Pye-Barker Fire & Safety has appointed Kelly Rooney as president, tasking her with overseeing operations, driving growth and championing company culture alongside CEO Bart Proctor.
Rooney joins the U.S. fire protection, life safety and security services provider from uniform and workwear supplier UniFirst, where she served as chief operating officer. She previously held senior operations and leadership positions in the environmental services industry, including at WM, formerly Waste Management.
Proctor said Rooney’s experience across frontline, operations and growth roles in the B2B services sector would support Pye-Barker’s expansion. He added that her focus on building strong, resilient teams aligned with the company’s culture.
The appointment follows a period of rapid growth for Pye-Barker. The company said it has acquired more than 100 fire protection and security businesses over the past two years and introduced initiatives including the ALL In (Achieving Lasting Legacy Incentive) Ownership Program and the What Matters Community Impact Program.
Pye-Barker is marking its 80th anniversary this year. The company has also retained a place on the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing private companies, risen to No. 3 in the SDM 100 ranking of electronic security companies and earned Great Place To Work certification for a second consecutive year.
Rooney said her experience leading field and executive teams had reinforced her respect for frontline employees and their role in serving customers and building businesses.
“In Pye-Barker, I’ve truly found an organization that shares my values, creates opportunities for people to grow and succeed, and celebrates the entrepreneurial spirit that has made the company so special,” Rooney said. “I’m incredibly excited to join this team and build on the momentum that Pye-Barker’s 9,000-plus team members have achieved.”
Rooney holds a master’s degree in organizational leadership from Gonzaga University and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Roanoke College. She also serves on the board of TD Industries and will report directly to Proctor in the newly created role.
