Joe Schmitt started his business in 1955 as a one-man shop. Today, he has changed the name of his Englewood, Ohio, company to Joe Schmitt & Sons to reflect that fact that his sons — Joe Jr. and Ron — now work with him. The company now boasts four journeyman plumbers and one apprentice. Other family members in the business are daughter-in-law Terry (the office manager) and his wife Dottie (who helps out Terry).

A certified Ohio plumbing inspector, Schmitt also holds licenses in plumbing, hydronics and backflow prevention. He has kept his company diversified, becoming proficient in plumbing, hydronic heating, fire protection, backflow prevention, water treatment and HVAC.

Family is important to Schmitt — and that includes his industry family. A long-time PHCC member, Schmitt served locally as a backflow instructor, certifying and re-certifying member and nonmember plumbers in southwest Ohio, as well as serving on the state’s Plumbing Advisory Board. He also served two terms as president of the Ohio PHCC.

On the national front, Schmitt served on the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors-National Association’s legislation committee and was zone trustee representing Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia before being elected vice president in 2006.

As president-elect of the PHCC-National Association, we asked Schmitt about his hopes for PHCC, as well as his thoughts on the future of the industry.

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