It didn't take long for that suggestion to turn into a career. Now 27, Bears has already spent 10 years in the industry and today serves as a master plumber, HVAC technician and co-owner at Paul the Plumber.

“I never planned to get into this industry, but after probably my first week of starting the work, I was confident this would be my career,” he said.

A decade later, Bears still finds satisfaction in the same things that initially captured his interest: solving difficult problems and continuing to learn.

“The most rewarding aspect of working in the industry is solving the tough issues for my customers and continuing to grow my knowledge and learn daily within the trades,” Bears said.

As a co-owner, his motivation also comes from supporting the technicians who work alongside him and helping them provide the best possible service to customers.

That experience has shown Bears just how many directions a career in the trades can take; something he wishes more people understood.

“Most days are not like the one before, and there are so many different aspects of this industry that can be mastered,” he said.

When it comes to his proudest career accomplishment, Bears has trouble narrowing it down to a single moment. Instead, he takes pride each time he's able to resolve a persistent system problem for a customer.

For Bears, success means giving customers confidence in the diagnosis, knowing their system will perform as intended and, ultimately, building trust.

That trust is what turns solving a difficult plumbing or HVAC problem into something bigger: a lasting relationship between the customer and his company.

“Danny has trained numerous apprentices both younger and older than him, and has turned them into fantastic technicians,” said Mike Bears with Paul the Plumber. “Along with all he does in the office and the field, he has championed the trades by being a part of events with local schools and outside programs that award scholarships to kids seeking a career in the trades.”