Effective Date: September 22, 2026
Last Updated: September 22, 2026 The Essential Professional (“The Essential Professional,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) respects your privacy and is committed to being transparent about how personal information is collected, used, disclosed, and protected. This Privacy Policy describes our privacy practices when you visit theessentialprofessional.com, submit a form, request a resource, register for an event or program, schedule an appointment, subscribe to communications, purchase or inquire about products or services, or otherwise interact with The Essential Professional. This Privacy Policy applies to information collected through our website and related online business activities. It does not govern the independent privacy practices of third-party websites or services that you may access through links on our website.

1. Personal Information We Collect

Depending on how you interact with us, we may collect the following categories of personal information. Information You Provide Directly This may include:

• Name
• Email address
• Telephone number
• Company or organization
• Job title and other professional information
• Information included in contact, consultation, registration, assessment, inquiry, or other forms
• Appointment and scheduling information
• Event or program registration information
• Products, services, or resources you request
• Communication preferences
• Messages and correspondence you send to us
• Any other information you voluntarily choose to provide

Please do not submit Social Security numbers, government identification numbers, financial account passwords, medical information, precise geolocation information, or other sensitive personal information through general website forms unless we specifically request that information for a legitimate purpose.

2. Information Collected Automatically

When you visit the website, we and service providers working on our behalf may automatically collect information about your visit through cookies, scripts, pixels, local storage, server logs, and similar technologies. Depending on your browser, device, privacy preferences, and the technologies active on the website, this information may include:

• Internet Protocol address
• Browser type and version
• Device type
• Operating system
• Approximate geographic location derived from an IP address
• Referring website or traffic source
• Page URLs viewed
• Links or buttons clicked
• Date and time of visits
• Session information
• UTM and campaign parameters
• Website navigation and interaction information
• Form interactions and submissions
• Cookie or similar online identifiers

We use this information to operate and secure the website, understand website usage, measure performance, improve our services and content, manage inquiries, and evaluate the effectiveness of our communications and marketing activities.

3. Sources of Personal Information

We may collect personal information:

• Directly from you when you submit information to us
• Automatically from your browser or device when you use our website
• From our customer relationship management, scheduling, analytics, and communications platforms
• From referral or traffic sources that direct you to our website
• From service providers acting on our behalf
• From publicly available sources or professional platforms when reasonably related to our business relationship with you

4. How We Use Personal Information

We may use personal information to:

• Respond to questions, inquiries, and requests
• Provide requested resources, information, products, or services
• Schedule consultations, appointments, meetings, or events
• Manage registrations and participation in programs
• Maintain prospective customer and customer relationships
• Create and maintain customer or contact records
• Provide administrative, transactional, or service-related communications
• Send email marketing communications when permitted by law
• Send text messages when you have provided the appropriate consent
• Personalize and improve our website and communications
• Understand website traffic and visitor engagement
• Attribute inquiries to marketing or referral sources
• Measure the effectiveness of campaigns and content
• Maintain the security, integrity, and operation of the website and our systems
• Prevent fraud, misuse, or unauthorized activity
• Maintain business and legal records
• Comply with applicable legal and regulatory obligations
• Establish, exercise, or defend legal rights
• Carry out other purposes disclosed to you at the time information is collected

We seek to collect and use personal information only when reasonably necessary and proportionate to the purposes for which it was collected.

5. GoHighLevel / HighLevel CRM and Website Tracking

GoHighLevel, also known as HighLevel, is our primary customer relationship management, marketing automation, communications, scheduling, lead-management, and website-tracking platform. We use HighLevel to help manage information submitted through the website and our communications with prospective customers, customers, program participants, and other contacts. Website Tracking Our website may use HighLevel website or external tracking technology. When active, this technology may collect information regarding website activity, including:

• Pages viewed
• Page URLs
• Referral information
• UTM or campaign parameters
• Session information
• Website interactions
• Other information used for attribution, analytics, automation, and lead-management purposes

Some website activity may initially be associated with an anonymous browser or device and may later be associated with a contact record where technically permitted and appropriate. Our cookie and privacy-preference tools are intended to provide choices regarding nonessential tracking technologies as described in this Privacy Policy. Forms and CRM Records Information submitted through website forms may be transmitted directly to or processed through HighLevel and stored within our HighLevel CRM account. Depending on the form you submit, HighLevel may process:

• Name
• Email address
• Telephone number
• Company and professional information
• Form responses
• Appointment or registration information
• Lead source and attribution information
• Tags and contact classifications
• Communication history
• Email or text-message engagement
• Notes associated with the business relationship
• Other information that you submit

We use this information to respond to requests, manage our relationship with you, deliver requested materials, schedule appointments, administer programs, and conduct authorized follow-up communications. HighLevel generally acts as a service provider or processor when processing personal information on our behalf. HighLevel also maintains its own privacy, security, data-processing, and cookie practices governing its platform.

6. WordPress, Elementor, Hosting, and Website Technology

This website is built using WordPress and Elementor. WordPress, Elementor, our website-hosting provider, security tools, spam-prevention tools, plugins, and other website technologies may process technical information required to:

• Display and operate the website
• Provide website functionality
• Process forms
• Maintain security
• Prevent spam or abuse
• Diagnose technical problems
• Maintain website performance

Depending on configuration, these technologies may use cookies or process IP addresses, browser and device information, website activity, form information, and other limited technical data.

7. Google Analytics

We may use Google Analytics to help understand how visitors find and interact with the website. Google Analytics may process information including:

• Device and browser information
• Approximate geographic information
• Page views
• Website interactions
• Referral or traffic sources
• Session information
• Cookie or similar online identifiers

We use analytics information to understand website performance, identify useful content, improve visitor experience, and evaluate how people find and use the website. Your ability to control Google Analytics may depend on our cookie-preference tools, your browser settings, Google-provided privacy controls, and other available technologies. We recommend configuring Google Analytics and related Google services in a privacy-conscious manner and not activating advertising or remarketing features unless those practices are separately disclosed and appropriate privacy choices are provided.

8. Google Search Console

We may use Google Search Console to evaluate the website’s visibility and performance in Google Search. Search Console generally provides website owners with search-performance information such as search queries, impressions, clicks, indexing status, and technical website information. We use this information to monitor website performance, identify technical issues, and improve search visibility.

9. Cookies and Similar Technologies

Cookies and similar technologies are small files, scripts, identifiers, or storage mechanisms that allow websites and service providers to operate website functionality, remember preferences, understand website usage, and perform other functions. We may use the following categories:

• Strictly Necessary Technologies. These technologies are required for website security, essential functionality, privacy preferences, form operation, or other services specifically requested by the visitor.
• Functional Technologies. These technologies support enhanced functionality, preferences, scheduling, communications, or other website features.
• Analytics and Performance Technologies. These technologies help us understand website traffic, page performance, visitor interactions, traffic sources, and usage patterns. They may include Google Analytics and certain HighLevel tracking functionality.
• Marketing Technologies. If advertising, retargeting, conversion measurement, or similar technologies are used now or in the future, they may collect information regarding website activity for marketing-related purposes.

Where consent or an opt-out choice is required by applicable law, our website will provide appropriate controls for nonessential technologies. You may be able to review or modify your preferences at any time by selecting Your Privacy Choices or the equivalent cookie-preferences link available on our website. Browser settings may also allow you to block or delete cookies. Blocking some technologies may affect certain website features.

10. California Notice at Collection

The following summarizes categories of personal information that we may collect and the purposes for which they may be used.

• Identifiers: Name, email address, telephone number, IP address, and online identifiers. Used for responding to inquiries, CRM management, communications, website operation, and security.
• Professional Information: Company, organization, job title, and professional background voluntarily provided. Used for business inquiries, programs, services, and corporate communications.
• Internet or Electronic Activity: Page views, referring source, URLs, interactions, session and device information, and UTM parameters. Used for analytics, attribution, website improvement, and security.
• Commercial or Relationship Information: Services or resources requested, registrations, appointments, and, where applicable, transaction information. Used for providing services, maintaining records, and customer support.
• Approximate Location Information: General location inferred from an IP address. Used for security, analytics, and website performance.
• Communications: Form responses, emails, SMS communications, inquiries, and correspondence. Used for responding to you, providing services, and maintaining records.
• Engagement or Preference Information: Email engagement, communication preferences, lead source, CRM tags, or interest indicators. Used for communications, follow-up, segmentation, and service improvement.

We do not intend to collect sensitive personal information through ordinary website interactions except where reasonably necessary for a specific service and disclosed to you. We retain each category only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purpose for which it was collected, our continuing relationship with you, legitimate business and security requirements, applicable contractual requirements, and legal, accounting, tax, regulatory, or dispute-resolution obligations.

11. How We Disclose Personal Information

We may disclose personal information to service providers and contractors that assist us in operating the website and our business. These may include:

• HighLevel / GoHighLevel
• Website-hosting providers
• WordPress and Elementor technology providers
• Analytics providers
• Email and text-message service providers
• Scheduling and event-management providers
• Payment processors, when applicable
• Information technology and cybersecurity providers
• Professional advisers such as attorneys or accountants
• Contractors or vendors supporting our operations

We expect service providers processing personal information on our behalf to use that information only for authorized purposes and subject to applicable contractual and legal restrictions. We may also disclose information when reasonably necessary:

• To comply with law, court orders, subpoenas, or lawful governmental requests
• To enforce agreements
• To detect, prevent, or investigate fraud, security incidents, or misuse
• To protect our rights, property, safety, customers, or others
• In connection with a business reorganization, financing, merger, acquisition, or sale of assets
• At your direction or with your consent

12. Sale, Sharing, and Targeted Advertising

We do not sell personal information for monetary compensation. We do not disclose mobile telephone information or SMS consent information to third parties or affiliates for their own marketing or promotional purposes. Certain analytics, advertising, or online-tracking disclosures may be treated as a “sale” or “sharing” of personal information under some U.S. state privacy laws even when no money is exchanged. Where our use of a technology constitutes a sale or sharing under applicable California law, we will provide the legally required opt-out mechanism and process qualifying opt-out preference signals. If we introduce advertising pixels, cross-context behavioral advertising, remarketing technologies, or materially different tracking practices in the future, we will update our disclosures and privacy controls as appropriate.

13. Email Communications

If you provide your email address, we may use it to:

• Respond to your request
• Deliver requested resources
• Provide information regarding registrations, appointments, programs, products, or services
• Send administrative or transactional communications
• Send marketing communications where permitted by law

You may unsubscribe from marketing emails at any time using the unsubscribe link included in the message. Unsubscribing from marketing communications does not necessarily prevent us from sending administrative, transactional, appointment-related, account-related, or other nonmarketing messages.

14. Text Messages and Telephone Communications

Where you voluntarily provide a telephone number and affirmatively consent to receive text messages or telephone communications, we may contact you as described in the consent presented when your number is collected. Message frequency may vary. Message and data rates may apply. You may opt out of text messages by replying STOP. You may reply HELP for assistance where supported. Consent to receive marketing text messages is not a condition of purchasing products or services. Mobile information and text-message consent information will not be sold or shared with third parties or affiliates for their own marketing or promotional purposes. Information may be disclosed to service providers that assist us in delivering messages, but only as reasonably necessary to provide those services.

15. Your Privacy Choices

Depending on your location and applicable law, you may have choices concerning the collection and use of personal information. These may include:

• Changing cookie and tracking preferences
• Unsubscribing from marketing email
• Opting out of text messages
• Requesting access to personal information
• Requesting correction of inaccurate information
• Requesting deletion of certain personal information
• Requesting a copy of certain information
• Objecting to or opting out of certain disclosures or processing where applicable
• Withdrawing consent where processing depends on consent

Requests may be subject to legal exceptions and appropriate identity verification.

16. California Privacy Rights

If and to the extent that the California Consumer Privacy Act, as amended (“CCPA”), applies to our processing of your information, California residents may have the following rights:

• Right to Know: The right to request information regarding the personal information we have collected, including categories, sources, purposes, recipients, and specific pieces of personal information where applicable.
• Right to Delete: The right to request deletion of certain personal information, subject to legal exceptions.
• Right to Correct: The right to request correction of inaccurate personal information.
• Right to Opt Out of Sale or Sharing: The right to opt out where personal information is sold or shared as those terms are defined under California law.
• Right to Limit Certain Uses of Sensitive Personal Information: Where applicable, the right to limit certain uses and disclosures of sensitive personal information.
• Right to Non-Discrimination and Non-Retaliation: The right not to receive unlawful discriminatory treatment for exercising applicable privacy rights.

We may need to verify your identity before processing certain requests. An authorized agent may submit a request on behalf of a California resident where permitted by law. We may request documentation demonstrating the agent’s authority and may also ask the individual to verify their identity directly. To make a privacy request, please use the contact information in the Contact Us section below.

17. Global Privacy Control and Do Not Track

Some browsers and browser extensions provide Global Privacy Control (“GPC”) or another qualifying opt-out preference signal. Where California law requires us to recognize such a signal, we will process a qualifying signal as an opt-out request for the browser or device through which the signal is received, subject to applicable legal requirements and technical limitations. Traditional browser Do Not Track (“DNT”) signals do not currently have a single universally accepted technical or legal standard. The website therefore may not respond to traditional DNT signals in the same manner as GPC or other legally recognized opt-out preference signals. You may also manage cookies and other website technologies through the privacy controls made available on the website.

18. California “Shine the Light”

California residents may have rights under California Civil Code Section 1798.83 concerning disclosure of personal information to third parties for those third parties’ direct-marketing purposes. We do not disclose personal information to unaffiliated third parties for their own direct-marketing purposes in the manner contemplated by that law.

19. Data Retention

We retain personal information for no longer than reasonably necessary for the purposes for which it was collected or another lawful purpose. Retention considerations may include:

• The nature of our relationship with you
• Whether an inquiry, account, registration, or program remains active
• The need to maintain customer and business records
• Your communication preferences
• Legal, tax, accounting, contractual, or regulatory requirements
• Applicable limitation periods
• Fraud-prevention and cybersecurity needs
• The need to establish, exercise, or defend legal claims

When personal information is no longer reasonably required, we may delete, anonymize, aggregate, or otherwise appropriately dispose of it.

20. Data Security

We maintain reasonable administrative, organizational, and technical safeguards designed to protect personal information from unauthorized access, use, alteration, disclosure, loss, or destruction. We also use third-party technology and service providers that maintain their own security controls. No internet transmission, electronic storage system, or security measure can guarantee absolute security, and we cannot guarantee that unauthorized access or disclosure will never occur.

21. Children’s Privacy

The Essential Professional is intended for adults and professionals and is not directed to children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 through this website. We also do not knowingly sell or share the personal information of consumers under 16 for purposes requiring affirmative authorization under California law. If you believe a child has submitted personal information through our website, please contact us so that we may investigate and take appropriate action.

22. Third-Party Websites and Services

Our website may contain links to external websites or services, including social-media platforms, book retailers, scheduling platforms, payment providers, event platforms, and other third-party services. Those organizations maintain their own privacy policies and practices. We are not responsible for the privacy, security, or content practices of independent third-party websites or services. We encourage you to review their privacy policies before providing personal information.

23. Visitors Outside the United States

The Essential Professional operates from the United States. If you access the website from outside the United States, information may be transferred to, stored in, or processed in the United States or other countries in which our service providers operate. Privacy and data-protection laws in those locations may differ from the laws applicable in your jurisdiction.

24. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in our website, technologies, services, business practices, or legal obligations. When changes are made, we will update the Last Updated date shown at the top of this Privacy Policy. If a change materially affects how personal information is collected, used, or disclosed, we will provide additional notice where required by applicable law.

25. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, our privacy practices, or would like to submit a privacy request, please contact: The Essential Professional
Website: theessentialprofessional.com
Contact form: theessentialprofessional.com/contact
Email: laureenknudsen@theessentialprofessional.com