Milwaukee Tool

Expecting his second daughter at any moment, Omar Harris (@omartheplumber) knew he wanted to do something so he could provide for his family. The goal was to find a career that was an absolute necessity so job security would always be there. “I remember discussing what I wanted to do with my fiancé, Xylina. She told me ‘whatever it is that you want to do I support you 100%, as long as you’re happy. Even if that means selling flowers on street.’ It would change the dynamic in our household greatly,” says Harris. Xylina repeatedly told him this before he eventually made the final leap.

“My fiancé plays a major role. Without her, the whole family dynamic would fall apart. I am fortunate. She’s a great mom, a great friend, and she really keeps everything in the family running. She’s extremely patient and understanding when I’m dead tired. I will forever be grateful for the sacrifices she has made and for the unconditional support she has shown me,” says Harris.

But Harris would be remiss if he didn’t mention his parents. They worked hard for what they have and “they instilled in me the drive needed to be the best at what I do. Growing up, they always told me learn a trade because you can demand your own salary,” says Harris.

Harris with Conrad Ensenat (Broward County Facilities)

Harris initially started out as an apprentice with a local union doing construction plumbing. He eventually left to go a private company that mainly did service and drain cleaning. “I learned a lot with that company and made some really good partnerships/friendships. It allowed me to grow, not only as a man, but as a plumber, too,” says Harris.

For the past two years, Harris has worked as a plumber for Broward County Facilities (Florida) as a plumber specializing in drain cleaning. Some may not know, but Harris is a certified HVAC technician and Certified Fire Inspector for the state of Florida. One of the most rewarding aspects of the job for Harris is seeing the customer’s smile after the work is done, correctly. (Some of Harris’s go-to tools are RIDGID RP241 press tool, RIDGID E110 wrench, Fluke T5 600 Voltage, Continuity and Current Tester and the Milwaukee Tool M12 PEX Expansion Tool Kit.)

Harris with Roger Bircheat, Master Plumber, Broward County Facilities, who has been in the trade for more than 30 years.

As far as learning the trades, Harris is always learning.  “I love to learn from others so that I can be the best plumber I can be,” says Harris. One of Harris’s mentors and a person he looks up to is Hiram Martinez, master plumber, A to Z Statewide Plumbing, West Park, Fla., who taught Harris a lot, and was very patient with him. Another influence includes Conrad Ensenat, a residential plumber. “He’s a great friend, but he also taught me a lot.”

John Driscoll Jr., owner, A to Z Statewide Plumbing, took Harris under his wing and really showed him the ropes in drain cleaning. “He always drilled into my head to never skip steps and to take my time following the steps. He really helped me with laying the foundation of my plumbing skills,” says Harris.

Harris also recognizes John Thompson, a great person with whom to speak. From his family values to how he runs his business, Thompson has garnered a tremendous amount of respect from Harris. George DeJesus has also been instrumental in showing Harris a lot of “tricks of the trade.”

And Eric Aune. “I learned a lot from watching him on YouTube; he’s a great teacher.”

Harris spending some family time shopping with his kids.

But does Harris consider himself a mentor to others? “Honestly, yes I do consider myself a role model. I feel like if I can make it, anyone can. I’ve had a lot of hardships in my life and I’ve been able to overcome them. Many didn’t believe in me but I was fortunate enough to have a few who did. I’m willing to help anyone who would like to learn,” says Harris.

How can the industry promote the trades? Acceptance and training, says Harris. “We need to have plumbers from all walks of life from all over the world. In addition, we don’t need to be so hard on someone trying to learn. At times, I’ve seen this industry a little too hard on some individuals. It can be a little intimidating for someone just starting out. Instead, we need take the opportunity to coach, teach and possibly train the individual so that in the future they can be a better plumber.”

Social media has opened many great opportunities for Harris. “It has allowed me to participate in my friends’ lives who live in other states. On Instagram, we have group chats just to check in or ask questions. Social media is a great platform to build connections with people from all over the world. It is a useful tool to learn from and utilize to keep up with the ever-growing industry,” says Harris.

Just another day at the office.

Speaking of social media, Harris recently was chosen to attend a past RIDGID Experience. “The RIDGID Experience was a phenomenal time!” says Harris. “I met some great people who now I consider great friends. I gained a lot of knowledge and have a pool of great minds to pull from when I need help with something. I am very grateful and honored I was chosen for the RIDGID Experience. RIDGID is a great company and it’s awesome that they host that event. How many other companies are doing this?”

The last time Harris said “today is a great day,” he was removing a mainline stoppage and there was a clean out right in front of the house, holding sewage. “I removed the stoppage in three feet, and I actually yelled out on the top of my lungs, ‘TODAY WAS A GREAT DAY!’”

In the end, Harris spends whatever free time he has working out and spending time with his family. And, most of all, trying his best to spend time with his kids, to be there for all of their accomplishments, and incorporate his family into what he does. “I try to be the best version of me for my kids. My family has been my backbone in this journey and I hope to instill that same drive I have in me, in my kids.”

Earning a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice, Michael Flynn’s (@flynnstone1) career path took an unexpected turn. “I fell ass-backward into the trade,” says Flynn. Early on, Flynn worked as pool lifeguard for six years, and, at the time, he knew a family that owned a plumbing and HVAC business. “They asked me to come on as a helper and driver, and they said I could go on my interviews and take care of my criminal justice stuff any time I needed.”

After realizing that he wasn’t getting hired due to the job shortage in 2008, Flynn focused all of his energy on the trade; he started paying more attention because this was his new career path.

When the guy Flynn was driving for left that company a year and a half later, Flynn’s boss at the time threw him the keys and told him to hop in the truck. “Needless to say, I was shaking in my boots. I was super nervous to run my own truck and service calls. Yet the boss told me to call him anytime I needed help to describe what I was looking at. The dude was a genius; he helped me fix it every time, and this was before FaceTime and good quality phone pictures, lol,” says Flynn.

With this new-found confidence instilled by his boss, it finally clicked in Flynn’s head that he could succeed in the field. Then, a self-inflicted roadblock. Flynn got a DUI and the company couldn’t keep him on, which inevitably led him on the path to sobriety. “I’m going to be four years sober on the 19^th of this month,” says Flynn.

Searching for new work, he worked for a company for six months and eventually moved to another company. “That company’s boss taught me a lot about the business aspect of the trade, and he was super hard on me to succeed. Because of that, I did 1/2 million in sales for him on the service side in one year.”

Eventually, Flynn sought an opportunity to advance his career and he moved to the company he is at now, Service Professionals, Union, New Jersey, to do installs. Working with Service Professionals for the past six years, Flynn wears many hats and has multiple responsibilities. “I am a lead installer for residential installations for plumbing and boiler service, and I oversee all operations on the jobsite, and entire projects. I’m also a field supervisor, and take care of warranty issues, difficult service calls, and sometimes oversee other installs that I am not even a part of,” says Flynn.

The last few months have been rather difficult, but lately business has picked back up. When COVID-19 first started here in the states, work was extremely slow, says Flynn. The company had to lay off a few installers—some who weren’t comfortable coming into work and some that just wanted to take off. “It was rough; fighting to get 25-30 hours a week when I’m normally at 50-60. People wouldn’t let us in the house. Now it has picked up because the weather is getting warmer and people need their AC. We are wearing masks and gloves, and asking customer to keep their distance when we are performing an install.”

Flynn owes much of his growth and success to his father. “I’m adopted, which can be tough for some people. He showed me the meaning of hard work, but most of all, he showed me the love and affection I needed,” says Flynn. “He told me that if I wanted something, I had to put in the work to get it, and I still carry that to this day.”

That hard work translates to happy customers. “I get the best feeling when a customer sees the finished install and says ‘wow’! Taking a really bad looking and terribly functioning system and turning it into gold is what I live for,” says Flynn.

Beast mode

Flynn’s advice to those considering the trades is to dive head first into the trade and don’t be afraid to ask questions. “The lead, boss, or owner knows a lot more than you will ever know. That doesn’t mean they are not willing to teach you what they know. Are a hands-on learner or a watch and learner? It helps so they can get you to a point where you can perform tasks on your own,” says Flynn.

While the job is very rewarding, it’s not all puppy dogs and rainbows. “It’s a rough and tough industry. You have to lift stuff, push stuff and pull stuff; that’s just the nature of the beast. But, it’s also extremely fun. We have a great time every day, whether it’s joking on the job site—while still getting work done—or problem solving in a customer’s home. It really is a great place to be.”

The RIDGID Rp241 propress tool is one of Flynn’s go-to tools.

Yet, people have to know that the trade and industry is always changing, says Flynn. “My concern is people’s unwillingness to change with it and adapt. Some things never change. But some things are completely different. You have to look at things totally different now and be able to adapt. There is a lot of technology that can help people improve system performance, for example.”

According to Flynn, that excitement and visibility for the trades needs to start with shop classes in middle school and high school. For instance, recently Flynn was cleaning out his basement and found some woodworking projects he did in middle school. “I said to my wife, ‘Damn, I wish they had shop in high school.’ I might have been even further in my career if they did,” says Flynn.

Being part of the RIDGID Experience was one of the best things in Flynn’s career

Moreover, the trades need to more in the discussion as a viable option. “Everyone is pushing college, college, college when you can go to trade school and be debt-free. Don’t get me wrong, I benefited from college as far as knowledge and people skills, but I am not using that degree.”

Finding success in the trades does take time, hard work and dedication. And finding the right balance between home and work life can be difficult. “Balancing is hard, but it’s great for me because when I’m home, I’m home. I don’t have to go out. No on-call for me at all. There is an install weekend rotation, but that’s it. My wife knows that I am working very hard to provide so she doesn’t give me a hard time. If I know it’s going to be a long day, I let her know beforehand. She really is a great support for me. Communication is key to that, as well,” says Flynn.

In what spare time he has, Flynn enjoys reading and researching, BBQs and cookouts with family and friends, concerts and fishing trips. That researching includes scrolling through IG and absorbing as much information as he can. Social media has been a beneficial frontier for Flynn. “IG has been great for me. Connecting with everyone in the trades is incredible, and it really has helped me up my game on install with cleanliness and functionality. All of the tips and tricks is amazing.

I’ve also made some contacts with some tool companies, which is cool. Obviously, being part of the RIDGID Experience was one of the best things in my career, and I found out about that through Mechanical Hub!” says Flynn.

The last time Flynn said it was a great day? “It may sound cheesy, but every time I step back and look at a completed job that is running perfectly, I have a good day. I really do love what I do.”

Milwaukee Tool is proud to unveil their newest drain cleaning solution. The M18 FUEL™ Sewer Sectional Machine with CABLE-DRIVE™ is the first cordless sewer sectional solution. This machine allows users to clear the toughest blockages in 2” up to 8” sewer lateral lines. It also delivers the power to clear roots up to 200 ft out, providing full power at the maximum capacity of the machine. In addition, it features a CABLE-DRIVE™ Automatic Feed and Retract which reduces user fatigue by eliminating the need to manually pull back the heavy cable from pipes.

M18 FUEL Sewer Sectional Machine

“Since we first introduced our drain cleaning lineup just two years ago, we’ve been able to put an end to years of stagnant product innovation in the drain cleaning industry by delivering solutions that can be instantly set up, minimize the mess, and have the performance needed for to clear the toughest clogs quickly. This attention to user needs has led us to offer the only completely portable drain cleaning offering for fixtures and main lines within buildings. Now we’re taking this drain cleaning innovation out to the sewer lateral lines,” said Kathleen Keegan, Product Manager for Milwaukee Tool. “The M18 FUEL™ Sewer Sectional Machine with CABLE-DRIVE™ is our first sectional machine solution, delivering on the promises of safety, mobility, and mess containment that users have come to rely on from Milwaukee® drain cleaning solutions.”

The new M18 FUEL™ Sewer Sectional Machine with CABLE-DRIVE™ combines three Milwaukee®-exclusive innovations – the POWERSTATE™ brushless motor, and REDLINK PLUS™ intelligence, and REDLITHIUM™ battery pack. The POWERSTATE™ Brushless Motor provides the clearing power for the toughest root clogs, REDLINK PLUS™ Intelligence ensures maximum performance under load, and the REDLITHIUM™ battery pack powers through multiple jobs on a single charge, delivering the easiest setup and transport. In addition, the elimination of cords enhances user safety due to trip hazards or cords near standing water.

The CABLE-DRIVE™ System reduces user fatigue by eliminating the need to manually pull back the heavy cable from pipes. An enclosed cable carrier ensures the best protection and containment of the mess during transportation of the cables. Each of these cable carriers can also be stacked for easier storage.

This machine features ONE-KEY™** so it can be wirelessly tracked, managed, and secured.

The new M18 FUEL™ Sectional Machine with CABLE-DRIVE™ Automatic Feed and Retract is fully compatible with the entire M18™ line, now offering more than 200 power tool products.

Milwaukee Tool is committed to providing drain cleaning professionals with the most portable and versatile drain cleaning solutions. The company is dedicated to continuing investments in technology to build solutions from the ground-up that provide these users with an easier way to get on and off the job, with less mess, so they can service more calls. Currently, Milwaukee offers the only completely cordless drain cleaning lineup for fixtures to sewer lateral lines, as well as premium cables with the maneuverability and durability to tackle the clogs.

* M18 FUEL™ is engineered for the most demanding tradesmen in the world. Delivering unrivaled performance, all M18 FUEL™ products feature three Milwaukee®-exclusive innovations—The POWERSTATE™ Brushless Motor, REDLITHIUM™ Battery Pack and REDLINK PLUS™ Intelligence Hardware and Software—that deliver unmatched power, run-time and durability on the jobsite. Simply put, M18 FUEL™ tools are the most powerful 18V cordless tools in their class.

**ONE-KEY™ is the first digital platform for tools and equipment. By integrating industry-leading tool electronics with a custom-built cloud-based program, ONE-KEY™ provides a new level of control and access to information that revolutionizes the way work gets done. The ability to customize, track, and manage through ONE-KEY™ fundamentally changes the way users interact with their tools.

Specifications

M18 FUEL™ Sectional Machine with CABLE-DRIVE™ (2871-22)

• Drain Line Capacity: 2-8”
• Cable Capacity: 7/8” and 1-1/4”
• Powered Feed and Retract: Yes, CABLE-DRIVE™
• Cable Spin Speed: 700 RPM
• Length: 35”
• Height: 23”
• Weight w/ battery: 74.4 lbs
• Cable Container Capacity: 4 sections of 7/8” or 1-1/4”
• Tool Warranty: 5 Years

Includes M18 FUEL™ Sectional Machine with CABLE-DRIVE™, Rear Guide Hose, (2) M18™ REDLITHIUM™ HIGH OUTPUT™ HD12.0 Batteries, and M18™ & M12™ Rapid Charger.

Additional Kit Option (2871A-22):

Includes: M18 FUEL™ Sectional Machine with CABLE-DRIVE™, Rear Guide Hose, (2) Cable Containers, (7) 1-1/4” x 15’ All-Purpose Open Wind Sectional Cables, Head Attachment Kit*, (2) M18™ REDLITHIUM™ HIGH OUTPUT™ HD12.0 Batteries, and M18™ & M12™ Rapid Charger.

*Straight Auger, Funnel Auger, Small Opening Tool, Medium Opening Tool, 3” Root Cutter, 4” Root Cutter, 3” Grease Cutter, Pin Key, Head Attachment Case.

Accessories (Available Separately):

• 48-53-2851: 1-1/4” x 15’ Heavy Duty Open Wind Sectional Cable
• 48-53-2852: 7/8” x 15’ All-Purpose Open Wind Sectional Cable
• 48-53-3840: Head Attachment Kit for 7/8” Sectional Cable
• 47-53-2871: Cable Container

The Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award® along with presenting sponsor A. O. Smith Corporation have announced the 2019 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award watch list. The award is presented annually to the top senior or fourth-year junior quarterback set to graduate with their class by the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation.

2019 Golden Arm Award Watch List Presented by A. O. Smith

• Jack Abraham, Southern Mississippi
• Blake Barnett, University of South Florida
• Woody Barrett, Kent State
• Jake Bentley, University of South Carolina
• Anthony Brown, Boston College
• Kelly Bryant, Missouri
• Joe Burrow, LSU
• Stephen Buckshot Calvert, Liberty
•  Marcus Childers, Northern Illinois
• K.J. Costello, Stanford Unversity
• Jacob Eason, Washington University
• Caleb Evans, University of Louisiana Monroe
• Mason Fine, North Texas
• Feleipe Franks, University of Florida
• Mitchell Guadagni, Toledo
• Jarrett Guarantano, University of Tennessee
• Gage Gubrud, Washington State University
• Quentin Harris, Duke University
• Justin Herbert, University of Oregon
• Kelvin Hopkins, Jr., Army
• Tyler Huntley, University of Utah
• Jalen Hurts, University of Oklahoma
• Josh Jackson, University of Maryland
• D’Eriq King, Houston
• Brian Lewerke, Michigan State University
• Jordan Love, Utah State University
• Jake Luton, Oregon State University
• Cole McDonald, University of Hawaii
• Justin McMillan, Tulane
• Steven Montez, University of Colorado
• James Morgan, FIU
• Riley Neal, Vanderbilt University
• Kato Nelson, Akron
• Shea Patterson, University of Michigan
• Bryce Perkins, University of Virginia
• Malcolm Perry, Navy
• Peyton Ramsey, Indiana University
• Armani Rogers, UNLV
• Nathan Rourke, Ohio
• Anthony Russo, Temple University
• J’Mar Smith, Louisiana Tech
• Nate Stanley, University of Iowa
• Dillon Sterling-Cole, Arizona State University
• Khalil Tate, University of Arizona
• Zac Thomas, Appalachian State University
• Skylar Thompson, Kansas State
• Brady White, University of Memphis
• Ryan Willis, Virginia Tech
• Brandon Wimbush, University of Central Florida