Meet Our Team

The executive team at AI Fire brings together extensive fire protection expertise with functional knowledge of critical areas like Finance, Human Resources, and Strategy. Our core team has been working together in the industry for over a decade.

Michael Lloyd

Michael Lloyd

Chief Executive Officer

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Michael Lloyd

Michael Lloyd joined AI Fire in the summer of 2012 as CEO. His responsibility is to drive the growth and development of the business, with the primary objective of building the finest fire protection services firm across the country. Before joining AI Fire, Mike was President at Consolidated Fire Protection. He was responsible for growing and managing the national accounts service business, starting that business in 2004 and ultimately building one of the largest national services businesses in the industry. Earlier in his career, Mike was involved in several technology businesses, including Intuit, and was a consultant for several firms, including Viant and Perot Systems.

Mike earned his MBA from the UCLA Anderson School of Management and holds a BA in Political Economy from UC Berkeley. He is active in the fire protection and life safety industry and is a member of AFSA, NFPA, and NAFED. Mike is also active in the broader facilities services industry as a member of PRSM and RFMA and serves on the board of EMSAR and APHIX. When not working, Mike enjoys golfing, playing basketball, and spending time with his wife, Rachel, and grown son and daughter.

Mark Taylor

Mark Taylor

Chief Financial Officer

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Mark Taylor

Mark Taylor joined AI Fire in the winter of 2019 and serves as the Company’s Chief Financial Officer. In this position, he is responsible for all financial, compliance, risk management, and credit functions. Mark has over 25 years of experience in Finance & Accounting leadership positions, including most recently as the CFO of Gray Wolf Industrial, a provider of specialty maintenance, repair, and installation services to heavy industries, owned by Charlesbank Capital. Prior to joining Gray Wolf’s predecessor company Primetals Technologies Limited, Mark held various senior level positions within Siemens during a twenty-year timespan eventually leading the Finance and Accounting teams of several $100M+ business units.

Mark holds a BBA in Finance from Georgia State University. In his spare time, Mark enjoys spending time with his kids, golfing and fishing.

George Brown

George Brown

Chief Operating Officer

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George Brown

George Brown joined AI Fire in the fall of 2019 and serves as the Chief Operating Officer. He oversees Impact Fire’s self-perform operation, providing leadership for accelerating its growth and profitability. He also plays an integral role in the acquisition and integration of other self-perform businesses into Impact Fire. George has extensive experience growing district-based service businesses in both global industrial and private equity environments. Most recently, he served as Co-CEO of RGIS leading a $400M domestic division for a global leader in inventory services. Prior to RGIS, George spent most of his career focusing on innovation and talent development to drive profitable growth for two industry leading vertical transportation firms. He spent 7 years in senior leadership roles at Schindler Elevator Corporation in both commercial and operational positions, including Region Vice President for the greater NY area. George began his career with Otis Elevator and held several positions of increasing responsibility during his 17-year tenure, starting in Finance and eventually serving as General Manager of the greater Philadelphia area.

George holds an MBA from Fordham Gabelli School of Business and a BA in Business Administration from William Paterson University of New Jersey. On the weekends, George enjoys skiing, golf, music, and spending time with his wife and three children.

Benedict Cramer

Benedict Cramer

Executive Vice President

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Benedict Cramer

Benedict (Ben) Cramer is the Executive Vice President of Academy Fire, overseeing the company’s operations, growth, profitability, and talent. Ben began his career in facilities management with Metro Door. During his 14 years at the company, he assumed various leadership roles in sales, account management and client services. In 2005, Metro Door was acquired by private equity firm, Brynwood Partners. Over a five-year period, Ben worked with senior leadership and the managing partners in expanding Metro’s offering to include additional facility services and further expanding its organizations capacity to rapidly grow their client footprint. In 2010, Metro Door sold to Cintas where Ben spent the next two years integrating their service process and client relations with global account leaders across the country. In 2012, Ben joined Rogers Electric as Vice President of Client Service. As a member of the executive team, he managed all aspects of support center functions, employee development, client engagement and vendor development. In addition to expanding the service offering to HVAC ad plumbing, he grew the business working with the project and construction divisions seeing rapid revenue growth of more than $300M.

Born and raised in Stony Brook, NY, he now resides in Ridgefield, CT with his wife of 20+ years and their son and daughter. In his free time Ben is an avid outdoorsman who loves fishing, boating, hunting, golfing, running, biking, and swimming.

Elena Sparling

Elena Sparling

Executive Vice President, Strategy and M&A

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Elena Sparling

Elena Sparling joined AI Fire in the fall of 2017 as the Executive Vice President of Strategy and M&A. Her responsibilities include leading the company’s acquisition and post-merger integration efforts along with any strategic initiatives for the business. Prior to joining AI Fire, Elena was responsible corporate strategy and program management at TOMS Shoes working with the executive team and the company’s investment partners, Bain Capital. Earlier in her career, Elena was a Consultant at Bain & Company and an M&A investment banker at Wells Fargo Securities.

Elena earned her MBA in Finance and Marketing from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and holds a BA in Economics and Spanish from Amherst College where she graduated cum laude. Elena is actively involved as an Amherst alum and most recently completed a three-year term on the Trustee Nominating Committee. In her spare time, Elena enjoys being active with her husband and two young sons.

Scott Pustizzi

Scott Pustizzi

Executive Vice President, Human Resources

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Scott Pustizzi

Scott Pustizzi joined AI Fire in January 2019 as the Executive Vice President of Human Resources. His responsibilities include direct oversight of the company’s human capital strategy while aligning HR and people initiatives to AI Fire’s mission and growth objectives. Prior to AI Fire, Scott served as the Senior Vice President of Human Resources at Wellpath, one of the largest private healthcare organizations in the governmental sector. In his position, he was responsible for leading strategic HR initiatives and building an HR infrastructure as the business grew organically and via acquisition to $1.6B+ in revenue with 15,000 dedicated employees operating across 38 states. Primarily focused on growth and acquisition-oriented private equity backed organizations, Scott has 20+ years of progressive experience in Operations, Business Development, and Human Resources with a strategic focus on talent acquisition, risk management, employee relations, health and wellness, and HR-related technology. Prior to joining Wellpath, Scott held senior level positions with MEDNAX, GEO Group, Nature’s Bounty, and Publix Supermarkets. Scott is a proven partner working directly with executive management on new business, client retention, and M&A.

Scott is a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) and SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP) and holds a BBA in Finance and International Business from Florida International University and an MBA from Florida Atlantic University. Scott enjoys boating and golfing and spending time with his wife and two boys as they travel across the U.S. playing lacrosse and ice hockey.

Jeff Murtari

Jeff Murtari

Executive Vice President, Information Technology

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Jeff Murtari

Jeff Murtari joined AI Fire in 2018 and serves as the Executive Vice President of Information Technology. He oversees the IT department and is responsible for back office, ERP, reporting and mobile systems. Jeff’s duties include the integration of new acquisitions and using technology to improve operational efficiencies. Prior to joining AI Fire, Jeff was a member of Foreshadow Consulting for 13 years, where he provided financial and operational systems consulting to companies in various industries, including Fire Life Safety, both in the U.S. and overseas. Earlier is his career Jeff worked as IT Manager for Realtor.com and Callipso, and was a Microsoft Partner with iOpsys and Lighthouse Group.

Jeff earned dual Master degrees in Business Administration and Engineering Management from the Orfalea College of Business at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo and holds a BS in Industrial Engineering from Cal State Northridge. Jeff enjoys snow skiing, hiking, and traveling to new locations.

Kristen Cooper, CSP

Kristen Cooper, CSP

Vice President, Risk Management and Fleet

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Kristen Cooper, CSP

Kristen Cooper joined AI Fire in 2020 and serves as the Vice President of Risk Management and Fleet. She is responsible for managing and enforcing AI Fire’s comprehensive safety, training, and compliance programs across its 30+ offices in the US. With a passion for injury prevention through leadership and partnership, Kristen has over 22 years of safety, claims, and risk management experience. She has successfully created safety programs, built a sustainable culture, and ensured OSHA compliance for a broad range of businesses, including RGIS, Supervalu, and Target, where she led safety and compliance for US stores and new store/remodel construction. Earlier in her career, Kristen spent 10 years overseeing workers’ compensation, property, and liability claims with Auto-Owners Insurance Company. Kristen also brings operations experience, most recently as VP of Midwest Operations for RGIS, a provider of inventory services.

Kristen holds a BS in Health Science from Grand Valley State University and is a Certified Safety Professional (CSP), as well as a member of the American Society of Safety Professionals. She also holds the following certifications: Associate in Risk Management (ARM), Associate in Claims (AIC), Associate in Insurance Services (AIM), and Associate in ReInsurance (ARe). Kristen enjoys sailing, riding and driving her horse, kayaking, golfing, snowmobiling, traveling, and spending time with family.

About Us

About Us

We are a nationally recognized fire and life safety services company headquartered in Southern California. We operate two leading businesses, Academy Fire, our national accounts operation, and Impact Fire, our regional and local self-perform operation.

CONTACT US

Contact Us

AI Fire is eager to connect with other growing fire protection and life safety companies. If you’d like to discuss opportunities to join our team or grow your organization within our larger platform, we’d like to get in touch.