Monitronics CEO Continues to Retool Executive Team

New Executives Include Chief Information Officer, Chief Marketing Officer and VP of Product Development

When Jeffery Gardner became President and CEO at Monitronics in September of 2015, he approached the position with a desire to make a quick impact. That’s why three of the biggest moves during his first six months have involved leadership positions, including a new Chief Information Officer, Chief Marketing Officer and Vice President of Product Management.

The most recent addition came on Feb. 15, when Cindy Nash joined Monitronics as CIO. Nash has more than 25 years of experience in the technology sector, most recently as Executive Vice President and CIO at Windstream Communications. Based in Little Rock, Ark., Windstream is a $6 billion provider of voice and data network communications for residential and commercial customers in 21 states.

Prior to Nash, Monitronics added Peter Tonti as Vice President of Product Management on Jan. 4. Tonti has more than 20 years of leadership and expertise in marketing, customer experience and strategic planning. Tonti was previously Vice President of Enterprise Product Marketing at Windstream.

Gardner’s first major Monitronics hire came in November 2015 when he selected Frank Guido as Chief Marketing Officer. Guido has more than 25 years of leadership experience in branding, agency management, digital marketing, advertising, and sales and operations at a number of Fortune 500 companies, including Windstream and Alltel.

The Windstream connection is no coincidence. Gardner knew all three from his tenure of nearly 10 years as President and CEO at Windstream, where they had not only been successful leaders, but trusted associates who shared Gardner’s vision for a successful business.

For Gardner, it was simple: You pick the best people. “The fact that they are three exceptional leaders who are among the most talented people I have worked with made the decision easy. It’s also important that they share my views on creating a great culture,” he said.

“I’ve always been a person who makes things happen, and I hire people who make things happen,” Gardner said. “With any new CEO, there are inevitably organizational changes that take place. We have an extremely talented team with deep industry experience, but adding Cindy, Frank and Peter will make us a stronger, fiercer competitor in our industry.”

Still, it’s natural to wonder how major executives from the telecommunications business ended up at one of the nation’s largest security companies.

“We have plenty of security expertise at the company today, so it was very purposeful that I was hired from the outside to bring a different perspective to Monitronics,” Gardner said. “I have experience leading very large companies that are recurring revenue businesses. I brought that here, along with a lot of dealer experience from telecommunications.”

After taking some time to learn about the company and the industry and the company, he soon discovered that it would be wise to continue adding that kind of experience to Monitronics’ upper management.

“There are a lot of similarities between the two industries,” Gardner said. “Wireless is a business where it’s important to take care of your customers, consistently drive lower attrition and always search for new ways to grow revenue. Marketing, technology and product development also play important roles in each industry, especially since our business model emphasizes both security and home automation. That’s why Cindy, Frank and Peter are a perfect fit with our mission and with our culture.”

Featured

  • Freedom of Choice

    In today's security landscape, we are witnessing a fundamental transformation in how organizations manage digital evidence. Law enforcement agencies, campus security teams, and large facility operators face increasingly complex challenges with expanding video data, tightening budget constraints and inflexible systems that limit innovation. Read Now

  • Accelerating a Pathway

    There is a new trend touting the transformational qualities of AI’s ability to deliver actionable data and predictive analysis that in many instances, seems to be a bit of an overpromise. The reality is that very few solutions in the cyber-physical security (CPS) space live up to this high expectation with the one exception being the new generation of Physical Identity and Access Management (PIAM) software – herein recategorized as PIAM+. Read Now

  • Protecting Your Zones

    It is game day. You can feel the crowd’s energy. In the parking lot. At the gate. In the stadium. On the concourse. Fans are eager to party. Food and merchandise vendors ready themselves for the rush. Read Now

  • Street Smarts

    The ongoing acceptance of AI and advanced data analytics has allowed surveillance camera technology to shift from being a tactical tool to a strategic business solution. Combining traditional surveillance technology with AI-based data-driven insights can streamline transportation systems, enhance traffic management, improve situational awareness, optimize resource allocation and streamline emergency response procedures. Read Now

  • Midtown Manhattan Shooting Kills 4, Including NYPD Officer

    Four people were killed, including a NYPD officer, in a midtown Manhattan shooting on Monday. That’s according to CNN. Read Now

New Products

  • Camden CM-221 Series Switches

    Camden CM-221 Series Switches

    Camden Door Controls is pleased to announce that, in response to soaring customer demand, it has expanded its range of ValueWave™ no-touch switches to include a narrow (slimline) version with manual override. This override button is designed to provide additional assurance that the request to exit switch will open a door, even if the no-touch sensor fails to operate. This new slimline switch also features a heavy gauge stainless steel faceplate, a red/green illuminated light ring, and is IP65 rated, making it ideal for indoor or outdoor use as part of an automatic door or access control system. ValueWave™ no-touch switches are designed for easy installation and trouble-free service in high traffic applications. In addition to this narrow version, the CM-221 & CM-222 Series switches are available in a range of other models with single and double gang heavy-gauge stainless steel faceplates and include illuminated light rings.

  • PE80 Series

    PE80 Series by SARGENT / ED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin

    ASSA ABLOY, a global leader in access solutions, has announced the launch of two next generation exit devices from long-standing leaders in the premium exit device market: the PE80 Series by SARGENT and the PED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin. These new exit devices boast industry-first features that are specifically designed to provide enhanced safety, security and convenience, setting new standards for exit solutions. The SARGENT PE80 and Corbin Russwin PED4000/PED5000 Series exit devices are engineered to meet the ever-evolving needs of modern buildings. Featuring the high strength, security and durability that ASSA ABLOY is known for, the new exit devices deliver several innovative, industry-first features in addition to elegant design finishes for every opening.

  • Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden Door Controls has relaunched its CV-7600 card readers in response to growing market demand for a more secure alternative to standard proximity credentials that can be easily cloned. CV-7600 readers support MIFARE DESFire EV1 & EV2 encryption technology credentials, making them virtually clone-proof and highly secure.