Learning from tragedy

April 10, 2006

Yesterday at the show I had the opportunity to meet Tom Hansen, CEO of AirVisual, which he founded in response to the communication breakdowns he witnessed firsthand at the World Trade Center on 9/11.

On that tragic day, he was just outside the WTC and ended up volunteering in Burn Unit B1 at Ground Zero where he had the harrowing experience of witnessing a slew of various injuries amid much chaos and confusion. Afterward, he resolved to make a difference and improve the communication technologies that could be used in such a situation (or other situations).

On a personal note, I have a lot of respect for all the volunteers who responded on 9/11, and so it was a privilege for me to meet Tom Hansen and learn about what his company has accomplished and plans to accomplish in the future. For further reading, there is a U.S. News & World Report article on AirVisual's website with more info about his volunteerism on 9/11.

-Greg