PIER Systems
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Software, Crisis communication |
| Founded | August 2000 in Bellingham, Washington, United States |
| Founder | Gerald Baron |
| Headquarters | Bellingham , United States |
Area served | United States |
Key people | Gerald Baron (Founder) |
| Products | The PIER System (cloud-based communication platform) |
| Website | www |
PIER Systems, Inc. specializes in creating and maintaining a cloud-based, on-demand communication platform known as The PIER System. This software is tailored for managing information, crisis communication, business continuity, disaster recovery, public relations, mass alerts, news tracking, press release dissemination, and the organization of documents, contacts, media inquiries, and related resources. The company is headquartered in Bellingham, Washington and operates additional offices throughout the United States. The acronym PIER stands for Public Information Emergency Response.
The clientele of PIER Systems includes prominent organizations within the oil and energy industries such as BP International, Tesoro Corporation, Shell, Marathon Oil Corporation, Enbridge, Valero Energy Corporation, and Ameren. The firm also supports several U.S. governmental bodies like the U.S. Coast Guard, USDA, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, American Red Cross, along with various regional emergency management agencies. Educational institutions including the University of Houston, University of North Carolina, and Western Washington University rely on PIER’s solutions. Additionally, commercial enterprises such as Albertsons, Allstate Insurance Company, Boeing, and Darigold are among its users.
History
Established in August 2000 by entrepreneur Gerald Baron, PIER Systems originated from lessons learned during the 1999 Olympic pipeline incident in Bellingham, Washington. At that time, Baron was contracted to manage public communications for Equilon Enterprises amid the crisis. Identifying a gap in efficient communication tools for emergency scenarios, he created The PIER System to streamline information flow during such events. Baron highlighted the critical need for enhanced communication technologies to improve crisis management effectiveness.
In 2003, the company briefly operated under the name AudienceCentral, Inc., before reverting to its original name, PIER Systems, Inc., in 2007.
Clients
- During Hurricane Katrina in 2005, The PIER System was employed by the United States Coast Guard 8th District to sustain media communications despite power outages. Updates were transmitted via cell phone modems by officers, enabling nationwide dissemination of information. The USCG 8th District’s website recorded over 2 million visits for updates while public affairs personnel handled hundreds of inquiries through the platform.
- In response to the 2008 California wildfires—which involved approximately 1,400 concurrent fires and local system failures—the United States Forest Service and Calfire engaged PIER Systems to swiftly create a centralized website. This portal enabled coordination among 22 regional response units and remained operational throughout the emergency.
- After Hurricane Ike struck in September 2008, twelve key organizations—including Harris County Metro, Port of Houston, Marathon Oil, Motiva Port Arthur Refinery, BP, USCG, and University of Houston campuses—depended on The PIER System to manage communications internally and externally with employees, their families, and media outlets.
- In April 2010, PIER Systems launched deepwaterhorizonresponse.com to assist BP and the U.S. Coast Guard in their communication efforts during the Deepwater Horizon oil spill incident.
External links
- PIER Systems Official website
- Jetty Communication Management System Created in 2013 by Geoff Baron, son of Gerald Baron