Holly Gray-Salmon, vice president of finance at Foothill Fire Protection Inc., is the winner of AFSA’s NextGen Initiative‘s (NGI) 2024 Young Professional of the Year Award (YPY). The YPY Award will be presented to Gray-Salmon during the General Session at AFSA43: Convention, Exhibition, & Apprentice Competition in Denver.

Gray-Salmon will be the ninth winner of the YPY award which recognizes the outstanding talent and achievements of newcomers in the fire sprinkler industry.

These professionals aged 40 and under are activists and innovators and are praised for their passion and sense of community. The award seeks to promote the emergence of new talented professionals and inspire companies to invest even more in the development and excellence of the profession.

As vice president of finance at Foothill Fire Protection in Loomis, Calif., Gray-Salmon focuses on company success and expansion and handles purchasing and negotiating. Her knowledge of the construction side and its processes enables her to advise and provide insight to others. With her eye for processes and what it takes for the company to succeed, Gray-Salmon takes the initiative outside her financing role to help out in the family business of 30 years.

"Every time Holly’s name came up, it was followed with endless praise,” said NextGen Chair Katie Meehan, director of marketing for VSC Fire & Security, Richmond, Virginia. “Though I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting Holly personally, it was evident from her reputation that she is a force of positivity and energy. It seems clear that Holly has made a serious mark on the industry, which is an accomplishment in and of itself— but particularly admirable given her role as a young professional. She has much to be proud of!”

Learn more and register to attend AFSA43 at firesprinkler.swoogo.com/AFSA43live/.