The Monitoring Association’s (TMA) President Steve Butkovich honored four of TMA’s long-serving volunteers for their impactful contributions to TMA’s ASAP service with the 2024 Mel Mahler Award, formerly known as the President’s Award on Oct. 9th at the 2024 Annual Meeting in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands.
Mel Mahler Award
The Mel Mahler Award is presented at the discretion of the TMA president in recognition of outstanding contributions within his/her tenure.
The 2024 Mel Mahler Award recipients are Bill Hobgood, CommSys Incorporated; Jennifer Holloway, CIBC Bank; Daniel Oppenheim, Affiliated Monitoring; and Pam Petrow, Vector Security.
Service adoption
Jennifer Holloway, managing director – market lead, Security Industry Group, CIBC Bank USA, was recognised
Jennifer Holloway, managing director – market lead, Security Industry Group, CIBC Bank USA, was recognised for her expert counsel and partnership in navigating a pathway forward for ASAP to achieve its full potential.
“You’ve collaborated with our leaders to develop a bold, strategic financial plan to ensure its long-term success. You’ve been a valued collaborator and ally, engaging and proactive in raising the funding required for technological enhancements and expansive service adoption,” commented Butkovich when presenting the award.
Life-saving initiative
“I am deeply honoured to receive the Mel Mahler award from TMA for my work on ASAP. I’m grateful to have an opportunity to contribute to this life-saving initiative. The progress made on ASAP to PSAP over the last year is a testament to the remarkable leadership of Steve Butkovich and the invaluable contributions of ASAP co-chairs Daniel Oppenheim and Pam Petrow."
"This award holds special meaning for me, as Mel was my client at CIBC Bank for many years, and I admired his unwavering commitment to the industry and TMA.”
Service quality
Attention to Oppenheim’s uncompromising vision, fierce determination, and passion for ASAP
When awarding the Mel Mahler Award to Daniel Oppenheim, CEO of Affiliated Monitoring, President Butkovich called attention to Oppenheim’s uncompromising vision, fierce determination, and intense passion for ASAP, noting he’d been a pivotal, driving force for change and growth.
“You’ve worked tirelessly in pursuit of excellence at every turn. Under your leadership, ASAP has set a course to achieve heightened levels of service quality and accelerated expansion and adoption. Through your unwavering efforts, more lives will be saved in communities nationwide. TMA is indebted to you,” stated President Butkovich.
Commitment to ASAP
Pam Petrow, president and CEO of Vector Security, was recognised for his uncompromising leadership and unmatched depth of commitment to ASAP since its inception almost two decades ago.
“You’ve invested countless hours to ensure the successful implementation and operation of the ASAP service. You’ve established strong, positive, productive partnerships across all ASAP stakeholder communities," President Butkovich emphasised when presenting the award.
Role in the future
"You not only laid the foundation upon which ASAP is built, but you’ve also played a crucial role in defining its future,” added Butkovich.
“It is truly an honour to receive the Mel Mahler Award. It has been a privilege working with Daniel and Jennifer to create and implement the next generation ASAP initiative,” said Petrow.
Appreciation to Bill
President Butkovich expressed his sincere appreciation to Bill, who was the lead ASAP implementer since ASAP’s beginning
When presenting the 2024 Mel Mahler Awards to Bill Hobgood, a consultant at CommSys Incorporated, President Butkovich expressed his sincere appreciation to Bill, who was the lead ASAP implementer since ASAP’s beginning, stating, “To many, you have been the face of ASAP."
"You’ve been on the front lines, working closely with ECCs and supporting monitoring centres in securing the necessary certifications. You’ve been a champion for the service at every step in its journey.”
Public-private partnership
“Receiving the Mel Mahler Award from TMA is an incredible honour and truly humbling experience. This award is a testament to the collective effort and support of my colleagues and loved ones who have been instrumental in my journey with the ASAP programme since 2004,” shared Hobgood.
“I am profoundly grateful to TMA and President Butkovich for this recognition. It inspires me to continue striving for innovation and excellence in our public-private partnership surrounding the ASAP programme.”
