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How BluePoint Alert Solutions created a crisis response system

BluePoint Alert Solutions has been recognized as a local innovator by Elgin's Create, Innovate, Ignite initiative.

The Daily Herald asked John Shales, partner and CMO of the company, to tell us about the company and what it does.

Q. How was BluePoint Alert Solutions created? What do you do specifically?

John Shales. BluePoint Solutions was born after a simple question: "What if?" The question was triggered in the aftermath of yet another school shooting at the Sandy Hook Elementary School.

It was a natural thought process when the idea of security in schools was born. (Our system) has proved to be a valuable addition to the security of schools and business.

BluePoint is a sister company of the ShalesMcNutt Construction Company, a leading construction management, design-build, and general contracting firm serving northern Illinois.

Q. How is BluePoint's alert system an improvement on previous systems?

Shales. We can all identify the familiar red fire alarm on walls in schools and businesses. However, when they are summoned, it is presumably to address a fire on site. Police are also dispatched usually as a secondary precaution without the heightened sense of urgency. What if there were a way to trigger a specific response from police that gave them and identified school personnel immediate information as to problem, location and an ability to have an ongoing way of communicating between them all for the duration of the crises?

Q. What local school districts have you worked with?

Shales. Mutual discussions between BluePoint and Burlington School District 301 Superintendent Todd Stirn led to the development of an innovative way of a systemwide notification of a dangerous situation in schools. The system has branched out to identifying police and medical alerts in businesses.

Q. You have been identified as an innovator. In what ways do you think you have demonstrated creativity/innovation?

Shales. The cliché "think outside the box" seems to lay the groundwork. When you see that what is in place is not working, you are driven to find something that does. By taking our product from an idea to fruition, we have been able to clearly demonstrate what a true innovation looks like in the flesh.

Q. What vision do you have for your work?

Shales. Ideally, we would like to see our system in every school, creating optimum safety conditions for our children and teachers. However, the medical alert options in addition to the police alert meet a real need in many other types of buildings and spaces - libraries, malls, manufacturing facilities, etc. We will continue to encourage our staff to use their creativity and vision to take BluePoint into the future of increasing everyone's safety.

Q. What advice would you give to others pursuing a creative innovative environment and/or approach?

Shales. Never underestimate the hard work ahead once you get that idea or concept. Don't be afraid to team up with those who are able to add to your process. Great ideas are always the effort of collaboration.

About Create, Innovate, Ignite

The Create, Innovate, Ignite Series and Summit is an Elgin-based initiative designed to recognize creativity and innovation and develop plans to foster and sustain it.

The primary convening partners for this initiative are Hamilton Wings, Elgin Community College and the Gail Borden Library, along with a planning committee and subcommittees made up of local leaders and community volunteers.

This is the second in a yearlong series of monthly recognition of area innovators.

For details, visit www.hamiltonwings.org.

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