LENEXA, KANSAS—April 24, 2012—Atronic Alarms, Inc., one of the leading security, fire and home automation systems providers in Kansas, has marked its 30th year in business.
Founded in 1982 by Perry D. Atha, a fourth-generation Kansas City resident, the company has grown from a small local alarm provider to one of the largest security integrators in the region, employing 31 staffers and serving thousands of commercial and residential customers.
“This incredible milestone never could have been realized without the dedication of our amazing employees,” Mr. Atha said. “Their hard work and professionalism have helped us grow into one of the most respected and forward-thinking companies in the industry.”
Looking ahead, Mr. Atha sees a variety of opportunities for the company he began three decades ago. “While the struggling economy has created challenges for us in the consumer market, we have offset that through increased demand for our customized commercial solutions, such as utilizing video analytics to monitor power stations, indoor retail spaces and outdoor equipment lots.”
He notes that Atronic is at the forefront of the implementation of fully integrated, applications that allow clients to remotely manage their systems through their mobile phones, tablets and desktop computers.
Atronic Alarms is the recipient of numerous industry awards, including a 2004 “Dealer of the Year” award by SDM Magazine, as well as a 2010 “Best Companies to Work For” by Ingram’s magazine. The company also has been recognized for its assistance in protecting abuse victims through its work with the non-profit Kansas City Domestic Violence Protection Services Agency.
“We look forward to many more decades of serving our community, protecting our clients and fostering a great work environment for our employees,” Atha said.
Friday, June 1, 2012
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Meet Four New Representatives of Atronic Alarms
Atronic Alarms is proud to introduce four new employees who have joined the family this year.
Collett Albright joined the company with over 30 years of experience in the security industry and works with clients to set up their monitoring service.
"I knew there were good people at Atronic who cared about quality and customer service. Those qualities are important to me," she said.
She replaced Chrissy Wyble, who worked as the company's monitoring coordinator for the past seven years and who chose a new career closer to her home.
Jane McIntyre recently moved into the accounting department to work with invoicing, billing and other records. Native of Kentucky, she has lived in Kansas City for 18 years.
"What attracted me to Atronic was definitely the people. They genuinely care and strive to provide exceptional customer service," she said.
Jane brings over 14 years of management experience to Atronic Alarms.
Jim Smith was hired to assist in the service department and brings 12 years of industry experience to the company. He says he "loves his job" and looks forward to being a part of a company who treats you like a person and not just a number.
"I was searching for a company that was well established and growing. I am happy to have found a company that actually provides exceptional customer service and treats its employees well," Jim said.
Ryan Elder joined the installation department and holds certifications from Wichita Technical Institute in Networks+ and A+. His hobbies include ninja training and video gaming when he isn't buried "in Legos, baby dolls or laundry."
"I was drawn to Atronic because they value their employees as much as their customers," he said.
 |
| Collett Albright |
"I knew there were good people at Atronic who cared about quality and customer service. Those qualities are important to me," she said.
She replaced Chrissy Wyble, who worked as the company's monitoring coordinator for the past seven years and who chose a new career closer to her home.
 |
| Jane McIntyre |
"What attracted me to Atronic was definitely the people. They genuinely care and strive to provide exceptional customer service," she said.
Jane brings over 14 years of management experience to Atronic Alarms.
 |
| Jim Smith |
"I was searching for a company that was well established and growing. I am happy to have found a company that actually provides exceptional customer service and treats its employees well," Jim said.
 |
| Ryan Elder |
"I was drawn to Atronic because they value their employees as much as their customers," he said.
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Useful Items for Spring's Volatile Weather
Usually when the snows are melting and the spring rains set in, basements, wine cellars or other low lying areas are prone to flooding. Over the years water bugs have saved our clients thousands of dollars in water damage, and in some cases insurance companies will offer discounts if this device is part of your monitored security system.
And here's the good news: Your monitoring with Atronic Alarms will not increase.
Another item we thought was interesting to note can help relay information to you during a tornado warning or other violent storm. Rick Zink, one of the commercial design consultants at Atronic Alarms, said that last year his daughter huddled in a stairway with other coworkers when the tornado warning sirens went off in Overland Park. They sat in the stairwell for a very long time, not knowing when it was safe to come out. After that, Rick took it upon himself to find a radio App for cell phones that would broadcast local information. He choose TuneIn Radio Pro which can be downloaded to your iPhone, iPod or iPad as can also be found on the Android Market. He said that with the TuneIn Radio App you can listen to any station in the world.
Atronic Alarms can also provide tornado warning security applications for commercial buildings by installing a mushroom button (not mushroom cloud) near the reception area that, when pushed, will sound a siren with a recorded message alerting people in the building to head to safety.
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Happy Birthday Leap Day Babies
The last time we saw a February 29 was in 2008 and before that is was 2004. A leap year usually occurs every 4 years, but why?
It has to do with the difference between a solar year and the annual calendar, which were meant to match up. However, the solar year is a bit longer . . . 5 hours, 48 minutes and 46 seconds, to be exact. That little bit add up each year, and over the course of a century, the difference between the solar year and the calendar year would be 25 days.
It was the Egyptians who were the first to come up with the idea of adding a leap day once every four years and then the Romans followed suit, resulting in Julius Caesar to introduce leap year by adding one day to the last month of the calendar year (February). In 1582, to confuse things a bit more, a slight adjustment was made which omitted leap year three times every 400 years. So if a century year is evenly divisible by 400 it is not a leap year.
This still doesn't stop life from happening on February 29, however, much to the frustration of a few software and Internet giants who didn't account for leap days when developing their product. Microsoft's Excel and Google's Blogger still have some glitches as a result of leap years.
Some people see it as a gift, where people are given one day extra to celebrate life. Some leapers, or people who have birthdays on the 29th, might see it as an opportunity to be able to pick their birthday each year: February 28 or March 1? Others may see it as the time to make or revisit their bucket list.
We are seeing it as an opportunity to pay special tribute to the just under 5 million "leapers" in the world. Having a birthday every four to eight years may keep you young enough but wouldn't be a lot of fun, so we wish all of you a big Happy Birthday. Live it large.
Sources:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/22/leap-year-2012-what-will-_n_1293857.html
http://www.infoplease.com/spot/leapyear2.html
http://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/6494541/The-trouble-with-leap-year-birthdays
It has to do with the difference between a solar year and the annual calendar, which were meant to match up. However, the solar year is a bit longer . . . 5 hours, 48 minutes and 46 seconds, to be exact. That little bit add up each year, and over the course of a century, the difference between the solar year and the calendar year would be 25 days.
It was the Egyptians who were the first to come up with the idea of adding a leap day once every four years and then the Romans followed suit, resulting in Julius Caesar to introduce leap year by adding one day to the last month of the calendar year (February). In 1582, to confuse things a bit more, a slight adjustment was made which omitted leap year three times every 400 years. So if a century year is evenly divisible by 400 it is not a leap year.
This still doesn't stop life from happening on February 29, however, much to the frustration of a few software and Internet giants who didn't account for leap days when developing their product. Microsoft's Excel and Google's Blogger still have some glitches as a result of leap years.
Some people see it as a gift, where people are given one day extra to celebrate life. Some leapers, or people who have birthdays on the 29th, might see it as an opportunity to be able to pick their birthday each year: February 28 or March 1? Others may see it as the time to make or revisit their bucket list.
We are seeing it as an opportunity to pay special tribute to the just under 5 million "leapers" in the world. Having a birthday every four to eight years may keep you young enough but wouldn't be a lot of fun, so we wish all of you a big Happy Birthday. Live it large.
Sources:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/22/leap-year-2012-what-will-_n_1293857.html
http://www.infoplease.com/spot/leapyear2.html
http://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/6494541/The-trouble-with-leap-year-birthdays
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Door-to-Door Scammers and Unethical Businesses
We've written about this topic before and think it is important to revisit it again. Unfortunately, in all industries there are people who engage in unethical business practices. How do consumers know who to trust?
The video below shows a couple in the Missouri area who were unsure of this particular alarm company's sales pitch but who were still talked into signing a contract, leaving them without security system for several days.
If you are approached by another alarm company who is wanting to "upgrade" your system, provide you with a "cheaper" monitoring service, or who says they've merged with your existing alarm provider, call your existing alarm provider first before you make any decisions. Most reputable companies who have purchased or merged with other businesses will send clients letters explaining the acquisition.
In all industries, ask for references and go online to the Better Business Bureau (BBB) or contact them directly at 816-421-7800 (Kansas City's BBB) to check the company's ratings. Also, look for any unresolved complaints. The BBB will drop a business's rating if there are complaints that have not been resolved in an appropriate fashion (if a company does not respond to a complaint or shows no effort to work with the client.)
Protect yourself with knowledge and don't be embarrassed to ask questions. If you are confused by what a fast talking "salesperson" is telling you, ask them to leave or walk away. You can always call them back later if you have conducted thorough research and are satisfied that they are trustworthy.
The video below shows a couple in the Missouri area who were unsure of this particular alarm company's sales pitch but who were still talked into signing a contract, leaving them without security system for several days.
If you are approached by another alarm company who is wanting to "upgrade" your system, provide you with a "cheaper" monitoring service, or who says they've merged with your existing alarm provider, call your existing alarm provider first before you make any decisions. Most reputable companies who have purchased or merged with other businesses will send clients letters explaining the acquisition.
In all industries, ask for references and go online to the Better Business Bureau (BBB) or contact them directly at 816-421-7800 (Kansas City's BBB) to check the company's ratings. Also, look for any unresolved complaints. The BBB will drop a business's rating if there are complaints that have not been resolved in an appropriate fashion (if a company does not respond to a complaint or shows no effort to work with the client.)
Protect yourself with knowledge and don't be embarrassed to ask questions. If you are confused by what a fast talking "salesperson" is telling you, ask them to leave or walk away. You can always call them back later if you have conducted thorough research and are satisfied that they are trustworthy.
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Atronic Alarms Case Study: Construction Company Seeks Solution to False Alarms
What do you do when your company has a problem with false alarms? You re-evaluate your security system. That
is what JE Dunn Construction, Kansas City's very own national
construction company, did when they began experiencing multiple false
alarms with their preexisting beam intrusion system. False alarms were
occurring due to a combination of prairie grass or trash blowing through
the infrared beams, animals moving through the yard or the employees
setting items in a beam’s path.
Something different had to be done. So Atronic Alarms' design consultants Wes Cowsert and Rick Zink buckled in to come up with an ultimate solution. They wanted to build a sophisticated system that would center around motion activity with video verification and yet integrate into entry access so employees could easily arm and disarm.
Utilizing Honeywell outdoor wireless motion sensors, Panasonic PTZ cameras, a Panasonic NVR, the Honeywell Security and Fire control panel, the Bosch Easy Access Controller and Honeywell's Total Connect system, Wes and Rick custom design an integrated system that created a "cause and effect" that as a device was tripped, a live video feed would stream to the monitoring station. Monitoring personnel would determine if an intruder had entered the perimeter and whether proper authorities should be called.
With the Honeywell’s Total Connect service, authorized personnel can also access the system through any web-enable device, like a smart phone or iPad, and arm or disarm the system, open the gate or view a history of activity. Employees could also view cameras through the phone app, IP Cam View, as well as through a web browser on a desktop.
When finalized, both JE Dunn Logistic’s facilities were properly equipped to allow employees to check in on the status of the location 24 hours a day and provide video monitoring verification which eliminated their false alarms.
Something different had to be done. So Atronic Alarms' design consultants Wes Cowsert and Rick Zink buckled in to come up with an ultimate solution. They wanted to build a sophisticated system that would center around motion activity with video verification and yet integrate into entry access so employees could easily arm and disarm.
 |
| Most
companies with large lots need surveillance to help keep out intruders. Video monitoring and remote verification provides the economical solution to prevent loss and eliminate false alarms. |
Utilizing Honeywell outdoor wireless motion sensors, Panasonic PTZ cameras, a Panasonic NVR, the Honeywell Security and Fire control panel, the Bosch Easy Access Controller and Honeywell's Total Connect system, Wes and Rick custom design an integrated system that created a "cause and effect" that as a device was tripped, a live video feed would stream to the monitoring station. Monitoring personnel would determine if an intruder had entered the perimeter and whether proper authorities should be called.
With the Honeywell’s Total Connect service, authorized personnel can also access the system through any web-enable device, like a smart phone or iPad, and arm or disarm the system, open the gate or view a history of activity. Employees could also view cameras through the phone app, IP Cam View, as well as through a web browser on a desktop.
When finalized, both JE Dunn Logistic’s facilities were properly equipped to allow employees to check in on the status of the location 24 hours a day and provide video monitoring verification which eliminated their false alarms.
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Access Control Systems for Your Business
Monitoring and restricting entry into certain areas of your building helps you manage your business more safely and efficiently. Access control is usually known as "keyless" entry because you provide keyfobs or cards to people, not keys. To enter / exit an area, the access control reader "reads" your keyfob or card and the door unlocks. You can also use it to open and close warehouse gates.
Access control systems are usually the second layer of security and are perfect for:
• Retail Shopping Centers
• Schools and Campuses
• Hospitals
• Daycare Facilities
• Warehouse/Manufacturing Plants
• Restaurants
• Businesses
It is also perfect for restricted access into certain areas of the building, like file rooms, IT rooms or other areas of sensitivity.
Keyfobs or cards can be managed electronically through a web-based program allowing you remote access at any time. Adding or removing people to the system is far less expensive then re-keying a door if one of your employees loses a key. (It is also easier than fumbling around for keys or remembering different security codes.)
At the end of the day you can get a list of people who entered and exited different areas of the building and the time of day it was recorded. You can also receive these notifications on your web-enabled smart phone.
Atronic Alarms has many different solutions for access control depending upon the application. Contact the office for more information at 913.362.0000.
 |
| Alysia LaRock, marketing and sales assistant for Atronic Alarms, Inc.,
presents her card to the reader to unlock the back door to the office. Photo by Rick Zink, commercial security consultant. |
• Retail Shopping Centers
• Schools and Campuses
• Hospitals
• Daycare Facilities
• Warehouse/Manufacturing Plants
• Restaurants
• Businesses
It is also perfect for restricted access into certain areas of the building, like file rooms, IT rooms or other areas of sensitivity.
Keyfobs or cards can be managed electronically through a web-based program allowing you remote access at any time. Adding or removing people to the system is far less expensive then re-keying a door if one of your employees loses a key. (It is also easier than fumbling around for keys or remembering different security codes.)
At the end of the day you can get a list of people who entered and exited different areas of the building and the time of day it was recorded. You can also receive these notifications on your web-enabled smart phone.
Atronic Alarms has many different solutions for access control depending upon the application. Contact the office for more information at 913.362.0000.
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