Company Name: IMS Alliance
Headquarters: Kent, Wash.
Signature Product: Incident Command Boards and Passport Accountability System
Website: http://www.imsalliance.com/
IMS Alliance provides tools that improve on-scene organization, maintain safety and accountability, and simplify overall scene operations to assist the Incident Commander in managing small or large-scale incidents and/or training evolutions. IMS Alliance manufactures and develops NIMS compliant accountability systems such as the Incident Commander Board and the Passport Accountability System.
1. Where did your company name originate from?
It’s an acronym — Incident Management System (IMS) Alliance. Alliance was added to convey a merging of efforts and interests.
2. What was the inspiration behind starting your company?
About 20 years ago, founder Paul Embleton was tasked with coming up with an incident management system for the regional technical rescue team in the southern Puget Sound region of Washington State. He researched nationwide to find organizational and accountability charts for technical rescue incidents, but was unable to find any decent or consistent format.
In his extensive research and work with experts in different technical rescue disciplines, the project grew to include checklists for the incident commander, EMS, fire suppression and a variety of other specialty disciplines.
3. What is your signature product and how does it work?
Our Incident Command Boards and Passport Accountability System are our products and designed for the accountability, safety and location of all personnel within an incident perimeter.
4. Why do you believe your products are essential to the Fire/EMS community?
Our products were developed by first responders and are specific to the incident regardless if it involves EMS, fire or technical rescue. It follows the national ICS/IMS guidelines and format. Our system assists the job of the incident commander and helps to ensure the safety of personnel on scene.
5. What has been the biggest challenge your company has faced?
Raw materials and production requirements are always challenging as our IC Boards and Passport items are made in the USA and manufactured on-site.
6. What makes your company unique?
Our focus. We have remained simple: Incident Management Made Simple. And with our in-house production capabilities, our ability to provide custom boards is endless.
7. What do your customers like best about you and your products?
We most often hear about our exceptional customer service as well as simplicity.
8. What is the most rewarding part of serving the first responder community?
The brotherhood and working with great people. We get excited when we see our product in use knowing that the first responder will be accounted for.
9. Do you support any charitable organizations within public safety?
Yes, but the one that we are the most proud to be a part of is our donation of 343 name tags to the 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb every year.
10. Is there any fun fact or trivia that you’d like to share with our users about you or your company?
IMS Alliance was acquired in 2006 from Paul Embleton and the sale was used to fund his program in Central America. The B.R.A.V.E Foundation (Bomberos Resourceful and Valiant Efforts) is an organization dedicated to improving training and emergency services in third world countries.
11. What’s next for your company? Any upcoming new projects or initiatives?
There is always a new or unique request for custom IC Boards. In staying true to being developed by first responders, our newest line, CPR Command System, was designed by Mark Sawdon, a paramedic for King County
