Morgan Hertel, TMA’s president said, “In our industry, there is a whole subset of individuals who work tirelessly, doing the lion’s share of the work with little or no public recognition. This year’s Stanley C. Lott Memorial Award winner is one example of those that have been working in the background for many years. Over the course of five decades, his contributions to standards development within the security and monitoring industries have been immeasurable.”

Dischert initiated the creation and development of UL1981 Central-Station Automation Systems and has since contributed to many UL standards. From an emphasis on the continuous maturation of UL1981 and UL827, he became a key contributor to UL STP205 and its sub parts for all equipment and installation standards that impact the safe reliable operation of a monitoring centre.

Most recently, Dischert’s involvement includes extensive work with TMA CS-V-01 Alarm Confirmation, Verification and Notification Procedures, and ANSI/TMA AVS-01 2023 Alarm Validation Scoring (AVS) Standard.

“I can’t thank the TMA and industry leaders enough for this recognition,” stated Dischert. “I’ve put 50 years of my life into this arena and have gotten much in return. And this rounds it out very nicely. Again, thanks.”

TMA also honoured one of its volunteer members, Mark McCall, Immix, with the Mel Mahler Award. The award is presented at the discretion of the TMA president in recognition of outstanding contributions within his/her tenure.

“I have great respect for Mark – both as a dedicated leader and colleague,” said Hertel. “Most recently, Mark chaired the development committee for the ANSI/TMA-AVS-01 standard. Without his guidance and expert stewardship, I am not certain that the standard would have been completed within the targeted timeline. He is a consummate professional. I am pleased to recognize his outstanding contributions to TMA.”