Diamonds in the Rough — David Meredith and Everbridge
How do you plan for something unpredictable? Pandemics, mass shootings, terrorist attacks, tsunamis, earthquakes, and hurricanes are often unforeseeable disasters. Each possesses the power to completely alter the course of history.
The unpredictable nature of these events forces us to react, rather than prevent. Monumental efforts and restructuring usually takes place following these events to effectively save countless lives to come.
9/11 was undoubtedly one of these events, forcing our country to pick ourselves up after being brutally knocked off our feet. Numerous companies and organizations were founded following 9/11 in an attempt to try and mitigate the possibility of future attacks. One of those companies that arose from the destruction was Everbridge and steering from the helm is the CEO and JMU alumnus: David Meredith.
A Foundation of Leadership
JMU is beyond proud to be able to call David a fellow Duke. Graduating in ’93 with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance, David mentioned how JMU instilled in him strong fundamentals of business and leadership he still employs today as CEO. Working as a resident advisor and hall director, he developed a keen understanding of the qualities of a successful leader.
After leaving JMU, David utilized these acquired leadership qualities, holding multiple executive positions in various companies. Some of the global companies were CGI, VeriSign, CenturyLink, Rackspace, and (currently) Everbridge. After gaining industry experience, David returned to school to receive his Master of Science in Management of Information Technology from UVA.
Critical Event Management
David went on to help lead one of the most challenging and unpredictable industries, Critical Event Management (CEM). Everbridge has been strenuously working to combat the gravest threats to humanity at large. “If you go back from 2000 until now, you see a 30 [times] increase in man-made attacks, a 20 [times] increase in cyber attacks and two [times] increase in natural disasters,” David said to CNBC’s Jim Cramer last year. Currently Everbridge has been attempting to overcome the vast challenges presented by the current threat of COVID-19 and vaccine distribution.
Everbridge works to more effectively assess risks, determine the relevance of the emergency and relay the information to encourage more proactive decision making and appropriate adjustments. Their Critical Event Management platform is used by over 5,600 customers to automate and accelerate certain tasks that used to slow organization’s overall reaction time. Now those customers can use Everbridge’s software to further protect over 700 million people globally or avoid and lessen disruptions across multiple industries.
A Diamond in a Rough
David and Everbridge are constantly discovering new challenges along with new solutions. One of our time’s most unique health challenges has been tackling the complexities associated with COVID-19. Leading the way with the highest amount of second round doses per capita than any other state, West Virginia rapidly deployed Everbridge vaccine distribution software in just a week. According to Everbridge’s website, “West Virginia also became the first state in the nation to complete its second round of COVID-19 vaccinations at all nursing homes and assisted living facilities statewide and immunized all teachers over the age of 50 that opted to take the vaccine.”
Diamonds are formed under pressure and Everbridge has seen their fair share of pressure. Selflessly serving the public’s needs, David is leading their company and pulling our public towards a brighter future. “Everbridge is a mission-driven company, and our mission is to keep people safe and organizations running,” Meredith told JMU’s The Breeze. “Our mission has never been more important than it is right now.”
West Virginia’s Governor Jim Justice referred to West Virginia as a “diamond in the rough,” but it really goes beyond just that state. I would expand to say that all of Everbridge’s and David Meredith’s efforts are the diamonds in this rough…
