Leadership

On-site at a North Texas warehouse during an ERCES grid survey — the CEO still walks the buildings.

Joel's path into fire protection is unusual, and it's the reason Zion looks the way it does. He started in mathematics, education, and curriculum design — building courses and teaching before he ever picked up a tool. He moved into electrical engineering in college and spent years as an industrial electrical contractor, then in low-voltage systems. He chose fire and life safety deliberately, because it sits at the intersection of every skill he'd built: code-driven engineering, hands-on field work, and structured teaching.

That last part is why Zion has an academy. Most fire-protection contractors talk about training; Joel built the curriculum.

Credentials & licenses

• NICET Level III & II — certified across multiple fire-protection disciplines, including Fire Alarm Systems, Sprinkler Layout, Special Hazards Suppression, and Inspection & Testing of Water-Based Systems
• FCC GROL — General Radiotelephone Operator License (ERCES / BDA commissioning)
• Arizona CR-76 — Fire Protection Systems Contractor license
• Texas APS, RME, FEL — Alarm Planning Superintendent, Responsible Managing Employee, Fire Extinguisher License
• Backflow Prevention Assembly Tester — cross-connection control

His thesis for Zion is simple: the trade has too many contractors run by people who can't sign for the work, and too few willing to invest in training the next generation. Zion is the response — owner-operated by a credentialed contractor, staffed by technicians the company is actively training to replace him.

COO since October 2025. Direct: info@zion.us

Dave joined Zion as COO in October 2025. The shortest version of his background: he is one of the rare operations leaders who built his career inside training and instructional design before stepping into enterprise operations. That combination is exactly what a fire-protection contractor with an in-house academy needs.

Why we hired him

Most fire-protection companies hire a COO who came up through field operations. We hired one whose first twenty years were in building large-scale training and learning systems for Fortune 500 companies — because Zion's competitive advantage is the academy, and the academy needs an operator who understands instructional architecture, not just spreadsheets.

Operations track record (prior roles, not Zion outcomes)

Before Zion, Dave was COO at Pondsco Facility Services (2017–2024), where he held full operational oversight of a 1,200-employee workforce spanning 80+ locations. Documented outcomes in that role:

• Implemented audit frameworks and predictive asset strategies that increased ROI 23% and reduced equipment repair costs 40%.
• Cut general liability claims 48% through systemic safety redesign and proactive risk controls.
• Aligned HR, legal, and compliance under a single execution model.
• Scaled onboarding and training systems, reducing ramp time 33%.
• Led enterprise-wide COVID compliance response across all locations.

These are Dave's documented outcomes at his prior employer, not claims about Zion. We share them because they're the reason we hired him.

Instructional-design background

• Director, Instructional Design & Learning Technology — ServiceSource (2016–2017). Led enterprise LMS migration that reduced vendor spend 86% while improving analytics and accessibility.
• Director of Instructional Design & Learning Technologies — Convergys (2011–2016). Built instructional ecosystems for multi-industry client deliverables.
• Training Officer, Learning & Performance Solutions — Chase (2011). Aligned training with governance, risk, and compliance.
• General Manager, Learning & Performance Services — Dish Network (2008–2010).
• Area Manager, Training — Discover Financial Services (1997–2007, 10 years).

Military service

Satellite Communications Specialist — 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1996–2004. Eight years.

Direct: Sales@zion.us

Jared leads business development and client relations across Zion’s three primary divisions — Fire Sprinkler, Fire Alarm, and ERCES. He is the person owners, developers, general contractors, and facility managers work with to scope integrated life-safety solutions that meet the code the AHJ actually enforces — while still fitting the project schedule and the operating budget.

Jared’s reputation with GC partners comes from a specific pattern: he answers his phone, he doesn’t oversell, and he protects the customer relationship past the sale. When a project runs into an AHJ curveball at inspection, he’s already looped in — not learning about it from the invoice.

Where Jared works with you

• New construction — sprinkler, fire alarm, and ERCES scoping from pre-design through commissioning.
• Tenant improvement — finish-outs, occupancy changes, and CO-blocking deficiencies.
• ERCES / BDA — IFC §510 scoping, RF site surveys, design coordination with the AHJ.
• Long-term partnerships — property managers and GCs who want one relationship across every Zion service line.

Responsiveness, integrity, long-term partnerships — those are the words Jared’s customers use, and they’re the words Zion hires around.

Direct: Sales@zion.us · OSHA 30 trained

Mike leads Zion’s fire sprinkler division and guides projects from pre-construction through successful completion. He brings a strong combination of field and office experience: fire sprinkler installation, estimating, pre-BIM coordination, project management, inspections, troubleshooting, and code compliance across commercial and multifamily projects.

Before Zion, Mike worked in fire sprinkler estimating and held both project management and superintendent positions. That well-rounded resume means he has a practical understanding of every phase of a project — scope, budgets, and schedules through crew coordination, contractor management, and client communication in the field.

Where Mike works with you

• New construction — sprinkler design, permit coordination, install through commissioning
• Tenant improvement & multifamily — finish-out sprinkler modifications, occupancy changes, code-compliance work
• Estimating & pre-BIM — accurate budgets before drawings are stamped, no surprises at bid
• Field troubleshooting — diagnosing existing systems, resolving deficiencies, keeping AHJs happy

Mike approaches every project with safety, quality, efficiency, and clear communication — and takes pride in building working relationships that outlast any single project.