Tag: Gene Saunders

Gene Saunders: Helping to Bring Loved Ones Home

Gene Saunders

The founder and CEO of Project Lifesaver, which is a non-profit 501c3 organization specializing in the radio-tracking and locating of individuals with cognitive disorders such as Alzheimer’s, Autism, and others that may tend to wander and become lost. They are located through the signal emitting from a wrist transmitter being tracked by an equipped, trained search team. The organization also offers training on the disorders for law enforcement and first responders and consulting for agencies conducting searches.

The Man Behind the Non-Profit Organization

Gene founded Project Lifesaver as a non-profit 501c3 organization. After graduating from Norview High School in Norfolk, Virginia he entered the US Army for active duty. On leaving active duty, Gene had several jobs including Virginia Power, Credit Manager, Desk Clerk, but in 1968 Gene joined the Chesapeake Virginia Police Dept. He retired in 2001 from the police dept as a Captain, having served in all areas of the police dept., including forming the SWAT Team and serving as Commander for 23 years. During those times Gene attended Old Dominion University, and the University of Louisville Southern Police Institute for 2 years before retiring from the police department.

While with the Police Dept SWAT Team, Gene and his team began having to conduct several searches for persons with cognitive disorders and were not as successful as they wanted to be. These searches took vast amounts of time and manpower, and little was known as to proper search techniques for those persons. Gene always wanted something that would enable the agencies to move quickly to locate the person before tragedy overtook them and to reduce the amount of manpower needed for such searches.

Saving Hundreds of Lives

Gene’s Project Lifesaver Program is run at the municipality level by various public safety agencies. When an agency decides to implement a program, Project Lifesaver International will equip them with all the needed technologies and provide the needed training to those involved. The non-profit organization’s training includes the use of the equipment implementation of the strategic methods specifically designed for the program, and also community policing courses that provide a basic understanding of cognitive conditions to better comprehend the behaviors of an individual with said condition.

The non-profit organization has also included the PLS Database during the training, which is provided to the member agencies free of cost. Gene says, “Completion of training is required for certification. Once an agency has become certified, they may begin acquiring clients for their local program.”

Project Lifesaver’s method relies on proven radio technology and specifically trained search and rescue teams. Those who enroll for Project Lifesaver, wear a small transmitter on their ankle or wrist that emits an individual frequency signal. If a client goes missing, the caregiver contacts the non-profit organization, and a trained emergency team responds to the wanderer’s area. The first responders then use the client’s individualized frequency to locate the position of the individual. The knowledge given from the community policing courses is best applied in this situation because the first responders know how to best approach the client once found, and allow them to be brought back to safety.

Advantage over Peers

Project Lifesaver is quite different from its peers mainly due to;

  • Innovation: Project LifeSaver strives to find innovative ideas to improve the methods of “bringing loved ones home!”
  • The program, Not a Product: It is not about wearable technology; it’s a program specifically designed to protect certain ‘at risk’ individuals.
  • Community Involvement: The non-profit organization, bridges the gap between the first responders and their community.
  • Cost-Effective: The program reduces funds, manpower, and time needed to conduct a search and rescue mission.
  • Proven and Trusted: Project Lifesaver is the most effective SAR program for the ‘at risk’ population.
  • Peace of Mind: It provides caregivers peace of mind knowing their loved ones are protected. 
Tackling Challenges and Future Roadmap

As a leader of Project Lifesaver, Gene believes his biggest challenges are Supply issues and getting good staff. He feels, planning, and moving with the flow will help, in the supply issues, so he suggests to, recruit good people that have a mindset like you. Reward good performance and look out for your people.

When it comes to the future, Gene plans to continue to grow Project Lifesaver’s membership of agencies and work toward even better technology to aid in the mission he has.

Suggestions for Younger Self

When we asked Gene to provide some valuable suggestions for young entrepreneurs, he said, “If you have an idea, move on it. Do not let others discourage you! Understand there will be obstacles and make up your mind to overcome them. Never Quit!”

Gene Saunders: Directing Project Lifesaver International on its Pursuit to Protect Individuals with Cognitive Disorders

It has been truly said that the passion for entrepreneurship is true when it is maneuvered by a desire for the welfare of the people and society. A dire social cause paved the way for the foundation of Project Lifesaver International, which, today, has grown to over 1,600 agencies in 50 states and 9 provinces in Canada with over 3,500 successful rescues under the guidance of Gene Saunders. A passionate social entrepreneur, Gene Saunders, the Founder & CEO of Project Lifesaver International, is keen on making vital contributions towards the welfare of the society that would create a difference in the lives of the people.

His remarkable and dignified efforts have been instrumental in establishing Project Lifesaver as a great organization having a reputation as one of the most trusted names in the space. Prior to taking this foundation, Gene Saunders served 33 years with the Chesapeake Police Department serving in Patrol, Vice, Narcotics, Detectives, and Training. He served inline function and command elements of each of these units. He also founded and commanded the Special Weapons Team in 1974 serving as tactical commander and commander for 23 years with over 800 operations. He was Chief Investigator on several large multi-state, international drug, and organized crime conspiracy investigations. After retirement in 2001, Gene Saunders served in National Guard and State Defense Force in Infantry, Airborne, and Ranger Units in leadership and command positions. He also served in the US Air Force Aux. (Civil Air Patrol) as a Senior Squadron (Ranger) commander and 5 years as Commandant of the Middle East Region Staff College.

More about the Nobel Initiative

Incorporated in 1999, Project Lifesaver is known as a premier search and rescue program operated internationally by public safety agencies. It is strategically designed to protect and locate those with cognitive conditions, such as Alzheimer’s, dementia, autism, and Down syndrome, which may cause them to wander and become lost. Project Lifesaver trains public safety agencies across the country on search and rescue procedures, techniques, and equipment. The primary mission of Project Lifesaver is to provide timely responses to save lives and reduce potential injury for adults and children with the propensity to wander due to a cognitive condition. To date, Project Lifesaver agencies operate in the United States, Canada, and Australia, and have successfully rescued over 2,000 people with an average search time of 30 minutes.

Besides, it was first and is the only program of its kind, and has been the inspiration for many locating devices currently on the market; though no other organization has been able to replicate its effectiveness & reliability!

A Glimpse of Key Components

There are three major components utilized by the Project Lifesaver program which enable firs responders to achieve the program’s mission of “bringing loved ones home.”

Advance Technology:

Project Lifesaver is in a constant state of research and development to ensure the latest and most effective technologies are being utilized by the program both in the prevention of wandering and the recovery of a client in the event of elopement.

SAR Methods:

Project Lifesaver has strategically designed methods and techniques for the specific use of recovering individuals with a cognitive condition. When applied by first responders these innovative strategies enable the most efficient rescue of an eloped client.

Policing Courses:

Project Lifesaver provides first responders with a basic understanding of cognitive conditions, giving them the necessary tools needed to respond to an elopement, and to assess and effectively manage the safe and comfortable return of an eloped client.

Differentiating Factors

Project Lifesaver was the first organization to significantly address the elopement issue among at-risk individuals, and since 1999, it has been the only non-profit organization actively educating and equipping public safety agencies in the protection, search, and safe recovery of wanderers. Here are some more differentiating factors that make Project Lifesaver stand out;

  • Continually test new technology and offer if applicable
  • Keep constant communication with member agencies
  • Maintain a database for members to keep their program records
  • Hold annual conference bringing in guest speakers with the newest information on the disorders we deal with and the newest technology
Company’s Future Perspectives

We will keep looking for better technology for tracking and to work in conjunction with our existing technology to improve our members’ efficiency.

The Greatest accomplishment: Founded and led Project Lifesaver for over 22 years.

Overcoming the Challenges

Yes, by staying focused on the mission, continual communication with our members and their needs, and seeking advice from my peers and counterparts.

The “Secret Sauce” & the Leadership Principles

Know your mission and the technology needed and be qualified with it; Gather good competent, loyal people around you; Keep the welfare of your people in mind; Stay abreast of the changes in your area.

The Biggest Failure & Learning

Trusting the wrong people, not listening to my “gut” instincts. I now pay attention to the warning bells going off in my head when dealing with people.

Define Success

Project Lifesaver is being implemented in other countries and finding a funding source to allow “no-cost” implementation in areas needing the program.

New ideas in the Pipeline

All set to focus on working with the latest and new technology for tracking; expanding our reach to other areas.

Leadership Style & Skills

They say I am fair, focused, direct, tenacious, and visionary. I have faced several “obstacles” in keeping Project Lifesaver on track and have been successful due to these traits. I don’t give up and know there is always one more thing you can do in any situation.

“Vision” in Life: To make a Difference

One Characteristic, Every Leader should Possess
Inner Drive to succeed in spite of all put in front of you.

The Best Advice Received Recently: Never Quit!

 

 

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