Company Spotlight Form
Email Address: info@trainingtowers.com
Company Name: WHP Trainingtowers
Your name and title: Amanda Jahnke, Director of Marketing
1) Where did your company name originate from?
Bernie Padgett, founder of Werner-Herbison-Padgett in Chicago, pioneered metal fire training towers, addressing a critical need for durable structures. His legacy includes over 200 towers, with his first still in use after 40 years. Fire Chief (Ret.) William Jahnke acquired and relocated the company to Overland Park, Kansas, renaming it WHP in tribute to the founders. With decades of firefighting and construction management experience, Jahnke leads WHP in delivering quality fire training solutions.
2) What was the inspiration behind starting your company?
The inspiration behind starting Werner-Herbison-Padgett was the recognition of a need for fire training buildings that could withstand repetitive use in harsh environments and various climates. Founder Bernie Padgett identified this gap and used his expertise to introduce the first-ever metal fire training tower to the market, aiming to provide durable solutions for fire training.
3) What is your signature product and how does it work?
Our signature product is our live fire training towers. These towers provide a realistic and controlled environment for firefighters to gain practical experience, refine their skills, and improve their ability to respond effectively to real-life emergencies.
4) Why do you believe your products are essential to your vertical (Police, Fire, EMS, Corrections, Government) community?
Live fire training towers are considered essential assets for fire departments, police departments, and other government agencies for several reasons:
· Realistic training environment: Live fire training towers provide a controlled yet realistic environment for firefighters to practice firefighting techniques, tactics, and procedures. This hands-on experience is invaluable for preparing firefighters to respond effectively to real-life emergencies.
· Safety training: Firefighters can train in a controlled environment where safety measures are in place, allowing them to learn how to handle hazardous situations without risking injury or property damage.
· Equipment testing: Live fire training towers allow fire departments to test and evaluate firefighting equipment, including hoses, nozzles, breathing apparatus, and thermal imaging cameras, in realistic fire conditions.
· Team building: Training exercises conducted in live fire training towers promote teamwork, communication, and coordination among firefighters, essential elements for effective emergency response.
· Skill development: Firefighters can develop and hone their firefighting skills, including fire attack techniques, search and rescue operations, ventilation strategies, and fire behavior assessment, in a controlled and supervised environment.
· Preparation for various scenarios: Live fire training towers enable firefighters to practice responding to a wide range of fire scenarios, including structure fires, high-rise fires, vehicle fires, and industrial fires.
· Compliance with standards: Many firefighting agencies and regulatory bodies require firefighters to undergo live fire training to maintain certification and comply with safety standards.
Overall, live fire training towers play a crucial role in preparing firefighters to effectively respond to emergencies, ensuring the safety of both firefighters and the communities they serve.
5) What has been the biggest challenge your company has faced?
6) What makes your company unique?
Our company’s uniqueness lies in our commitment to fostering a familial atmosphere both internally with our employees and externally with our customers. As a family-owned business, we treat all our employees like family, prioritizing their wellbeing and growth within a supportive and inclusive work environment. Similarly, when adding a new project to our customer list, we extend the same care and personalized attention to our customers, treating them like family members. This unique approach, combined with our family-owned status, cultivates strong relationships, fosters trust and ensures both employee satisfaction and customer loyalty, setting us apart in the industry.
7) What do your customers like best about you and your products?
Customers like that we are a turnkey business, providing comprehensive solutions from start to finish. This means that if they encounter any issues or need assistance, they have one point of contact - us. This streamlined approach simplifies their experience and ensures efficient resolution of any concerns, enhancing their overall satisfaction with our products and services.
8) What is the most rewarding part of serving the first responder/local government community?
The most rewarding part of serving the first responder/local government community is knowing that our products and services directly contribute to enhancing public safety and saving lives. We take pride in supporting those who put themselves in harm’s way to protect others and knowing that our solutions help them better prepare for emergencies and effectively respond to critical situations is incredibly fulfilling. Additionally, building strong relationships with first responders and local government agencies and seeing the positive impact of our collaboration on their operations and communities is immensely gratifying. Ultimately, the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the safety and wellbeing of our communities is the most rewarding aspect of serving the first responder/local government community.
9) Do you support any charitable organizations within the public safety/community? Tell us more.
We provide support to various regional Fire Chiefs Associations, as well as organizations like Women in Fire and the Safety, Health & Survival section of the IAFC. Additionally, we’ve recently formed a partnership with the Firefighter Challenge League, where we serve as the official sponsor of the Firefighter Challenge. As part of this collaboration, we offer our WHP Combat Challenge Tower to be used in the competition.
10) Is there any fun fact or trivia that you’d like to share with our users about you or your company?
11) What’s next for your company? Any upcoming new projects or initiatives?