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26
Feb 2010
Posted by Leah
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Longtime employees honored

Strength in NumbersAt my first job out of college, turnover was so high that no one got a desk nameplate and rarely did anyone order business cards. Why bother?

That turnover said a lot about the company: the atmosphere was toxic, the management was jaded, and the pay was ridiculously low.

That horrid experience is actually part of why I now appreciate working at Monitronics. In addition to my very own business cards, I get to see 34 employees celebrate 10 or 15 years of employment. With the same company! Fancy that. And this is what I think that says about Monitronics: employees are valued, pay is fair, and the culture is outstanding.

To commemorate these anniversaries, we had a snazzy little luncheon at the Omni Park West Hotel in Dallas today. The celebrants dined and were each recognized for their service to Monitronics. Ten-year honorees received a ten-year pin, certificate of appreciation, and a $500 debit card. Fifteen-year honorees received a pin, certificate of appreciation, a $1,000 debit card, and two paid days off.

Click below to see the names of the 34 folks celebrating these achievements and join me in congratulating them!

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Posted in: Behind Our Doors, Industry Happenings

23
Feb 2010
Posted by Jason
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Tuesday Tips: Prevent chimney fires

I recently noticed that the back metal wall in our fireplace looks loose. When I push on it with a fire poker, it bows a little. Freak out! I love our cozy winter fires, but am acutely aware that our delightful fire could burn the house down. So what to do? Clearly we need to get a chimney check, which turns out to be tip #1 in the top ten provided by the Chimney Safety Institute of America. Here’s how to stay safe, from their site.

Chimney fire

1. Get an annual chimney check. Have chimneys inspected annually, and cleaned as necessary, by a qualified professional chimney service technician. This reduces the risk of fires and carbon monoxide poisonings due to creosote buildup or obstructions in the chimneys.

2. Keep it clear. Keep tree branches and leaves at least 15 feet away from the top of the chimney.

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Posted in: Home Security, Tuesday tip

18
Feb 2010
Posted by Leah
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Get fit, be fabulous

As part of the company’s commitment to employee health, Monitronics is rolling out a complete wellness program called MI Health. The company has partnered with the Methodist Hospital System to provide employees with a roust health and wellness program.

“A healthy, happy employee is our ultimate goal and MI Health will contribute to that by making our work environment more fulfilling and dynamic,” said Sherrie O’ Keefe, Director of Human Resources. “It’s part of our company mission to create this kind of workplace and I’m excited to see the ways employees make use of these new opportunities.”

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The first part of MI Health that will be available is a health risk assessment (HRA) and biometrics.This will include (at no cost to the employee!):

    * Previous health information and family history
    * Finger prick blood draw for cholesterol–total, HDL, and LDL, and triglyceride levels, as well as blood sugar data
    * Blood pressure
    * Body composition analysis

About ten days after completing both the HRA and the other tests, Methodist will mail an individual report to each participating employee, a health summary. This is the foundation of the MI Health program and to participate in other activities, an employee will need to complete it.

The next step in the MI Health initiative will be to bring in a Methodist Hospital Wellness Coordinator, who will be at Moni three days a week.  The coordinator will use the results of the HRA to to determine the components we will include this year in the MI Health program, like classes. The actual activities, classes, and events will then be announced.

Monitronics is covering all the costs associated with the HRA andsince the Wellness Coordinator is a Methodist employee, all information are confidential. The company is only provided company totals, not individual information.

Monitronics has been focusing more on wellness, sponsoring a team in the December White Rock Marathon and updating the fitness room that same month to include an elliptical machine, treadmill, two exercise bikes, work-out and walking videos, stretch bands, hand weights, a Wii, and more.

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Posted in: Behind Our Doors

17
Feb 2010
Posted by Leah
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National home security dealer training starts today

Fifty authorized home security alarm dealers are experiencing the advantage of Monitronics’ premiere national training today as they start MoniExperience, or MoniX. This three-day seminar gives dealers a competitive edge and strengthens businesses of all sizes, allowing them to increase their succees.

Monitronics’ experienced staff will cover the security system installation processes; field service; funding; account creation management; sales and marketing; Monitronics’ preferred partners; and successful recruiting.

MoniX, which is the cornerstone of Monitronics’ training programs, is in its second year in 2010 and is now a requirement of all new dealers. This training is more extensive than what is generally offered in the rest of the industry. The national training offers practical, relevant information to sharpen the business acumen of our security dealers. Many established dealers also attend to take advantage of its business-building information.

The 37 companies represented will also get to meet Monitronics’ executive staff, tour the headquarters in Dallas, and learn about the departments and their functions.

“MoniX helps our dealers strengthen their businesses and build a strong foundation for future success,” said Steve Baker, Vice President of Sales and Dealer Development. “We also work hard to create a team spirit among our dealers, who are some of the best in the industry.”

Forty dealers will also attend a best-in-class sales training after MoniX with sales professional and industry expert Lou Sepulveda. This class is a thorough step-by-step process covering all aspects of successfully selling in the alarm industry. Dealers will sharpen their skills and walk out with the specialized knowledge for their businesses to thrive. Topics covered in sales training include recruiting sales people; door-to-door sales; the formula for selling; closing skills; and lead development.

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Posted in: Behind Our Doors, Industry Happenings

16
Feb 2010
Posted by Jason
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Tuesday Tips: Sign up for safety

Most folks don’t realize it, but one of the most effective crime deterrents is a little piece of metal. A Monitronics yard sign let’s criminals know that your home or business is protected 24/7 by our award-winning central station.

Some people buy fake signs on the Internet, hoping for some protection that way, but bad guys visit the same sites you do and know which signs are real and which ones are pseudo. Monitronics has been around for 15 years and is a known player in the industry. Our signs mean business.

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Criminals look for easy marks and your monitored alarm system let’s them know your place is off limits. You’re a harder target. To get the most out of your yard sign, remember these things:

    1. Replace old signs with new, highly visible ones.2.The effectiveness of the security yard sign depends on its placement: put it next to your front door, the curb next to the driveway, a flower bed, or by the garage door.

    3. Get some Moni security stickers and place them on windows and other doors around the premises.

If you need a new yard sign, call customer service at 800-447-9239 and we’ll send you one right away.

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Posted in: Business Security, Home Security, Tuesday tip

15
Feb 2010
Posted by Leah
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Moni raises $16k for Haiti relief

After two weeks of intensive fund-raising and an outpouring of support for those in Haiti affected by the recent earthquake, Monitronics employees have crossed the goal line and will be making a donation to the American Red Cross for $16,786!

Haiti Earthquake 2010

Employees themselves raised $8,393 and the company is matching all funds. Getting to that dollar amount took a lot of effort and volunteers. Here’s the breakdown:

    Raffle and paleta sales: $4,735
    Coin collection: $265
    Popcorn/ fruit/ paleta day: $1,393
    Monetary donations: $2,000

Derek Hall won the raffle tickets for the Dallas Mavericks and Vandi Vongkham won two tickets to the February 18 Mariah Carey concert in Dallas. The Wii was won by Dave Bolles.

Congratulations to the winners and thank you to all employees who generously gave so that the Red Cross can continue to bring much-needed help to the people of Haiti.

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Posted in: Behind Our Doors

15
Feb 2010
Posted by Leah
2 comments

10 Twitter must-follows for the security industry

We’re Twitter junkies here at Monitronics (follow us at www.twitter.com/monitronics) and we learn tons about our industry from some of our fellow Tweeters.We want to know what’s happening in the industry, safety tips and know-how, and the best SEO/social networking practices. We happen to follow the @Verified_ALF feed because we loved bad 1980s television, but that’s neither here nor there.

    1. @APXAlarms: Seth Jenks of APX Alarms in Provo, Utah. Great community, interesting look inside his company, and lots of useful links.

    2. @SSN_Dan: Our favorite industry reporter, Dan Gelinas of Security Systems News. Lots of links to his blog Monitor This! and excellent industry updates.

    3. @IncMagazine: The magazine for entrepreneurs our of NYC. Fantastic articles. We retweet all the time.

    4. @CherylWatterson: She’s the woman behind LetsTalkHomeSecurity.com, an online security resource company. Great ideas for homeowners about protection strategies and practical tips.

    5. @NFPA: All the news that fit to Tweet from the National Fire Protection Association.

    6. @ProvidentMike: From Mike Jagger, President & CEO of Provident Security in lovely Vancouver. He’s a security speaker and expert on the topic.

    7. @CrimeReports: Lots of safety resources. The “I luv stupid criminals” tweets are entertaining.

    8. @KseniaCoffman: Interested in wireless, physical security, smart grid, ITS & B2B marketing/social media.

    9. @BrentDirks: Dallas-based E-news and Web editor for Security Products and Network-Centric Security magazines.

    10.@HoneywellSec: Honeywell Security Group delivers innovations, technologies, and products. Good stuff.

Some Twitter lists we love

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Posted in: Industry Happenings

11
Feb 2010
Posted by Leah
1 comment

What’s in your emergency kit?

Cold enough for you? Here in Dallas, we’re having 30-year record snows and lots of us are stuck inside. So it got me thinking about emergency preparedness kits–I might be using the candles in my kit tonight. Here’s what I’ve got in the guest bedroom in case of an emergency. What’s in yours?

    * Water filter: You need enough water on hand for one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days. I figured this would be easier.
    * MREs: I’ve got a month’s supply of non-perishable food
    * Radio: Mine is a hand crank/NOAA weather radio with tone alert
    * Flashlight. Forgot the batteries. Woops.
    * Battery lantern
    * Wrench and pliers: to turn off utilities
    * Personal sanitation items: washrags, moist towelettes, garbage bags, and plastic ties
    * Candles and lighters: to start and keep a fire going. And for mood lighting during an emergency.
    * Firewood
    * Extra food for my dog: she can’t have my MREs.
    * Sleeping bag and warm blankets

Snow day

Turns out I forgot a few things. Glad I looked into this.

    * Dust mask
    * Plastic sheeting and duct tape
    * A few gallons of water to augment the water filters
    * Whistle to signal for help
    * Local maps
    * Extra batteries for the radio, flashlight, and lantern
    * First-aid kit
    * Copies of my important papers, like insurance, ID, and bank account records, sealed in a plastic baggie
    * Cash or traveler’s checks and change
    * Fire extinguisher
    * Matches in a plastic baggie

Check out Ready America for a full list of recommendations and let me know how your kit measures up. I’d like to know.

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Posted in: Home Security

09
Feb 2010
Posted by Jason
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Tuesday Tips: Picking a security company

There are loads of security companies out there clamoring for your business. How do you cut through the clutter and find the best fit and price? Obviously, we’re a little biased when we say this, but we think Monitronics is the way to go for residential or business security systems. Here’s a checklist for how to pick a security company and a bit about how Moni measures up.

    Security
    You want to know that your company is watching your premises at all times. Is the monitoring central station 24/7? Are they Five-Diamond Certified? We are both.

    Response
    How fast can the company respond to your alarm? Every second matters in an emergency. In 2009, our average response time was 22.1 seconds.

    Trust
    Who are you letting in your door? Are they well-trained and vetted? Our Monitronics authorized dealers go through background checks and are experts at security assessments and installations. They know how to customize a security system to fit your needs.

    Guarantee
    What happens if you have a problem with your system down the road? What’s the policy on fixing it? Monitronics’ lifetime service guarantee is great insurance. Generally speaking, it covers the parts and labor on your system with a reasonable deductible for any service request.

    Convenience
    With an online MyMonitronics account, you can pay your bill, update emergency contacts, test your system, and more.

    Portability
    Will your company relocate your home alarm system for free? We will!

Since 1994, we’ve been earning the trust of our customers through our proven performance and customer service. Let us prove ourselves to you.  Visit us online and we’ll connect you with a Monitronics authorized dealer in your area. If you prefer to call, you can reach us by phone at 800-290-0709.

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Posted in: Business Security, Home Security, Tuesday tip

02
Feb 2010
Posted by Leah
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MoniX video #5

This month, we’ve released four videos for our dealers about MoniX, our premiere training program taking place in Dallas February 16-18. Check them out here:

    * Video #1
    * Video #2
    * Video #3
    * Video #4

Now we bring you the final video, number five, starring the entire sales team here at Monitronics.

To register for MoniX, go to www.moniexperience.com and get all the details. We’ll see you there!

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Posted in: Behind Our Doors, Industry Happenings

02
Feb 2010
Posted by Jason
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Tuesday Tips: Reduce false alarms

False alarms are a waste of time and resources for everyone: you, emergency responders, and your alarm monitoring company. And in municipalities with false alarm ordinances and permit requirements, it can earn you a hefty fine if police or fire respond and there’s nothing wrong.

Perhaps worst of all, when you have many false alarms with your monitored alarm system, people will start to ignore them, which means in the event of a real emergency, you are up a creek, so to speak. So what to do to reduce them? Read on.

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Reducing False Alarms: A How To Guide

* Test your system once a month to ensure that it is working properly. Let more about doing that with your MyMonitronics account here.

* Keep your emergency contact up to date so that if your system goes off and we can’t reach you, one of them can either turn off the system or let you know about it. You can also do this with your MyMonitronics account.

* Train all expected visitors, like babysitters, housekeepers, or friends, on how to operate you system.

* Make sure your system is configured for your pets. Monitronics offers pet-immune motion detectors that “recognize” pets up to about 45 pounds.

* If you remodel your home and make interior changes, like adding drapes, moving large furniture, or adding ceiling fans, review your security system design with your authorized Monitronics dealer to ensure continued comprehensive protection.

* Secure all doors and windows so that they won’t trigger an alarm if blown open.

* Do not intentionally set off your monitored alarm for any reason other than a crime, fire, or medical emergency.

* False alarms are often triggered by circuit breakers that are not powered–keep on top of that.

* Clean the sensor lens on your smoke detectors and motion sensors regularly. Bugs, gunk or dust
 can trigger an alarm.

* Keep batteries fresh and within their expiration date.

* Adjust your system so that an alarm signal will sound for no longer than 10 minutes after being activated.

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Posted in: Business Security, Home Security, Tuesday tip