Growing RapidFire offers ‘total solution’

ST. LOUIS—RapidFire Safety & Security has carried out what it calls its “Buy & Build” strategy with an aggressive start to 2025, adding six businesses to its portfolio in the first half of the year. 

Kane Fire Protection, All Source Fire Protection, Advanced Security Contractors, Progressive Protection Security Systems, Christopherson Fire Protection and, its most recent addition, SDS Security bring the company’s total acquisitions to 20 since its founding in 2022. 

“Our goal is to provide a message of total solutions that differentiate us from those who say, ‘Hey, we do that too,’” said Chief Revenue Officer Bob Ricucci. “We are always looking for ways to articulate bringing new and better value to our clients. It allows us to be highly competitive in bringing value. Our value proposition is much stronger with every acquisition that we make, so that really is a driving force for us.” 

Ricucci says there are “three legs” that make up RapidFire’s approach to potential additions to its portfolio: 1) the acquisition itself, 2) organic growth (through more resources, attention and bandwidth and 3) cross-sell opportunities. 

Chief Operating Officer Brian Modglin also noted that RapidFire looks for companies that align with its five core values - servant leadership, safety, integrity, focus and excellence. 

“It's not just words; it’s something we live by and is our mantra and our North Star,” he said. “We look for companies that are aligned with our core values and are solid companies with a good reputation.” 

Ricucci likens RapidFire’s business approach going forward to that of a football coach’s game plan.  

“We have a very sound model that has been proven over time, and we have built an infrastructure and a set of processes and disciplines around that, both on the buy and the build components,” he stated. “We've got our running game; we've got our play-action pass working. Now we just have to matriculate the ball down the field.”  

Modglin added, “We want to be the single life safety provider for commercial companies within a market. It's more M&A growth and more organic growth - a double growth path.”