Privacy Policy

Introduction
Ground Control Southern Oregon LLC (referred to as “Ground Control”, “we”, or “us”) is committed to protecting your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains what personal data we collect, how we collect it, how we use it, and how we share and protect it. It also outlines your rights regarding your personal data and how you can exercise those rights. This Privacy Policy is a legally binding agreement between you and Ground Control; by using our website or services, you agree to the terms described here. We will not disclose any information, and phone numbers collected for SMS consent, with any affiliate marketing or third parties

Modifications: We reserve the right to update or modify these Terms and Conditions at any time. Any changes will be posted on this page with an updated revision date. By continuing to engage with our services, you agree to be bound by any changes to these terms

Personal Data We Collect

We collect different types of personal data from customers, website visitors, job applicants, and others. This may include:

Contact Information: Such as your name, email address, phone number, and mailing address.
Inquiry Information: Details you provide when contacting us or requesting services (for example, the content of messages or inquiries you send us).
Service Details: Information related to orders or services you request, such as delivery addresses or project details.
Job Application Information: If you apply for a job with us, we may collect information related to your application, such as your resume, employment history, and contact details.
Technical and Usage Data: When you visit our website, we may collect information automatically using cookies and similar technologies. This can include your IP address, browser type, device identifiers, pages viewed, and the dates/times of access.

How We Collect Personal Data

We collect personal data through several methods:

Directly from You: You may give us personal information when you fill out a form on our website (for example, our contact form), communicate with us via phone or email, request a quote or service, or apply for employment.
Through Automated Means: As you interact with our website, we use cookies and site analytics to automatically collect Technical and Usage Data (such as IP address and browsing behavior). Cookies are small files stored on your browser that help us remember preferences and understand how people use our site. You can adjust your browser settings to refuse cookies; however, note that some site features might not function properly if cookies are disabled.
From Third Parties: We may receive information from third-party sources. For example, if you engage with our business via social media or review sites, we might receive your public profile information from those platforms. If a third-party referral or partner (with your consent) provides us your information, we will treat it in accordance with this Privacy Policy.

Purpose of Data Collection and Use

We use the personal data we collect for the following purposes:

Providing Services: To process your orders, deliver products, schedule and provide landscaping or material placement services, and otherwise fulfill the requests you make to Ground Control.
Communication: To respond to your inquiries, provide quotes or information you request, and keep you updated on the status of services or deliveries. We may also send administrative messages such as appointment reminders or service confirmations.
Marketing (With Consent): To send promotional communications about new products, services, or special offers, but only if you have opted in to receive such marketing. You can opt out of marketing messages at any time (see Opt-Out Choices below).
Job Applications: To process and evaluate your job applications, communicate with you about your application status, and carry out the hiring process if you apply for a position with us.
Improvement and Analytics: To analyze website traffic and usage patterns in order to improve our website, products, and services. (For example, understanding which pages are most visited can help us enhance user experience.)
Legal Compliance and Protection: To comply with applicable laws and regulations (such as maintaining records for tax purposes) and to protect our rights or the rights of others. This includes using personal data to prevent fraud or abuse, to resolve disputes, and to enforce our agreements.

Data Sharing and Disclosure

We value your privacy and handle your personal data with care. We do not sell or rent your personal information to third parties. We only share personal data in the following circumstances:

Service Providers: We may share your information with trusted third-party service providers who perform services on our behalf. This includes, for example, website hosting companies, email/SMS communication services, delivery partners, or analytics providers. These partners are only given the information necessary to perform their functions, and they are contractually obligated to keep your data confidential and use it solely for the purposes we specify.
Legal Obligations: We may disclose personal data if required to do so by law or legal process. For instance, we might need to share information in response to a court order, subpoena, or lawful request by government authorities, or to comply with other legal obligations.
Business Transfers: In the event that Ground Control undergoes a business transaction such as a merger, acquisition, corporate reorganization, or asset sale, your personal data may be transferred to the successor or new owner as part of that transaction. In such cases, we will ensure that your information remains protected by this Privacy Policy or a policy equivalent to it.
Protection of Rights: We may share data when we believe it’s necessary to protect our rights, safety, and property, or the rights, safety, and property of our customers, employees, or others. This includes exchanging information with other companies and organizations for the purposes of fraud protection and credit risk reduction.

Data Storage, Retention, and Deletion

Your personal data is stored securely, whether on our premises or on secure servers provided by reputable third-party hosting providers. Generally, our data (including website data and backups) is stored in the United States. We retain personal data only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this policy or as required by law:

Retention Period: We keep your information for as long as you have an ongoing relationship with us (for example, as a customer or job applicant) and for a reasonable period thereafter. For customers, this may mean we retain certain records while your account or project is active and for a period after completion for operational or legal purposes (such as maintaining records of transactions or services provided). For job applicants, we may retain your application information for a period of time after the position is filled or closed, in case other opportunities arise or for record-keeping as required by law.
Secure Deletion: When personal data is no longer needed for the purposes for which it was collected, or when you request deletion (and we have no legal obligation to retain it), we will securely delete or anonymize the information. This may include removing data from our active databases and systems and/or taking steps to irreversibly scramble data so it no longer can be linked to you. Physical copies of personal data (if any) will be shredded or otherwise destroyed in a secure manner. (Please note that due to technical reasons, residual copies of your information might remain in backup systems for a short period, but these will be purged or overwritten according to our backup retention schedules.)

Data Security

Ground Control takes the security of your personal data seriously. We implement appropriate technical, administrative, and physical security measures to protect your information from unauthorized access, alteration, loss, or disclosure. These measures include, for example, using encrypted connections (SSL/TLS) on our website to protect data transmission, restricting access to personal data to authorized personnel, and maintaining firewalls and security software to guard our systems. We also train our staff on data privacy and security best practices to ensure your information is handled correctly.
While we strive to protect your data, please understand that no method of transmission over the internet or method of electronic storage is 100% secure. Therefore, we cannot guarantee absolute security. However, we continually review and enhance our security practices to mitigate new threats as they arise.

Your Rights

You have rights regarding the personal data we hold about you, and we are committed to honoring those rights. Subject to applicable law, your rights may include:

Access and Correction: You have the right to request a copy of the personal data we hold about you. You may also request that we correct or update any inaccurate or incomplete information.
Deletion: You can ask us to delete your personal data. If you request deletion, we will remove your information to the extent permissible by law. (For example, we may need to retain certain data for legal compliance or legitimate business purposes.)
Withdrawal of Consent: If you have given consent for us to use your personal information (for example, for marketing communications), you have the right to withdraw that consent at any time. Withdrawing consent will not affect the lawfulness of any processing we conducted before your withdrawal.
Objection and Restriction: You may have the right to object to certain processing of your data or request that we restrict such processing. For instance, you can request to opt out of certain data uses or sharing (see Opt-Out Choices below for more on marketing opt-outs).
Data Portability: To the extent required by applicable law, you might have the right to request that we provide your personal data to you or transmit it to another organization in a structured, commonly used, and machine-readable format.
Non-Discrimination: Ground Control will not discriminate against you for exercising any of your privacy rights. If you choose to exercise your rights (such as opting out of marketing), you will continue to receive the same quality of services from us.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the information provided in the Contact Us section below. For security, we may need to verify your identity before fulfilling certain requests. We will respond to your request within a reasonable timeframe and in accordance with applicable laws.

Opt-Out Choices

We provide you with choices to opt out of certain data uses, particularly for marketing:

Email Marketing: If you have subscribed to receive promotional emails from us, you can opt out at any time by clicking the “unsubscribe” link in any marketing email or by contacting us directly with your request to be removed from our mailing list. Once you opt out, we will stop sending you non-transactional emails, though we may still send you service-related communications (e.g., updates about an active project or order).
Text Messages (SMS): If you have consented to receive SMS communications from us, you can opt out of further text messages at any time by replying “STOP” to any message you receive. (For more details, see our Terms of Service for SMS Communications below.) After you send “STOP”, we will send you a confirmation text and cease further SMS notifications, except for messages confirming your opt-out or if you subsequently opt back in.
Phone Calls: If you prefer not to receive marketing or reminder phone calls, you can inform us and we will respect your request as required by law (such as placement on internal do-not-call lists).
Cookies and Online Tracking: Most web browsers allow you to control cookies through their settings. If you do not wish to have cookies collect information about you on our site, you can set your browser to refuse all or some cookies or to alert you when cookies are being used. Additionally, if we use any analytics or ad services, they may provide their own opt-out mechanisms (see Third-Party Sharing below for more on analytics). Please note that disabling cookies might impact your user experience on our website.
Direct Contact: You can always opt out of any specific use or sharing of your data by contacting us with your request. We will do our best to accommodate your needs in line with legal and contractual requirements.

Third-Party Sharing and Services

In the course of running our business, we utilize certain third-party services that may involve sharing your data or that collect data on our behalf. We strive to partner with reputable companies that uphold strong privacy standards. Key third parties we work with include:

Website Analytics: We may use third-party analytics tools (for example, Google Analytics) to gather information about how visitors use our website. This helps us understand traffic patterns and improve our site. These analytics services may use cookies and similar technologies to collect data about your device and browsing actions. The information gathered is typically aggregated and does not directly identify individuals. However, if you wish, you can opt out of Google Analytics by installing the Google Analytics opt-out browser add-on. For more information, please see Google’s Privacy Policy.
Communication and Messaging Services: If we send you communications via email or text message, we may use external providers to facilitate those communications. For example, we use a third-party SMS service provider to deliver text messages you have consented to receive from us. We ensure that such providers are only given the minimum data necessary (such as your phone number for SMS) and are contractually bound to protect your information. We do not share information obtained through the SMS signup/consent process with any other third parties. For reference, our current SMS delivery provider is RingCentral (AT&T Office@Hand), and you can review their privacy practices in the RingCentral Privacy Notice.
Payment Processing: (If applicable) If in the future we accept payments through our website or invoices that you pay online, we would use a secure third-party payment processor. In such cases, your payment details (like credit card information) would be collected and processed directly by the payment provider and not stored on our systems. The payment provider will have its own privacy policy governing the handling of your payment information.
Other Service Providers: We may also rely on other third parties for services like data backup, cloud storage, website development, or marketing assistance. We only share personal data with these providers as needed for them to perform their services for us. We require that they safeguard your data and not use it for any unrelated purposes.

For any third party with whom we share personal data, we encourage you to read their privacy policies to understand how they handle your information. Aside from the service providers and scenarios described above, we will not share your personal data with third parties unless we have your consent or are required to by law.

International Data Transfers

Ground Control is based in the United States and primarily serves customers in the U.S. If you are located outside of the United States, please be aware that any personal information you provide to us will likely be transferred to and processed in the United States (or other jurisdictions where our service providers are located). The data protection laws in these jurisdictions may differ from those in your home country.
However, regardless of where your data is processed, we will take appropriate measures to ensure that your personal information receives an adequate level of protection in accordance with this Privacy Policy. For example, we may use contractual agreements (such as standard data protection clauses) or other legal mechanisms to ensure that third-party processors protect your data if it is transferred across borders.
By using our website or submitting your personal data to us, you consent to the transfer, storage, and processing of your information in the United States as described in this policy. We will always handle your personal data securely, and in compliance with any applicable data protection laws.

Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or your personal data, please contact us. We are here to help and will respond to inquiries or requests to exercise your rights as promptly as possible.
Company: Ground Control Southern Oregon LLC
Mailing Address: 6351 Blackwell Road, Central Point, OR 97502, USA
Phone: 541-776-2275 (541-776-BARK)
Email: info@groundcontrolso.com

Please feel free to reach out to us at the contact points above for any matter related to privacy, whether it’s asking about what data we have about you, requesting a correction/deletion, or simply seeking more information about our privacy practices.

Terms of Service for SMS Communications

The following terms apply to SMS/text message communications that you may receive from Ground Control. By consenting to receive our SMS messages, you agree to these Terms of Service for SMS Communications.

Consent for SMS Communication

No Third-Party Sharing: Information obtained as part of the SMS consent/sign-up process will not be shared with third parties. We collect your mobile number and any other required information solely for the purpose of sending you text messages that you have agreed to receive. We will protect this information in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

Types of SMS Communications

If you have consented to receive text messages from Ground Control, you may receive text messages related to our services and your interactions with us. These communications are intended to enhance your experience and keep you informed. For example, you might receive updates or information such as:

Customers and Guests: Updates regarding your orders, scheduled services or deliveries, appointment reminders, or other relevant information about our products and services. For instance, we may text you to confirm a delivery time or notify you that a crew is on the way, or send promotional offers if you have requested them.
Job Applicants: Information about your application status, interview scheduling, onboarding materials, or other employment-related updates. For example, if you applied for a job with us, we might send a text confirming receipt of your application, details about an upcoming interview, or next steps in the hiring process.

These examples are not exhaustive, but they illustrate the kinds of messages you can expect. We will only send SMS messages that are pertinent to your relationship with Ground Control (whether as a customer, site visitor who requested information, or a job applicant).

Standard Messaging Disclosures

We want to make sure you are fully aware of how our SMS program works. By subscribing to receive our text messages:

Message and Data Rates: Message and data rates may apply. This means that your mobile carrier may charge you for any messages we send or that you send to us, according to your service plan with your carrier. Ground Control does not charge you any additional fees for sending or receiving SMS messages.
Frequency: Messaging frequency may vary. You might receive messages periodically, and the number of messages can depend on your interactions with us (for example, how many orders you place or if you are involved in an ongoing project). We strive to only send messages when necessary or as per any schedule you agreed to.
Opt-Out: You can opt out of SMS communications at any time. To stop receiving text messages from us, simply reply “STOP” to any Ground Control message. After you send “STOP,” we will send you a confirmation text to let you know you have been unsubscribed, and thereafter you will not receive further SMS messages from us (unless you later re-subscribe).
Help: For assistance with our SMS services, you can reply “HELP” to any of our messages. This will trigger a reply with instructions on how to manage your SMS preferences. You can also contact us directly for help by calling our office or emailing us (see the Contact Us section of the Privacy Policy above). Additionally, you can visit our website to view our Privacy Policy and these Terms of Service for more information about our SMS program.
Privacy and Terms: By consenting to SMS messages, you also agree to our general Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. We encourage you to review these documents on our website so you understand how your data is used and protected. Your consent to receive texts signifies your agreement with these terms and policies.

Note: By opting in to Ground Control’s SMS communications, you confirm that you are the owner or authorized user of the mobile phone number provided and that you are responsible for any charges incurred. Ground Control is not liable for delayed or undelivered messages, as delivery is subject to effective transmission by your network operator.

If you have any questions about these SMS Terms or need further information, please reply “HELP” to our SMS, or contact us through one of the methods listed in the Contact Us section of our Privacy Policy. We are committed to communicating with you in a manner that is both useful and respectful of your preferences and rights.