This post is really about asking the question: what can we do to help your training efforts?

My story is that I was a volunteer for 6 years and became a vendor because I thought I could make products that would help solve some training problems I saw at my rescue squad and beyond. I was also very fortunate to meet like-minded people in the Fire Service who helped hone my vision.

Some people think about vendors as the people who just try to sell you stuff, but we mostly are people like you who are committed to making a difference, and most of us (I hope) believe deeply that our products really can help. For example, my proudest moments are when firefighters through the years have told me about how the tools I made helped them make the right decisions that otherwise would have been fatal.

I am also very proud that my company sponsored the Company Officer of the Year (to be awarded at FRI in August), because I feel so strongly about helping to empower the company officer. To acknowledge all of their accomplishments, I am giving each nominee a copy of our new software, both as a way to get our name out there, and because I truly hope it is going to help them and the companies they manage.

There's been a lot of talk about simulations as the future of fire service. I have committed my life to pursue good application of simulation for training. Yet I still feel we're not quite over the hump to widespread adoption, maybe we're not hearing something about what you need.

While I have a number of friends, consultants, and customers who are experience firefighters and officers who give me feedback and guidance, I am very interested in hearing from those in the field, day-in, and day-out, whether you are just starting into simulations (or thinking about), or instructors very experienced with simulations, but who look at the landscape and say 'things can be better.'

So how can we make things better for you?