Business Profile: Deep Blue Training Associates Inc.

(Utica, NY – Jan. 2011) Brendan Dunn and Robert Stephens II own and operate Deep Blue Training Associates Inc., a customized training program for firefighting agencies. We asked them to tell us a little bit about their business and what services they provide.

Business Name

Deep Blue Training Associates, Inc.

Address(es)

1617 Harrison Ave

City, State, ZIP

Utica

Phone

315-733-6377

Web site

www.DeepBlueTrainingAssociates.com

Hours/Days of Operation

Whenever a client needs us!

How long in business?

2 years

Owner Name

Brendan H. Dunn & Robert L. Stephens II

Nature of Business

Various types of hazardous materials, fire fighting and general safety training personally designed for your company or agency.

How did you get interested in this field?

Through the years the business community has contacted Brendan and I inquiring about training for private companies and agencies. We previously would provide them the training through the fire department. Due to limited funding and resources within the department we finally decided to start our own company and provide a customized training program tailored for each specific client.

What is your background in the industry/service?

Brendan is currently a professional fire fighter and a Deputy Fire Chief with the City of Utica Fire Department.  Brendan has over 22 years of experience and is a Nationally Certified Fire Instructor, the fire departments Municipal Training Officer and the Director of the Utica Fire Training Academy. I am also a professional fire fighter and a Lieutenant with the City of Utica Fire Department. I also have 22 years of fire experience and my current position is the cities Fire Marshal. I am also a Nationally Certified Fire Instructor and the coordinator of the City of Utica’s/Oneida County’s Hazardous Materials Response Team where I provide monthly training to the team members. I am an adjunct instructor at the City of Utica Fire Academy.

How has the business been received in the community?

The business has been received very well in our local community. We have provided training for several local fire departments as well as private industry and a local college.

What is the biggest challenge you face as a business right now, and why?

Competing against other training companies who do not provide the high quality training programs we deliver to our clients.

What are the biggest opportunities?

One of our greatest opportunities is provide training to a private industry and college who request our training programs on an annual basis.

What has surprised you most since start-up?

How quickly our business has grown by word of mouth.

What do you think is the biggest misconception about the field?

That it’s easy and that anybody can do it. Our training programs are fresh and unique to each client. They are not a “canned” presentation that you receive on an annual basis because your employer or the government says you have to.

What would you most like the public to know about the product or service you provide that they may not already know?

Our training programs are customized to meet the needs of each individual client. We like to take time to meet the client, employees and tour the facility. This helps us to design a program tailored to the client’s needs.

What are your plans for the business for the next year?

To double the training we provided the year before and to expand our company out of state.

What are your plans for the business for the next five years?

To continue to grow as a company and provide the most unique current training programs on the market.

Was there anything you expected us to ask that we didn’t or wished we’d asked but didn’t?

No I think you covered it all. Thank you for the opportunity to get our business out to the community. Great job!