TargetSolutions is committed to delivering the most powerful online training and records management system possible so its clients can easily achieve compliance, increase operational efficiency and reduce costs. The more emergency responders the company can help achieve those goals, the better.
That’s why it made perfect sense six years ago to team up with Global Risk Innovations.
“We feel strongly about our mission of providing innovative technology solutions to public safety officials everywhere,” said TargetSolutions’ CEO Jon Handy. “By partnering with GRI, we have the opportunity to expand our reach with a company that truly shares our beliefs about operating with integrity and serving the markets we care so much about.”
GRI is a multi-national organization based out of Guelph, Ontario, which is about 30 miles southwest of Toronto. The company provides the TargetSolutions technology platform to fire departments across Canada while also delivering Blue Card Command services. GRIs stated vision is a safer, healthier global working environment through innovation and risk mitigation, which marries perfectly with TargetSolutions goals and its platforms capabilities.
“Our mission as an organization is to make sure we represent products that are beneficial to the fire world, making them safer and healthier,” said GRIs Vice President Judy Smith. “Nothing better suits our vision than TargetSolutions. Its in harmony with our beliefs as an organization.”
TargetSolutions and GRI officially joined forces in 2006, but Handy and the Canadian companys President Nelson Lawrence originally met at a conference in 2000. Their first meeting was just a year into TargetSolutions existence.
I saw the first edition of the platform and I really saw the vision in it, Lawrence said. Jon and I continued to stay in touch and we eventually developed a business relationship.
Lawrence always knew the platform could become a powerhouse, but he admitted hes impressed by just how much the system has developed over the last 12 years, he said.
“I’ve seen the platform change from a content-focused program, which some departments thought was important for them, to more of an RMS (records management system) with the ability to share training resources, so it delivers more of a value equation now than just training content,” Lawrence said. “There’s a need for better documentation because of the enforcement of regulatory agencies. Many fire departments are realizing they need better documentation and having that available in a hosted browser-based format is the ultimate solution.”
“The platform is catching on in the territories GRI serves”, Lawrence said. “The company now has large metro departments throughout Canada on the TargetSolutions platform.”
In 2009, GRI and TargetSolutions offered a $1 million grant program together in which the two companies gave away six months of the service to volunteer departments in Canada. Hundreds of firefighters tried the program through the promotion and received the benefit of online training and recordkeeping.
That was an example of us working together to serve a noble goal in educating the volunteer departments about the platform, Lawrence said.
While emergency responders in Canada have different requirements for continuing education than here in the United States, GRI has worked to receive accreditation by the varying agencies that regulate the respective provinces. The company Canadianized TargetSolutions NFPA content and is able to meet regulatory requirements if departments are asked to produce its training records.
TargetSolutions really helps departments cross their Ts and dot there Is, Smith said. The departments we talk to think the platform is amazing. Whether you are focused on training to ensure safety compliance, or just working to improve your organizations overall risk status, you will benefit from TargetSolutions impressive, easy-to-navigate technology.
About TargetSolutions
TargetSolutions is the leading provider of web-based technology solutions for public entities, with a focus on fire and EMS departments. These solutions enable departments to maintain compliance, reduce losses, deliver curriculum, and track all station-level tasks, certifications and training activities. More than 2,000 organizations across the country use our technology to solve their training needs. We work hard every day to understand our clients challenges and deliver powerful tools that save time and money.
About Global Risk Innovations
Global Risk Innovations (GRI) is a multi-national privately held organization committed to providing innovative online training & risk management solutions.Hundreds of clients across the globe make use of GRI products and services to mitigate risk and improve operational efficiency.
