Friday, Feb 14, 2025 – Joel Archuleta, Marketing Coordinator, IFSS

Meet Sarah Hurst: The HR Powerhouse Behind Integrity Fire’s Next Chapter

Employee Spotlight: Sarah Hurst 

From Blue-Collar HR to Fire Safety: Sarah’s Journey

Juggling HR for multiple offices, keeping benefits and payroll running, and even building patio furniture from recycled palettes—Sarah Hurst does it all. It’s a lot. But for Sarah, it’s just another day that ends in the letter y.

As curator of the employee newsletter, I caught up with our “new” HR Specialist over a scheduled Google Meet interview. She greeted me with a confident smile, ready to dive in and share her story.

I first met Sarah soon after she joined Integrity Fire Safety Services in September 2024, drawn by the company’s strong sense of purpose and commitment to safety. The idea of contributing to an industry that directly impacts people’s well-being resonated with her, making it an easy decision to take on this new challenge.

She arrived just in time to take on the challenges of our office relocation project, navigating logistical hurdles while ensuring employees felt supported during the transition. Bringing with her a wealth of HR experience from blue-collar industries. Since then? She’s been immersed in fire safety. Learning. Supporting employees. Keeping things running. HR here isn’t just paperwork—it’s about building a workplace where people thrive.

Transitioning into the fire safety industry wasn’t without its challenges. But Sarah thrives in dynamic environments. “I need to understand the business inside and out,” she told me. “That’s why I spend time getting to know every department. Learning what field technicians do. Understanding the complexities of fire safety regulations. Ensuring every employee gets the support they need.”

Managing Chaos with Grace: A Day in Sarah’s Shoes

A typical day? There isn’t one. One moment, she’s at the North office. The next, back at Inverness HQ. Onboarding new employees. Troubleshooting data issues. Meeting with Eric Williams. Answering benefits questions. She wears many hats. Switching between them often.

Sarah walked me through her process, seamlessly shifting from describing her daily responsibilities to discussing how she refines policies. Making the workplace more effective. Policies must be employee-friendly and aligned with company goals, a balance Sarah maintains by actively seeking employee feedback, collaborating with leadership, and ensuring that every policy supports both the team and the organization’s long-term vision.

“I just take off one hat and put another one on,” she said with a laugh. “Some days, it’s ten different hats. But that’s what makes it fun.”

Balancing multiple roles comes with its challenges—managing remote employees, navigating varying state regulations, and ensuring streamlined communication. HR at Integrity Fire is a moving target. But Sarah takes it all in stride. Sees each challenge as an opportunity.

Finding Purpose in Fire Safety

Sarah never planned for a career in fire safety. “It wasn’t something I thought about,” she admitted. But when she learned about Integrity Fire’s mission, she saw something bigger. “Fire safety impacts everyone,” she said. “It’s always relevant. People will always need protection. Being part of that? That’s meaningful.”

The more she learned, the more she saw its significance. Hospitals meeting fire codes. School Children staying safe. Businesses dealing with firewatch. She realized how vital this industry is.

Building Connections, Not Just Policies

Spend an hour with Sarah, and it’s clear—she’s not your typical HR rep. She wants employees to feel comfortable. To talk. To vent. “I’ve had my share of bad managers,” she admitted. “I don’t want to be that person employees avoid. I want them to know they can talk to me. We’ll figure things out together.”

Her goal for 2025? New engagement initiatives. Not just making Integrity Fire a great place to work—making it the place to work.

Sarah understands that engaged employees are productive employees. Connection and development drive success. From team-building events to mentorship programs, she’s constantly seeking ways to enhance the employee experience.

“Employee engagement isn’t just about perks,” she explained. “It’s about creating a workplace where people feel valued. Heard. Excited to be part of something bigger.” (Stay tuned—fun things are coming.)

She’s also spearheading a leadership training program. Helping employees grow within the company. Investing in people’s growth isn’t optional—it’s key to long-term success.

Life Beyond HR: Sarah’s Creative Side

When she’s not managing HR, Sarah enjoys time with her husband, Mike, and their two daughters, Chloee and Kaylee. She’s an avid reader. Give her a good book, and she’s set. “I love paper books,” she said. “But audiobooks are great for drives. I’ll take both.”

She also has a creative side and loves tackling DIY projects, bringing the same hands-on, problem-solving mentality to her HR work. Whether it’s designing engaging onboarding materials, reimagining workspace layouts for better collaboration, or organizing interactive team-building activities, her knack for creativity enhances the workplace in meaningful ways. Crafting innovative employee engagement strategies. Designing more efficient workspace layouts. “Building furniture from recycled wood is one of my favorite things to do,” she shared. “It’s rewarding to take something old and turn it into something new.”

And despite being a Colorado native, Sarah has never been skiing or snowboarding. “I don’t do cold,” she laughed. “Snow and I have an understanding—I stay inside, and it stays outside.”