Your Plan Is Only as Good as Its Worst Assumption
In this issue: Jim Featherstone on why frameworks outperform plans in a crisis, how BES and Whisker Labs deployed real-time outage data during Winter Storm Fern, Inc. Regionals recognition for the third consecutive year, and open roles at BES.
Your Plan Is Only as Good as Its Worst Assumption
James "Jim" Featherstone spent three decades leading emergency management operations, including serving as General Manager of the City of Los Angeles Emergency Management Department. His experience taught him that what separates organizations that survive a crisis from those that get buried by one is the willingness to plan for uncertainty and adapt.
If you've ever watched a carefully written plan buckle under real-world conditions, this one's for you.
When the Grid Went Dark, We Opened the Data
In January, Winter Storm Fern knocked out power across large portions of the South and Mid-Atlantic. Within hours, BES and Whisker Labs published hyper-granular Ting Insights outage data in a freely accessible ArcGIS dashboard, giving emergency managers, utility operators, and public safety leaders street-level visibility into where power was out and where vulnerable populations were at risk.
No email. No login. Just the data you needed, when you needed it.
This wasn't a demo. It was a proof point: when real-time, precise, location-specific power grid intelligence is GIS-ready (as opposed to rough percentages at the county level) and accessible, emergency operations centers can make better decisions faster.
In the News: Inc. Regionals, Three Years Running
For the third consecutive year, Inc. magazine has recognized Bent Ear Solutions on its list of the fastest-growing private companies in the Mid-Atlantic region. This follows four consecutive years on the national Inc. 5000 list.
This recognition reflects the results our team delivers and the trust our clients across government, critical infrastructure, and private-sector enterprises nationwide place in us.
Looking for New Voices and Bold Perspectives
If you've spent 5+ years building on the Esri platform and want your work to make a tangible impact in emergency management, critical infrastructure, and public safety, this role is for you.
What's Ahead: Esri UC and ES3
Find us in San Diego this July! We can't wait for the Esri Safety & Security Summit (ES3) and User Conference. Stop by our display at ES3 to learn how organizations can move beyond situational awareness toward real operational readiness by leveraging their existing technology.
Want to connect with the team at the summit? Reach out to schedule a meeting.
Want this delivered directly to your inbox?