Emergency response, restoration contractor management company joins Purdue Research Park
November 9, 2011
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Property owners who need services and qualified restoration contractors who can provide them after severe weather strikes may benefit from technology developed by a new affiliate of the Purdue Research Park.
Phil Butler founded TecMark Inc., whose software tracks weather activity at an individual street level of detail. He said the company contacts property owners and restoration contractors immediately after a storm hits an area.
"Within 20 minutes after a storm, we contact property owners by telephone and email to ask if they need services, then direct them to the website of the TecMark-affiliated contractor," he said. "Property owners can see the contractor's credentials and accreditations at the site, and then receive a local phone number to contact the contractor for immediate and long-term needs."
Butler said restoration contractors are organized into five zones of concentric circles based on their proximity to Indiana and the amount of severe weather their area receives.
"Within 25 minutes of a storm hitting their area, contractors receive an email listing of all the houses damaged by the storm. The listing includes the property owner's name, phone number and email address," he said. "Contractors pay a low monthly fee for the TecMark Marketing System, but through our profit-sharing plan they will get this money back and may have the opportunity to earn significant amounts of money above the monthly fee."
Butler said TecMark's weather-tracking software may be developed into other applications.
"We are enhancing the software so that it can serve as a 9-1-1 backup program," he said. "Also, a spinoff product called Event Defender Inc. already is in development. Our goal is to provide weather-data management software that can help organizers of concerts and large sporting events like NASCAR races."
Butler originally connected with Purdue through the Technical Assistance Program (TAP).
"When TecMark became more of a reality, I contacted officials at TAP, made a detailed presentation to them and was accepted into the program," he said. "It was such a positive experience that it seemed natural to become an affiliate of the Purdue Research Park. The main drawing points are the Purdue Portals Program and the recruiting assistance that can bring us the most qualified people for the customer service and inside sales positions we will need to fill."
About TecMark Inc.
The TecMark Marketing System contacts homeowners after a severe storm anywhere in the United States at any time of the day with information about a contractor who can help them with their immediate needs.
About Purdue Research Park
The Purdue Research Park has the largest university-affiliated business incubation complex in the country in four locations across Indiana. The park network is home to about 200 companies that employ 4,000 people and are located in West Lafayette, Merrillville, Indianapolis and New Albany.
Purdue Research Park contact: Steve Martin, 765-588-3342, sgmartin@prf.org
Source: Phil Butler, 317-201-0444, pjb717@gmail.com
