When she was young, Sara Mazin moved around a lot. That’s because her family wanted the best opportunities for her that she coundn’t have in a third-world country. Born in Mauritania, North Africa, and after just one month, Mazin initially moved to Berwyn, Ill. and lived there until she was 16. She moved across the Read more
Plumbing
When she was young, Sara Mazin moved around a lot. That’s because her family wanted the best opportunities for her that she coundn’t have in a third-world country. Born in Mauritania, North Africa, and after just one month, Mazin initially moved to Berwyn, Ill. and lived there until she was 16. She moved across the country to Irvine, Calif. to live with her sister so she could have a fresh start, and graduate high school.
As a young adult, Sara entered the trades by completing nine months at the now closed WyoTech College in Long Beach, focusing on the plumbing trades. Right after finishing the program, at the age of 19, Mazin was hired as a plumbing apprentice at Rescue Rooter Riverside. “I was bored, frankly,” says Mazin. “But by the time I worked my way up to plumbing service tech after six months, that’s when I fell in love with the trade.”
Working for the company was a good experience, but Mazin felt it was too big for her so she looked for a smaller company to work for where she could continue to learn, and have more opportunities. Mazin spent eight years with Kalka Plumbing Heating and Air as a plumbing service technician and field supervisor before she left to start her own company—Sara’s Best Plumbing, Orange County, Calif. Some two short years later, Sara runs a successful plumbing service and repair company with five employees.
You see Sara is a fast riser. What started as digging trenches, Sara worked her way up to the top, becoming a licensed Master Plumber. “When I realized I had that really strong passion for the trade, I had a vision to build a company that would impact not only my family, but other families throughout the plumbing trade and industry,” says Mazin.
Sara started Sara’s Best Plumbing in 2022, and early on, “I was extremely nervous to get the phone to ring,” says Mazin. “At first, I reached out and networked with everyone I knew. I focused on developing my online platforms—Instagram, facebook, Yelp, TikTok—to reach as many people as I could. I also focused on registering as a certified contractor with all the major manufacturers in the plumbing industry.”
Mentoring and Moving Forward
Mazin has gained such an admiration for the trades over the years. “I have so much respect and appreciation for the trade. There is literally nothing that I do not like about the trade,” she says.
Mazin recalls some of her mentors to help her get to where she is today. Thomas Gillespie, former plumbing manager at Kalka Plumbing and current GM at NexGen, taught Sara a lot of the sales and service and side of the industry. Kevin Kalka, owner of Kalka Plumbing really taught Sara a lot about the trade and plumbing. And lastly, Sara’s brother Abdul and sister Amna are mentors and role models in both business and life.
Loving the the problem-solving side of the trade and being able to solve problems for her clients, Sara absolutely considers herself a mentor. “I love leading by example, and passing on my knowledge and experience. I have always done that with my previous coworkers and now my employees at Sara’s Best Plumbing. I wish I was more of a mentor to women and would love that opportunity,” says Mazin.
And while Sara welcomes the role of mentoring for women, “I think the industry needs to be more diverse in bringing more minorities to leadership roles. They, in turn, can be role models for more people,” says Mazin. “It is really hard being what you haven’t seen. Meaning, we need more women/minorities in roles of leadership to open up more opportunities.”
In her “spare” time, Sara likes to be active: go on hikes, workout and trying any new activities. To decompress, she enjoys listening to music, cooking, and watching Netflix. Her bucket list items include 1) Going on a Safari in Africa 2) Sitting courtside at an NBA Game and 3) Visiting Italy or Fiji.
And while every day Sara is thankful everyday for the opportunities given to her, the last time she said “Today is a great day, ‘It was on the 4th of July when I got to spend time and hang out with my family eating BBQ’d and watching fireworks.’”
Ann Arbor, Mich. — Washtenaw Community College (WCC) and the United Association (UA) are celebrating 35 years of skilled trades partnership with the arrival this week of some 3,500 attendees for the union’s annual training week. The United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry’s intensive five-year Instructor Training Program (ITP) Read more
Ann Arbor, Mich. — Washtenaw Community College (WCC) and the United Association (UA) are celebrating 35 years of skilled trades partnership with the arrival this week of some 3,500 attendees for the union’s annual training week.
The United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry’s intensive five-year Instructor Training Program (ITP) equips union instructors to educate and train all UA members back home on the best industry safety and training practices. Union members may also simultaneously enroll as WCC college students and earn an associate degree.
“There is no greater legacy that we can leave than teaching someone a skill and providing an education. We are proud of our long running partnership with the United Association that focuses on cutting-edge safety and training techniques and offers the opportunity to earn a college degree at the same time,” said WCC President Dr. Rose B. Bellanca.
WCC hosts five trades unions for skills training throughout the summer. The college’s partnership with the UA—which brings the largest group—is the oldest.
With more than 2,300 UA attendees registered and another 1,200 in support personnel and vendors at WCC, the entire campus is utilized during training week. Approximately 125 different classes are offered, most with multiple sections.
“This program is a beacon of our commitment to maintaining industry expertise and adapting to its evolving needs,” said UA General President Mark McManus. “The UA has the most admired training program in the industry, and much of that stems from the work during ITP week. We’re proud to offer the finest training, including access to the industry’s groundbreaking trends and revolutionary technology.”
The UA represents approximately 379,000 plumbers, pipefitters, sprinkler fitters, HVACR service technicians, welders and pipeliners working in the construction industry throughout North America.
In all, approximately 6,000 members, staff and vendors from all five unions train on the WCC campus from June through August, bringing a projected $20 million economic windfall to Ann Arbor and Washtenaw County.
North Andover, Mass.—Watts Water Technologies celebrated its 150-year anniversary in style this past week as nearly 300 past and current employees, trade press and local dignitaries gathered to celebrate the long-continued success of the company. Keynotes from Chris Jameison, Senior Vice President and General Manager, and Bob Pagano, CEO, and a special presentation from Tim Read more
Bob Pagano, CEO, Watts
North Andover, Mass.—Watts Water Technologies celebrated its 150-year anniversary in style this past week as nearly 300 past and current employees, trade press and local dignitaries gathered to celebrate the long-continued success of the company. Keynotes from Chris Jameison, Senior Vice President and General Manager, and Bob Pagano, CEO, and a special presentation from Tim Horne, Director Emeritus, Watts Water Technologies kicked off the event.
The goal for Watts moving forward—to paraphrase Jameison— is to “improve comfort, safety and quality of life” for its customers. Pagano echoed that sentiment emphasizing safety, water conservation and energy efficiency as key tenets for the company.
Tim Horne
Horne regaled the audience of stories of his great grandfather breaking ground, mock home explosions and company growth. What started as a $15,000 investment with the purchase of the company from Joseph E. Watts, a machinist who emigrated to Lawrence, Mass., by Burchard Everett “B.E.” Horne, the company grew exponentially over the years due to expansion through acquisitions, and innovations such as the introduction of the T&P relief valve and entering the backflow market among others, for example. The company stayed in the Horne family for three generations where it is now in good hands, run capably by current CEO Pagano. The company is now worth more than $2+ Billion. Yes, that’s with a B. “Anniversaries are actually more about the future than the past,” says Horne.
The trade media experienced cutting-edge technologies with access to six stations manned by Watts/Bradley experts in what was called the 2024 New Innovations Tour.
Phil Jagelski, Senior Technical Instructor and Instructional Designer, Bradley/Watts gives a tour of the Bradvan, while showing Bradley’s Eyewash Station, wash basin, and an impenetrable storage locker, for example.
Oh, before all of that, media members were granted an exclusive tour of one of the “Bradvans,” one of six of Bradley Corp.’s mobile units that traverses the United States. Backstory, Watts acquired Bradley—a veteran manufacturer of commercial washroom and emergency safety solutions, serving the commercial and industrial end markets for more than 100 years—in 2023.
Three vans feature Bradley commercial, more architectural products, while the other three vans feature Bradley’s Safety Industrial Solutions such as the Halo Swing Activated Faucet Eyewash.
Stop 1 saw the future for Watts technology in its Nexa intelligent water management system. Coming very soon, this sensing technology empowers building owners and operators with unmatched insight and control, improving system efficiency, mitigating the risk of water damage, and conserving water and energy to provide the best occupant experience possible.
Stop 2 on the Innovation Tour featured Watts’ Smart Strainer, which prevents suspended particles and debris from damaging downstream equipment. Integrated differential pressure monitoring proactively alerts users to pressure drops, helping to prevent system damage, avoid downtime, and ensure consistent flow.
Nate Kogler talk about Bradley’s Commercial Washroom and Emergency Safety and Industrial Solutions.
Stop 3 was the inclusion of Bradley products, which featured The Elvari™ Collection of washroom accessories seamlessly blends style and substance for a modern, commercial washroom experience. The Halo™ Swing Activated Faucet Eyewash space-saving design combines best-in-class critical safety equipment for swift emergency response. Elegance meets efficiency with the Verge® with WashBar® WB2 1-Station, providing a touchless, all-in-one solution for washing, rinsing, and drying hands.
The Verge with touchless WashBar WB2 1-Station is so slick, and it just makes sense—clean, rinse and dry your hands all in one place.
Shashwat Nath demos the Intellidation 2.
Stop 4 featured the The IntelliStation® 2 loT-enabled Digital Mixing Valve, which offers significantly improved performance over traditional thermostatic mixing valves, ensuring consistent water temperatures in low and high-demand situations. IntelliStation 2 seamlessly integrates with Nexa for enhanced system insight and control and comes available in pre-piped
configurations for unique installations.
Stop 5 a highly unique investment of Ultra High-Purity Piping (UHP), which offers clean room piping for ROID, manufacturing, and cooling processes. Molded from highly-durable Kynar® PVDF resin, all piping is made-to-order in North America, ensuring short lead times for faster system build-outs.
Stop 6, the last stop on the Innovation Tour, featured Leak Defense’s BuildAlert™ product, which provides 24/7 job site leak protection, providing protection against flooding even when you’re offsite. With remote monitoring and control, you can prevent costly water damage claims and avoid project delays.
Taco Comfort Solutions is pleased to announce the appointment of Tony Furst as its newest Commercial Trainer. With over 40 years of distinguished experience in mechanical engineering and a comprehensive background in overseeing multimillion-dollar projects, Tony brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the Taco team. Tony’s career spans significant roles across renowned organizations Read more
Taco Comfort Solutions is pleased to announce the appointment of Tony Furst as its newest Commercial Trainer. With over 40 years of distinguished experience in mechanical engineering and a comprehensive background in overseeing multimillion-dollar projects, Tony brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the Taco team.
Tony’s career spans significant roles across renowned organizations within the HVAC industry, including Armstrong Fluid Technology, where he served as the US Director of Application Engineering. His responsibilities included providing extensive application engineering support and developing technical education content for commercial HVAC systems. Tony’s commitment to excellence and innovation has consistently resulted in the successful completion of projects on time and within budget.
“We are thrilled to welcome Tony to Taco Comfort Solutions,” said Cheryl Merchant, CEO of Taco Family of Companies. “His deep understanding of mechanical systems and his passion for educating others will be invaluable as we continue to enhance our training programs for the commercial sector,” added Merchant.
Tony holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Dayton and an MS in Education from Michigan State University. He is certified in Plumbing Design by the American Society of Plumbing Engineering (ASPE) and is a LEED Accredited Professional with the US Green Building Council. Throughout his career, Tony has been a dedicated member of ASPE and ASHRAE, contributing significantly to technical education committees and serving as a speaker at various industry events.
“I truly enjoy sharing knowledge with others to make modern hydronic systems better,” said Furst. His commitment to advancing industry standards aligns perfectly with Taco Comfort Solutions’ mission to provide innovative and efficient solutions for HVAC systems.
In his new role at Taco, Tony will join a team of esteemed trainers, including Brett Zerba and Rich Medairos, enhancing the company’s capability to deliver comprehensive training programs tailored to the needs of commercial clients.
“It’s rare when you get the opportunity to add someone with Tony’s background, experience, and knowledge to your team,” said John Barba, Director of Training at Taco Comfort Solutions. “Adding Tony to our commercial training team is like having three Hall of Famers in your outfield. I’m looking forward to seeing Tony, Brett, and Rich share their wit, wisdom, and knowledge with our industry,” concluded Barba.
Furst’s appointment marks a significant addition to Taco Comfort Solutions, reinforcing its commitment to excellence in commercial HVAC training and education.
Jaworski’s Foundation Jaws Youth Playbook Donates Back to School Supplies to PAL Students Philadelphia, PA (August 6, 2024) – Former Eagles Quarterback, Ron Jaworski and his foundation, Jaws Youth Playbook (JYP) are teaming up with Bradford White Water Heaters, to host a “Back to School Pep Rally” for the children of Philadelphia Police Athletic League Read more
Jaworski’s Foundation Jaws Youth Playbook Donates Back to School Supplies to PAL Students
Philadelphia, PA (August 6, 2024) – Former Eagles Quarterback, Ron Jaworski and his foundation, Jaws Youth Playbook (JYP) are teaming up with Bradford White Water Heaters, to host a “Back to School Pep Rally” for the children of Philadelphia Police Athletic League in Philadelphia that will prepare them for the start of the school year. Together, Ron Jaworski (better known as “Jaws”) and our community partners will provide new Book Bags, AT&T laptops, Shoes, Socks, School Supplies, Books and much more.
Location Time
Southwest Pal August 13, 2024
5900 Elmwood Road. 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Philadelphia, PA 19143 MEDIA TIME: 1:45 PM – 2:15 PM
“I am excited my foundation is partnering up with Bradford White Water Heaters, to host our annual “Back to School Event” for Philadelphia Police Athletic League – We all know the financial burden that comes with the start of a new school year. September can be a hard month for so many families in our area, especially for our underserved communities. This event will kick-start the school year for so many families. “We will be providing backpacks, supplies, new shoes from Soles4Souls, socks and so much more”, said Ron Jaworski.
“Bradford White Water Heaters is proud to partner with Ron Jaworski and Jaws Youth Playbook for the Back-to-School Pep Rally to benefit the Philadelphia Police Athletic League. This event is very meaningful to us, demonstrating our core value of community and making a positive impact in the lives of children and families where we live and work. The back-to-school drive is critical to providing Philadelphia-area students with essential supplies for the start of a successful school year,” stated Rebecca Owens, Senior Communications Manager, Bradford White Corporation.
A special thank you to our top sponsors: Bradford White Water Heaters, AT&T, Scott Payne Custom Pools, Soles4Souls, Chemglass Life Sciences, Pepco Manufacturing, Columbia Bank, Independence Blue Cross, DiNicola Family Foundation, Target, Balashine Properties, GF Hotels & Resorts, and Stopain.
To learn more about this event, please visit https://jawsyouthplaybook.org/back-to-school-pep-rally