Pye-Barker is proud to announce the addition of Gulf Coast Fire & Safety, Inc. to our Florida family! This acquisition not only strengthens Pye-Barker’s well-established presence in the southwestern Gulf coast region of the state but also enables two industry veterans to retire happily knowing their employees are in good hands.
Gulf Coast Fire & Safety was started in Sarasota, FL four decades ago by Jimmy Sileo and his right hand man, Bill Ditzel. Jimmy owned and operated the business while Bill served as the lead technician and license holder. The duo successfully built a name for themselves in the industry, adding staff as their customer base continued to grow. When Jimmy died unexpectedly in 2008, his wife, Angela Sileo, took on his responsibilities in order to keep the business running. Working with Bill, who served as the acting General Manager, they were able to keep the company thriving for over a decade more, maintaining their reputation as competitive players in Sarasota’s fire protection market.
Jimmy was a firm believer that if his employees were taken care of, they would in turn take care of the customers. Angela continued to conduct the business according to this belief, treating the employees like family and making sure their customers received the same level of care and attention. Her concern for her employees was at the forefront of her mind when she began considering an exit strategy that would be mutually beneficial for herself and her team. Pye-Barker entered the picture at the perfect moment, and we were able to come to an agreement that suited the staff and enabled both Angela and Bill to retire comfortably.
The day of the acquisition announcement was a special one, as it was exactly 11 years and one day after Jimmy’s tragic passing. His employees were welcomed into the PBFS family and his legacy will be proudly preserved as his business grows to even greater proportions under the Pye-Barker name. The qualified staff of Gulf Coast Fire will merge with our existing Sarasota office. This will enable us to handle even more pre-engineered and portables customers, while also expanding our fire alarm capabilities through the addition of their experienced fire alarm technician and the acquisition of some progressing alarm projects that will benefit from the attention of PBFS Sarasota’s current fire alarm techs.
We are proud to welcome Gulf Coast Fire & Safety to the Pye-Barker team and wish Angela and Bill all the best as they enjoy some much deserved rest after their decades of service to the industry. It is an honor to carry on their legacy!
Pye-Barker is a proud collection of small to moderate sized companies and has provided many owners with a satisfying exit strategy that provided peace of mind for themselves and their staff. If you would like to speak to someone confidentially about the opportunities available for you and your business, please reach out to our Director of Business Development, Chuck Reimel, at 910-612-6252 or send a private email to creimel@pyebarkerfire.com. We look forward to hearing from you!