How long have you been in the PHCP-PVF industry?

CL: I began my career in the plumbing industry 10 years ago at my very first job in the trades industry. I worked for a remodeling company and the master plumber took me under his wing. I quickly developed a passion for plumbing.

What drew you into the industry?

CL: I have always been a hands-on person. I never liked sitting in class during school and knew I wanted to work in the field for my career. Once I found plumbing, it was something I quickly realized I enjoyed doing. Aside from the hands-on aspect, the critical thinking required is something I didn’t expect from this career. There was always a challenge waiting for me each day, and it kept me motivated to keep learning.

What is the most rewarding aspect of working in the industry?

CL: It sounds cliché, but providing great customer service to my customers is extremely rewarding. I’ve been able to grow my business based mostly by word-of-mouth recommendations from my customers. Just the fact that they were so satisfied with the service I provided at the end of the day, and thought to recommend my business to someone else is extremely rewarding.

What motivates you every day?

CL: My family motivates me every day. I have a wife, Saige, and my children, Addison and Henry, at home. As a father, I strive to provide the best life I can for my family.

What is one thing you wish more people knew/understood about the PHCP-PVF industry?

CL: I wish more people knew how great of a career this is. Our generation was pushed to go to college, get a degree and work a corporate job. There’s nothing wrong with that at all, but this is a job you can start right away and get hands-on experience with no debt to worry about. You also have a lot of autonomy and control over your career. It’s hard work, but it’s worth it. There is now a high demand for trade workers, and I look forward to seeing the younger generation become more involved with the trades.

What has been the proudest moment in your career so far?

CL: One of my proudest moments was winning a local choice award for No. 1 plumber in my city. At that time, we had been in business for less than a year. When I say “we,” it was just me and my wife. We were nominated against five other large corporate plumbing companies who each had hundreds of employees to dispatch and service our city, and thousands of dollars for marketing. We ended up winning the best plumber. It was amazing to know our customers and community took the time to vote for us and truly valued us as a company. We never imagined we could ever win something like that, so it was surreal.

What is one thing most people don’t know about you?

CL: Something a lot of people don’t know about me unless you grew up with me, is that I grew up skateboarding. It was something me and my friends did every day. I still do here and there when I get a free moment!