For many companies in the construction industry, finding dedicated and skilled workers is a constant challenge. For Anderson Fire Protection, Inc. (AFP), a woman-owned minority fire protection company based in Elkridge, Maryland, that search led to a meaningful partnership with Project JumpStart—one that has made a lasting impact on both employer and employee.
“We were introduced to Project JumpStart through Southway Builders,” shares Maria Anderson, President of AFP. “We saw firsthand how successful they were with hiring individuals from the program.” That firsthand experience sparked more than curiosity—it opened the door to opportunity.
When AFP was invited to speak to a class of Project JumpStart graduates, they didn’t hesitate. “We were more than thankful for the opportunity,” Maria says. In late 2022, one of AFP’s executive managers, Steven Smith, spoke to a group of students about career paths in fire protection. “He was very impressed with the curriculum and the hands-on fire protection work room,” Maria notes. So impressed, in fact, that in January 2023, AFP hired one of the program’s graduates as a field helper.
“He’s done a great job,” Maria says. “He comes to work every day and is enthusiastic about being given an opportunity to establish a career.”
At the heart of this partnership is a shared belief in second chances. “If we are honest with ourselves, we have ALL made choices that have gotten us in trouble,” Maria says. “That doesn’t mean that you are a bad person. It just means that you made a mistake.” For her, success isn’t about where someone starts, but where they’re headed—and the support they receive along the way.
Anderson Fire Protection knows firsthand what it means to weather hard times. The company nearly closed its doors during the Great Recession of 2008. “It was through the partnerships and friendships we had formed that helped us get to the position we are in today,” Maria says. “Because of this, we believe that just like others who have helped us, it is our responsibility to pay it forward.”
That philosophy is a powerful driver of AFP’s commitment to hiring from Project JumpStart—and a call to action for others. “I challenge other businesses to take a chance and be the positive impact that someone needs,” Maria says. “Because in the long run, sometimes hope is all we are left with.”
At Project JumpStart, we are proud to partner with companies like Anderson Fire Protection—employers who see potential, believe in redemption, and understand that the greatest success is found in the lives we change for the better.