At Performance Systems Integration (PSI), every team member has taken a different path that has led them to the fire and life safety industry. Career Path Stories features PSI team members sharing their professional journeys and how they arrived at their chosen career.
Nikki Fisher is a strategic operations leader at PSI with a proven track record of driving transformation, seamless integrations, and scalable growth. She began her PSI journey 16 years ago as a receptionist; over the years, her curiosity, grit, and commitment to learning propelled her from Service Coordinator and Project Manager to her current role as Regional Vice President, where she aligns people, processes, and performance to deliver exceptional results for customers.
For Nikki, the work is personal. She’s witnessed firsthand the life-saving power of the industry and built lasting relationships with teammates who feel like family. Guided by leaders and colleagues who took the time to mentor her, she now pays it forward— proving that hard work, grit, and dedication can lead to leadership, no matter your background.
I came across a completely random job posting on Craigslist while job hunting after college. I submitted my resume and got a call for a receptionist position at a small fire alarm company in Lynnwood, Washington—and I got the job.
I don’t think many people grow up saying, “I want to work in the fire alarm or fire and life safety industry.” Like most people I’ve met in this field, I stumbled into it entirely by accident.
The biggest support system for me has been the team around me at PSI. My colleagues have helped me grow my knowledge, deepen my technical understanding, and strengthen my people skills.
Our very knowledgeable technicians are invested in teaching our schedulers and administrators through their interactions with customers. Many times, a technician would follow up with me after I sent them on a service call—explaining the service issue and how it was fixed. That guidance meant that the next time I received a similar call, I could help resolve it more quickly for the customer.
I was also fortunate to work alongside a series of strong service managers and branch managers. The founding owners of PSI, Scott Dulaney and Larry Romaine, were highly technical and excellent teachers. They showed me how to deliver services to our customers the right way.
In the many positions I’ve held at PSI, I’ve always felt that my work was meaningful—not just a cog in the wheel. That’s because of the people around me. Those key technicians and service managers took the time to share their wisdom in every interaction and in every question I asked.
It’s really the people. This team is my family just as much as my family at home. My daughter is only 11, and many of my coworkers have watched her grow up—just as I’ve watched their kids grow up. I’ve been surrounded by amazing people who have invested in me and in our customers.
Like any family, we’ve had our ups and downs, but at the core, we share a deep love for this industry and for each other. That bond keeps me here.
Every day, I see the impact of what we do—both for each other and for our customers. That’s probably the biggest driver for me: knowing that the work I do, and the work my teammates do, makes a real difference in every interaction we have with our clients.
I’ve been so fortunate to be surrounded by managers who genuinely recognize skills and take the time to develop them. One of the first branch managers at PSI who helped open our Washington office, John Hartline, made a big impact on me. He would slow down—not just to give me the answer to my question, but to teach me how to work through it and find the answer myself.
Throughout my career, many of the managers I’ve worked with have done the same. They’ve invested their time in me and in others, helping us grow professionally. Without that kind of support, we’d all risk just spinning our wheels and doing the same thing every day.
It’s important to me to carry that mission forward—to slow down as a leader and take the time to mentor, guide, and teach. Every single interaction we have is an opportunity to grow.
I’m a rebel at heart, and it’s deeply important to me to continue fostering careers for women in the service industry—an area where we’re still underrepresented. I’m inspired by leaders like Jodi, whose journey and trajectory as a CEO in this space are nothing short of remarkable. I want to show other women that leadership in the service industry is not only possible—it’s attainable.
For someone who never earned an MBA or attended an Ivy League school, I had to cut my teeth starting as a receptionist and work hard, day after day. Regardless of your background or the obstacles you face, I’m living proof that hard work, grit, and dedication can take you exactly where you want to go.
In high school, I actually set my house on fire—by accident, of course. Thankfully, it didn’t burn to the ground. We had a fire sprinkler system and hard-wired smoke detectors, which alerted our neighbors since we weren’t home at the time. They called 911, and the fire was extinguished quickly. The damage was significant but repairable. My parents even made me pay the insurance deductible, which was a lesson I’ll never forget.
The fire and life safety industry is incredible to be part of. There’s something noble about working in a field where we can build a career, provide for our families, and do so with a mission that protects not just property, but lives.
Another thing to consider is that while industries like flooring, paint, or finishings are optional, fire and life safety services are required. In times of economic or political uncertainty, that requirement provides stability—not just for our communities, but for those of us working in the industry. It’s a career where you can remain gainfully employed while knowing your work has true purpose.
Want to learn more about the opportunities at PSI?
Contact careers@PSIntegrated.com if you have any questions or comments regarding career opportunities.
Ready to join an industry with purpose?
Explore the open roles at Performance Systems Integration—offering competitive pay, benefits, and industry-leading focus on training and development. Work with a supportive team while you make a difference in protecting people and property.