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| News - Spring Hill | |||
| Written by Chase Jordan | |||
| Wednesday, 07 January 2009 09:00 | |||
 Jack Poole remembers when he helped put out fires at the at the age of 16 as volunteer fire fighter in Jarrettsville, Md. The experience inspired him to take fire protection to another level. In 1991, the Spring Hill resident started Poole Fire Protection with his wife, Laura Poole, in the basement of their home. The business grew and is now located at 19910 W. 161st St., in Olathe. “It was a dream to have my own business,” Jack said. The success of the company earned the couple a nomination for the “25 Under 25 Awards,” which will be presented March 7 by “Kansas City Small Business Monthly” magazine. The event celebrates the accomplishments of businesses with less than 25 employees. “We’re excited about it, and we’re very honored that we got the nomination,” he said. “We’re really pumped about it.” Jack always wanted to be a engineer and heard about a degree program at the University of Maryland called Fire Protection Engineering. After graduating from the program, he moved to the Kansas City area to work for Black & Veatch, where he met Laura, a native of Elkhart, Ind., and a Purdue University graduate. Laura has a degree in computer science with a minor in business. “He’s the engineer, Laura said. “I run everything else.” The company specializes in providing clients with integrated solutions to complex fire and life safety challenges. Some of the clients include AMC Theatres, Marriott Hotels Corporation and Sprint. Poole Fire Protection has 14 full-time workers, three part-time workers and two temporary workers. There are about 160 active projects. “We’re very proud of our people that do great work for us,” Jack said. “They do a great job, and as a result we’re nominated for an award like this.” Jack said his company works with engineers and architects on building designs by analyzing construction aspects such as fire walls, how many exits a building is required to have and fire alarm detection systems. “We are currently providing those type of services across the world,” Jack said regarding projects in Egypt, Afghanistan and Iraq. Jack said the key component that makes Poole Fire Protection stand out from other fire protection firms is the company’s computer fire modeling and engineered alternatives. “We use that as a tool to validate how to get people out of the building in a certain time period,” Jack said. “We can run that computer model and know that when something catches on fire, it will tell us how much smoke is being generated and how it flows through the building.” The computer model simulation also calculates the time people have to leave a building in a real scenario if a fire occurs. The Pooles said hiring qualified people is a challenge for the company because of the lack of fire protection programs at colleges across the United States. Jack said there is only two universities that carry the program, including Oklahoma State and Maryland. “That’s probably slowed down our growth a little bit because of hiring quality people,” he said. Location is another challenge the company faces. Jack said the company has had success in hiring graduates from Oklahoma State University because they are familiar with the Midwest. “Kansas City does have a lot to offer,” Jack said. The company’s professional affiliations include Society of Fire Protection Engineers, International Code Council, National Fire Protection Association and the Allied Organization of The American Institute of Architects. The Pooles have lived in Spring Hill for 22 years. They have two children, Drew, 19, and Stephanie, 15. Drew is attending the University of Maryland to become a fire protection engineer. Jack said many fire codes changed as a result of Sept. 11. Laura said the concept of saving lives and property is very important. “That’s what our business is truly all about,” Jack said. “A lot of that boils down to exiting, fire protection systems and overall life safety and property protection.”
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I have had the pleasure of knowing Jack, Laura and his two wonderful children for more 10-years (professionally and personally). Jack & Laura have been truly blessed to be such great citizens and pratitioners of the Fire Protection Professionals in the USA! Jack is a leader amongst fire professional engineers and served on an Water Quality International Board for 6-years and another 6-or so years an a Committee Chair. Way to go JACK & LAURA - am proud of both of you. DS in Charleston, SC.
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January 11, 2009
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THE POOLE'S ARE VERY GOOD PEOPLE!
