Bright Lights, Big Dreams

Twelve-year-old Tim Small ’07 stood at the center of Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom among 30,000 eager onlookers. He fixed his eyes on the inky black backdrop behind Cinderella Castle and watched in awe as the sky shattered into a kaleidoscope of light and color. His heart hammered at the whistles and whirs of impending explosions, and the subsequent cracks sparked a smile as brilliant and bright as the fireworks themselves. He knew, even then, that this moment of communal wonder—the chorus of oohs and aahs echoing through the crowd—had ignited in him a lifelong passion. 

At 13 years old, Tim began volunteering with the Annual Catonsville Fourth of July Celebration. Too young to get his hands on the fireworks, he’d pick up trash, build mortar racks, and help out however he could. It was a long wait until he turned 21 and was able to obtain the necessary license to discharge fireworks himself. The first time he shot them off, he thought, “This is amazing. I’m painting a picture in the sky!” 

“I just saw how much fun it was, and I knew it was something I wanted to pursue,” he says. “But I also knew I wanted to pursue a career in law enforcement.” 

Tim served 10 years as a Howard County police officer, working as a pyrotechnician on the side. In his early years of law enforcement, he was acting as a security detail in the basement of M&T Bank Stadium during a Ravens game, where he met John, Joe, and Andy Suehle, the owners of Image Engineering. Tim shared with them that he had his fireworks license, and they quickly brought him on board as a freelance pyrotechnic operator. 

In 2018, he was assigned to run the show for the Philadelphia Eagles. His successful execution of that project led to the development of a five-year plan for how he would exit law enforcement and take over the company’s pyrotechnic operations. When his wife became pregnant with their third child, that timeline was slightly accelerated. Tim joined the team full time as the Director of Pyrotechnics and Field Services in 2022. 

“I made the dive headfirst into this, and I’ve never looked back,” he says. 

Tim has directed displays locally at Merriweather Post Pavilion, Pier 6, Camden Yards, M&T Bank Stadium, the Ocean City boardwalk, Mount Vernon, and countless country clubs, wineries, and special events.   

One of Tim’s most unforgettable moments came early in his career during the unveiling of the Ray Lewis statue at M&T Bank Stadium. As the legendary Ravens linebacker emerged and broke into his signature squirrel dance in front of the bronze tribute, Tim’s crew ignited synchronized fireballs, and he thought to himself, “How am I doing flames for Ray Lewis?” 

“Every time I thought I’d hit the pinnacle of my career, it just went to the next level,” he says. 

From the MLS All-Star Game to college football championships and NFL playoff showdowns, Tim’s pyrotechnic talents have lit up some of the biggest stages in sports. Substantial, national shows can take four to six months of planning and preparation. “It starts with one person who has a vision for the storyline,” Tim explains. Then comes site visits, 3D graphics planning, renderings, client feedback, revisions, and finally, production. During production, a team will assemble all of the plates and racks, and the manufacturer will custom make each firework. Someone will handle the permitting and legalities and insurance documents. “It’s a huge task,” he says in summary. 

Of course, even with so much preparation, things don’t always go as planned. When the iconic rock band KISS embarked on their End of the Road World Tour, they demanded perfection, especially from their pyrotechnics. After a series of technical issues left frontman Gene Simmons frustrated, Tim was called in to reprogram the show. He flew out to meet his crew in St. Louis and pulled off a “Hail Mary” fix. The tour’s final four performances went off without a hitch. 

“I don’t know where the roads are going to continue to take me because it just depends on when the phone rings, but there have been some incredible clients,” he reflects. 

One call he will always answer is from the Catonsville Fourth of July committee. “I will do Catonsville fireworks until the day I die,” he says. “That’s where I started. That’s my hometown. It’s about giving back.” 

That same spirit of giving back fuels Tim’s commitment to mentoring the next generation of pyrotechnicians. Tim met Quinn Wells ’24 through another Mount Saint Joseph alumnus, his coworker Phil Keller ’97. Quinn started helping the crew out at Ravens’ games two years ago, and Tim was immediately impressed by his technical skill and inquisitive nature. Wanting to nurture those qualities, he hired Quinn as an intern this summer. “He’s looking to turn a passion into a career, so I hope that I can guide him,” Tim says. “He’s working hard. We’re trying to give him as much experience as we can.” 

Working with Quinn reminds him of how far he’s come. From picking up trash and building mortar racks to pioneering new pyrotechnic technology overseas, Tim’s career has burned brightly. But one dream remains. “Everyone has to have an end goal in life,” he says. “Mine is to do fireworks at Disney.” He takes his family down to visit the park as often as he can, wanting to relive the magic that started it all.