About

Ryan learned the fire protection trade from his father. He began working with his dad when he was old enough to go to job sites. At a young age, Ryan was employed by a national corporation. He worked in multiple states, continued to learn, and earn certifications in the fire life safety industry. The corporate management recognized his expertise and gave him the responsibility to train staff in proper procedures for fire pump testing and maintenance for the west coast region. He quickly gained knowledge, experience, and respect within the industry. Eventually the CEO of a privately owned company recognized his value and hired him.

This CEO moved Ryan into management before the age of 30. Over the course of 7 years, Ryan grew the service and inspection department from $300,000 to $3.6 million annually by bringing on new clients and increasing revenue from existing clients. He created additional jobs by increasing staff from two to seventeen employees. This was made possible through excellent customer service, dedication, and retaining quality employees.

Ryan has over 19 years of hands-on experience in the fire life safety industry. He holds a NICET level III certification in inspection, testing, and maintenance of water-based systems along with a NICET certification in water-based systems lay out. He holds a Tennessee State Fire Specialist license for both fire suppression systems and portable fire extinguishers. He is also certified to test backflows in both Tennessee and Mississippi. Ryan started this company with three primary goals: 

• Glorify God in All That He Does
• Serve Each Customer’s Needs in a Timely and Professional Manner
• Retain Quality Employees by Taking Care of Them

For Ryan, fire protection is not just a business, it’s what he loves.

With more than 18 years in the Fire Alarm, Low Voltage, and Fire Protection industries, Cory embarked on his professional journey at the age of 19. He has demonstrated a remarkable dedication to the field from the outset. Holding a prestigious NICET IV certification alongside multiple state licenses and numerous factory certifications, Cory brings a wealth of technical expertise and regulatory acumen to Tier 1 Fire Protection.

As the Vice President of Operations at Tier 1 Fire Protection, Cory oversees the strategic direction and day-to-day operations, ensuring the seamless execution of projects and the delivery of top-tier services to clients. With a keen focus on quality assurance and customer satisfaction, he leads by example, instilling a culture of excellence and professionalism throughout the organization.

Outside of work, Cory and his wife Karlie enjoy going camping, to car shows, and enjoying the outdoors with their 2 dogs.

Shannon Kee is a financial executive who specializes in corporate governance and strategies that create scalability and synergize people and processes to move businesses to the next level. She holds BS and MBA degrees in Finance and Economics and spent over 30 years in the personal care contract manufacturing industry as a business leader. At Tier 1 Fire Protection, she is responsible for developing and executing the company’s financial strategy, plans for scalability, and tactical models that are used to shape the trajectory of the company’s progress. Shannon sings on the Worship Team at her church, loves working on her farm, and is the Mother of two busy teenagers.