How long have you been in the PHCP-PVF industry?
JP: I've been in the industry since I was 18.
What drew you into the industry?
JP: School was never really for me, so I knew college was not going to be for me. I knew I needed to find something. I was a server in a restaurant because I thought that was going to be my calling. One of the restaurant regulars came up to me one day, he said, “Jared.” I'm like, “What's up?” He goes, “My helper just quit with no notice. Do you think you could stick this out with me? Just do it for a week until I can find somebody. I'll pay you cash.” I was like, “Oh, I don't want to do plumbing. That definitely smells bad. I definitely can't do that.” Then I spent one week with him and I was hooked. It's such a cool thing to be able to have people call you freaking out saying they cannot stop this certain issue from happening. And being able to go in there and diagnose it, fix it and make these customers happy is one of the most rewarding things in the world. And I'm pretty good at it, which helps.
What is the most rewarding aspect of working in the industry?
JP: Having a happy customer at the end of a project, especially a project that they're freaking out about. They probably called 15 companies. I was able to get there. Just the sense of relief that you see in customers' eyes is the most rewarding thing in the world. For them to really sit down, shake your hand and say, “Thank you, that was amazing. Thank you so much.” Nobody's calling a plumber to hang out. I mean, I have friends, they call me to hang out. But the customers, I just want them to have a great experience with me and that's truly probably the most rewarding thing in the world.
What motivates you every day?
JP: What motivates me is to just ultimately do the right thing for people because there are some scumbags out there that rob people every single day in this industry. What motivates me is to do the right thing. We always do the right thing for the customer no matter what at the end of the day, even if you lose money on the job.
What is one thing you wish more people knew/understood about the PHCP-PVF industry?
JP: That it is not just dealing with poop pipes. Everything has to do with plumbing, from when you wake up and you brush your teeth to when you're watering your lawn outside. The plumbing is the heart of the home. So if the heart of your home is not working functionally, the rest of your body or the rest of your home can't work. It's a great industry, and I recommend anybody to do it, especially if you think school's not for you.
What has been the proudest moment in your career so far?
JP: This award is pretty cool! This is a really proud moment for me. I think aside from this, I'm proud every day, but I guess the first ever time I did a tank to tankless replacement from start to finish. I was so proud to see the before photos and the after photos to say, “Wow, I did that.” And I still go back to that customer for other issues to this day. Even when I take my girlfriend driving down a road — she's probably sick of it now — but when I drive past a house and say, “I did work in that house, I'm the reason they're flushing that toilet.”
What is one thing most people don’t know about you?
JP: I am a Disney freak. I go to Disney 20 times a year. Mickey Mouse is my best friend. I absolutely love Disney. It's the coolest place on Earth, and I will never change how I feel. I just booked my next trip for September.
