Pye-Barker Fire & Safety Names Kelly Rooney as President

Former UniFirst and WM Executive to Lead Pye-Barker's Next Phase of Growth

ATLANTA, Sept. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Pye-Barker Fire & Safety — the largest fully integrated and full-service fire protection, life safety and security services provider in the United States — today announced Kelly Rooney as President. In this role, she will work directly with CEO Bart Proctor to oversee operations, spearhead growth and champion company culture.

Rooney joins Pye-Barker from UniFirst, a leading supplier of uniforms and workwear, where she served as Chief Operating Officer. Prior to UniFirst, she spent much of her career in the environmental services industry where she held senior operating and leadership roles, including at WM (formerly Waste Management).  Throughout her career, Rooney has led large-scale field operations with significant growth responsibility across multiple markets and geographies. During her tenure as Chief Human Resources Officer of WM, she drew on her extensive frontline operating experience to launch programs to recruit, retain and develop the company's frontline workforce in local communities throughout the United States and Canada.

"Kelly has worked on all sides of the B2B services industry, from the frontline to operations to growth, and we certainly value that expertise," said Bart Proctor, CEO, Pye-Barker. "But it's her passion for building strong, resilient teams that makes her such a great fit for this role. We always say that the Pye-Barker culture is like a family, and Kelly has a proven track record of building teams with this same mindset."

This announcement follows several years of significant growth for Pye-Barker. Over the past two years, the company has acquired more than 100 fire protection and security businesses while launching new initiatives that invest in its team members and communities, including the ALL In (Achieving Lasting Legacy Incentive) Ownership Program and the What Matters Community Impact Program.

This year, Pye-Barker celebrates its 80th anniversary alongside several notable milestones: continued recognition on the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing private companies, a rise to No. 3 on the SDM 100 ranking of electronic security companies, and Great Place To Work® Certification for the second consecutive year.

"My career has taken me from leading teams in the field to the leadership suite, and I have never lost sight of where the real work happens," said Rooney. "I have profound respect for frontline teams and the role they play every day in taking care of customers and building great 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. I'm incredibly excited to join this team and build on the momentum that Pye-Barker's 9,000+ team members have achieved."

Rooney holds an M.A. in organizational leadership from Gonzaga University and a B.A. in psychology from Roanoke College. She also serves on the board of TD Industries. In this newly created role at Pye-Barker, she will report directly to CEO Bart Proctor.

About Pye-Barker Fire & Safety

As the U.S. leader in fully integrated life safety systems, Pye-Barker Fire & Safety provides complete fire protection and security systems nationwide. With over 250 locations and 9,000 team members, Pye-Barker is Great Place to Work® Certified™ and is also listed on the Inc. 5000 and ranks No. 3 on the SDM 100.

Visit pyebarkerfs.com to learn why the company is the industry's acquirer of choice and see its culture of caring.   

Media Contact:

James Taylor
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SOURCE Pye-Barker Fire & Safety