The Connection Magazine AIM MUTUAL Spring 2020 | Page 28

POLICYHOLDER SPOTLIGHT American Alarm And Communications: Where Security Comes First Left to Right: Wells Sampson , President Louis Sampson, CFO WHEN THE priority alarm pops up on the screen, it’s highlighted in red to distinguish it from routine signals in the queue. It could be a fire, a burglary in progress, elevated levels of the deadly gas carbon monoxide, or a panic button activation from a bank in the midst of an armed robbery. In a matter of seconds, American Alarm monitoring center operators grab the signal, evaluate the alarm, and take action. “We respond to priority alarms in 20 seconds or less, on average,” said Wells Sampson, president of American Alarm. “Response time is an essential metric we track daily, because it’s the combination of secure technology and rapid human response that provides best-in-class security.” American Alarm and Communications was established in 1971 by three engineers who met at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Among the founders was Richard “Dick” Sampson, who would eventually take control of the company and remains chairman of the board nearly 50 years later. Day-to-day leadership of the company has passed to the second generation of the Sampson family. The company now has 270 employees at six locations in New England—four in Massachusetts, one in Rhode Island, and another in New Hampshire. American Alarm systems protect more than 32,000 homes, businesses, institutions, and government buildings in the region. Their team includes more than 100 licensed systems technicians on the road every day. Unlike most security companies, American Alarm maintains its own 28