About FSI

Thanks for visiting our website devoted to helping the fire sprinkler contractor industry prosper through the use of Best Practices. So, what's all of this about Best Practices? How does it work? Why does it work? With Fire Spinkler Industry (FSI) Best Practices, it revolves around a simple idea: you collaborate to innovate. In other words, you give and you get.

The give, or collaborate, part starts when your firm becomes a FSI Best Practices Subscriber.

Through FSI-BP.org, you become a part of an online community of firms much like yours – firms with common goals and the desire to improve their businesses.

Through Best Practices, you can learn from others with similar challenges and concerns. You can share ideas – and even get involved in helping to contribute some of your company's ideas and successes. You can even join the effort to develop, document and distribute more areas of Best Practices.

Subscribers tell us that the get, or innovate, part starts almost immediately. You'll find ideas for tackling problems, tips for dealing with unfamiliar problems – and some common sense moves that will help you improve your company's productivity and profitability.

That's why I'm here. That's why our FSI Best Practices Team is here. And that's why this effort is generously supported by grants from leading fire sprinkler industry manufacturers and industry associations.

Feel free to look around. Don't hesitate to sign up for FSI's newsletter, FSI Forum. And if I can help, I welcome you to contact me personally at Pjohnson@FSI-BP.org.

Our Mission

We are a community of Fire Sprinkler Industry participants devoted to helping the fire sprinkler industry prosper by documenting and distributing Best Practices to the industry.

Our website - www.FSI-bp.org - serves as home to an online community of fire sprinkler contractors who share ideas and collaborate on common issues and concerns that affect productivity and profitability.

We also provides other Subscriber services such as informational webcasts and a referral network of qualified, experienced consultants and advisors. This initiative is governed by a board of advisors, served by a staff of industry, technology and information professionals – and powered by Subscribers who share information, experiences and effort to continuously improve the scope and quality of Best Practices.

Our Staff

The FSI Best Practices staff helps maintain current information, develop new areas of Best Practices and supports Users and Subscribing Firms. They include:

Project Manager Paul Johnson  (PJohnson@FSI-bp.org) - Paul's responsibilities include general management, relationships with Subscribers and Program Sponsors as well as coordination and development of content and relationships with program sponsors. A 25-year veteran of fire sprinkler industry with an MBA from Rollins College, he is also President of Bardane, Inc., a firm focused on improving competitiveness and profitability of America's workforce.

Risk Management Specialist Brian Cullen (BCullen@FSI-bp.org) - Based in the Chicago/Milwaukee area, Brian heads a team of professionals focused on providing risk management coaching and innovative solutions utilizing Best Practices. With over 30 years of experience in insurance underwriting, marketing, and brokerage management he is extensively experienced in developing risk management techniques for fire sprinkler contracting firms and other contractors. Additionally, he is Founder of Cullen Group, a consulting firm with practices in business coaching and risk management. 

Technical Specialist John Karnatz (JKarnatz@FSI-bp.org) - John leads a staff of 14 technical professionals responsible for planning, developing and maintaining the FSI-bp.org website. His career includes professional and executive positions  at IBM, American Express and James Martin & Company before forming TSD Group, a consulting firm that helps clients develop new products and services using information and web-based technologies. He is based in the Chicago area.