My dad is a carpenter, who also sort of doubles as a project manager. Because of him, jobsites and the trades have always been a part of my life. It's also why I've always had such an appreciation for the people who build, fix, and create things with their hands. 

As a kid, watching all the pieces come together into a new kitchen, basement, bathroom, or home addition felt like magic. And I’ve never known someone more hardworking than my dad. He’d spend all day on jobsites while planning the next project, come home still thinking about work (but never letting on that he was), and somehow still be present for every event (and then some) my brother, mom and I could’ve wanted him at. I’m still amazed at how his brain works, what he knows and what he can do. It might take him a year to get through a book, but he can design and install an entire kitchen in two days.  

So, when I graduated with a journalism degree and dreams of a newspaper career straight out of a movie like "His Girl Friday," racing deadlines in a bustling newsroom whilst chain smoking cigarettes, I quickly learned journalism had changed. The version I had imagined no longer existed. And it wasn't coming back, at least not in the way I'd envisioned it.

Then an associate editor position opened at BNP Media for a magazine called Walls & Ceilings.

I'll be honest, my first reaction was: "Wait, there's a magazine about this?" Followed quickly by: "Trade journalists are a thing?"

Wary and not entirely thrilled about the prospect of working for a magazine called Walls & Ceilings, no matter how much I loved the trades, I almost didn’t apply. Looking back, it was one of the best decisions I ever made. 

After two years immersed in the world of drywall, stucco, plaster and steel framing, another opportunity caught my attention, this time at The Air Conditioning, Heating & Refrigeration News (ACHR NEWS), one of BNP Media's flagship brands.

I almost didn't apply for that one either.

HVACR? What did I know about HVACR?

Nothing. Other than that, I loved air conditioning. 

But despite being comfortable where I was, liking my team and seeing a future with the brand, I took the leap. I got the job and dove headfirst into an entirely new industry.

Four years later, the editor-in-chief position opened at Plumbing & Mechanical and Supply House Times.

This was one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever had to make. I loved my team at ACHR NEWS. I loved the contractors, manufacturers, and people I'd gotten to know. I loved HVACR.

There was no way I was leaving.

Until I started to see the opportunity for what it was.

It was another of BNP Media’s sister publications. There was significant overlap with the industries I was already covering. I could continue working with many of the same contractors and manufacturers. My publisher and editorial director would remain the same. And it felt like another chance to learn, grow, challenge myself, and learn more about the trades. 

So I took another leap.

At times it’s been chaotic. And sometimes feels like a whole new world. But I’m glad I did. 

In fact, many of you have already helped make that transition easier. Those of you who've reached out, answered questions, and shared your expertise have been incredibly generous with your time. 

The PHCC Legislative Conference I attended back in early May and the Plumbing Industry Leadership Coalition (PILC) I attended later that month accelerated this learning process even more. During both events, I had the opportunity to learn firsthand about the issues impacting our industries. And yes, I say “our” industry because I am one of you now.

At PILC, I even had the opportunity to walk the halls of the Senate alongside IAPMO’s Dain Hansen and advocate for issues impacting the plumbing and supply community.  

Talk about immersion therapy. 

I’ll admit, the idea of lobbying on issues I had only recently begun learning about was enough to make me want to throw up. But Hansen was an excelled guide, as were the many PILC members who took the time to share their knowledge and perspective. Diving straight into the challenges facing PHCP-PVF suppliers and contractors turned out to be one of the best introductions I could have asked for. 

I’d recommend it to every new editor-in-chief. What better way to learn about an industry than by understanding what it’s up against?

(More from me about those experiences and what I learned in the months ahead.)

But for now, I thought it was more important to introduce myself than to pretend I’m an expert on anything supply. After all, if you don’t know me, why would you care what I have to say?

What I can promise is this: I'll be curious, I'll ask questions, I'll listen, and I'll work hard to tell the stories that matter to this industry. With your help, of course.

I'm excited to continue learning about the world of plumbing and supply, to meet more contractors, engineers, suppliers, wholesalers and manufacturers, and to better understand the challenges and opportunities that are shaping your businesses.

Most of all, I'm looking forward to earning your trust, and to serving this industry the best way I know how: by listening, learning, and telling its stories well.