The August print edition omitted the byline of Ann Donnelly The byline has been restored to properly credit the author.
By Ann Donnelly
Strategic Emergency Training & Consulting LLC (SETC) celebrated its fifth anniversary in June, continuing its mission to provide high-quality safety training and consulting services across the Northeast.
Founded during the COVID-19 pandemic by owners Ryan McConkey and Travis Dunklee, SETC began in a Glens Falls dive shop basement, where its first cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), automated external defibrillator (AED) and first aid class trained six people during a snowstorm. Initially offering programs through the American Safety and Health Institute (ASHI), the company has since added certifications from the American Red Cross, American Heart Association (AHA), National Safety Council (NSC) and the Emergency Care and Safety Institute (ECSI).
SETC serves industries from mining to health care, offering public classes and on-site corporate training. While certification renewals every two years pose a challenge, the company has expanded into new offerings, including AED sales and management, safety consulting, and customized emergency plans.
Its reach extends from the North Country to Syracuse, Long Island, North Haven, Connecticut, and Springfield, Massachusetts, using local instructors who know their communities. “We do our best to keep instructors in the community they live in,” Dunklee said. “What’s better than having a member of your community be your instructor?”
A majority of SETC’s instructors are current or former first responders, including McConkey, a 35-year firefighter, and Dunklee, with decades of first responder experience. This background, McConkey said, brings authenticity: “An instructor who has never performed CPR in an emergency can’t convey the reality of the experience.”
In addition to fee-based programs, SETC offers free classes on hands-only CPR, choking obstruction, naloxone (Narcan) administration and severe hemorrhage control through the Stop the Bleed program. Its AED management program helps businesses comply with state and federal laws, including physician oversight and registration with local 911 centers, for about $12 per month per device.
In 2024, SETC launched Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Public Employee Safety and Health (PESH) training, led by hazardous materials specialist Cody Addington. Services include “mock OSHA inspections” and annual compliance training for fire departments and other public entities.
The company emphasizes long-term relationships over one-time transactions. “We don’t want to just check a box,” Dunklee said. “We want to be your partner.”
With plans to expand further into New York and into New Hampshire, SETC continues to grow its network of service-oriented instructors — from nurses and paramedics to retired military personnel.
“Our goal is to give people the confidence to act in an emergency, knowing they did their best with the training and equipment available,” McConkey said.
For more information, visit www.strategicetc.com.