Rescue One Trains Thousands in Saving Lives

By Susan Kim



More than a decade ago, Maggie Henderson was working in a daycare setting when Jeremy Gruber trained and certified her in CPR. The value of that certification made such a deep impression on Henderson that now her career revolves around offering the same instruction to others.

As director of management services for Rescue One Training for Life, Henderson is proud of the impact she has made on people's lives and on their safety.

She and other leaders from Rescue One, a Gaithersburg-based safety training organization, are also proud of their company's growth.

"When I first started, my office was in the basement of Jeremy's home. Now we've got a great office space," she said.

Offering training to clients such as the United States Chamber of Commerce, among many others, Henderson said more and more employees and families believe CPR training is vital.

"Some businesses have a requirement for people to do it but the majority of the time it's a volunteer [effort] for the staff," she said.



Thousands Complete Training

Rescue One, founded in 1997, provides training and equipment related to CPR, automatic external defibrillators, first aid, fire extinguishers and emergency readiness.

The company has performed more than 6,000 training classes and has installed more than 600 defibrillators.

These statistics are impressive, but they don't capture the genuine feeling of how much difference the training makes for businesses, families, churches and many other groups, said Henderson.

"The difference I am making in people's lives - that's why I love my job," she said. "Because of my position, I'm in the office most of the time. But I'm able to get out once or twice a week to do a training [session]. I'm in charge of making sure our clients are in sync with state and county regulations. I get to go to so many neat places."



More Growth Ahead

Rescue One is set to expand still more, said Gruber, executive vice president and founder. The company's leaders have stepped up their networking by joining the Baltimore Washington Corridor Chamber (BWCC).

Gruber said the BWCC's unique multi-county geographical coverage appealed to them.

"The BWCC covers an area of business that we're interested in," said Gruber. "It gives us an opportunity in each of the counties. We have a large amount of business that we do in the area. We see a lot of opportunity for some of our equipment and services."

Gruber has been a paramedic and a firefighter for more than 20 years.

Now he's also making a foray into the restaurant business, unveiling plans to house a Hook and Ladder Brewing Company in Silver Spring. "I'm purchasing an old firehouse there, and expect to be open in about a year," he said.



Networking With Colleagues

Rescue One's regional manager, Andrew Canterna, said part of his company's plan for growth involves networking with local colleagues. Canterna said he has already found a collegial atmosphere within the BWCC.

"The BWCC is very attentive to its members, and I think it's a well-run organization," he said. "I'm looking forward to continuing our relationship with them."

Canterna cited meeting new people as one of the top benefits of joining the BWCC. "I think it's being able to tell your story in a more intimate, personal setting. We're all in business for one reason or another."

Rescue One staff also said they believed the BWCC offers a diverse array of services to its members. Canterna said he has met with the BWCC's Government Contracting Council and anticipates working with the council to explore new business possibilities.

Rhonda Tomlinson, co-chair of the council and president of RJ Tomlinson & Associates, said the council is trying to become a resource for longtime BWCC members as well as new members such as Rescue One.

Tomlinson said that, in time, the council will provide informational resources on the BWCC web site, as well as newsletters. "We're all volunteers and we all have our businesses to run," acknowledged Tomlinson, "but with BRAC [Base Realignment and Closure], it's an ideal time to set up shop."

Meanwhile, Rescue One plans to continue its involvement - and stay on a course to expand, added Canterna. "Our clients are increasingly demanding more sophisticated solutions to their safety training needs. Being medically prepared is needed by all - small companies and large companies - and we are trying to reach and talk to the right people."

Simply put, places such as the BWCC are where you make friends, he said. "And all these friends become advocates for you, and you in turn do the same for them. We have much more access at our fingertips now."