Privacy policy.

Introduction

On October 15, 2023, Hartsmith Consulting, LLC first created this privacy notice.  This notice was last updated on October 15, 2023. 

Hartsmith Consulting, LLC may also be referred to in this Privacy Statement as “Hartsmith Consulting,” and “we.”

Any changes to this Privacy Statement will be posted and summarized here. Reviewing this page periodically or before you provide us with additional personal information is recommended.

If you have any questions about how your identifiable information might be used, please contact privacy@hartsmithconsulting.com.  

Our Commitment to Privacy

We recognize that users of the Hartsmith Consulting website and services may have questions about how and why identifiable information is collected. This Privacy Statement explains what kinds of information we collect through our website and other means (e.g., email, surveys conducted via third party platforms) and how we use it. Hartsmith Consulting recognizes its responsibility to respect individual privacy and to treat the information we collect about individuals with care. We also recognize our responsibility to respect the confidential nature of information provided by the organizations to whom we provide services. To that end, we have internal systems in place to support and uphold the promises made in this statement; we take action to uphold these policies with our employees, contractors, service providers, and others.

Your use of the Hartsmith Consulting website and of our services signifies your understanding of this Privacy Statement and your acknowledgement of the collection, use, and storage of, and your rights with regard to, your personal information, as described below.

What Information We Collect and How We Use It

Personal Information

We collect information such that Hartsmith Consulting may provide and develop its services and programs, to engage in research for specific, defined purposes, and to share as explained in the section entitled “Data Sharing with Third Parties.” Such personal information may include names, institutional affiliation, contact information, and other biographical information.

Hartsmith Consulting may process your personal information, including website usage information, for its legitimate interests, including but not limited to informing you about programs, products, or services that may be of interest to you.

Hartsmith Consulting may use your personal information to improve and develop the services and programs it provides to you, other users, and our clients, including through market research.

Web Site Usage Information

Email addresses, information about which pages users access and actions taken by users while interacting with the site, and information volunteered by site users are used to improve the content and user experience of the Hartsmith Consulting website.   

This website (www.hartsmithconsulting.com) uses cookies to improve your experience. We also use cookies to help us learn more about site traffic patterns. You can set your browser to notify you when you receive a cookie, giving you a chance to decide whether to accept it.

Data Sharing with Third Parties

If you provide personal information to us via www.hartsmithconsulting.com, we may share it with service providers who assist us in activities such as technology, administration, or communications management. These providers are not authorized to use or disclose the information except as necessary to perform services on our behalf or to comply with legal requirements.

In some cases, we will use third party tools to collect information from you.  In those circumstances, the data you provide will be governed by this privacy notice and any end user notice/agreement issued by the third party.  For example, if Hartsmith Consulting collects information using a Google survey, we will use the information as outlined in this privacy notice.  Google (a third party service provider) may also use the information consistent with its own end user agreements (e.g., privacy policy, terms of service, terms of use).  Please see “Third Party Sites” below for additional information.

Hartsmith Consulting reserves the right to use or disclose information where we reasonably believe it is needed to (1) respond to information requests by law enforcement or other governmental authorities; (2) comply with any law, regulation, subpoena or other legal process, or court order; (3) investigate and help prevent security threats, fraud, malicious activity, or unauthorized or illegal activity involving the services of Hartsmith Consulting; or (4) enforce or protect Hartsmith Consulting’s rights and property. In such circumstances, personal information may be disclosed without notice to the individual.

Security of Collected Data

To prevent unauthorized access, maintain data accuracy, and to help ensure the correct use of collected information, we have put in place appropriate physical, electronic, and managerial procedures to safeguard and secure the information we collect online. Access to collected data is restricted to only those staff members who require the access for specific purposes, such as providing services to you.

Messages that you send to us by email may not be secure. We recommend that you do not send any confidential information to us by email. If you choose to send confidential information to us via email, you accept the risk that a third party may intercept this information.

Location of Data

Hartsmith Consulting is headquartered in the United States, and our services are hosted in and managed in the United States. If you are a user located outside the United States, you understand and acknowledge to having your personal information (which may include information collected through the use of cookies and other technologies, as described above) transferred, processed, and stored in the United States or in any other country in which we engage service providers or to which you direct us to transfer your personal information.

Data Retention and Disposal

Hartsmith Consulting retains personal information only as long as needed to fulfill the purpose for which the personal information was collected unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law. We use secure disposal methods when deleting or destroying sensitive personal information.

Third Party Sites

This site may include links to other websites that are not owned or controlled by Hartsmith Consulting, and Hartsmith Consulting is not responsible for the contents of any linked site, the conduct of the operator of any linked site, or any changes or updates to such sites. Hartsmith Consulting may provide links to you only as a convenience, and the inclusion of any link does not imply endorsement by Hartsmith Consulting of the website. This Privacy Statement does not apply to your interactions with third party websites, even if you find a link to them or access them through our website, and you should read the privacy policy of the third party provider to see how your personal information will be treated on its site.

Your Rights Regarding Your Personal Information

Hartsmith Consulting understands that you may wish to exercise certain rights available to you regarding your personal information held by us.

To access, review, correct, update, suppress, delete, withdraw consent, or otherwise limit our use of personal information you have provided to us, or to invoke any other rights regarding your personal information you may have under applicable law, you may contact us at privacy@hartsmithconsulting.com. We will make reasonable attempts to comply with such requests where applicable, but may deny, in whole or in part, requests where we are otherwise legally required or permitted to retain the data, or the requests are unreasonably repetitive, require disproportionate technical effort, risk the privacy of others, or are impractical. If your request is denied, in whole or in part, we will notify you in writing as to why your request was denied.

To protect your privacy and security, we will take reasonable steps to verify your identity before granting access or taking action following such a request. You have the right to make a complaint with a supervisory authority competent for your country or region.

To manage your email preferences, you may use the link(s) at the bottom of the relevant email or you may contact info@hartsmithconsulting.com and request to be removed from the email list.