Emergency
Response and
Software
Development
Expertise

Emergencies happen. It’s your
response that counts.
Response screenshot on phone

Emergency management software for business

Emergencies happen. Our response – the way we react to the crisis as Individuals, organizations, and businesses – is the difference between success and failure.

Protecting people, the environment, assets and reputation in a meaningful way has always been our reason for being. We understand how a crisis can rock even the most stable organizations. Minutes—even seconds—count when responding to critical events.

With decades of experience in emergency response, business continuity and software development, our team brings valuable first-hand experience to this story of innovation.

With Response, you’re armed and ready to protect your people and assets. Learn how we can mobilize your team more effectively and faster than ever before with a powerful emergency management app



The Response app makes it easy for you to ensure your data is current, so you’re always ready to respond.
OUR PRESIDENT
Marlin
Hovrisko
OUR CORE BRANDS
BlackGold logo Response logo
OUR PASSION
We help our customers protect their people, the environment, their assets and reputations, improving the resiliency of their operations.
OUR STRATEGY
Speed
In-house software development team + deep emergency response expertise = nimble reactions + better innovation

Custom
One platform that allows for unique, secure, compartmentalized data

Support
Dedicated customer success team
INDUSTRIES
  • Energy
  • Utilities
  • Manufacturing
  • Cannabis
  • Events and Entertainment
  • Government: Local Authorities and Agencies
  • Education
  • Non Profit
ESTABLISHED
timeline

Our Story of Innovation

The Response leadership team knows emergencies from days spent on the back roads with only heavy emergency response binders to guide us through a crisis. These were the days before cell phones and instant communication. We learned the rhythm of emergencies the old-fashioned way.

As smartphones and tablets became more and more popular in the last decade, we noticed emergencies becoming more complex. In the past, communication was challenging, and binders sat in company trucks unopened, which led to inefficient, disjointed reactions at critical points. Important information remained in silos, making it difficult to gain a common operating view of the situation and apply an appropriate response.

We knew this needed to change. So, we created a solution that leveraged new technology to materially improve emergency response. Response (formerly BGGoPlan) was born. The first commercial license agreement was signed in 2013 and in the following year, we deployed 600 user applications to a single large industrial company operating in both Canada and the United States.

From there, Response evolved and interest grew.

Led by Emergency Response and
Technology Experts

Marlin Hovrisko
plus
Marlin Hovrisko
Founder & President
Jason Swan
plus
Jason Swan
Vice President
TreeCanada logo

Beyond the Binder: Environmentally Friendly Solutions

Sponsor of TreeCanada

Our technology goal is to provide emergency response capabilities in a smart, efficient, and paperless manner. As part of our commitment to being a sustainable company, Response is a diligent annual sponsor of Tree Canada.

Tree Canada is a registered charity dedicated to planting and nurturing trees. For 25 years, Tree Canada has engaged companies like Response in the pursuit of a greener and healthier living environment for Canadians.

Since 1992, Tree Canada has planted more than 82 million trees, greened more than 660 schoolyards, helped restore places hit by natural disasters and brought together urban forestry experts greening cities all across Canada.
Marlin Hovrisko

Marlin Hovrisko

Founder & President

Marlin is the founder and President of Response and Black Gold Emergency Planners. With more than 20 years of experience in emergency preparedness, oil and gas project management and business operations, Marlin worked to create a leading emergency management solution for corporations across North America.

Marlin drives innovation and growth, evolving the Response app to become an immensely powerful tool. Prior to founding Black Gold, Marlin worked with an industry leading, technology-focused consulting service.

Marlin has a BSc. from the University of Calgary. He is proud of the Black Gold family-like office atmosphere and attributes their success to his committed, experienced, long-term project managers.
Jason Swan

Jason Swan

Vice President

Jason is a passionate leader who ensures operational excellence is embedded in the Response solutions for industry. He understands that preparedness and safety are integral elements the emergency response business and preaches these goals to the Response team. Motivated to design meaningful programs to help people communicate and respond effectively in emergency situations, Jason never stops pushing the needle forward.

Jason joined the company in 2006 and manages employees, develops business goals and assists in the development of effective emergency response plans for a diverse group of clients.

Prior to joining Black Gold, Jason was the Environmental, Safety and Regulatory Manager at Samson Canada. He holds a BSc. from the University of Calgary, diploma in Chemical Engineering from Southern Alberta Institute of Technology and is a Canadian Registered Safety Professional (CRSP).
Derek Megyesi + Mohammed Zaman

Derek Megyesi

Technical Product Team Lead

Working at the forefront of innovation with both progressive web and mobile platforms (iOS and Android), our in-house development team is lead by a Technical Product Manager with both an MBA and over 10 years of development and QA experience. Our chief developer is an experienced full stack developer. Together the team craft and optimize each line of code to deliver on the biggest and boldest ideas – all with emergency planning, action and reaction in mind.

The team covers front- and back-end development, along with user experience and product management. Our focus is on developing a web application that can be scaled to any level. We follow the Agile-based software delivery model that delivers work over weekly sprints with a demonstrable release at the end of each cycle. Quality is tightly woven into our process, and every team member (from managers to developers) assists with testing to ensure correctness and a flawless user experience.
Curtis Herron

Curtis Herron

Project Manager/Business Development

As Project/Business Development Coordinator, Curtis Herron focuses on quality assurance and quality control in Emergency Response Planning. With over 15 years of experience, he thrives on being a skilled problem solver, while working closely with the Black Gold team to ensure clients needs and requirements. Curtis thrives on establishing client relationships and being available to support clients in anything from planning, training and responding when called upon.

Curtis has taken on the previous roles of ERP Administrator, ERP Technical Writer, Senior Emergency Preparedness Advisor and Emergency Response Manager/Training Specialist. Being in these various roles has allowed Curtis to understand and apply all facets of the Emergency Response process. Curtis has worked both internally at multiple major oil and gas producers and consulting services companies.

He has an Applied Degree in Criminal Justice from Lethbridge Community College.
Contact BlackGold logo Emergency Planners for help with corporate emergency response planning and training.
Response—a BGGoPlan company

(403) 216-7052