CL entrepreneur receives national recognition

Public Safety Software Group (PSSG), a company owned by Canyon Lake resident Art Femister, received national recognition by CIOReview magazine as one of the 20 most promising public sector solution providers for 2017.

CIOReview is an online leading resource that bridges the gap between enterprising IT vendors and buyers. Its platform allows decision makers to share their insights, which in turn provides both budding and established entrepreneurs with analyses on information technology trends and a better understanding of the environment.

Art’s company specializes in creating niche software applications for police, fire and other public safety agencies used across the nation and Canada.

After working for 25 years in the technology business, Art knew he wanted to start his own company some day, but finding the right need for a product was key. During that same time, Art was volunteering with various local public safety agencies such as Cal Fire and the Riverside Sheriff’s Department when he saw a need for his company’s first product — Volunteer Integrated Management System (VIMS).

VIMS is a volunteer management application to help manage the thousands of volunteers used by police, sheriff’s and fire departments.

VIMS was created 10 years ago. Since then, PSSG has created the Off-Duty Integrated Scheduling System (ODISS) and the Training Integrated Management System (TIMS).

ODISS helps agencies schedule their full-time sworn officers for special events as well as paid off-duty assignments outside their normally scheduled shifts such as sports and entertainment venues. TIMS is used to announce and schedule training classes, re-certifications, etc., tracking training required for agency, state and federal compliance, and includes a career path navigator to help officers better understand what is needed to advance within their department.

Art, a Canyon Lake resident for three years, feels fortunate that his line of work allows him to run his company from his home office. He said, “One of the greatest gifts technology has given us is the ability to work virtually as company offices are becoming a thing of the past and what better place to call home and work than inside the gates of Canyon Lake.”