Petri said that the industry needs to recruit more at the middle and high school levels to let teenagers know that they can attend trade school after high school for much less than the cost of a typical four-year college.

Jobs don’t have genders.
That’s the message Judaline Cassidy wants to get across. Cassidy, founder and chief vision officer of Tools & Tiaras and self-proclaimed feminist plumber, has more than 20 years’ of experience in the trades.

The plaques to the BTF Industry Champions during the 2023 International Builders Show in Las Vegas. 

Does anybody else feel like 2022 just flew right by, or is it just me? It seems too early for Christmas decorations and music — just a few short weeks ago, Michigan was still having 70-degree weather! But ‘tis the season!

Sonnhalter, a communications firm marketing to the professional tradesman in the construction, industrial and MRO markets, received more than $40,000 worth of donations from Supply Smart to benefit the Greater Cleveland Habitat for Humanity.

This year, Tools & Tiaras hosted an event in recognition of the 10th anniversary of International Day of the Girl, which was adopted in 2011 by a United Nations General Assembly resolution.

As I write this month’s column, I’m attending Plumbing Manufacturer’s International annual Manufacturing Success conference in Louisville, Kentucky. PMI has done a great job with its programming content this year, especially with keynote presenter Andrew Winston, a corporate environmental strategist and author, who discussed how today’s companies are now expected to take a stand against the world’s social and environmental problems — and in doing so, earn a profit.

As anyone in the profession knows, the plumbing industry is rapidly changing. Demand for plumbing services is reaching unprecedented levels, but so too is competition.

We have all heard the axiom — “those who can, do; those who can’t, teach.” That is so far from the truth when it comes to the trades. In fact, in order to teach the trades, most instructors need to have at least a few years of actual work experience.

You are a dealer in hope when you give your customer a sense of optimism by anticipating their fear, tackling their needs while offering great value and meeting their concerns on their terms.