For almost 60 years, the locksmith community has looked to ALOA — its professional association — for educational programs and services. Now, with ALOA’s opening of the Aaron M. Fish Security Training Center, locksmiths from around the world will have unprecedented access to industry experts, instructor-led training classes and cutting-edge courses for those seeking certification and/or professional credentials.
It took two years to plan and build the new training center which was funded through corporate sponsorships. Of the five new classrooms designed and built at ALOA’s headquarters in Dallas, Texas, two of the largest classrooms were sponsored and professionally equipped by ASSA ABLOY.
“ALOA’s mission has always been to enhance the professionalism, education and ethics among locksmiths as well as those in related sectors of the physical security industry,” said former ALOA President Tom Demont, a member of the planning team. “But I think the new Aaron M. Fish Security Training Center will take ALOA to even greater heights. This is a major development and because of the generous support from ASSA ABLOY and others, our industry's future just got a whole lot brighter!”
Classes in the new center have started forming with the expectation that all classrooms will be utilized year-round. “That’s good news for ALOA and certainly bodes well for the locksmith community,” said Tom Kaika, president of ASSA ABLOY Americas High Security and Aftermarket Group. “ASSA ABLOY put a lot of time, effort and product into its two sponsored classrooms. Not only did we design our classrooms for practical hands-on learning, we developed large product displays so that students can touch working models from our brand platforms and see the latest technology in action.”
ASSA ABLOY’s product displays feature the best of Arrow Lock, Medeco, Securitron, HES, Adams Rite, ASSA Inc., ABLOY, Mul-T-Lock, Norton, and Yale. The solutions displays add Pemko, McKinney, Markar, SARGENT and Corbin Russwin. The displays also highlight Decorative Hardware, Accessories, Small Business/Multi-Family, and power over Ethernet (PoE) for Sustainable Design. There are even touchscreens that allow students to demo the ASSA ABLOY Americas University (AAAU) website and the Sustainability Calculator. All in all, it’s quite a set-up.
“Sponsoring the two classrooms and building out the product displays was a significant undertaking and investment,” noted Kaika. “However, as the global leader in door opening solutions, ASSA ABLOY is indebted to the locksmith community. We know that the best way to educate veteran locksmiths and those new to the business is by teaming up with ALOA. It’s a great partnership and the Aaron M. Fish Security Training Center is an outstanding opportunity to increase the effectiveness and productivity of locksmiths everywhere. Our goal is to help train a new generation of security professionals because we know it’s the best way to support ALOA and the industry’s future.”
Classroom sponsorship in the Aaron M. Fish Security Training Center is just one of many ways that ASSA ABLOY supports ALOA. The brands of ASSA ABLOY have been exhibitors and conference sponsors at the ALOA Annual Convention & Security Expo for more than 35 years and ASSA ABLOY has participated in ALOA Latino since 2013.
