Fireside Partners was initially created to address the gap in emergency response resources and consultancy services available to an underserved business aviation market. In early 2007, the founder, Don Chupp, identified three main priorities that were virtually the same for all high performance aviation operators: the ability to take care of their people, represent the professional and compassionate faces of their brands, and effectively participate in an investigation.
Emergency Response and Preparedness Consulting
Initially, Fireside Partners was simply an emergency response and preparedness consulting company. As the client base expanded, several Fortune 100 flight operations and high net worth family interests asked for more substantial direct assistance after emergencies. In essence, to have not only a written plan, but a Program to make the Plan a truth telling document. In order to address this market need, Fireside Partners relocated its business functions to a footprint that allowed for the investment in a global response team, and development of a 24/7 Emergency Operations Center. With this new facility, the Emergency Operations Center launched in 2011, and creation of the HELP (Humanitarian Emergency Liaison Program) Team, Fireside Partners was well equipped and prepared to fully support clients 24/7/365 all around the world in the event of an emergency.
In early 2015, Fireside Partners received the 2015 Veteran Owned Business of the Year Award from the Delaware office of the United States Small Business Administration. Later the same year, the company again evolved, becoming Fireside Partners, Incorporated.
In 2018, Don Chupp was among 40 community leaders inducted as an “honorary” commander at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware.
In 2019, Don Chupp was selected by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) as the 2019 Delaware State Small Business Person of the Year.
Fireside Partners has responded to a wide variety of emergencies, accidents, and natural disasters worldwide, including aviation accidents in places like Dubai, Alaska, and Puerto Rico. All emergency responders are employees of Fireside Partners, which allows for managerial assurances of privacy, appropriate training and credentialing, and significantly less risk to their client base.
Expanding Beyond Aviation
As Fireside Partners expanded the scope of their services beyond aviation, they needed to expand their facility again to meet the growing needs of their customers. In October of 2017, Fireside relocated their Headquarters adjacent to Dover Air Force Base, in Dover, DE. This new facility provides a state-of-the-art Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and allows Fireside access to a HELP Team within minutes of the EOC. Many of the HELP Team members are Veterans themselves or family members of Veterans. The new facility also has a secure area for private personal effects recovery, cleaning, and return to families.
Fireside Partners’ combined experience in emergency response planning, response and recovery spans over 100 years. The services will always remain confidential, compassionate and thorough, regardless of the industry or private sector where the accident or incident occurs.
Today and into the future, Fireside Partners will continue to serve those companies that place safety, service, and a commitment to their employees and their families as the highest priority.