Welcome to another edition of our Hub Spotlight series where do a deep dive into the men and women who make the trades great. This spotlighted tradesperson tells us that he really enjoys trashy reality TV. “Nothing like kicking your feet up and watching someone making horrible life decisions on 90-Day Fiancé on a Sunday Read more
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Welcome to another edition of our Hub Spotlight series where do a deep dive into the men and women who make the trades great. This spotlighted tradesperson tells us that he really enjoys trashy reality TV. “Nothing like kicking your feet up and watching someone making horrible life decisions on 90-Day Fiancé on a Sunday evening.” Joking aside, for Keith McGillivary (@mps_207)—full-time business owner of McGillivary’s Plumbing Services (MPS), Gardiner, Maine, for the past two years—his story into the plumbing trades is an interesting one.
McGilivary’s path started in a small town when a small plumbing business was looking for a helper, and he was looking for a job. “Little did I know it would be the start of where I am now,” says McGillivary. Before college, McGillivary started working for a small plumbing business that primarily focused on service work. The owner, Russell, was/is a great mentor and really took the time to help him understand not only what they were doing, but why they were doing it.
After deciding to pursue plumbing, McGillivary attended Southern Maine Community College (SMCC) for its plumbing and heating program. Through college, he continued to work alongside his mentor, and after graduation, continued to work for him full time for three years. McGillivary then took a job at Bath Iron Works (BIW) as a pipefitter building destroyers, ships for the United States Navy. “The piping systems were complex, and although it was “plumbing on a ship,” it was completely different. I found it fun to learn the ins and outs of that particular plumbing,” says McGillivary.
Eventually, McGillivary joined the Pipefitter Test Crew and tested the piping systems after they were built. He worked there for six years, but the whole time he continued to work nights and weekends doing plumbing work on the side. “This allowed me to gain hours and knowledge for my Master’s test. After passing my Masters, I decided to make the plunge into self-employment because I wanted the schedule flexibility for my family,” says McGillivary.
In fact, McGillivary’s biggest motivation for self-employment was time, rather than money. “I have learned to set firm boundaries for myself when scheduling and taking on jobs. I have been able to take more time off for my family than ever. Being a service plumber, in this day in age, you could work 24/7 if you wanted. I try to work ‘normal’ hours, and if I can take a day off for family stuff, I always do,” says McGillivary.
Shout Out to Mentorship
According to McGillivary, Russell taught him everything he knows about plumbing and owning a business. “He taught me all the hands-on work, how to write estimates & bid on jobs, customer relations, and how to balance a small business/family life,” says McGillivary.
And McGillivary wants to pay it forward. “I definitely consider myself a role model for others looking to join the trade. I feel I am a good example that hard work and dedication pays off,” says McGillivary. “My mentor was so important to my journey that I try to give back what I can by being transparent about my plumbing knowledge.”
Uplifting the Trades
Recently, there has been a big push for kids to attend trade school so there has been a shift in younger people showing interest, says McGillivary. “Trade school was beneficial for me to learn the code side of things, in an environment different from the hands-on work. I think we could get more interest in the trades if the schools showcased all the different avenues someone could go once they completed their schooling, and the financial opportunities that come with them. Everyone expects a doctor to make six figures, but not everyone knows you can make that in the trades without massive student loan debt,” says McGillivary.
“Everyone expects a doctor to make six figures, but not everyone knows you can make that in the trades without massive student loan debt.”
Social media can also be used to attract more people to the trades. “I see it all too often when guys in the trade are way too harsh on people for asking questions on Facebook plumbing pages. There are so many people asking questions for the purpose of learning and gaining knowledge. We were all there at some point, so be kind enough to answer the questions in a helpful manner. Social media can also be used to form “new-to-the-trades” communities and to provide seminars,” says McGillivary.
Social media also has played a huge role in the growth of McGillivary’s business. Starting as a small, part-time business with the help of word-of-mouth recommendations on small town Facebook pages, which made McGillivary realize that social media could be used to showcase the work he is doing on a day-to-day basis. “I use my Instagram to show what I am about as a business and the work I put out. I have found that if a customer can see why you are more expensive than the other guy, then they are more likely to go with you. I use it as an open-door insight to my business both in reels and daily stories,” says McGillivary.
McGillivary uses social media to learn little tricks of the trade that he just wouldn’t have been exposed to, being from such a small town. For McGillivary, it is extremely beneficial to be able to have conversations with such great tradesmen. He also talks to apprentices daily or weekly about projects, and gives them advice. “I wish when I was learning, I had this platform to learn and meet others. As visual learners, much like a lot of trades guys I know, it’s changed the way we can learn,” says McGillivary.
Making Time
Summers in Maine are short, so McGillivary tries to spend every nice weekend camping in his camper. In the winter months you can find him on his snowmobile at camp. “I would love to ride my snowmobile from camp in northern Maine to the Gaspe Peninsula to complete the “Great Gaspe Snowmobile Tour,” a six-day, 1,500-mile ride around some of the best trails,” says McGillivary.
And the last day McGillivary said it was a great day? “You know it’s funny, as I look back on just yesterday—camping with my family, beautiful weather, everyone smiling, does it get much better than that? So, the answer to that question would be yesterday!”
Go-To Tools on the Job
According to McGillivary, his go-tools are a couple pairs of Knipex Cobra pump pliers, a 6-in-1 screwdriver, and an adjustable wrench. Any good service plumber can fix most things with those!
Also, I find myself feeling naked if I don’t have my Leatherman Wave on me. Another great tool that has many uses.
Lastly, if there was one tool that changed the service plumbing game, it’s the M12 Milwaukee press tool. If you’re running a service company and don’t have one, you’re late to the party.
Name: Matthew Fleming Title: Owner Company: All-Star Plumbing & Heating Location: Manasquan, New Jersey Specialty: New Construction Large Custom Homes Although a self-described “rough around the edges” kind of guy, Matthew Fleming (@allstarplumbinginc), owner of All-Star Plumbing & Heating, Manasquan, N.J., admits he’s a girl dad, and he wouldn’t have it any other way. “I Read more
Name: Matthew Fleming
Title: Owner
Company: All-Star Plumbing & Heating
Location: Manasquan, New Jersey
Specialty: New Construction Large Custom Homes
Although a self-described “rough around the edges” kind of guy, Matthew Fleming (@allstarplumbinginc), owner of All-Star Plumbing & Heating, Manasquan, N.J., admits he’s a girl dad, and he wouldn’t have it any other way. “I have no problems laying on the floor and playing dolls with my daughters,” says Fleming. He says that at some point you have to be able to shut OFF work and turn ON home.
And while spare time doesn’t happen as often as Fleming would like, when it does, he loves hanging at the beach with his wife and kids. He also tries to make time to work out at the gym every morning to clear his head and start the day right. “Work will always be there tomorrow so you need to make sure that you’re not missing those important life/leisure moments that you can’t get back.”
It’s a Generational Thing
With Fleming’s father owning a family plumbing business, it was a simple decision to get into the plumbing industry. Fleming went to college for business administration and construction management to at least give himself a solid base of business knowledge if he was to ever take over the company. A solid decision as it turns out. “I started plumbing when I was about 16 years old but would always help out my dad as a kid. I worked part time through school and college. Once I graduated college, I jumped in full time and I’ve never looked back,” says Fleming.
The Ultimate Influence
Fleming has recently officially taken over the company that his father started 30+ years ago. And it was his father that molded Fleming into the craftsman that he is today. “He instilled in me the values of hard work and determination,” says Fleming. “He was always pushing the envelope and would take on jobs that other plumbers and companies would shy away from. My father always embraced challenges, and after years of doing that, it became clear the you can attack difficult situations with the confidence and mindset that you have what it takes to handle it.”
Like most modest tradespeople, Fleming doesn’t consider himself a “role model” but he does feel like he has some valuable bits of advice he could pass on to the younger generation looking to get into this trade or take into whatever field they choose. “A lot of plumbing is having the ability to problem solve, and that applies to any field. I encourage people to never be content with their current knowledge and skill set, you can always find ways to improve,” says Fleming.
These days a lot of teaching and connecting with others happens through social influencing. “Social media has absolutely made a big impact on my business for multiple reasons. I’ve learned so much from so many of the incredible plumbers across the country and have made some good friends, too. I’ve gotten jobs from the work people have seen on my Instagram, but above that, seeing the amazing work that others put out makes me improve my own work. I always remind the guys that I might take a picture of their work and post it to Instagram for public ridicule by the “super plumbers,” so make sure it’s right, haha,” says Fleming. “Social media can be very valuable if you use it right, and the plumbing community is second to none on there.”
State of the Industry
“I feel like most people believe that being in the trades means that you’re a second-rate citizen and couldn’t get a “real” job,” says Flaming. When in reality, continues Fleming, it’s a respectable occupation that requires highly educated, hard-working people. And with that comes training. “There should be more educational and training options available so that people entering the trades can be trained properly, which will help raise industry standards. Increasing trade school funding to ensure that the programs available are legit programs would absolutely attract more people. They need to be proactive in recruiting instead of just waiting for kids to show up,” says Fleming.
A Hard Day’s Work
One of the most rewarding things about his work is the problem-solving aspect. “I really enjoy when the customer tells me that they had four other companies there prior and nobody could figure out the problem but we did,” says Fleming. I’d say that’s a win.
But nothing compares to when you are down and come home to see those smiling faces. “I was having a pretty rough week, put through the ringer. I came home that day feeling pretty defeated only to be greeted by my two daughters—ages 6 and 8—barreling towards me to give me a huge hug as my wife kissed me on the cheek. Instantly, I was reminded of what is really important, and even though I was having a rough patch, I was still doing a good job. It was just what I needed and I thought to myself, ‘I’m extremely lucky to have this life that plumbing has provided me.’”
Entries accepted through August 9th The AHR Expo (International Air-Conditioning, Heating, Refrigerating Exposition) is now accepting submissions for the 2023 Innovation Awards. Exhibitors are encouraged to enter recent or upgraded products for the competition. Entries are welcomed through August 9, 2022. The 2023 AHR Expo will return to Atlanta at the Georgia World Congress Center Read more
Entries accepted through August 9th
The AHR Expo (International Air-Conditioning, Heating, Refrigerating Exposition) is now accepting submissions for the 2023 Innovation Awards. Exhibitors are encouraged to enter recent or upgraded products for the competition. Entries are welcomed through August 9, 2022. The 2023 AHR Expo will return to Atlanta at the Georgia World Congress Center February 6-8, 2023. To request more information about the Innovation Awards, or to receive forms for entry, please email Kim Pires at kpires@iecshows.com.
“If Vegas is any indicator of what’s ahead for HVACR then Atlanta will certainly be an impressive showing,” said show manager Mark Stevens. “Our ten category winners and 2022 Product of the Year winner, Danfoss, blew us away with innovative solutions that demonstrate just how revolutionary the technology within this industry is becoming. It’s really a remarkable gauge of just how fast this industry is moving,” continued Stevens.
The Innovation Awards aim to honor the most inventive, useful and original products, systems and technologies in the marketplace. Exhibitors are encouraged to submit products and technologies to showcase solutions for new and existing challenges and new avenues for industry growth.
Once submitted, all entries are evaluated by a panel of third-party ASHRAE members with over 20 years of professional engineering experience. The panel uses a review process to tally points based on application, innovation, value and market impact. Winners are then selected in ten industry categories, including building automation; cooling; heating; indoor air quality; plumbing; refrigeration; software; sustainable solutions; tools and instruments; and ventilation. An overall Product of the Year will be selected from the pool of category winners and will be announced at the show in Atlanta.
The Innovation Awards as an investment in our workforce
In 2022 AHR Expo introduced a workforce development program in which entry fees from the Innovation Awards program were used to support a local dual-HVAC high school. With the success of the awards in Vegas, AHR Expo was able to donate $25,000 directly to the program as well as host 25 students for a field trip on the show floor. In 2023, AHR Expo aims to work with the Atlanta Public School district to award donation funds to a similar program, with the hopes of growing into other areas of service within HVAC including computer programming and engineering.
“This industry is special,” said Stevens. “If you’ve been to the AHR Expo you understand the feeling of community and connectedness−even more now than ever coming out of the challenging years behind us.
“We are poised to build a fantastic future with HVACR leading the transformation of our built environment. The Innovation Awards lend a preview of this and it is encouraging to see how we are moving forward as an industry. Manufacturers continue to exceed expectations by showing up, making improvements and pushing forward; and while we award only ten companies, we see hundreds in our submissions. We can’t wait to see what’s to come in Atlanta,” concluded Stevens.
How to enter the 2023 Innovation Awards
The awards extend an opportunity for manufacturers to validate their dedication and hard work with strategy, planning, execution and market realization through the recognition of the industry’s most prestigious award. Winners are encouraged to learn more about the awards and view the 2022 winners on the Innovation Awards webpage. All applicants can submit their entries via the dedicated portal. The deadline for entry is August 9, 2022. Questions can be directed to Kim Pires at kpires@iecshows.com.
There are many benefits to participation, including:
- Winners and finalists will be recognized at the 2023 show with special booth signage
- Finalists will be announced on social channels one week before winner announcements, extending the opportunity for exposure longevity
- All winners will be invited to celebrate with their colleagues and industry leaders at a closed reception
- Winners will be interviewed for a custom video months before the show and will be featured on the AHR Expo website and social media channels, as well as in industry media coverage
- Winners will be encouraged to promote their win on their communication channels
Registration for the 2023 AHR Expo is open and available on the AHR Expo website.
Attendees are also encouraged to sign up for the show newsletter to receive updates as they happen.
ABOUT THE AHR EXPO
The AHR Expo is the essential event for HVACR professionals, attracting the most comprehensive gathering of the industry from around the globe each year. The show provides a unique forum where manufacturers and suppliers of all sizes and specialties come together to share ideas and showcase the future of HVACR technology. Since 1930, the AHR Expo has remained the industry’s best place for OEMs, engineers, contractors, facility operators, architects, educators and other industry professionals to experience everything new in HVACR and build relationships. The AHR Expo is co-sponsored by ASHRAE and AHRI and is held concurrently with ASHRAE’s Winter Conference. The next show will take place February 6-8, 2023, in Atlanta.
For more information, visit ahrexpo.com and follow on Twitter and Instagram.
https://youtu.be/46yc2caCGzo A quick Hub on the Road takes us to Grasser’s Plumbing & Heating in McNabb, Ill., to visit with Tim Kuhlman to talk about the company, its new showroom, inventory and supply, and a plumbing truck tip Read more
A quick Hub on the Road takes us to Grasser’s Plumbing & Heating in McNabb, Ill., to visit with Tim Kuhlman to talk about the company, its new showroom, inventory and supply, and a plumbing truck tip.
Approximately 100 business leaders, community members and elected officials attend celebration co-hosted by Warwick Chamber of Commerce Monroe, N.Y. — Nebrasky Plumbing, Heating & Cooling, in conjunction with the Warwick Chamber of Commerce, hosted a ceremonial ribbon cutting recently, to mark the grand re-opening of its office, which recently underwent a six-month, complete renovation (service was Read more
Approximately 100 business leaders, community members and elected officials attend celebration co-hosted by Warwick Chamber of Commerce
Monroe, N.Y. — Nebrasky Plumbing, Heating & Cooling, in conjunction with the Warwick Chamber of Commerce, hosted a ceremonial ribbon cutting recently, to mark the grand re-opening of its office, which recently underwent a six-month, complete renovation (service was not interrupted during this time). Approximately 100 business leaders, community members and elected officials were in attendance, including County Executive Steve Neuhaus, Monroe Mayor Neil Dwyer, Monroe Town Supervisor Tony Cardone, Warwick Town Supervisor Michael Sweeton and Assemblyman Karl Brabenec.
“I’m proud that the company has continued to grow, enabling us to hire additional employees,” said Paul Nebrasky, owner of Nebrasky Plumbing, Heating & Cooling. “I’m fortunate to have such a wonderful team, and to have such overwhelming support as we approach nearly 35 years of serving the Hudson Valley region.”
Attendees enjoyed refreshments catered by The Best of Little Italy in Monroe and Hard Cider and Beer from Penning’s Farm Cidery of Warwick while touring the common areas of the newly renovated office space. Highlights of the renovations include bringing the office into modern design with new and improved workspaces, new technology throughout, and a state-of-the-art training area.
Located in Monroe, N.Y., Nebrasky Plumbing, Heating & Cooling has been delivering exceptional service from trusted professionals since 1988. The company handles all phases of plumbing, heating, cooling, home energy assessments and more, and serves the mid-Hudson Valley region. For more information, visit www.nebraskyplumbing.com.