Items Tagged with 'leadership'

This distinction reflects the strong partnerships, service commitment, and trust Merit Brass has built with IMARK members across the PVF industry. 

Bringing 29 years of operational and managerial leadership experience, Bartlett joined Cooney Brothers in September of last year with the plan to eventually assume the COO role after gaining a full understanding of the company’s operations.

One often-overlooked factor in technology adoption is how the human brain responds to change. We’re naturally wired to seek familiarity and avoid uncertainty, especially in high-pressure environments like the trades. When new systems are introduced without context or preparation, the brain reads that change as a threat, triggering resistance or disengagement. That reaction isn’t stubbornness; it’s human nature.

For years, leadership in the trades was defined by grit, hustle, and sheer willpower. If you worked harder, stayed longer, and pushed through, you were considered a strong leader. And while work ethic will always matter in plumbing, the demands of today’s workforce are calling for something more.

All year, leadership is a fast-moving, day-by-day experience. But December's slower pace lets you take a step back, and that's when strategic thinking happens. An intentional leadership reset is a chance to reflect on what truly matters, refocus on the strategies that drive results, and reignite the performance, purpose, and passion that will carry you into 2026 with clarity and momentum.

In this episode of And So It Flows, host Natalie Forster sits down with Spencer Pope, manager of technical support and training at Bradford White, to explore how education and workforce development are evolving across the plumbing, HVAC and mechanical trades.

Culture is a vital driver of results. A 2025 Deloitte study found that strong cultures lead to 30% more innovation and 40% higher employee retention, saving companies 90–200% of an employee’s annual salary for each retained worker. In contrast, Gallup estimates disengaged employees cost the global economy $8.8 trillion, or 9% of GDP.

Your energy drives the tone, the pace, and the performance of your team. If your goal is to create a culture where people show up strong, stay accountable, and do work they’re proud of—guess what? That starts with you showing up that way first.

If you’re leading a plumbing team today, you’re probably dealing with a whole mix of generations, attitudes, and learning styles. The top-down, “Because I said so,” approach may have worked in the past (barely), but it’s not cutting it now. The truth is, people don’t want to be managed—they want to be developed.

Merit Brass Co. showcases their Strategic Leadership Team, with many decades of experience in the industry between them.