For over 25 years, Cox Fire Protection, Inc. has been providing a full range of fire protection services to customers throughout the state of Florida. The company was founded in 1984 by Ron and Linda Cox. Both Ron and Linda are licensed contractors, and Cox Fire is now proud to be a state certified Minority Business Enterprise.
Born from a vision which began to take shape in 1976, Cox Fire was formed to design, fabricate and install fire protection systems of all types and has grown to become one of the southeast’s most respected fire sprinkler contractors. In April of 2000, the company moved to its current 2-acre site in East Tampa.
From the beginning, Cox Fire has endeavored to maintain the basic fundamental principle of providing the best quality products and services to its customers that are available. As a supplier of products and services to the fire sprinkler industry, Cox understands that it is imperative to understand its customers' needs and provide solutions adding value, and deliver profitable results to their operations. Our model management goal is built around four basic values: speed, cost, quality and on time delivery/completion.
Cox Fire’s first branch office opened in 2009 in Ocala, FL, and that branch is managed by Ron Benke. Ron Benke has over 30 years of very diverse experience in the fire sprinkler industry, and is licensed fire sprinkler contractor. The Ocala branch has a strong inspections and service base and is constantly looking for ways to better serve their customers.
In January of 2010, a second branch office was established in Jacksonville. Evans Fire Protection, who for many years has enjoyed a stellar reputation along the east coast of Florida and in southern Georgia, is now a division of Cox Fire Protection. Evans Fire is a strong presence of the Jacksonville area under the leadership of Richard Carr. Richard holds a NICET Level IV certification and is licensed in Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina.
Ron began his career in the fire sprinkler industry in 1976, as an apprentice. He enrolled in ABC's Apprenticeship School, and very quickly became empassioned by the industry. After working as a fitter, Ron became a skilled designer, then moved into sales. During this same time, Ron enrolled in the College of Engineering at the University of South Florida. In the early 1980's Ron's dream to own his own business began to take shape, and in 1984, Cox Fire Protection was incorporated. Ron's vision was to develop a company based on his personal values, which would provide excellence across the board to his customers, and within which, his employees could progress as quickly and as far as possible according to their own merit. This past September, Cox Fire celebrated its 25th anniversary under Ron's leadership and the company continues to operate based on its original principles.
Richard has been in the fire sprinkler industry since 1972. He enjoys all aspects of fire sprinklers including design, project management, quality control, sales and has devoted many years to apprenticeship training. Since 2000 he has been instructing North Carolina state licensing classes for AFSA and holds fire sprinkler licenses in North Carolina, Georgia and Florida. He has been involved in project of all sizes, high rises, pumps, tanks, pre-action, deluge, foam, military projects, NASA, warehouses, hospitals, power plants and manufacturing. He has taught many AHJ classes in Florida and North Carolina and is NICET level 4 certified and has worked with NICET in developing their new testing format. Hard work and family values are important to him.
Scott Cox is a 4th generation Tampa native, and was born and raised in the Tampa Bay area. He is a graduate of Anderson University, and did post-graduation studies in design and engineering from Murray State University where he became proficient in AutoCAD, a computer aided design program utilized in fire protection engineering.
Following graduation, after having literally grown up in the industry, Scott officially accepted a job at Cox Fire doing fire protection engineering and worked in that capacity for a year. Scott ultimately moved into the Contract Sales Department, and after five years of selling contract work within the company, proving his business development abilities and annually surpassing sales goals, Scott was promoted to Director of Preconstruction, the position which he currently holds. Scott's ultimate goal in this position is to identify the projects in the southeastern U.S. that are a "best fit" for Cox Fire Protection, assure that the necessary communication lines are in place between owners, general contractors and his company, and that the final product produced by Cox Fire surpasses the customer's expectations.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
