Alarm Dealers Association

The Alarm Dealers Association (ADA) consists of a small group of medium-sized independent alarm dealers dedicated to providing the best possible alarm service to our customers. It is our philosophy that if we focus on this objective, then through prudent management we can build and maintain a profitable business that gives us a fair return on our investment.

ADA is a vehicle through which we can help achieve this objective by sharing on a confidential basis our successes and failures. This is done through two structured meetings a year, supplemented by informal discussions in person or by phone whenever any one of us wishes to seek advice from our peers. Because we have no more than one member from any given market area, we feel free to have open and frank discussions without concern that this will get into the hands of our competitors.

Benefits of Belonging to ADA

Opportunity to seek advice from fellow non-competing members on how to provide better service to our customers, on how to improve the operation of our company, and to solve problems that we would not normally confide in with our competitors.

Opportunity to compare detailed financial data with our peers to help improve the fiscal health of our company.

Opportunity to participate in discount purchasing programs that can offset the cost of dues.

Opportunity to meet once a year at a nice resort with our families to share information and spend quality time with our families.

How ADA Came About

Westinghouse Security Systems, Inc. (WSSI), then a subsidiary of Westinghouse Electric, introduced a highly sophisticated home security system to the marketplace in 1970. They set up a network of independent dealers across the nation. ADA is the outgrowth of this group, which started meeting on an informal basis circa 1972 to work with Westinghouse on product planning, marketing techniques, and contract negotiations. Shortly thereafter they incorporated under the name of Alarm Distributors Association. Westinghouse sold WSSI to their Southern California Dealer around 1980, and they changed the name to Westec. Over the ensuing years some of the dealers left ADA and were gradually replaced with independent dealers carrying other brands of alarm products. To better reflect the nature of our members, the middle word of ADA was changed from "Distributors" to "Dealers", hence our current name - Alarm Dealers Association.

Member Profile

The company must be in the business of installing, servicing, and monitoring alarm systems within the United States or Canada.

The company must not be operating in overlapping geographic areas of other ADA members.

The owner must be willing to openly share information about their company with other ADA owners and their key management personnel.

The companies that benefit the most are those with total sales of $1 million to $5 million per year.

The company must have integrity.

The owner and other company personnel who receive confidential information on other ADA members, must not disclose this information to anyone else.

The owner must be someone with whom the other ADA owners feel comfortable, and who will feel comfortable with the other ADA owners.

What is Expected of our Members. The main expectation of our members is their willingness to share information on a confidential basis. From time to time they may be called upon to serve on the Board of Directors or on a committee. We would hope that they would serve if they have the time and motivation. And, of course, we would expect them to live up to the high standards of an ethical alarm company.

Meetings. The annual General Meeting is held at a nice resort, generally in mid-winter, so that we can spend some quality time with our family.  The meetings last 4 or 5 days, and focus on sharing information, with an occasional outside speaker. Just prior to the general meeting, we have more of a workshop type of meeting lasting 1 or 2 days where we analyze each other's financials in great detail to see how we can improve the health of our companies. While attendance to these meetings is not mandatory, over the past years about two-thirds to three-quarters of our members have attended because of the tremendous value they get from them, coupled with an opportunity to get to know each other better.    In addition, we have occasional meetings for our Sales Managers, Operations Managers, and Central Station Managers, organized and run by the department heads.  They range from informal get-togethers to highly structured meetings.  

For Further Information. Because we are looking at only a select few potential members for our association who we believe would feel comfortable with our unique group, most of our members come from strong referrals from our existing members. If you should be approached by one of our members, you may want to learn more about us before applying for membership. You can check our basic Web site at www.alarm-dealers.com, or you can contact Kit Vail, our Executive Director, at

Alarm Dealers Association
3052 Forest Lane
Minnetonka, MN 55305
Phone: (952) 930-9256
E-mail:  KVail719@aol.com