Dealer of the Year

SDM 2025 Dealer of the Year: Charting Their Own Path

hodgsonk@bnpmedia.com (Karyn Hodgson) — Mon, 01 Dec 2025 12:00:00 -0500

In an era of big acquisitions, changing customer expectations and a feeling by some that the traditional alarm industry is on a downward slope, this company chose to sell off its large commercial business and ‘lean in’ to residential and SMB opportunities.

SDM 2024 Dealer of the Year: By the Numbers

hodgsonk@bnpmedia.com (Karyn Hodgson) — Mon, 02 Dec 2024 13:00:00 -0500

The measure of a company’s success is often demonstrated in a series of numbers and percentages, but this company dialed its metrics up to 11 — and is reaping great rewards for its efforts at every level.

SDM 2023 Dealer of the Year Reaches 'Peak' Performance

hodgsonk@bnpmedia.com (Karyn Hodgson) — Mon, 04 Dec 2023 14:30:00 -0500

Faced with debt, higher than desired attrition, challenges in retaining employees, inflation and supply chain issues caused by a global pandemic, this company managed to get completely debt-free, lower attrition, raise both wages and prices, and still make a profit — all of which resulted in a “war chest” that helped them invest in key cyber and marketing efforts.

SDM 2022 Dealer of the Year Takes Care of Business

hodgsonk@bnpmedia.com (Karyn Hodgson) — Fri, 02 Dec 2022 12:55:00 -0500

When it comes to maintaining relationships with customers, this company is at the top of its game, all while increasing revenue and keeping employees healthy, happy and engaged.

SDM 2021 Dealer of the Year Stands Tall

hodgsonk@bnpmedia.com (Karyn Hodgson) — Thu, 02 Dec 2021 15:15:00 -0500

With deep, long-standing roots in the community, this company’s service-based culture and strong commitment to both employees and customers have earned it the distinction of being named SDM’s 2021 Dealer of the Year.

SDM 2020 Dealer of the Year Shines Bright

hodgsonk@bnpmedia.com (Karyn Hodgson) — Thu, 03 Dec 2020 13:00:00 -0500

What do termites, diamonds and security have in common? All three are components of the history of this year’s SDM Dealer of the Year. Sonitrol began when Al Cronk, a police officer, was interested in verifying alarms using audio; Bob Baxter invented microphones to detect termites in trees.

SDM 2019 Dealer of the Year: CPI Security of Charlotte, NC

hodgsonk@bnpmedia.com (Karyn Hodgson) — Fri, 06 Dec 2019 12:45:00 -0500

From its humble beginnings in a Toyota Corolla, CPI Security — originally Crime Prevention Inc. — has operated with a singular focus.

SDM 2018 Dealer of the Year: Bates Security/Sonitrol of Lexington

hodgsonk@bnpmedia.com (Karyn Hodgson) — Mon, 10 Dec 2018 00:00:00 -0500

Lexington, Ky., is known for a few things: horses, bluegrass, bourbon, a historic downtown area, and — when it comes to security systems — Bates Security/Sonitrol of Lexington.

How the ‘New’ ADT Set Its North Star

hodgsonk@bnpmedia.com (Karyn Hodgson) — Fri, 01 Dec 2017 07:13:00 -0500

Industry giant ADT is not only awake, it is focusing heavily on providing premium customer service and a better experience overall.

ADT Named 2017 SDM Dealer of the Year

hodgsonk@bnpmedia.com (Karyn Hodgson) — Thu, 30 Nov 2017 12:00:00 -0500

The ADT brand is synonymous with security — instantly recognizable by virtually every competitor and potential customer in the United States. Its 143-year history, combined with its massive size (an estimated $4.3 billion in gross revenues in 2017 and ranked No. 1 on the SDM 100 Report every year since its inception in 1991) puts this security dealer in the ranks of some of the largest companies in the country.

Deadline Extended — Your Company Could Be SDM’s 2017 Dealer of the Year!

Wed, 21 Jun 2017 11:40:00 -0400

SDM has extended the deadline to July 7 for companies to apply to become the 2017 SDM Dealer of the Year, an annual recognition of companies that demonstrate unmistakable success, a high level of innovation, the use of industry best practices, and notable growth and accomplishments in the security dealer industry.

Electric Guard Dog Wins SDM's 2016 Dealer of the Year

hodgsonk@bnpmedia.com (Karyn Hodgson) — Thu, 08 Dec 2016 10:55:00 -0500

They say necessity is the mother of invention.

The Road to Opportunity Is Paved With Change

hodgsonk@bnpmedia.com (Karyn Hodgson) — Thu, 03 Dec 2015 00:40:00 -0500

Vector Security’s commitment to revamping its internal structure to be prepared for what’s ahead; strong dedication to employee advancement; and passion for doing what’s right for customers and the industry overall earned itSDM’s 2015 Dealer of the Year Award.

SDM's 2015 Dealer of the Year combines both old and new ideas to pave the way for the future.

hodgsonk@bnpmedia.com (Karyn Hodgson) — Wed, 02 Dec 2015 00:38:00 -0500

SDM’s 2015 Dealer of the Year combines both old and new ideas to pave the way for the future.

SDM Dealer of the Year: Past Winners

Mon, 10 Aug 2015 09:41:00 -0400

Curious about who has won in the past? Over the last 38 years an incredible range of dealers have impressed SDM with their unmistakable success, innovation, use of industry best practices, and notable growth and accomplishments. Each year the winners are truly a snapshot of what is great about the industry.

The Security 'It' Factor

Fri, 12 Dec 2014 00:00:00 -0500

In 2008, ADS Security was the SDM 2008 Dealer of the Year Honoree. Since then nothing — and everything — has changed at the company, which is the 2014 Dealer of the Year.

SDM 2014 Dealer of the Year

Thu, 04 Dec 2014 00:00:00 -0500

ADS Security is a successful oxymoron. The company has a unique ability to combine the stability of a traditional, nationally recognized security company with the freshness of a young company with trending offerings. The results are solid growth, raving fans, and a bright future.

Insider News & Business for January 2014

Tue, 14 Jan 2014 00:00:00 -0500

Redundancy via three central stations along with broader product offerings and services for dealers and a deeper opportunity for dealers nationwide to share best practices are just a few of the key benefits that Mace Security International, Cleveland, Ohio and Security Partners, Lancaster, Pa., believe will result from an acquisition by Security Partners of the Mace Central Station.

Long Term Titan

Thu, 05 Dec 2013 13:00:00 -0500

Guardian Protection Services doesn’t value short-term sales, technologies, or relationships. The company’s longevity hinges on coupling long-term commitments with responses to market changes.

Ascent Capital & Monitronics Talk Security Networks Acquisition

Thu, 11 Jul 2013 14:29:00 -0400

Ascent Capital Group announced that its primary operating subsidiary, Monitronics International Inc., established a deal to acquire Security Networks for a total transaction price of $507.5 million.

SDM’s Dealer of the Year Makes Largest Acquisition to Date

Thu, 10 Jan 2013 13:29:47 -0500

Protection 1, Chicago, acquired Vintage Security, Washington, D.C. The new addition is the largest acquisition in Protection 1’s history.

Dealer of the Year Honoree: Master of Sustained Growth

Mon, 17 Dec 2012 09:30:00 -0500

Steady and rapid growth in the dealer program market, like the kind Security Networks, SDM’s 2012 Dealer of the Year Honoree, has had in recent years requires more than a good marketing program or exciting services. Security Networks, West Palm Beach, Fla., prides itself on an average of 40 percent growth year-over-year for the past eight years, its president, Richard Perry, tells SDM.

Small Steps, Big Results

Thu, 13 Dec 2012 13:35:00 -0500

Transformation is rarely instantaneous. It generally starts with one small initial change — repeated over and over. For Protection 1, small changes in every area of the company have produced remarkable transformation, resulting in a year deserving of the SDM 2012 Dealer of the Year award.

Protection 1’s Targeted Transformation Earns Dealer of the Year Award

Thu, 06 Dec 2012 13:31:00 -0500

Talk to a Protection 1 employee and there is a palpable energy that radiates outward about their job, the company and the customer. Chicago-based Protection 1, has always contained a deep-rooted love for the customer. But while employees embraced the concept, the execution was missing, as Protection 1 experienced declining growth for seven consecutive years.

Take a Closer Look

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 15:38:00 -0500

Vivint has had a disputed ride to its place as the No. 4 company in the industry on the SDM 100, but its bold “first adopter” attitude of new technologies is helping make security a “Best Buy” and opening new growth — and that needs to be recognized.

Pushes Boundaries

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 10:06:00 -0500

Vivint Inc., Provo, Utah, is not a security company. Well it is, but it isn’t. On the one hand, it sells security systems and is the No. 4 security company on the SDM 100, so some people call it a security company. On the other hand, it also offers a full line of home automation services, leading others to call it a home automation company. Confused?

Master of The Value Add

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 01:08:00 -0500

There is value in reliability. There is value in new technologies. There is value in services that make life easier. There is value in quality customer service. There is a whole list of ways that Security Networks, West Palm Beach, Fla., continues to provide value for its affiliate dealers and the end users the affiliates serve.

Success From The Inside Out

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 00:12:00 -0500

Every year, Protection 1 sets an internal theme. In 2011, the theme was “Unstoppable,” which evolved from a paraphrase of a Thomas Edison quote that says, “If we all did the things we are capable of doing, we would literally astound ourselves,” describes Jamie Haenggi, chief marketing officer, Protection 1, Romeoville, Ill.

Carmageddon vs. Carmaheaven

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 12:45:00 -0400

Planning and communication took L.A.’s “Carmageddon” from a potentially disastrous main event to a successful non-event. The security industry does the same thing every day.

2010 SDM Dealer of the Year: Strength in Connection

Wed, 01 Dec 2010 13:15:00 -0500

When The Protection Bureau saw the recession coming, it decided on what some would call a risky course of action. The company chose to use an offensive — not defensive — growth strategy, expanding its offerings and growing its customer service department. It proactively connected with its current clients through a new Client Care Department and a company-wide, downright fanatical focus on customer satisfaction and intentional interaction.