Protection 1, the second-largest business and home security company in the U.S., has been recognized by leading industry publication SDM as Dealer of the Year for the unique ways the company has approached its business, the industry and the surrounding community over the last year. Launched over 30 years ago, the Dealer of the Year award program takes an in-depth look at major security dealers, and in this year’s annual analysis, Protection 1 outshined all others.

“Today the market strategies and operational practices Protection 1 has put in place are admirable for the impact they have on security industry professionals, end user customers and its communities alike,” said Heather Klotz-Young, Senior Editor at SDM Magazine, who was present at the announcement event at the Protection 1 call center in Wichita, Kansas on December 4, 2012. The Wichita event was broadcast on the Protection 1 intranet so all 65+ branches could view the surprise announcement live.

“We are honored to be acknowledged for this year’s work by receiving SDM’s Dealer of Year award,” said Protection 1 CEO Timothy J. Whall. “I want to thank the entire Protection 1 family. This is a proud moment for each and every one of our employees and an opportunity for them to be recognized for all of their hard work. Additionally, I’d like to thank our customers who are an extension of the P1 family – without them being our number one focus, this award would not be possible.”

Regarding Protection 1’s focus on the customer, Klotz-Young commented, “The changes in Protection 1’s culture, execution, services and infrastructure – all centered around the customer – have transformed it into an innovative, dynamic force.”

The Dealer of the Year goes to one company demonstrating unmistakable success, a high level of innovation, the use of industry best practices and notable growth and accomplishments in the security dealer industry. The winner was selected by SDM’s editorial staff, which individually reviews and scores entrants, then meets to compare scores and determine a winner. Among the many reasons SDM chose Protection 1 this year are:

National Account Growth

Protection 1 has achieved a 4.9 rating out of five in its national account satisfaction, maintains an A+ Better Business Bureau Rating, along with a 95.6 percent customer satisfaction overall from its customers. That satisfaction has translated to significant business growth. Protection 1 experienced a triple-digit increase in the national accounts sector for the second straight year.

Those statistics are likely the result of the company’s investment in people and technology. They have rolled out customer-centric national account services including: SiteView, which allows images of equipment installed at National Account locations to be stored on eSuite, Protection 1’s customer web portal; Equipment Inventory, which allows National Account customers to view reports of site equipment inventory and customized billing, enabling National Accounts to choose the billing templates that best fit their processes.

Expanded Offerings

This year Protection 1 introduced P1 Life, an all-inclusive service combining professionally monitored security with home automation to provide a more complete safety and security experience. The new product suite aims to protect and connect by enabling customers to control every aspect of their security system, including household functions such as temperature and lighting, through a smart phone, tablet or personal computer.

The company also partnered with I-View Now to enable cloud-based video services. The integration of the I-View Now technology enables receipt of alarm video – both pre- and post-alarm - in Protection 1’s security automation system by alarm center agents, as well as simultaneous delivery to customer mobile devices and event storage on the customer’s eSuite web-based account.

Growth through Acquisitions

Protection 1 has made available to its customers a more robust experience in terms of products and services through the acquisitions of Camtronic Security Integration, Integration Logistics and Suntera Security.

• Camtronic, a retail-focused security system integrator, gives Protection 1 a specialized focus in high-end video solutions geared towards National Account clients.
• Integration Logistics, known for its highly integrated solutions that include services in information technology, as well as voice/telephony services, added new integrated systems capabilities to Protection 1’s commercial and national account security offerings.
• Suntera Security, an IT-centric systems integrator, is a continuation of Protection 1’s effort to build out a true integrated systems division for today’s IT landscape.

Mike & Mike Campaign

Among Protection 1’s brand-building projects is a partnership with Mike Greenberg and Mike Golic of ESPN Radio’s “Mike & Mike in the Morning.” Protection 1 shot a TV commercial with Greenberg, and the company’s ads have been featured on radio broadcasts since the spring.

Growth from Within

Protection 1 invests heavily in its people across the company. All managers from every branch attended training at the company headquarters in Romeoville to get aligned on the P1 story as well as the execution and accountability strategies. Additionally, the acclaimed management trainee program grew into two separate divisions, welcoming a commercial sales-centered program for recent college graduates.

About Protection 1

Protection 1, the second-largest business and home security company in the United States, provides installation, maintenance, and monitoring of single-family home security systems, business security systems and multifamily security systems. The company’s relentless focus on customer service has resulted in the removal of their automated phone attendant, the introduction of the Tech Tracker^sm service and the ability to provide same-day service in most cases. Protection 1 is also the nation's largest provider of wholesale monitoring services, through its CMS division, and the leading provider of multifamily security systems installation, maintenance and monitoring through its Network Multifamily division. Protection 1, which serves over one million customers and employs more than 2,500 people in more than 60 locations across the country, has a 95% Customer Satisfaction rating and an A+ Better Business Bureau Rating. For more information about Protection 1, visit www.Protection1.com.