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As we close out the year, I find myself incredibly grateful for this association and energized by the momentum we’re building together. November is always a time to reflect, to appreciate the people around us, and to set our sights on what’s next—and OSFAA has a lot to be proud of this year! We have gone through tremendous change and growth and it is a great time to be involved with our association! First, thank you to everyone who joined us for the Annual Meeting on November 13th. What an amazing event! The turnout, the conversations, the shared ideas, and the genuine commitment to our industry made the day a true highlight of the year! It was inspiring to see so many familiar faces, welcome new ones, and feel the strength of OSFAA in the room. |
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Events like this remind me why this association is so important! We are constantly learning together, solving problems, and supporting each other as professionals. While we’re incredibly proud of what we’ve accomplished in 2025, I’m even more excited about where we’re heading. We are really looking forward to 2026—a year full of opportunity, growth, and new ways to serve you. The pace of change in our industry isn’t slowing down, and OSFAA is committed to staying ahead of it with training, resources, and practical support that helps your teams thrive.
One of the most important ways we can help you next year is through providing education to help you onboard and train your team. If you’re bringing new technicians into your organization, or developing the talent you already have, OSFAA is ready to partner with you. Our assessment tests give you a clear view of skill levels and training needs. Our incredible training courses are built to strengthen real-world performance, not just check a box. And our bundled training packages make it easy and cost-effective to map out a full learning path for your team.
I encourage you to take advantage of these tools. Let OSFAA help you build confident, capable technicians and leaders, because the stronger your team is, the stronger our entire industry becomes.
Thank you again for your support, your involvement, and your trust in OSFAA. I’m proud to serve as your President, and I can’t wait to keep building something great with you in 2026! Sincerely,
Keri-Ann Kalavity
President, OSFAA
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| Happy Thanksgiving, OSFAA family!
As we gather with friends and loved ones this Thanksgiving, we want to take a moment to say how truly grateful we are for each of you. OSFAA is more than an association—it’s a community of professionals who show up every day to protect lives, property, and peace of mind across Ohio. That work matters, and so do the people behind it. Thank you for your commitment to excellence, your support of one another, and the pride you take in advancing our industry. Whether you’ve been a member of OSFAA for years or you’ve just joined us this season, you are an important part of what makes this association strong! We hope your holiday is filled with rest, good food, and the kind of moments that remind you what you’re working for. Enjoy the time with those you care about, and know that OSFAA is thankful for you—today and every day! |
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OSFAA's All-New Online Training powered by Alarm Academy is Live! The Freshest Industry Content, Affordable Courses, and
Career-Boosting Education for Security & Life Safety Professionals |
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Executive Director's Corner |
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Shannon Few
OSFAA - Executive Director |
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Engage!
Coming out of our Annual Meeting, I’ve been reflecting on just how much momentum we’re carrying into the months ahead. With nearly 80 industry professionals in the room, a full day of high-impact education, and thoughtful conversations happening in every corner of the event, it was the kind of meeting that reminds you why OSFAA exists in the first place: to make each of us stronger through shared knowledge, shared standards, and shared purpose. |
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But let me say this clearly, events like the Annual Meeting are only part of the value of OSFAA!
The real power of this association is what happens when you engage year-round, with the people in it. When you lean into OSFAA, you’re not just attending a meeting. You’re tapping into a network of fellow business owners, managers, technicians, and industry partners who understand your challenges and are willing to share what works. That kind of community becomes a competitive advantage. It helps you solve problems faster, train smarter, and stay ahead of change instead of reacting to it.
If you were at the Annual Meeting, I encourage you to keep the momentum going: -
Reach out to someone you met and continue the conversation.
- Bring your team into OSFAA training and assessments.
- Use our resources to strengthen onboarding, compliance habits, sales systems, and long-term service strategies.
If you aren’t currently a member, I want to personally invite you to join us now! There’s no better time. The industry is evolving quickly. Hiring, training, retention, customer expectations, and technology shifts are impacting every company, large or small. OSFAA is built to help you navigate that reality with practical tools and real support. Membership connects you to: - High value peer networking and best practice sharing that you can rely on when you need a solution, not a sales pitch
- OSFAA's Online Training & Workforce Development tools including:
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Assessment tests that clarify training needs and skill levels
- Incredible training courses designed for real field performance
- Bundled learning packages that make onboarding and development easy and cost-effective
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Workforce development toolkit
Whether you’ve been with OSFAA for years or are considering joining for the first time, I want you to know this, you belong here! This association gets stronger with every engaged member, and the benefits come back to you in measurable ways through stronger teams, better systems, and a more connected industry.
Thank you for the work you do every day to protect Ohio communities. And thank you for helping OSFAA remain a resource you can count on.
Let’s keep building on what we started November 13 and head into 2026 stronger than ever! Kind Regard,
Shannon Few |
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OSFAA 2025 Annual Meeting Recap! |
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The OSFAA Annual Meeting on November 13 was an incredible day for our association and our industry. With nearly 80 security and fire life-safety professionals in attendance, the meeting delivered exactly what OSFAA events are all about: real-world education, meaningful connection, and takeaways members can put to work immediately. The energy in the room was high from start to finish, and we’re already hearing from attendees who are implementing ideas from the day into their operations, training plans, and growth strategies.
Here’s a look back at our packed schedule and the value each session brought: - 8:30 AM – 9:00 AM | Check-In
The day kicked off with a strong turnout and a great buzz as members connected, visited with sponsors, and set the tone for a collaborative and productive meeting! -
9:00 AM – 9:45 AM | “AI & Your Business — Are You As Efficient As Your Competitors? presented by Shannon Few was a timely and eye-opening session focused on practical ways AI is already reshaping efficiency, with a particular focus on back-office workflows. Many attendees noted this session sparked new ideas for streamlining processes and staying competitive.
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9:45 AM – 10:00 AM | Sponsor Presentations
A quick but valuable spotlight on the companies supporting OSFAA and the tools and services helping members grow stronger businesses. - 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM | Keynote Session: The Big Beautiful Bill presented by Mitch Reitman
Mitch delivered a standout keynote filled with industry perspective on how changes implemented through the Big Beautiful Bill will impact member's businesses. This was a clear highlight of the morning and sparked great follow-up conversations throughout the day. - 11:00 AM – 11:30 AM | Power Connections
Members leaned into networking with purpose—sharing challenges, trading solutions, and building relationships - 11:30 AM – 12:45 PM | General Membership Meeting, Sponsor Presentations & Lunch
Over lunch, members engaged in OSFAA updates, the General Election where we elected our Board of Directors, and continued sponsor interaction - 12:45 PM – 1:30 PM | RMR Power Play: Turning Inspections, Service & Technology into Long-Term Value presented by Robert Few
This session delivered strong takeaways on building recurring value through inspections, service agreements, and technology-driven customer retention. Members left with clear strategies for strengthening RMR and protecting margins. -
1:30 PM – 2:15 PM | Building a Path to Success: How to Develop Your Technicians from Level 1 to Senior Lead Technician presented by Shannon Few
A detailed, practical framework for technician development and structured onboarding. Attendees appreciated the step-by-step progression approach, KPIs for each level, especially as hiring and retention continue to be top priorities for member companies. - 2:15 PM – 3:00 PM | Systematize Your Sales Engine presented by Gretchen Gordon
A powerful closing educational session focused on sales consistency, pipeline management, and building repeatable systems that empower teams. Members walked away with approaches they can apply immediately to improve close rates and sustain growth. - 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM | Topgolf Gameplay & Time with Sponsors
The perfect end to a full day that wrapped up with fun, relaxed networking, and continued sponsor engagement. The conversations and camaraderie during Topgolf underscored what makes OSFAA events so valuable!
Across the day, several clear themes stood out: - Efficiency and competitive advantage through AI and systems
- How staying informed on important tax code changes and working with a tax professional that understands our industry is critical to your bottom line
- Growing long-term value through RMR-focused service strategies
- Building stronger teams with structured onboarding and technician development
- Sales effectiveness through repeatable, trackable processes
- The power of connection and shared experience within OSFAA
Thank you to everyone who attended, our speakers for delivering top-tier education, and our sponsors for their support and partnership. This Annual Meeting was a strong reminder that OSFAA is back and better than ever! |
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Special Thanks to Our Sponsors!!! |
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Workforce Development Tool Kit Now Available! |
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Once you’re logged in to the OSFAA website, visit the Member Resource Center to explore the Workforce Development Toolkit. It’s your go-to resource for recruiting, qualifying, hiring, and retaining great talent. Contact us if you need any assistance logging in! |
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"New home sales are in a holding pattern
The central question facing many prospective homebuyers today is one of timing and confidence: Is now the right time to buy? For many, the answer appears to be “maybe not.” New home sales were largely flat month-over-month and year-over-year in October, reflecting a market where consumers want, or even need, to buy, but are waiting to see how conditions evolve.
This leads to an equally important question for the housing industry: What conditions will give consumers enough confidence to jump back into the market? The answer comes down to some degree of stability across three categories: the job market, mortgage rates, and prices, along with a meaningful improvement in housing affordability.
'The holding pattern we are seeing today from prospective buyers is tied to economic anxieties and the job market,' said Ali Wolf, chief economist for Zonda and NewHomeSource. 'While this makes for a tricky backdrop today, demographics and deferrals provide a nice setup to a stronger market once macro factors stabilize and consumer confidence returns.'" |
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Special Thanks to Our Premier Partners!!! |
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