The summer months are relaxing for most, but for Pyro ShowsInc., a fireworks display and special effects company, this is the busiest time of year.
Pyro Shows has been a proud Tennessee–based company for almost 50 years. Based out of LaFollette, Pyro Shows puts on around 1,000 pyro shows each year with 400 of those falling on the weeks before, during and after July 4. The company is staffed with around 20 people during the winter months, but more than double its number of employees during the spring and summer months to prepare for the July 4 shows. During the weeks surrounding the holiday, the company seasonally hires 400 plus workers to make up for the increase in demand.
“Tennessee is a very business friendly state,” said Lansden Hill, President and CEO of Pyro Shows, Inc. “Local and state government officials have always worked with Pyro Shows to promote a pro-business environment as long as employee and public safety is maintained. We would recommend that any business check out Tennessee as a possible location because of the political environment, economic environment and geography.”
Pyro Shows was started in 1969 by Lansden E. Hill, Jr. as Big Creek Enterprises. Hill graduated from the University of Tennessee and returned home to LaFollette to join the family insurance business. His strong interest in fireworks combined with his experience in the insurance industry got him an invitation to join the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Technical Committee for Pyrotechnics. The committee writes the NFPA codes for firework public displays, transportation and storage. These codes are used extensively throughout the United States as the basis for firework code and conduct enforcement. Hill still serves on the committee today.
