Privacy

How AQM handles information you share with us

This is the short, plain-language version of what aqmauditing.com collects, why we collect it, and what you can ask us to do with it. If you have a question this page doesn’t answer, email info@aqmauditing.com and we’ll respond within one business day.

Have a privacy question? Email our team
Last updated: May 23, 2026

Who this applies to

This policy applies to American Quality Management (“AQM,” “we,” “us”) and to information collected through aqmauditing.com. It does not cover client engagements once a consulting contract is in place — those engagements are governed by the separate, signed services agreement between AQM and the client.

What we collect, and why

We collect only what we need to respond to inquiries and run the website. Specifically:

  • Information you submit through forms. When you complete the contact form, request a readiness checklist, or email us directly, we receive what you choose to share — typically name, company, email, phone (if provided), and the description of your QMS situation. We use this to respond, to schedule a first call, and to scope a possible engagement.
  • Information you share over the phone. If you call our office lines, we capture the same kind of information you would tell us in writing. We do not record calls.
  • Standard server logs. Our web host records IP address, browser type, pages visited, and timestamps for security, debugging, and abuse prevention. These logs are retained for a limited period and are not joined to inquiry data.
  • Analytics and advertising cookies. We use Google Analytics to understand which pages visitors find useful, and marketing pixels (such as Google Ads, Meta, or LinkedIn) to measure the effectiveness of any campaigns we may run. These tools set cookies in your browser and share aggregated usage data with the providers. You can opt out of Google Analytics using the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on and most browsers let you block third-party cookies in settings.
We do not sell personal information. We do not share inquiry-form information with third parties for their own marketing.

Who sees this information inside AQM

Form submissions and email inquiries route to a small number of named consultants — most often Founder and Principal Connie Smith for first-call inquiries. Information is shared internally only with the AQM staff who need it to respond to you, scope an engagement, or perform contracted work.

Service providers we use

To run the site and respond to inquiries we rely on a small set of vendors. Each is bound by their own terms and, where applicable, a data-processing agreement.

  • Web Host Provider: Website hosting and server logs infrastructure.
  • Email & Productivity Suites: Email delivery, inboxes, and internal project storage.
  • Google LLC: Web analytics, website usage tracking, and advertising platforms.
  • Form & QMS Intake Tools: Integrations mapping incoming roadmap requests to email dispatch.

If we add a new processor that handles personal information from this site, we will update this list.

How long we keep what you send us

  • Form submissions and email inquiries: Retained for as long as the conversation is active, and for a reasonable period afterward in case you re-engage. We periodically clean up old inquiries that did not become engagements.
  • Engagement-related records: Retained for the period required by the underlying client contract, applicable professional standards, and tax/legal recordkeeping rules.
  • Server logs: Short retention, typically 30 to 90 days depending on the hosting provider.
  • Analytics data: Retained at the default retention set inside Google Analytics — currently 14 months for event-level data.

Your rights — California (CCPA / CPRA)

If you are a California resident, you have the right to:

  • Know what categories of personal information we have collected about you and the categories of sources.
  • Access the specific pieces of personal information we have collected about you.
  • Delete the personal information we hold about you, subject to limited exceptions (for example, we may need to retain records required by law or by an active client contract).
  • Correct inaccurate personal information.
  • Opt out of sale or sharing of personal information. AQM does not sell personal information and does not share it for cross-context behavioral advertising in the way CCPA defines those terms.
  • Limit use of sensitive personal information. We do not knowingly collect sensitive personal information through this site.
  • Not be retaliated against for exercising any of these rights.

To exercise any of these rights, email info@aqmauditing.com with the subject line “Privacy request” and tell us which right you want to exercise. We will respond within 45 days. We may need to verify your identity before acting on the request — typically by matching information you provide against what we already have on file.

Rights for residents of other US states

Visitors from states with their own consumer privacy laws (including Virginia, Colorado, Connecticut, Utah, and others as those laws come into force) generally have rights similar to the California rights listed above. Email info@aqmauditing.com with the same subject line and we will respond consistently with the law of your state.

Children

This site is intended for businesses and professional buyers. We do not knowingly collect information from anyone under 16. If you believe a child has submitted information, email info@aqmauditing.com and we will delete it immediately.

Security

We protect inquiry information with standard administrative and technical safeguards appropriate for a small consulting firm — limited access, reputable vendors, current software. No internet system is perfectly secure, and we don’t claim otherwise.

Changes to this policy

We update this policy when the facts change — for example, if we add a new processor or change how a tool is used. The “Last updated” date at the top of the page reflects the most recent change. We do not send notifications for routine updates.

How to reach us about privacy

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this policy, please reach out to us at:

Contact AQM