Josh Denham – Fire Sprinkler Fitter
“Hard work spotlights the character of people: some turn up their sleeves, some turn up their noses, and some don’t turn up at all.”
If you were to write down all the things a fire sprinkler fitter must do while working in trenches, all weather, unconditioned spaces, in the dirt, water, and grime – you would be hard pressed to find a lot of people raising their hand and saying, “Yes! Pick me!”
But….six years ago, that’s exactly what Josh Denham did. There is little doubt that the hardest, dirtiest job we have in Lone Star Communications is fire sprinkler fitter. I wanted to highlight Josh, because as much as he tries to blend in, he stands out. He just works hard, cares about what we do, why we do it, has high expectations for himself, his jobs, and all of us. Even when Josh has valid complaints, they come out in a way that is constructive and helps us get better. So, how did Josh get to Arkansas, and how did he end up saying, “Yes! Pick me!”?
Josh was born in Miami, raised in Central Florida, and “dreamed of being an NFL quarterback,” but he packed up his things and moved to Arkansas to be closer to his uncles. I have been in both states Josh, I cannot say I blame you – too much humidity and those mosquitoes doing night duty as small drones, no thank you.
Josh is no stranger to hard work; his dad was a correctional officer and one of his friends was in the fire sprinkler industry. Despite having firsthand knowledge of what it takes, Josh signed up to start a career as a fire sprinkler fitter.
For the past six years, Josh has worked to become a strong leader, running jobs, and learning the craft. He is regularly pointed out for his hard work, dedication, and values both internally and externally. He has always stayed the course, even during times of changes in the company and department. Why? “The people. For a big company it feels like family. Plus, we get to save lives.” Hard work. Family. Saving Lives.
Speaking of family, Josh has the makings of a basketball team. He has been married to his wife Saraya for 14 years. Saraya is a pediatric dental hygienist, wife, mom – perhaps she has a thing or two to say about hard jobs Josh? Together, they have three (3) beautiful kids; Daisia-Lyn (12), Bentley (11), and Benzino (7). The boys play basketball and baseball, and their daughter plays softball and is a dancer.
Why does Josh like doing a job that one day could be in the -25 blast cooler at Tyson, to fixing pipe in a 95-degree warehouse in the summer? “There is something new every day. No two days are the same, and I get to see some cool places.” There is nothing routine about the fire sprinkler business, and there is nothing routine in the way Josh goes about making sure our customers get the very best every single day.
When Josh isn’t doing all of those things – he also enjoys hunting, fishing, coaching kids’ sports, and is an Astros fan. Let’s map this: Born in Miami. Raised in Central Florida. Lives in Arkansas. Astros fan.
I’m no Neal deGrasse Tyson, but that doesn’t add up. Either way, I am thrilled to have Josh on this Team, in this Family. Thank you Josh, for everything you do. Your passion for your work, our customers, and this industry are making us better every day. I’m looking forward to seeing what you achieve at Lone Star Communications.
- Kevin Henderson, Chief Operating Officer, Arkansas