This month marks the 33-year anniversary of the founding of Telgian Holdings, Inc., a global leader in fire protection, life safety and security.
Since 1985, Telgian has grown from a modest firm providing code development and consulting, fire testing, and fire investigation, to an international company with locations in seven cities, over 350 employees, and a comprehensive roster of fire protection, engineering and design, life safety, and security services. The firm counts some of the world’s most recognizable corporate names as its clients.
Telgian traces its roots back more than three decades to Tomes and Associates, founded by former firefighter and San Diego Fire Marshal Bill Tomes. The early success of the company was a result, not only of Tomes’ vast experience, but also his lifelong passion for the fire protection industry.
That fledgling company quickly attracted industry-leading experts in the fire protection, safety, and security space, resulting in rapid growth and expansion. A wide-ranging roster of services also grew to include fire and life safety consulting for business and government agencies, fire and building code interpretation, risk analysis and hazard evaluation, fire and building plan review, fire sprinkler system design, and industry training.
Telgian CEO Jim Tomes
In 2007, principals formed the Telgian brand to more accurately reflect the diversity of the company’s many and varied fire, life safety, and security services. The word Telgian is derived from Old English and means “to branch out and grow.” And, although the name changed, Telgian’s mission, to save lives and property in partnership with its customers, never wavered.
“We are grateful to our many long-term clients for the opportunity to partner with them and provide life-saving solutions. Telgian’s history, reputation, and record of accomplishment have been built largely on their projects, and we thank them for their ongoing trust and confidence,” says Telgian Corporation CEO Jim Tomes, son of company founder Bill Tomes.
Today, Telgian operates three companies including Telgian Fire Safety, fire safety systems testing and inspections; Telgian Engineering and Consulting, innovative engineering, design and risk mitigation solutions, anti-terrorism solutions and active shooter training; and Telgian Management Technologies, cost-effective software solutions that enhance management of safety and anti-terrorism compliance regulation requirements.
The company has also dramatically increased the range of industries that it serves. In addition to a strong background in retail, Telgian boasts complex, long-term, multi-discipline projects worldwide for government, hospitality, higher education, industrial manufacturing, healthcare, restaurant and food service, distribution and warehousing, and commercial properties.
Telgian Executive Chairman Russ Leavitt
“We built the company by developing a team who share the passion first demonstrated by Bill Tomes. This is manifested by our heavy involvement with NFPA, SFPE, AFAA, AFSA, and other professional and trade organizations. We pride ourselves in serving customers across a wide variety of industries. No matter the application, however, the protection of people, property, information and organizational mission against preventable losses is always our top priority. At Telgian, we remain committed to providing effective and innovative fire protection, life safety and security programs for many years to come,” says Russ Leavitt, Executive Chairman.
About Telgian
Telgian is a worldwide provider and a global leader in fire protection, life safety and security consulting and engineering / design services. Telgian partners with clients to produce innovative solutions that reduce exposure to loss from fire and disasters. The result is productive, profitable environments that keep businesses safe and compliant. To learn more, please click About Telgian.