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Plumbing & Mechanical ContractorBusiness ManagementPiping | Plumbing | PVF

2026 Next Gen All-Star: Tyler Heath

Carrying a family business forward

By Kristen R. Bayles, Associate Editor
Tyler Heath
Photo courtesy Tyler Heath / Ricky Heath Plumbing
September 16, 2026

Tyler Heath

Age: 35
Title: Owner
Company: Ricky Heath Plumbing, Heating & Cooling

For Tyler Heath, plumbing is both a career and a family legacy.

Heath is now a third-generation master plumber and second-generation owner of Ricky Heath Plumbing, Heating & Cooling. After joining his father's company full-time in 2017, Heath purchased the business in 2022.

“I had the opportunity to learn from one of my greatest role models,” Heath said of his father. “He started with nothing and built a great local business with a strong reputation, and I wanted to follow in his footsteps and continue building what he started.”

Today, Heath finds the greatest reward in developing the people who will help carry that business forward.

“Developing people and watching them grow is the most rewarding part of working in this industry,” he said.

That focus on people has also shaped one of Heath's proudest accomplishments. A few years ago, he felt he needed to micromanage the business to keep everything running. More recently, after putting a new general manager in place, Heath left for a six-week road trip.

“When I came back, the business was operating better than it had been before I left,” he said. “Being able to put the right people in the right seats, step back, and trust them to do a great job is one of the proudest moments of my career.”

Heath wishes customers could see more of the work required behind the scenes to create that experience. Recruiting, training, marketing, pricing and budgeting are just some of the pieces supporting the technician who ultimately arrives at the customer's door.

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“What they don't see is how much work it takes to make it look easy,” he said.

That drive to improve keeps Heath motivated, particularly when faced with problems that don't have obvious solutions.

Away from work, however, there's one place the self-described workaholic can disconnect: a live concert.

Heath is a devoted jam band fan and has been known to travel across the country on short notice for a Widespread Panic show, sometimes convincing friends to come along for the ride.

KEYWORDS: awards family business HVAC Next Gen All Stars plumbers and pipefitters workforce development

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Kristen bayles   headshot 200x200

Kristen R. Bayles is the Associate Editor for Plumbing & Mechanical and Supply House Times. With deep family roots in the plumbing industry and a Bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Montevallo, Kristen brings a unique perspective to her coverage of industry trends, emerging technologies and business insights for plumbing and HVAC professionals.

Connect with Kristen on LinkedIn or reach her at baylesk@bnpmedia.com.

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