Passing the Torch

Passing the Torch

How trust, mentorship, and a shared vision built the next chapter of National Firestopping Solutions.

Some moments in business happen all at once. A contract is signed. A title changes. Ownership transfers.

From the outside, that's what people see. But the most meaningful transitions don't happen in a single afternoon. They happen quietly over years, through thousands of conversations, difficult decisions, shared victories, lessons learned, and trust earned one day at a time.

The ownership transition at National Firestopping Solutions is one of those moments. On paper, founder Bill Nason officially passed ownership of National Firestopping Solutions and PM Construction to Tyler Ferguson and Eric Kronland. In reality, the transition began more than a decade ago.

The Beginning of Something Bigger

When Tyler Ferguson first walked into Bill Nason's office in 2012, he wasn't asking to become president. He wasn't asking to own a company. He simply had an idea.

At the time, Tyler was working in the field for PM Construction while researching a growing need in healthcare facilities for properly installed passive fire protection systems. Changes in building codes and increased enforcement had created an opportunity that few contractors fully understood. Bill listened. Then he did something that would shape the future of National Firestopping Solutions. "He gave me a $3 raise, a company vehicle, a new title, shook my hand, and said he was excited to see where this could go," Tyler recalled. Bill didn't know where the idea would lead. He simply recognized something in the young employee standing across from him. Years later, when asked what he was most proud of beyond revenue, growth, or company accomplishments, Bill's answer came without hesitation. "Tyler." His answer was simple, but it said everything..

Perhaps the greatest legacy any leader can leave behind isn't the company they build. It's the people they prepare to carry it forward.

Building More Than a Company

From the beginning, National Firestopping Solutions was never intended to compete by being an average subcontractor. Instead, Bill wanted to build something different. "We made absolutely sure we had the right certifications," he said. "We made absolutely sure we were the gold standard." That phrase became part of the company's identity. Being the gold standard wasn't simply about technical excellence. It meant documenting every installation, doing the job correctly the first time, owning mistakes when they happened, treating customers like long-term partners, and never cutting corners. It also meant investing in people. Throughout talking to them, one theme surfaced repeatedly. The company has always believed that success starts with its employees. Bill often reminded his team that businesses don't succeed because of one person. They succeed because of everyone. "He believed the money the company earned was earned by the people working beside him," Tyler said. "He wanted to share in that success." That philosophy became part of the company's DNA.

Leadership Was Never About the Title

Ironically, Tyler never set out to become an owner. For years, he was consumed with building the business. Growing markets. Developing relationships. Expanding services. Solving problems. "I never even thought ownership was going to be an option," he admitted.

Everything changed in 2020.COVID forced businesses across the country to slow down. For the first time since National Firestopping Solutions was founded, growth stopped. It opened Tyler’s mind to a possibility he hadn’t previously considered. What would happen one day when Bill stepped away?

"I didn't want anything to happen to what we had built," Tyler said. "I never wanted anybody else to have control over my future."

Ownership wasn't about prestige. It was about stewardship. Protecting the company. Protecting its people. Protecting its culture. Looking back now, Tyler laughs that becoming an owner doesn't actually feel much different than the day before.

"It hasn't really hit me yet," he said. "I've been doing this for four or five years already."

That statement says as much about Bill's leadership as it does Tyler's. Bill wasn't preparing someone to replace him after he retired. He was preparing Tyler every day while he was still there.

The Missing Piece

As the company continued to grow, another important relationship quietly began developing. Tyler first met Eric Kronlund through a mutual friend. At the time, Eric was living in Boston, finishing his MBA, building a successful consulting career, and earning his CPA. Moving back to Maine wasn't necessarily part of the plan. Until he met Tyler.

"I saw the passion for what he was building," Eric said. "I wanted to help him any way I could."

Eric remembers one conversation in particular when the possibility of what they could build together became clear.“I remember very distinctly having a conversation with Tyler and saying, ‘We could build something really special here, and we could do it together.’”

Eric grew up seeing firsthand what it meant to build something of your own. His grandfather was a founder and successful business owner in Southern Maine, growing his company over the course of decades. But the example he set went far beyond financial success. He cared deeply about the people around him and created a place people were proud to be part of. It’s a legacy Eric is now carrying forward in his own way. The two quickly realized they complemented one another almost perfectly. Tyler is the visionary, the relationship builder, and the industry advocate. The person who can stand in front of hundreds of people and inspire confidence.

Eric prefers working behind the scenes. Analyzing data. Planning strategy. Looking for patterns others may miss. Turning information into insight that helps the team move toward a common goal. "I'll take all the information I possibly can," Eric explained, "and then try to provide insight. "Together, their differences became one of their greatest strengths. Bill noticed it too.

Years earlier, Bill had told Tyler the single most important hire he would ever make would be the person overseeing the financial side of the business. Finding someone who understood both people and business wasn't easy. When Tyler finally introduced Eric to the company, he deliberately invited him to a casual employee gathering. Instead of trying to impress anyone, Eric grabbed a drink, walked into a group of field employees he'd never met, and spent the next half hour talking with them like old friends.

Tyler remembers thinking: "I found the guy."

The Responsibility Behind Ownership

People often imagine becoming an owner as the finish line. For Tyler and Eric, it feels more like the starting line. "It represents responsibility," Eric said simply.

Responsibility to customers. Responsibility to employees. Responsibility to every family depending on the company's success. Tyler expressed it another way. "We're safe."

Those two words weren't about financial security. They were about protecting the future.

Throughout the transition, there were moments when it wasn't certain the deal would come to a close. Banks. Lawyers. Paperwork. Negotiations. Months stretched longer than anyone expected. There were times when walking away would have been easier. Neither Tyler nor Eric ever considered it. Because ownership is about ensuring National Firestopping Solutions remained in the hands of people who believed in its mission.

The Company Bill Built

One of the most moving moments from the interviews came when Tyler described watching Bill after retirement. For years, Tyler had watched him carry the weight of two companies. PM Construction and NFS came with significant responsibility, stress, and difficult decisions. Now, every Tuesday and Thursday morning, the two still meet to work out. Only something is different.

"The weight has slowly come off his shoulders," Tyler said. Watching Bill enjoy retirement has shown him that one day leadership can be passed on successfully.

Bill described that transition honestly. "The hardest part," he admitted, "was going from being the man...to being nobody." But over time, something changed. He found peace. Today he still mentors. He still offers advice. But he no longer carries the responsibility. He entrusted it to people he spent years preparing.

Carrying the Mission Forward

Ask Bill, Tyler, and Eric separately what should never change about National Firestopping Solutions, and despite giving different answers, they all describe the same thing.

People.

Purpose.

Pride.

Accountability.

Doing the right thing even when no one is watching. Being the gold standard. The company will continue expanding. New offices will open. New employees will join. New markets will be explored. Technology will evolve. Leadership styles will continue to grow. But the foundation remains unchanged.

As Bill reflected on the transition, perhaps no quote captured it better than this: "It really just formalizes a thing that Tyler has worked so hard to build all of these years." That sentence perfectly explains why this transition feels so natural. The title changed. The ownership changed. The mission never did. The torch wasn't handed to strangers. It was passed to people who had been carrying its flame all along.

It’s a responsibility Eric doesn’t take lightly. “Bill got us so far with what he built. To now have the opportunity to carry that torch forward alongside Tyler, take what Bill started, and continue building upon it is an honor.”

And now, with a shared vision, a talented team, and a commitment to protecting people and the places where they live, work, learn, and heal, National Firestopping Solutions begins its next chapter. Not by leaving its past behind, but by building on everything that made it worth passing forward in the first place.

Passing the Torch

How trust, mentorship, and a shared vision built the next chapter of National Firestopping Solutions.

Some moments in business happen all at once. A contract is signed. A title changes. Ownership transfers.

From the outside, that's what people see. But the most meaningful transitions don't happen in a single afternoon. They happen quietly over years, through thousands of conversations, difficult decisions, shared victories, lessons learned, and trust earned one day at a time.

The ownership transition at National Firestopping Solutions is one of those moments. On paper, founder Bill Nason officially passed ownership of National Firestopping Solutions and PM Construction to Tyler Ferguson and Eric Kronland. In reality, the transition began more than a decade ago.

The Beginning of Something Bigger

When Tyler Ferguson first walked into Bill Nason's office in 2012, he wasn't asking to become president. He wasn't asking to own a company. He simply had an idea.

At the time, Tyler was working in the field for PM Construction while researching a growing need in healthcare facilities for properly installed passive fire protection systems. Changes in building codes and increased enforcement had created an opportunity that few contractors fully understood. Bill listened. Then he did something that would shape the future of National Firestopping Solutions. "He gave me a $3 raise, a company vehicle, a new title, shook my hand, and said he was excited to see where this could go," Tyler recalled. Bill didn't know where the idea would lead. He simply recognized something in the young employee standing across from him. Years later, when asked what he was most proud of beyond revenue, growth, or company accomplishments, Bill's answer came without hesitation. "Tyler." His answer was simple, but it said everything..

Perhaps the greatest legacy any leader can leave behind isn't the company they build. It's the people they prepare to carry it forward.

Building More Than a Company

From the beginning, National Firestopping Solutions was never intended to compete by being an average subcontractor. Instead, Bill wanted to build something different. "We made absolutely sure we had the right certifications," he said. "We made absolutely sure we were the gold standard." That phrase became part of the company's identity. Being the gold standard wasn't simply about technical excellence. It meant documenting every installation, doing the job correctly the first time, owning mistakes when they happened, treating customers like long-term partners, and never cutting corners. It also meant investing in people. Throughout talking to them, one theme surfaced repeatedly. The company has always believed that success starts with its employees. Bill often reminded his team that businesses don't succeed because of one person. They succeed because of everyone. "He believed the money the company earned was earned by the people working beside him," Tyler said. "He wanted to share in that success." That philosophy became part of the company's DNA.

Leadership Was Never About the Title

Ironically, Tyler never set out to become an owner. For years, he was consumed with building the business. Growing markets. Developing relationships. Expanding services. Solving problems. "I never even thought ownership was going to be an option," he admitted.

Everything changed in 2020. COVID forced businesses across the country to slow down. For the first time since National Firestopping Solutions was founded, growth stopped. It opened Tyler’s mind to a possibility he hadn’t previously considered. What would happen one day when Bill stepped away?

"I didn't want anything to happen to what we had built," Tyler said. "I never wanted anybody else to have control over my future."

Ownership wasn't about prestige. It was about stewardship. Protecting the company. Protecting its people. Protecting its culture. Looking back now, Tyler laughs that becoming an owner doesn't actually feel much different than the day before.

"It hasn't really hit me yet," he said. "I've been doing this for four or five years already."

That statement says as much about Bill's leadership as it does Tyler's. Bill wasn't preparing someone to replace him after he retired. He was preparing Tyler every day while he was still there.

The Missing Piece

As the company continued to grow, another important relationship quietly began developing. Tyler first met Eric Kronlund through a mutual friend. At the time, Eric was living in Boston, finishing his MBA, building a successful consulting career, and earning his CPA. Moving back to Maine wasn't necessarily part of the plan. Until he met Tyler.

"I saw the passion for what he was building," Eric said. "I wanted to help him any way I could."

Eric remembers one conversation in particular when the possibility of what they could build together became clear.“I remember very distinctly having a conversation with Tyler and saying, ‘We could build something really special here, and we could do it together.’”

Eric grew up seeing firsthand what it meant to build something of your own. His grandfather was a founder and successful business owner in Southern Maine, growing his company over the course of decades. But the example he set went far beyond financial success. He cared deeply about the people around him and created a place people were proud to be part of. It’s a legacy Eric is now carrying forward in his own way. The two quickly realized they complemented one another almost perfectly. Tyler is the visionary, the relationship builder, and the industry advocate. The person who can stand in front of hundreds of people and inspire confidence.

Eric prefers working behind the scenes. Analyzing data. Planning strategy. Looking for patterns others may miss. Turning information into insight that helps the team move toward a common goal. "I'll take all the information I possibly can," Eric explained, "and then try to provide insight. "Together, their differences became one of their greatest strengths. Bill noticed it too.

Years earlier, Bill had told Tyler the single most important hire he would ever make would be the person overseeing the financial side of the business. Finding someone who understood both people and business wasn't easy. When Tyler finally introduced Eric to the company, he deliberately invited him to a casual employee gathering. Instead of trying to impress anyone, Eric grabbed a drink, walked into a group of field employees he'd never met, and spent the next half hour talking with them like old friends.

Tyler remembers thinking: "I found the guy."

The Responsibility Behind Ownership

People often imagine becoming an owner as the finish line. For Tyler and Eric, it feels more like the starting line. "It represents responsibility," Eric said simply.

Responsibility to customers. Responsibility to employees. Responsibility to every family depending on the company's success. Tyler expressed it another way. "We're safe."

Those two words weren't about financial security. They were about protecting the future.

Throughout the transition, there were moments when it wasn't certain the deal would come to a close. Banks. Lawyers. Paperwork. Negotiations. Months stretched longer than anyone expected. There were times when walking away would have been easier. Neither Tyler nor Eric ever considered it. Because ownership is about ensuring National Firestopping Solutions remained in the hands of people who believed in its mission.

The Company Bill Built

One of the most moving moments from the interviews came when Tyler described watching Bill after retirement. For years, Tyler had watched him carry the weight of two companies. PM Construction and NFS came with significant responsibility, stress, and difficult decisions. Now, every Tuesday and Thursday morning, the two still meet to work out. Only something is different.

"The weight has slowly come off his shoulders," Tyler said. Watching Bill enjoy retirement has shown him that one day leadership can be passed on successfully.

Bill described that transition honestly. "The hardest part," he admitted, "was going from being the man...to being nobody." But over time, something changed. He found peace. Today he still mentors. He still offers advice. But he no longer carries the responsibility. He entrusted it to people he spent years preparing.

Carrying the Mission Forward

Ask Bill, Tyler, and Eric separately what should never change about National Firestopping Solutions, and despite giving different answers, they all describe the same thing.

People.

Purpose.

Pride.

Accountability.

Doing the right thing even when no one is watching. Being the gold standard. The company will continue expanding. New offices will open. New employees will join. New markets will be explored. Technology will evolve. Leadership styles will continue to grow. But the foundation remains unchanged.

As Bill reflected on the transition, perhaps no quote captured it better than this: "It really just formalizes a thing that Tyler has worked so hard to build all of these years." That sentence perfectly explains why this transition feels so natural. The title changed.The ownership changed. The mission never did. The torch wasn't handed to strangers. It was passed to people who had been carrying its flame all along.

It’s a responsibility Eric doesn’t take lightly. “Bill got us so far with what he built. To now have the opportunity to carry that torch forward alongside Tyler, take what Bill started, and continue building upon it is an honor.”

And now, with a shared vision, a talented team, and a commitment to protecting people and the places where they live, work, learn, and heal, National Firestopping Solutions begins its next chapter. Not by leaving its past behind, but by building on everything that made it worth passing forward in the first place.