Press Releases

O’Brien’s Response Management Completes Acquisition of PIER Systems Inc.

2009-12-02T03:49:28Z

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Brea, California – December 1, 2009 - O’Brien’s Response Management Inc. (O'Brien'sRM), a global provider of environmental compliance, emergency preparedness, response management, disaster services and crisis management for numerous industry sectors and government agencies, today announced it has completed its acquisition of PIER Systems Inc.

PIER Systems Inc. is a crisis communications company that has developed the PIER software application, an all-in-one, web-based solution for communications management, public relations, media monitoring, employee notification, business continuity and more. PIER provides a single, easy to use web-based control panel facilitating communication during routine events, minor incidents and major catastrophes affecting employees, the public, investors, the media and other key stakeholders in business affairs. PIER Systems also provides Strategic Services and technical support including crisis communications planning, training, exercises and implementation during a crisis or emergency response.

“With the addition of PIER, O’Brien’s Response Management customers now have access to an even more comprehensive suite of crisis communications and incident command applications supported and provided by one company. Integrating PIER’s staff of communicators enhances O’Brien’sRM ability to deliver the crisis communications services our customers are asking for,” said Tim Perkins, CEO of O’Brien’sRM and President of PIER Systems.

For more information, please contact Tim O’Leary via email at mediarelations@obriensrm.com or call (281) 320-9796. Click here for a fact sheet about the O'Brien's acquisition of PIER Systems Inc.

This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements include, but are not limited to, comments about the benefits of the contemplated transaction and the parties’ plans, objectives, expectations, intentions and other statements that are not historical facts. Such statements are based on the current beliefs of the parties’ respective managements and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. The Company is not obligated to revise or update any forward-looking statements in order to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date of this release.

PIER Systems' Latest Product Version Enhances Mobile Web Communications Technology and Provides Mass Notification Statistics

2009-11-17T17:36:41Z

Bellingham, Wash. — November 17, 2009 — PIER Systems, Inc. (www.PIERSystems.com), the leading provider of Web-based communications management technology, today announced the release of PIER 6.3—the latest version of the company's Web-based crisis response, public relations, mass notification, and employee safety management platform.

With version 6.3, PIER extends its innovative features to the growing number of people relying on mobile phones to communicate and receive information from the Web. PIER clients can now customize their Web sites to display mobile-friendly versions according to the type of phone a site visitor is using.

Additionally, newly enhanced mass notification reporting features allow organizations to monitor and track messages sent using PIER's mass email, voice, SMS text and fax notification system. Detailed reporting includes: date sent, recipients, message delivery statuses, and more—in nearly real-time.

Social sharing and instant status updates are a key part in today's Web communications. PIER's new instant update feature reflects this idea by providing an online submission process that allows site users to quickly submit information that can be published automatically to multiple outlets or stored for approvals. This accommodating feature encourages user interaction and provides another source of news and information to organizations.

"PIER is committed to providing leading edge technology to our clients. PIER 6.3 will provide increased flexibility to the communicators who use PIER to organize, manage and distribute critical information", said Kevin Boxx, Vice President of Technology and Services. "We are continually finding new ways to help organizations communicate better, faster and more efficiently."

About PIER Systems

The PIER System is an all-in-one, Web-based solution for communications management, emergency response, public relations, business continuity and more. PIER is used by many Fortune 500 companies and leading organizations including the American Red Cross, BP, Boeing, Houston UASI, LADWP, Marathon, NASA, University of Houston, USDA and the US Coast Guard. PIER's robust features provide the technology needed to communicate during routine events, minor incidents and major catastrophes affecting employees, the public, investors, the media, and other key stakeholders. Features include mass notification, press release distribution, inquiry management, document approval, Web content management, detailed reporting, social media integration and more. Visit www.PIERSystems.com to learn more about PIER.

PIER Systems, Inc. Announces Solutions for Government Agencies Using Twitter for Public and Media Communications

2009-09-02T16:04:41Z

Bellingham, Wash. — September 02, 2009 — PIER Systems, Inc., the leading provider of Web-based communications management technology, today announced that the PIER System facilitates Twitter integration to manage and approve messages published to Twitter, meeting government regulations for content distribution.

The widespread use of social media and increased popularity of Twitter have caused many government agencies to utilize Twitter to deliver breaking news and important updates to citizens and the media. The near instantaneous delivery of information that Twitter provides allows government agencies to connect with the public and media about events as they happen. Currently, The White House, Los Angeles Fire Department, NASA, Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and many other government agencies use Twitter for this purpose.

One problem faced by government agencies using Twitter is the lack of a built-in approval process and maintaining control of messages that are published. The PIER System streamlines this process with built-in document control, approval and tracking features. PIER provides the technology needed to review, approve, manage and publish content to Twitter and other social media platforms under National Information Management System (NIMS) guidelines—thus ensuring the validity and accuracy of information distributed to the public.

In PIER Systems, Inc.'s new white paper "Twitter and Government Communications", PIER founder Gerald Baron discusses the successes and challenges government agencies confront when using Twitter to extend their communications efforts. The white paper also offers tips and comments from government agencies currently utilizing Twitter. Request this white paper at www.PIERsystems.com/go/survey/1533/1775.

The PIER System has a long-standing reputation among leading government agencies who have trusted PIER for managing and distributing information during critical events such as Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Ike, California wildfires, and most recently H1N1 (swine flu). PIER customers who use Twitter to broaden their communications reach benefit from PIER because it allows them to create or upload content and files, manage them in one system, then approve them for accuracy before they are published to Twitter.

About PIER Systems
The PIER System is the world's first and only all-in-one, Web-based communications management system. Many Fortune 500 companies and top organizations including American Red Cross, BP, Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Los Angeles Department of Water & Power, Marathon Oil Corporation, NASA, University of Houston, USDA and all 9 districts of the US Coast Guard, use the PIER System for internal and external communications with employees, the public, investors, the media and more. PIER's advanced technology and powerful content management tools provide business continuity, safety solutions and preparedness standards. Features include contact lists, media management, mass notification, news and press release distribution, document approval and more in one easy-to-use platform. For more information visit www.PIERSystems.com.

PIER Founder Writing for GovTech's Emergency Management Blog

2009-08-11T22:17:42Z

Gerald Baron, PIER Systems founder and director of PIER Strategic Services is lending his expertise writing for the online version of Government Technology's (GovTech) Emergency Management magazine. Baron joins other elite professionals as a featured blogger for Emergency Management (EM)—offering years of knowledge and experience to EM's readers.

Baron is well-known and respected in the crisis communications/emergency management community for his unique approach to ever-changing industry trends. For nearly 10 years Baron has provided tips and discussions about best practices for emergency management and public relations professionals, hosted webinars and presented at conferences for organizations such as PRSA and also authored the well-praised book "Now Is Too Late: Survival in an Era of Instant News".

Baron's Emergency Management blog, Crisis Comm, is featured several times weekly at www.emergencymgmt.com/emergency-blogs/crisis-comm.

PIER Systems announces new product version to expand its versatile communications capabilities

2009-07-15T00:57:14Z

Bellingham, Wash. — July 15, 2009 — PIER Systems, Inc., the leading provider of Web-based communications management technology, today announced the launch of PIER 6.2—the latest release of the company's online crisis response, public relations, and employee safety management communications platform.

PIER 6.2 includes new, two-way SMS text-messaging capabilities that allow recipients to respond to text-message notifications distributed through PIER via SMS text-message. This two-way communication process creates a link between senders and recipients to guarantee timely correspondence, improve response times during critical situations, and provide a continual flow of information to and from PIER communication centers.

PIER 6.2's new SMS Inquiries service is the first of many new two-way SMS features. Two-way SMS text-message inquiries allow stakeholders to ask questions, submit situation reports, request assistance and more via SMS text-message. This feature provides a seamless connection between communicators and stakeholders allowing them to communicate remotely via mobile phone, PDA or smartphone.

"We're proud to add this kind of functionality for our customers because it will greatly improve their emergency communications and response processes. With PIER's new two-way SMS capabilities, PIER users will have an enhanced connection with their audience and more versatility in how they communicate with them," said Kevin Boxx, PIER Systems CEO.

In addition to the new two-way SMS text-messaging capabilities, PIER 6.2 also supports connectivity with ESi's WebEOC. With this integration, documents and inquiries posted to a PIER Web site can be simultaneously posted to WebEOC boards, and WebEOC board entries can be configured to post as PIER documents or inquiries. This robust integration adds streamlined functionality between the two systems to create an unsurpassed emergency communications command center.

PIER Systems Inc. is offering a free webinar titled "PIER 6.2 Technology Overview" on July 21, 2009 at 11 a.m. (Pacific Standard Time). The webinar is intended to provide an introduction to the new features of PIER 6.2. Complete the Registration Form to sign up.

PIER Systems Offering Exclusive PIER Certification Training Sessions

2009-05-29T16:45:21Z

BELLINGHAM, Wash. — June 1, 2009 — PIER Systems, Inc., the leading provider of Web-based communications technology, is now offering exclusive PIER Certification Training sessions. The training sessions are intended to give participants an in-depth look at PIER functionality and development, provide advanced training for users of the PIER System, and offer valuable strategy techniques to address the many challenges communicators face today.

"There's been a growing demand for in-depth PIER training," said Gerald Baron, PIER founder and director of PIER Strategic Services. "PIER Certification Training is intended to answer those requests. We're excited to help PIER users develop greater competence and offer our expertise to assist organizations in successfully managing their communications."

PIER Certification participants will learn how to take a lead role in effectively implementing the PIER System within their organization in order to manage a successful two-way communications flow, strategize plans by reviewing best practices of leading organizations currently using PIER, and leave with the most in-depth, advanced PIER training available. PIER Certification is a prerequisite for consideration for the PIER Emergency Response Team.

These 2-day intensive training sessions will be held at the PIER Systems, Inc. headquarters in Bellingham, Washington July through October 2009. Gerald Baron will host the training sessions. Space is limited. Interested parties should register today using the PIER Certification Training registration form. For more information, visit www.piersystems.com.

About PIER Systems:
The PIER System is the world's first and only all-in-one, Web-based communications management system. Many Fortune 500 companies and top organizations including BP, Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Los Angeles Department of Water & Power, Marathon Oil Corporation, NASA, University of Houston, USDA and all 9 districts of the United States Coast Guard, use the PIER System for internal and external communications with employees, the public, investors, the media and more. PIER's advanced technology and powerful content management tools provide business continuity, safety solutions and preparedness standards. Features include contact lists, media management, mass notification, news and press release distribution, document approval and more in one easy-to-use platform. For more information visit www.PIERSystems.com.

PIER Systems Founder to Present at PRSA Pandemic Flu Communications Teleseminar

2009-05-08T20:53:24Z

BELLINGHAM, Wash. — May 8th, 2009 — Gerald Baron, Founder of PIER Systems, the leading provider of Web-based communications technology, is a featured presenter at the PRSA (Public Relations Society of America) Pandemic Flu Communications national teleseminar on Tuesday, May 12th, 2009. The teleseminar will focus on the recent H1N1 flu (aka Swine flu) outbreak and the many challenges communicators face in the shadow of such highly publicized events as health related crises.

Baron will discuss how communicators must strategize and plan how they will distribute information in a world where people demand "instant news"—many of them getting the latest headlines from social media sources such as blogs, Tweets, social networks and other forms of online sharing.

He will also speak about the ways communicators should present their information to the public—that they must use precaution to avoid widespread panic, monitor and respond to misinformation and rumors, while keeping a constant flow of information continually available to internal and external stakeholders.

Steven L. Davidow, president of Davidow Communications, Inc., will co-present with Baron at the event. The teleseminar will air May 12th, 2009, at 3:00pm (Eastern time).

Register for the PRSA Pandemic Flu Communications Teleseminar today. For more details please visit http://www.prsa.org/PDseminars/DisplayEvent.cfm?semID=523.

About PIER Systems:

The PIER System is the world's first and only all-in-one, Web-based communications management system. Many Fortune 500 companies and top organizations including BP, Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Los Angeles Department of Water & Power, Marathon Oil Corporation, NASA, University of Houston, USDA and all 9 districts of the United States Coast Guard, use the PIER System for internal and external communications with employees, the public, investors, the media and more. PIER's advanced technology and powerful content management tools provide business continuity, safety solutions and preparedness standards. Features include contact lists, media management, mass notification, news and press release distribution, document approval and more in one easy-to-use platform. For more information visit www.PIERSystems.com.

Tweeting Safely—PIER Incorporates Social Media into Crisis Communications Process

2009-04-28T21:30:15Z

BELLINGHAM, Wash. — April 28, 2009 — PIER Systems, Inc., the leading provider of emergency response and crisis communications technology, today announced a process for incorporating Twitter feeds into standard distributions of urgent and critical information using the PIER System. Additionally, similar methods can be utilized to distribute information to other social media sites such as Facebook and LinkedIn.

According to Gerald Baron, PIER Systems founder and director of PIER Strategic Services, Twitter and other social media sites offer opportunities for organizations to get important information out quickly.

“Twitter’s value has been demonstrated by helping people communicate quickly and efficiently, but it represents a huge control challenge for many government agencies and corporations. The question is who is authorized to 'tweet’ and how is information discipline maintained?”

While the world of social media reacts negatively towards information control, it is critically important in the world of crisis and disaster communications. “Look at the Sago Mine incident if you want an example of the tragedy caused by loss of information discipline,” said Baron. In that incident, in January 2006, the heartbreak of the loss of miners was compounded by false information widely distributed about their rescue.

"The challenge today is to be both fast and accurate", said Baron. The PIER (Public Information Emergency Response) System is widely used by multiple government agencies including the United States Coast Guard, non-profits such as the American Red Cross and major corporations such as BP and Boeing. PIER incorporates collaborative information development processes with multiple distribution modes including text and phone notifications, e-mail, fax, Web content, RSS feeds and more.

"PIER users view Twitter, Facebook or other common social media platforms as one more method of distributing critical information", said Kevin Boxx, PIER Systems' interim CEO and vice president of technology. “Users can distribute critical messages to social media sites in the same way e-mails or text messages are distributed—with the added advantage that all PIER distributions are subject to the same approval process.”

However, Boxx pointed out the inherent dangers of relying on Twitter or any singular method of communicating critical information. “Twitter and other social media have an increasing reach but they are still limited, plus some of these new technologies are growing so fast their reliability has not been established.” He emphasized the importance of using multiple distribution modes including text messaging, automated phone messaging and e-mails, and quickly updating Web sites with critical information.

All government agencies are subject to the National Incident Management System (NIMS) which requires Incident Commander control over the release of information related to an incident and its response. Because of this, the approval process is imperative.

PIER was created out of a large-scale response involving the Incident Command System and the Joint Information Center (JIC). Since then, the approval process has been central to PIER's operation. As the speed of information development and delivery has accelerated, that approval process is more critical than ever.

PIER is widely used to support JIC operations when multiple agencies or organizations come together to coordinate communication in an emergency response. PIER is also used by large and complex organizations with dispersed teams that need to collaborate to develop and approve messages and respond interactively with the media and stakeholders. According to Baron, these organizations are struggling with incorporating social media into their daily public affairs and crisis communication plans.

“PIER offers the technology and processes needed to meet the twin demands for instant information and information that is vetted, edited and approved."

Existing PIER users can access detailed instructions on incorporating Twitter and other social media sites into their communication processes on the PIER User Resource site. PIER Systems technical support staff can assist any PIER user with establishing Twitter, Facebook or other social media sites as an add-on to their PIER subscription. Users can request this setup service by e-mailing support@piersystems.com.

For more information on this topic, read the "National Incident Management System (NIMS) and Social Media" white paper by Gerald Baron.

About PIER Systems

Harris County Hospital District to Use PIER Systems to Improve Critical Communications

2009-04-14T21:29:19Z

HARRIS COUNTY, Texas—April 14, 2009—PIER Systems, Inc. (www.PIERsystems.com), the leading provider of web-based communication management technology, today announced that Harris County Hospital District has adopted the PIER System to streamline communication efforts during large-scale emergencies and times of crisis. The PIER System will improve Harris County Hospital District's response by ensuring that those who need to make decisions are able to communicate during any circumstance.

Harris County Hospital District is the public health care system for the nation's third most-populous county. It includes three hospitals, 12 community health centers, 13 homeless shelter clinics, eight school-based clinics, five mobile health clinics, a dialysis center and free-standing dental center. Limited physical access to these locations is very likely during a crisis or disaster. In the event that the emergency management team is not able to gather in one location, PIER provides a virtual, joint information center, which ensures a faster, more complete communications process.

PIER will allow Harris County Hospital District to maintain constant contact with all staff members, including key patient care and emergency responders, by informing them of operational changes and the need for urgent staff response. PIER will also facilitate more timely communication with patients, the media and general public regarding temporary facility closures and the availability of temporary medical service locations during a disaster. PIER will make it easy for those in charge to communicate with their team even when they're not on the job.

During an active crisis situation, Harris County Hospital District's leadership will receive real-time feedback through their fully hosted, public facing website powered by PIER—permitting site visitors to submit questions or comments throughout a crisis situation. In addition, Harris County Hospital District will use PIER's mass notification features to facilitate 2-way communication and information flow via multiple channels including: SMS text messages, text-to-voice messages, emails, fax, web pages, RSS feeds and social media integration.

With PIER, the Harris County Hospital District will improve their internal communication processes. By doing so, they will also augment their response to any crisis situation. Implementation is underway to prepare Harris County Hospital District for the upcoming hurricane season.

About PIER Systems:
The PIER System is the world's first and only all-in-one, web based communications management system. Many Fortune 500 companies and top organizations including BP, Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Los Angeles Department of Water & Power, Marathon Oil Corporation, NASA, University of Houston, USDA and all 9 districts of the US Coast Guard, use the PIER System for internal and external communications with employees, the public, investors, the media and more. PIER's advanced technology and powerful content management tools provide business continuity, safety solutions and preparedness standards. Features include contact lists, media management, mass notification, news and press release distribution, document approval and more in one easy-to-use platform. For more information visit www.PIERsystems.com.

Top Government Agencies Working Together to Communicate About Midwest Flooding

2009-04-03T00:13:32Z

The United States Coast Guard public information site, uscgfloodwatch.com, is being used to coordinate and distribute information to top government agencies including FEMA, Army Corps of Engineers, the National Guard, and the American Red Cross during the devastating Midwestern floods.

The USCG flooding information website is hosted on the PIER System—the all-in-one, web based platform designed for managing communications, mass notification, and news release distribution during a crisis or major disaster.

PIER allows the USCG to post real-time condition updates, news releases, and media including photos and videos from on-going rescue missions—this information is then distributed to collaborative government agencies, citizens of affected regions, media outlets, and the general public.

The flexibility and ease associated with the PIER platform, gives the United States Coast Guard the ability to deliver important information fast and efficiently—while coordinating efforts with Federal, State and Local authorities.

President Obama has assured optimal Federal help for victims of the Midwest flooding—urging them to watch for condition reports and to promptly follow instructions from goverment officials during evacuations. Tens of thousands of people have already been evacuated and rescued from the floods.