Ridge gets emergency alert consulting gig

Former Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge has been hired to advise a Texas company that is selling a patented high-speed public alert and notification system to schools and other facilities.

Ridge will serve as senior adviser to TechRadium Inc., of Sugar Land, Texas, which is marketing its Immediate Response Information System (IRIS) for emergency notification. The system allows designated personnel to send emergency e-mail or voice mail messages to a large number of recipients during an emergency.

"TechRadium is at the cutting edge of new technologies necessary for
protection and information in today's world," Ridge said. "I look forward to assisting the company as it expands the use and opportunities of IRIS, a promising and exciting new technology."

Ridge served as President Bush's homeland security adviser and became secretary of the new department when it opened its doors in March 2003. Ridge resigned in December 2004 and is now the principal at Ridge Global LLC, a strategic consulting firm.

"We are excited about Gov. Ridge's participation, and he will play a very
important role in the further development of TechRadium," said Ryan Rodkey, chief executive at TechRadium.