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Our company is based on the belief that our customers' needs are of the utmost importance. Our entire team is committed to meeting those needs. As a result, a high percentage of our business is from repeat customers and referrals. Below is a short biography of the founder and senior professional.

Arthur D. Kaplan, CEM

The founder and principal of the Kaplan Group, Inc. Arthur Kaplan, is the senior professional who continues to practice in the emergency management arena since his early days as a volunteer fire officer and EMT in the late 1970s. He retired as the Emergency Management Coordinator in a mid-size Pennsylvania County, after 23 years of service. The office he administered was responsible for the Emergency Preparedness and Response Program, including Training, Exercises, Planning and Response for all Natural and Technological Hazards that could affect the Schuylkill County. He managed the Emergency Operations Center through numerous predicaments including major ice/snow storms, tornadoes, and flooding situations. Under his direction, the office was instrumental in bringing back millions of dollars of assistance during nine Federal Disaster Declarations in Schuylkill County. In addition, Art oversaw the county-wide communications system for the first five years of his career in Schuylkill County Government and instrumental in bringing enhanced 911 services to fruition.

He was the Chairman of the East Central PA Counter-terrorism Task Force, representing seven counties including Berks, Columbia, Luzerne, Northumberland, Montour, Schuylkill, and Wyoming since its inception in 1999. Art was also a member of the Pennsylvania’s Intrastate Mutual Aid Committee, created with 2009 legislation for a state-wide system and will remain active in Pennsylvania TransCAER, as a former Chairman of that state-wide committee.

Mr. Kaplan currently serves as the evacuation planning specialist for the Pennsylvania South Central Task Force, representing 9 PA counties. He deploys with the Pennsylvania State All Hazards Incident Management Team and regional teams as well. He continues to train, exercise and plan for government and the private sector.​ 

Kaplan managed Emergency Operations Centers through numerous predicaments including major ice/snow storms, tornadoes and flooding situations. Under his direction, the county office was instrumental in bringing back millions of dollars of assistance during 1more that a dozen Federal Disaster Declarations. In addition, Art led a county-wide communications system for Government and was instrumental in bringing enhanced 911 services to fruition. He served as the Chairman of the East Central PA Counter-terrorism Task Force, one of nine task forces, representing seven Pennsylvania counties from 1999 to 2009. Kaplan was a member of the Pennsylvania’s Intrastate Mutual Aid Committee, culminating with the first legislation for a state-wide Mutual Aid system in Pennsylvania.

He is a graduate of the Pennsylvania State University and has completed courses in the fire science program at the University of Maryland.

Kaplan maintains his CEM, Certified Emergency Manager, through the International Association of Emergency Managers. He also holds state and national certification as an Emergency Medical Technician, Firefighter I & II, Fire Officer I, and Fire Service Instructor I & II.

Mr. Kaplan is a local level instructor for the Pennsylvania State Fire Academy (PFA) and has worked in the community college system in Pennsylvania including Lehigh Carbon Community College, Bucks County Community College, Harrisburg Area Community College, Luzerne County Community College, and Reading Area Community College specializing in Incident Management and Hazardous Materials courses. In addition, Mr. Kaplan is an Adjunct Instructor for the Pennsylvania State Fire Academy Homeland Security Program and evaluates Firefighter I & II as well as Hazardous Materials Certification. Kaplan instructed in the Criminal Justice Program for the McCann School of Business and Technology for over 9 years.

Recent accomplishments for Kaplan include conducting nationwide workshops on Public - Private Partnerships, reviewing and developing Incident Management Team plans, conducting numerous training classes and exercises for universities, large corporations.

Currently Mr. Kaplan facilitates FEMA programs nation-wide for the Mid-Atlantic Center for Emergency Management (MACEM) at Frederick Community College, is qualified to instruct at the National Emergency Training Center in Emmitsburg, Maryland and is a Subject Matter Expert for the Federal Center of Domestic Preparedness.

Kaplan continues to plan, train and exercise in both the private and public sectors.

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