Pye-Barker Fire & Safety Taps UniFirst COO as President to Drive Growth
Event summary
- Kelly Rooney, former COO of UniFirst and senior executive at WM, appointed President of Pye-Barker Fire & Safety on September 21, 2026.
- Rooney will oversee operations, spearhead growth, and champion company culture, reporting directly to CEO Bart Proctor.
- Pye-Barker has acquired over 100 fire protection and security businesses in the past two years.
- The company celebrates its 80th anniversary with recognition on the Inc. 5000 list and a rise to No. 3 on the SDM 100 ranking.
The big picture
Pye-Barker's appointment of Kelly Rooney as President underscores its aggressive growth strategy in the fire protection and security services sector. With over 250 locations and 9,000 team members, the company is positioning itself as a consolidator in a fragmented market. Rooney's background in large-scale field operations and human resources suggests a focus on operational excellence and talent management as key drivers of future expansion.
What we're watching
- Integration Challenge
- How Rooney will integrate her experience from UniFirst and WM into Pye-Barker's operational framework.
- Growth Trajectory
- Whether Pye-Barker can sustain its rapid acquisition pace while maintaining operational efficiency.
- Culture Alignment
- The pace at which Rooney can align Pye-Barker's culture with her proven track record of building resilient teams.