There’s a thread running throughout this issue of Plumber that feels especially relevant right now — more than simply tools, trucks or even technology, your business is about trust.
Our profile story takes you to Brooklyn, New York, where Petri Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Drain has quietly built a 120-year legacy in one of the busiest, most ever-changing cities in the world. On the surface, Petri Plumbing’s story is a case study in longevity. But look a little closer, and it’s really about consistency — showing up day after day, generation after generation, with a commitment to doing the work right and treating customers the right way.
That idea translates just as easily to life and work no matter where you live.
You may not be navigating five boroughs or century-old brownstones, but the expectations are no different. When the heat goes out in January or a pipe freezes in the middle of the night, customers care more about trust thanhow long you’ve been in business or how many trucks you have on the road. They’re thinking about whether the person walking through their door is going to solve the problem — and treat their home with respect while doing it.
That’s what stood out to me in the Petri story. Not just the growth or the history, but the mindset. The understanding that technical skill is only part of the job. The rest is how you carry yourself in someone’s home, how you communicate and how you leave things when the job is done.
FROM THE FIELD
That same mindset is exactly what you read about in this issue’s From the Field column. It’s a column we started in the May issue and want to see continue each month.
In this issue, we talk with Beca Ralston, an HVAC service technician with Hurlburt Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electrical in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. With just over five years in the industry, her story is a reminder that the trades are all about the trust-building moments that set great workers apart.
Ralston’s day-to-day work looks like what you’d expect: diagnosing issues, performing repairs and maintaining equipment. But what stuck with me were the simple acts of kindness — helping a customer carry groceries, changing a light bulb and taking the time to sit and talk. In her words, it was a moment that reinforced what the job is really about: connection.
That’s the kind of perspective we don’t hear enough about.
Across the trades, there’s a lot of conversation about workforce shortages, new technology and the future of the industry. Those are important discussions. But at the core, this profession has always been about people helping people. Whether it’s a fourth-generation company in New York City or a technician working her way through the industry in western Wisconsin, the foundation is the same.
So as you read through this issue, take in the history, the growth and the technical side of the trade. But don’t miss the bigger picture. From Brooklyn to the Midwest, excellence in the trades means showing up, doing the job right, and taking care of people along the way.
HEARING FROM YOU
Do you have a company you think should be highlighted in these pages? Or have a plumber you want to see highlighted? Email me at editor@plumbermag.com and tell me about them!
Enjoy this issue!
