BORN OUT OF NECESSITY AND DESIRE
In 1979, the fire sprinkler business Gene was working for closed its doors. Faced with a fork in the road, he decided to venture out on his own. Wyatt Fire was started in a bedroom of Gene’s condo in Beaverton with nothing but a 1976 Chevrolet pick-up with a pipe rack, a phone and a desire to work for himself.
From day one, Gene knew that success was based on his relationships with his customers, loyalty and high-quality service. Committed to providing the best service he could, the steadfast and loyal man carried quarters in his pocket so he could stop at a phone booth (no cell phones at that time) and call the customer if he was going to be late. After years of looking for phone booths, he jumped at the chance to purchase the newly introduced grey, brick-sized gadget called a cell phone, even though it was a costly expense for the small company.
Once a foundation was built, Gene started hiring employees and expanding his business. His personal commitment to the customer did not end there. Always a man of his word, if Wyatt Fire was supposed to be at a job on a certain day and Gene didn’t have a man to send, he would go and do the work himself.
Wyatt Fire continued to grow and in 1987 Ken Sutherland joined the team as a fitter. After 15 years of working in the field, Gene appointed him successor and promoted him to Vice President. Ken managed the business starting when Gene retired in 2000 until the end of 2024. Ken matched Gene in his dedication to the customer and high-quality service, and continued to grow the business.
Max joined Wyatt Fire in the fall of 2015 as a sprinkler designer while pursuing his engineering degree. He graduated from the Oregon Institute of Technology in 2017 and advanced his career with Wyatt Fire by assuming the role of Design Manager. In 2021, Max earned his Professional Engineer License as a Fire Protection Engineer, demonstrating his commitment to excellence in the field.
Recognizing Max's dedication to high-quality service and customer satisfaction, Ken began mentoring him to prepare for future leadership within the company. This mentorship fostered a strong professional relationship that culminated in Max's acquisition of Wyatt Fire at the end of 2024, where he took on the role of President. Under his leadership, Max remains focused on expanding the business while prioritizing exceptional service for our customers at Wyatt Fire.