Our Tribute to Joey

Joey Boyle was the co-founder of Premier Fire Protection Services, LLC. Alongside his good friend Bob Henneberry, he helped create and build this company through unmatched drive and determination.

Starting at a desk from his own garage, launching Premier was a risky endeavor in the rocky economy of 2010. Fears aside, Joey was determined to make his mark in the fire protection industry. He and Bob worked tirelessly, surpassing one goal after another.

As they continued to grow, Joey moved his desk into his backyard shed he had transformed into an office. Eventually, Premier Fire Protection Services, LLC opened up their first location in Frederick, Maryland. Joey’s father, mother and brother also joined Premier, working hard with Bob and Joey to nurture and expand the business.

When Premier celebrated its one-year anniversary, Joey marked the occasion by celebrating with his family. Premier hadn’t just survived. It was thriving.

Joey was a boss to many, but a friend to all. “No employee of mine will ever feel like just a number,” he often said. It was so important to Joey that he knew his employees personally, from the names of their children, to what they did for fun on the weekends. He and Bob and their coworkers would not just work together – they would all be friends. Together, they would lay a foundation so strong that their business idea would reach heights of success that neither of them could have imagined.

Throughout the six years Joey helped build Premier, he worked many long days, commuting throughout the service regions, and working hard to maintain a balance between work and family. Most days, you could find Joey at his children’s karate classes after a long day, only to return to work when it was over.

Joey showed his Premier pride in many ways. You would often find him sporting and sharing his Premier apparel. A photo of their work trucks on his Facebook page has a caption that reads, “A beautiful sight.” He was so incredibly passionate about the life-saving work he, Bob and their employees were doing.

When Joey passed tragically and suddenly on September 15, 2016, he took a piece of the hearts of so many with him. Joey was one of the greats: a great human, boss, son, brother, husband, father, uncle, brother in-law and friend.

While Joey may no longer be here with us physically, his vision and legacy lives on through his family, friends, and this company he was so very proud of.

From Joey, we learn that dreams do come true. We learn that hard work does pay off. We learn that teamwork goes hand in hand with success. We learn that kindness does matter, both personally and professional. We also learn the painful lesson that life is fragile, often cut short, and it is up to us to make the most of our time here. Joey lived life to the max. He worked hard, played hard, and loved hard. He impacted so many through his fun-loving personality and zest for life.

In honor of Joey today, do something to make this world a better place, just as he did. Reach out your hand to someone in need. Be grateful for the gift of another day. Spend a little extra time with someone you love.

We are so grateful to each and every one of you who have been by our sides through this incredibly difficult journey. From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you.