TargetSolutions, a leading provider of online training management applications for public safety agencies, held its annual Networking & Training Workshop last week in San Diego, California.

Account members packed the house atop the Marriott Gaslamp Quarter to mingle with TargetSolutions’ employees and network with peers using the system. Two fire agencies and one long-time platform manager were honored with prestigious honors by TargetSolutions.

Stuart Sprung of the Oceanside (CA) Fire Department was given the Helping Hand Award, presented each year to someone who goes above and beyond to help TargetSolutions improve its online fire department training system. Two other agencies, West Metro (CO) Fire Protection District and Tualatin Valley (OR) Fire & Rescue, were recognized with the Vanguard and Technology Achievement Awards, respectively.

Attendees asked questions, learned tips and tricks, and offered platform suggestions.

“This is really all about you, the customers,” said TargetSolutions’ Regional Sales Manager Kegan Konrady. “We really want you to know we wouldn’t be here without you.”

Here is a breakdown of the awards presented by TargetSolutions:

The Vanguard Award

West Metro Fire Protection District is a cutting-edge department constantly looking to maximize its training resources. After economic reasons led to a re-organization, the District was forced to find more efficient, cost-effective ways for managing training and compliance.

“It was out of necessity, really,” said Division Chief Dan Pfannenstiel. “We lost some people in training and we needed a new delivery model. That’s why we decided to blaze the trail with TargetSolutions.”

The District signed on with TargetSolutions in May of 2012 and has worked hard to exploit the platform’s capabilities and communicate the benefits to other agencies in the area, making West Metro a clear choice for the Vanguard Award.

“West Metro is one of the most respected agencies in the Denver area and all of Colorado,” said TargetSolutions’ Regional Sales Director Phil Coons. “It’s a progressive agency that is looking to be at the forefront of innovation and that explains why they are experiencing such significant success utilizing the platform.”

The Technology Achievement Award

Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue was not able to attend the event in San Diego, but was given the Technology Achievement Award. The Oregon-based department has shown remarkable ingenuity in its implementation of the system, said Coons.

Having signed on less than two year ago, the department has quickly mastered the platform’s full capabilities and is continuously pushing the envelope to achieve departmental efficiencies.

“Tualatin fully grasps the concept of customization with the platform and is finding ways to make TargetSolutions work for the specific needs of the department,” said Coons.

The Helping Hand Award

Sprung, who serves as Oceanside’s Fire Training Specialist, was a slam dunk for the Helping Hand Award because he consistently works with TargetSolutions staff members to improve the platform’s capabilities. Sprung takes the time to provide feedback, troubleshoot issues, and work with his neighbors who are looking to make the most of TargetSolutions.

“This is a really nice gesture by TargetSolutions, but it’s really recognizing the work of all of us collectively who are trying to find training improvements,” said Sprung, who works closely with members of t