Meet the Mets: AccuWeather's Tom Bedard
Summary
Meet AccuWeather's Tom Bedard, Emergency Preparedness and Business Continuity Manager, who uses his experience and expertise to help businesses better prepare for severe weather.
Key Highlights
Tom's experiences with adverse weather events fueled his passion for meteorology and led him to pursue a career in the field
He went from being a FEMA training course developer in Honolulu to joining AccuWeather, where he helps businesses plan for weather threats and manages the company's internal business continuity program
Tom's favorite weather to forecast remains thunderstorms, which provides him an opportunity to go storm chasing with his wife
Tom Bedard, the Emergency Preparedness and Business Continuity Manager at AccuWeather, has always had a personal connection with the weather. Growing up, his family seemed to have a knack for being in the wrong place at the wrong time when it came to severe weather events. From losing cars to floodwaters in Houston to narrowly escaping a tornado in Kansas, his experiences motivated him to learn about the weather and alleviate his fears.
Tom's career in meteorology began in Honolulu, where he worked as a FEMA training course developer for the National Disaster Preparedness Training Center (NDPTC). His role involved developing and teaching preparedness-focused weather training courses across the country. During this time, Tom developed a passion for delivering weather training to private businesses.
When AccuWeather announced an opening for a position involving weather training for private businesses, Tom didn't hesitate to apply. Joining AccuWeather was a natural progression for him, as it allowed him to combine his passion for weather training with his expertise in emergency preparedness and business continuity.
While Tom's current role doesn't involve forecasting, he is still passionate about forecasting thunderstorms. He enjoys storm chasing with his wife, who happens to be a skilled forecaster at AccuWeather's Operations Center in Wichita, Kansas. Through firsthand experience, Tom better understands his wife's forecasts and continues to learn from her expertise.
Reflecting on his most memorable weather event, Tom recalls a time shortly after his family moved to Houston. An unnamed tropical system brought heavy rainfall to the area, causing widespread flooding. In a misguided attempt to pick up Tom, his family unknowingly drove their station wagon into floodwaters. It was a harrowing experience that taught them a valuable lesson about the unpredictable weather patterns in southeast Texas.
In his former role at AccuWeather as an Implementation Manager, Tom and his team of meteorologists played a crucial role in supporting clients during significant weather events. They conducted just-in-time support campaigns, ensuring that clients had accurate communication lists, received the necessary products and were aware of the availability of AccuWeather's meteorologists for their internal operational response calls. These efforts made a significant difference in helping clients stay informed and prepared during critical weather situations.
What Tom appreciates most about working for AccuWeather is the company's commitment to supporting its employees and their community and volunteer interests. He actively engages in the weather community and participates in Sedgwick County, Kansas, public safety initiatives. Tom credits his managers for encouraging his volunteer involvement and fostering his professional growth in the weather enterprise.
AccuWeather's patented technology, specifically its SmartWarn system, gives the company a competitive edge. SmartWarn combines advanced meteorological expertise with a user-friendly warning interface, allowing AccuWeather meteorologists to issue warnings quickly and effectively for weather threats. This innovative technology ensures that crucial weather information reaches individuals and businesses promptly, reducing the potential impact of severe weather events.
In his spare time, Tom finds joy in staying active and involved. He contributes to his community as a K9 search and rescue team member, utilizing a human remains detection dog. Additionally, he serves as the president of the local American Meteorological Society (AMS) and National Weather Association (NWA) Chapter and the president of the Wichita Wingmen lacrosse team. Tom enjoys running ultramarathons and volunteering with Team Rubicon when he's not busy with these commitments.
Want to learn more about how Tom and his team can help your business be better prepared for severe weather? Contact him today to create your company's emergency preparedness or business continuity plan.
