Sprinkler Age A Publication of the American Fire Sprinkler Association
Members Celebrate Milestone Anniversaries
As the American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) celebrates its 36th anniversary in 2018, we also recognize those members who are celebrating milestone membership anniversaries. The member companies featured have belonged to AFSA for 15 or more years of continuous membership. Several members are celebrating milestone anniversaries in November and December including Contractor Member Fireline, Inc. in Tupelo, Mississippi. Rick Reddout, president of Fireline, shares some of his favorite AFSA memories and things he’s learned within the fire protection industry.
How did you get involved in the fire sprinkler industry?
Baptism by fire! With a drafting table, lots of non-print pencil lead, and Bobby Davis as my mentor, I started as a know-nothing designer. In 1985, the great Charles Fullerton of Fire Pro (Monroe, Louisiana) took a chance on me while I worked toward my architecture degree. Urban Wilson, our resident purveyor of folksy wisdom, always told me if I stayed more than three years I would never get out. Boy, was he was right!
How did you get involved with AFSA?
When I started my own company, Fireline, in Tupelo, Mississippi, I knew we would need help. AFSA was an emerging force in the open-shop fire sprinkler industry. For such a young company, it didn’t take long to realize how valuable an asset AFSA would be.
What is your favorite or most used AFSA benefit?
In a word, knowledge. AFSA has educated us across two decades with apprenticeship training, webinars, articles, seminars, tradeshows, informal interpretations, etc. Without this support base, we are not who we are!
What is the most significant change you’ve seen in the industry over the past 20 years?
Technology. The transition from paper-based business to a fully-functional digital workforce has forever changed construction. Technological tools have improved processes and capabilities. AFSA continues to lead in this area by improving the mechanisms in which they deliver their knowledge to us, keeping us ahead of fast-paced industry advances.
What’s the key ingredient to your success?
Faith and good employees. You can’t do this trade alone and you need both. Being anchored to Christ provides stability of values during the good and peace to endure in the bad. Proverbs 3:5-6 is my key. Customers come and go and are as necessary as oxygen, but good employees are the body that breathes that oxygen! Besides, this trade would be no fun without good folks to share it with!
AFSA Milestone Membership Anniversaries
November and December 2018
35-Year Anniversary
Viking Fire Protection Inc. of the SE, High Point, NC
25-Year Anniversary
Ridge Tool Company (Emerson), Elyria, OH
20-Year Anniversary
Dependable Fire Protection, Inc., Cedar Springs, MI
Fireline, Inc., Tupelo, MS
Sun State Fire Sprinkler Company, DeBary, FL
15-Year Anniversary
Advanced Fire Protection Systems, LLC, Baltimore, MD
MCM Mechanical Corporation, Randolph, NJ
Mid Atlantic Fire Protection, Inc., Virginia Beach, VA
Pac Pump & Systems, Hackensack, NJ
Performance Fire Protection, LLC, Mooresville, NC
Total Fire Sprinkler Corporation, Oakland Park, FL
Universal Fire Systems, Tampa, FL
Happy Anniversary!
AFSA looks forward to celebrating with more members! Recognition in Sprinkler Age will be done in five-year anniversary increments and is available to all membership types.
