Sprinkler Age A Publication of the American Fire Sprinkler Association
Why the NextGen Committee Exists
The fire sprinkler industry sits at a quiet but consequential crossroads. We all know about the labor shortage in our industry, and if you’re reading this, you’ve probably seen the statistics: more fire protection engineers are retiring than graduating; 25% of our workforce is nearing retirement; and so on. Labor is a major topic across all the trades. Yet, in my experience as a small business owner, I’ve had no issues hiring young talent that is new to our industry. Now, do I sometimes have to pay the good ones a higher starting wage than I would like? Absolutely. The next generation will enter this industry one way or another—that’s the beauty of the free market. The real question is whether the good ones will stay, grow, and eventually lead—or whether they will find clearer pathways and stronger support in another industry.
That is the gap the American Fire Sprinkler Association’s (AFSA) NextGen Committee was created to close. Getting the next generation in the door is only the beginning. The harder and more important work is helping them see a future in this industry, connecting them with people who can teach them, and giving them opportunities to grow into leadership.
I know firsthand how much that kind of support can matter. This industry and AFSA have given me so much purpose and meaning as a NextGen leader. I was 22 years old when I attended my first AFSA convention. I was newly married and had just been given the title and responsibilities of CEO of our family fire sprinkler contracting company after my father had to step down abruptly for health reasons. I was in over my head, and I knew it. I had two options: figure out how to lead and grow a company or watch it crash and burn.
So, I attended my first AFSA convention with a full page of networking goals and questions I intended to find answers. I knew precisely zero people there. But, by what I can only describe as divine providence, I happened to sit at the table of George Wagner, a former AFSA Board member, Henry S. Parmelee Award winner, and industry titan. As the evening progressed, George began introducing me to other conference attendees as “My friend Josiah.” It was a never-ending stream of people who wanted to talk to George! Through George’s kindness and introductions, I connected with the people who would eventually answer every question I had written down, along with many more I didn’t know I needed answered. I still reach out to many of them on the regular. Those first conversations also led to my being asked to serve on the NextGen Committee and, eventually, to chair the committee this year.
Why do I share this story? Because it is a story of people investing in the future of our industry. In the five years since that interaction, I’ve learned there are many more people like George who are willing to take a few moments of their time to invest in the next generation of leaders. Through George’s introductions, directly or indirectly, I met the person who would eventually help me become chair of the NextGen Committee, the consultant who would guide my family through succession to the second generation, the key people who would advise me on starting our fire alarm division, and many other important connections and mentors.
These are exactly the kinds of high-impact connections AFSA’s NextGen Committee exists to facilitate and continue. We focus on creating opportunities for continuing education, networking, and leadership development so NextGen members can help create a vibrant future for our industry. In practice, we do this through initiatives such as our First-Time Attendee Scholarship, which gives five randomly selected winners under 40 the opportunity to experience the amazing learning and networking environment of AFSA’s convention without placing a financial burden on them or their employers. Many scholarship recipients are only a few years into the industry and would not otherwise have the opportunity to attend a convention, since those opportunities are often reserved for upper management. We also host seminars designed for people earlier in their careers, provide support and education to local AFSA chapters, and have many more initiatives in the works—all with one goal in mind: building a better future for our industry and our communities.
But the committee’s work can only go so far without industry leaders leaning into shaping our future as well. As a small business owner, I know how easy it is to stay focused on the day-to-day demands of running a company. Yet the long-term health of our businesses and our industry depends on the people coming up beside and behind us. If you don’t invest in your people, someone else will! Company owners and managers can create space for NextGen employees to attend events, take on challenging assignments, and connect with peers and mentors in the industry. Chapter leaders can make intentional room for new voices in leadership and planning meetings. Experienced professionals can take the time to invest in someone earlier in their career. None of these things require massive programs or big budgets—but they do require intentionality and a willingness to open doors for our future leaders.
The next generation will enter this industry. The free market will see to that. The question before us is whether we will help the good ones stay, grow, and eventually lead. NextGen exists to make that outcome more likely. If you are an owner, a manager, a chapter leader, or someone who still has a lot of runway left in your own career, there is a place for you in this work. Step forward, get involved, and help build the kind of industry the next generation will be proud to inherit. Let’s leave this industry better than we found it and be intentional about its future!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Josiah Bergen is CEO of Heritage Fire Protection in Newton, Kan., a second-generation fire protection contracting company. He serves as chair of AFSA’s NextGen committee and is a member of its ITM, Membership, Public Education & Awareness, and Site Selection committees.