Privacy Policy
Elevate Pyro - Pyrotechnics Community Platform
Last Updated: July 20, 2026
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
Welcome to Elevate, a platform operated by Elevate Pyro ("we," "our," or "us"). We are committed to protecting your privacy and personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our pyrotechnics community platform (the "Platform").
Elevate is a specialized social platform designed for pyrotechnics professionals, hobbyists, and enthusiasts to connect, share knowledge, document work, and advance their careers in the fireworks industry. Given the sensitive nature of information in the pyrotechnics field, including professional licenses, certifications, and safety credentials, we take data protection extremely seriously.
2. Information We Collect
We collect several types of information to provide and improve our services:
2.1 Account Information
Registration Data: Username, email address, password (encrypted), display name
Profile Information: Bio, profile photo, location, professional title
Contact Details: Email address and any optional contact information you choose to add to your profile or PyroResume
2.2 Professional Information (PyroResumes)
Certifications: ATF licenses, PGI certifications, APA memberships, state licenses
Work Experience: Employment history, companies, positions, dates
Skills: Technical competencies, equipment proficiencies, specializations
Education: Degrees, training programs, academic background
2.3 Show Documentation
Firework Shows: Show names, dates, locations, descriptions
Media: Photos, videos, and documents related to shows
2.4 Community Activity
Posts and Comments: Forum posts, threads, replies, reactions
Direct Messages: Private conversations with other members
Interactions: Likes, follows, shares, mentions
2.5 Technical Information
Log Data: Requests to the Platform (pages requested, timestamps, IP address) recorded in server logs for security and troubleshooting
Device Information: IP address, browser type, device type, operating system
Cookies and Local Storage: Sign-in and security cookies, plus display preferences stored in your browser (see Section 7)
3. How We Use Your Information
We use the collected information for the following purposes:
3.1 Platform Functionality
Create and manage your account
Enable profile creation and PyroResume building
Facilitate direct messaging and community interactions
Store and display the certifications you add to your PyroResume, including their expiration dates
3.2 Professional Networking
Make your resume searchable by employers and display companies
Connect you with other pyrotechnics professionals
Facilitate job opportunities and crew hiring
Enable collaboration on shows and projects
3.3 Safety and Compliance
Investigate reports of credential fraud or misrepresentation (we do not independently verify credentials)
Monitor for safety violations and inappropriate content
Enforce community guidelines and terms of service
Comply with legal obligations and industry regulations
4. Data Storage and Security
4.1 Infrastructure
Your data is stored securely using:
Database: PostgreSQL database with encrypted connections
File Storage: Amazon Web Services (AWS) S3 for photos, videos, and documents
Email Services: AWS Simple Email Service (SES) for transactional emails
Hosting: Enterprise-grade cloud infrastructure with redundancy
4.2 Security Measures
Encryption: HTTPS/TLS encryption for all data transmission
Password Security: Industry-standard password hashing
Access Controls: Role-based access control (RBAC) for data protection
Monitoring: Application logging and monitoring for errors and suspicious activity
Authentication: Two-factor authentication (2FA) support
5. Your Privacy Controls
We provide granular privacy controls to help you manage your information:
5.1 Default Privacy Settings
Email Address: Private by default (not shown on profile)
Phone Number: Private by default (not shown on profile)
References: Always kept private, never displayed publicly
5.2 Profile Visibility
Control what information appears on your public profile
Control the work-availability status you share with potential employers
Choose whether each firework show you document is public or private
5.3 Data Download and Deletion
Request a copy of your data by contacting support (see Section 8.5)
Delete individual posts, photos, or show entries
Request permanent account deletion by contacting support (see Section 8.5)
6. Third-Party Services
We work with trusted third-party service providers to operate and improve our Platform:
6.1 Cloud Infrastructure (AWS)
Amazon S3: Secure storage for photos, videos, documents, and media files
Amazon SES: Transactional emails (account verification, notifications, password resets)
Amazon RDS: Managed database hosting with encryption at rest
6.2 Content Moderation and Support Tools
Automated content screening: Text and images you post may be checked by Microsoft Azure AI Content Safety to detect prohibited content
Support ticketing: When you contact support, your request and relevant account details are processed in Zendesk so we can resolve your case
Error tracking: Application errors are logged so we can identify and fix technical issues
6.3 Content Delivery Networks
Some fonts and scripts the Platform uses are served from third-party content delivery networks (such as Google Fonts, jsDelivr, cdnjs, and Font Awesome). When your browser loads those resources, the CDN receives your IP address and standard request headers. We do not send these providers any account information.
6.4 Rich Media Embeds (OEmbed)
When you embed content from external platforms (YouTube, Vimeo, etc.), those services may collect data according to their own privacy policies. We recommend reviewing the privacy policies of any embedded content providers.
8. Your Rights
You have the following rights regarding your personal information:
8.1 Access and Portability
Request a copy of all personal data we hold about you
Export your data in a portable, machine-readable format
View and download your content (posts, photos, resumes)
8.2 Correction and Update
Correct inaccurate or incomplete information
Update your profile and contact details at any time
Modify privacy settings and visibility preferences
8.3 Deletion
Delete individual posts, comments, or media
Request deletion of specific personal information
Request permanent account deletion
8.4 Object and Withdraw Consent
Object to certain types of data processing
Withdraw consent for optional data uses
Opt out of marketing communications
8.5 How to Exercise Your Rights
To exercise any of these rights, contact us at help@elevatepyro.com with the subject line "Privacy Request". We will respond to your request within 30 days. We may require identity verification before processing certain requests.
9. Data Retention
We retain your data according to the following guidelines:
9.1 Active Accounts
Your account data is retained for as long as your account remains active and you continue using the Platform.
9.2 Deleted Content
User-deleted content: Removed from public view immediately
Backups: Deleted data ages out of rolling database backups within 30 days
Cached copies: May persist briefly in caches after deletion
9.3 Account Deletion
Deletion is permanent: once your request is processed, your account, sign-in credentials, and profile information are removed and cannot be recovered
Community content: Posts and comments you contributed may remain on the Platform, but are disassociated from your deleted profile; delete individual content first if you want it removed
Residual copies: Deleted data ages out of rolling database backups within 30 days
9.4 Extended Retention
We may retain certain data longer when required by law, legal proceedings, regulatory compliance, fraud prevention, or to protect the rights and safety of our users and platform.
9.5 Anonymized Data
Aggregated, anonymized data that cannot identify individuals may be retained indefinitely for platform improvement and research purposes.
10. International Users
Elevate is operated from the United States. If you access the Platform from outside the United States, please be aware of the following:
10.1 Data Location
Your data is stored and processed in the United States. By using the Platform, you consent to the transfer of your information to the United States and other countries where we operate.
10.2 Cross-Border Transfers
We do not currently operate EU-specific data centers. If you are located in the European Economic Area (EEA), United Kingdom, or other jurisdictions with data transfer restrictions, by using the Platform you acknowledge and consent to the transfer of your data to the United States.
10.3 Applicable Law
This Privacy Policy and your use of the Platform are governed by the laws of the State of New York, United States, without regard to conflict of law provisions, consistent with our Terms of Service.
11. Children's Privacy
11.1 Regulatory Compliance
Due to the nature of pyrotechnics content and federal regulations regarding explosives (ATF regulations, CPSC requirements), our Platform is restricted to adults 18 years of age and older.
11.2 No Collection from Minors
We do not knowingly collect, use, or disclose personal information from anyone under 18 years of age. If we discover that we have collected information from a minor, we will delete it immediately.
11.3 Reporting Underage Users
If you believe a user is under 18 years of age, please report the account using the in-app report options or by emailing help@elevatepyro.com. We will investigate and take appropriate action, including account suspension and data deletion.
12. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or other factors.
12.1 Notification of Changes
Material changes: Email notification to your registered email address
Minor updates: Notice posted on the Platform
Significant changes: 30-day advance notice before implementation
12.2 Review and Acceptance
We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically. The "Last Updated" date at the top of this page indicates when the policy was last revised. Your continued use of the Platform after changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of the updated policy.
12.3 Previous Versions
You may request previous versions of this Privacy Policy by contacting us at help@elevatepyro.com.
13. Contact Us
If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us:
Privacy Inquiries
Email: help@elevatepyro.com
Subject Line: "Privacy Request" helps us route your message quickly
Response Time: We typically respond within 2-3 business days
More ways to reach us are on our Contact page.