A former star middle linebacker for the University of Toledo, which progressed to the Marion Mayhem indoor professional football team, and then to an All-American middle linebacker for a semi-pro football team for nearly 10 years, Shawn Ziegler has now turned to boxing. After some time had passed after his football career, he started working Read more
trades
A former star middle linebacker for the University of Toledo, which progressed to the Marion Mayhem indoor professional football team, and then to an All-American middle linebacker for a semi-pro football team for nearly 10 years, Shawn Ziegler has now turned to boxing. After some time had passed after his football career, he started working out and getting back into shape, when his buddy messaged him and asked if I wanted to try out boxing, Being the competitor that he is, Ziegler said yes. He’s had three fights so far and, you guessed it, he’s undefeated.
Ziegler is uncertain if he’ll fight again, but he’s not closing the door entirely. It’s tough to get in the ring at the age of 40, says Ziegler, especially after playing football for so many years. “I’m a 40-year-old living in 60-year-old body, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I’ve enjoyed every moment of my athletic career,” says Ziegler.
For the past five years, Ziegler has been the mechanical piping field supervisor for Accurate Mechanical, Inc., Lancaster, Ohio, which includes dabbling in mechanical piping and equipment installation—boilers, chillers, air handlers, cooling towers and VRF systems. “My crew and I can do it all,” says Ziegler.
From the Jump
Ziegler has always been a part of the trades, as long as he can remember. “My grandfather and my father were both involved in the trades; my father was a brick, block and stone mason, so I was introduced to the labor force at the ripe old age of five. I can remember tagging along with dad on side jobs and him putting me to work mixing mortar,” recalls Ziegler.
From an early age, Ziegler’s grandfather and father taught him what it meant to work for the things you want in life. “They shaped me into a man, and I didn’t even realize they were doing so,” says Ziegler.
As a young adult, Ziegler worked a few different trades after his college football career ended. He worked in concrete, masonry, and demolition before, what he says, “stumbled upon plumbing.”
“I was laid off from my demolition job where I was making I measly $10 an hour so I talked to a buddy who was in a plumbing apprenticeship and he said the company was looking for new apprentices. So, I signed up, and the rest is history,” says Ziegler.
That history was defined by his journey into plumbing and pipefitting nearly 16 years ago. “Within those 16 years I’ve worked my way through the trenches and into a good role as the field supervisor where I over see a crew of 10 pipefitters,” says Ziegler.
He began as a plumbing apprentice in 2008 and graduated from the Association of Plumbing and Hydronic Contractors (APHC) apprenticeship program in Central Ohio in 2012 near the top of his class. Although, Ziegler says he found out quickly he enjoyed working in the HVAC industry more than the plumbing industry. “I started my HVAC career in 2010 after only two years plumbing. I’ve always been a bigger and stronger guy than most of my co-workers, so I was always put on the jobs where heavier lifting was required. Now I’m in a position near the top of my trade,” says Ziegler.
As a pipefitter, Ziegler’s No. 1 tool will always be a RIDGID pipe wrench. But with the magnitude of some of his jobs—a lot of big commercial, industrial work—Ziegler uses a wide variety of tools, including grooving machines, big hydraulic cutters, thread machines, and his crew uses a lot of rigging tools to set their equipment into place. “Most companies hire sub-contractors to move and set their HVAC equipment, not us we pride ourselves in the fact that we can do a job from start to finish,” says Ziegler.
Ziegler currently is taking college classes to get his business management degree, in hopes to continue his climb to the top of his career.
Paying Homage
Ziegler does want to send a shout out to a few great men that helped develop him into the professional that he is today. The first nod goes to an old man named Dave Boehringer. He was a senior piping foreman that Ziegler worked with for nearly 10 years. “He may be one of the smartest and hardest working men I’ve ever known. Dave taught me what hard work and dedication was all about. He had a way to reach out and pull the young apprentices in, and he was great teacher of the trade. I was blessed to have a foreman like him in my early years,” says Ziegler.
The next gentleman is Andy Jacobs. He took a chance on a young man that didn’t know which direction was up at the time. Jacobs hired Ziegler, just as he was stepping away from plumbing, as a journeyman pipefitter at a company named Engineering Excellence, a service-based company that specializes in HVAC retrofits. “I learned a lot during my eight years there. I have worked with Andy off and on for nearly 10 years, maybe more. And to this day, he is one of my best buddies,” says Ziegler.
The Younger Generation
Yet, Ziegler sees himself as a role model for people looking to get into the pipefitting trade. He regularly attends career days and talks to the younger generation. He also coached high school football for many years, helping several of his young athletes get into the trades.
“The best thing we can do to attract the youth to the trades is treat them the right way. Remember that they are young and learning something new. Make them feel as if they are wanted and appreciated. That goes along way,” says Ziegler.
In addition, Ziegler’s message to the younger generation trying to get into the trades is to stick with it no matter what. “Times will get tough, the pay sucks starting out, but if you do your best and apply yourself in everything you do, it will all work out in the end. The best thing they can do is listen to those above you,” says Ziegler.
What does Ziegler like the most about his work? The biggest reward Ziegler’s gotten while on a job is someone from another trade complimenting him on his craftsmanship, telling him that something I installed is the best they’ve seen; however, the most challenging things he faces now are completing job on schedule with limited manpower. “I have a great crew, but I would love to be able to clone the guys I have now and double my crew,” says Ziegler.
Work/Life Balance
Ziegler says that it is very important to balance work and life, but often times that’s hard to do. “This may be a better question for my wife,” says Ziegler. His spare time is spent reading—Stephen King novels are his favorite—and helping his wife take care of their 5-acre hobby farm where they raise rabbits, and chickens, ducks, and his five Great Pyrenees dogs that they have rescued over the years. “We are a busy family. I work, go to school, help on the farm, and help raise our two disabled children. So, time is a tough thing to find sometimes,” says Ziegler.
And, Ziegler tries to keep in the best shape as he can. “Working out and staying in shape helps the mind and body tremendously,” says Ziegler. “I struggle sometimes to stay motivated, but when I’m working out it delivers a peace of mind. It’s always nice to be in some sort of shape while working as a pipefitter. We do a ton of heavy lifting while we are installing.”
At the end of the day, it’s that balance that helps him enjoy the good life. “When I wake up in the morning, I always tell myself that today is going to be a great day. No matter what challenges may lay ahead of me. I’m truly blessed to work in a trade that I enjoy. I think I actually enjoyed it more when I was physically doing the work in the field, but I love to be able to teach and help my apprentices grow into productive tradesmen.”
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Um, yeah. With Trump ready to assume the role of President for his second term, albeit not consecutively, other than the renaming the Gulf of America, how much can we “read the room” as to changes in policies, rhetoric or general feeling moving forward to things that relate to the PHVAC industry? We recently caught Read more
Um, yeah. With Trump ready to assume the role of President for his second term, albeit not consecutively, other than the renaming the Gulf of America, how much can we “read the room” as to changes in policies, rhetoric or general feeling moving forward to things that relate to the PHVAC industry? We recently caught with Mark Velentini, VP of Legislative Affairs at the PHCC-National Association, and Charles White, VP Regulatory Affairs at the PHCC-National Association—affectionately known as the “Chuck & Mark Show” by the PHCC—as they have their finger on the pulse of DC.
MH: We can kind of gauge what sort of policies/governance may come out of Trump’s term based on his first term, but how do you think the second time around will affect the plumbing industry in general?
Mark Valentini
VALENTINI: A Republican Congress and administration will bode well on energy policy as PHCC members confront bans and restrictions on natural gas connections and appliances across the country. This will also bode well for tax policy as certain provisions in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 are set to expire which have been beneficial for many contractors, especially when considering Congress revisiting the corporate tax rate and potentially lowering it to 15% down from 21%.
MH: Does a more deregulated government mean more uphill battles for water/energy efficiency?
Charles White
WHITE: I think the previous Trump Administration showed us uphill battles when agencies were directed to create exempt categories like small cycle dishwashers and such. It is likely that the second Trump Administration will take these actions to the next level by moving to rewrite the underlying legislation. Having said that, the efficiency efforts will then move to the progressive states rather than being federal actions, we will probably not see much regression to less efficient standards and the high population states like California and New York will likely drive the industry to higher efficiency products.
MH: Do you think there may be changes to things like the Inflation Reduction Act or Infrastructure Bill or is that pretty much hands off at this point?
VALENTINI: It is rather early to tell, IIJA has been around for some time now and may be hard to change. The IRA has so many parts, that makes it hard to consider in one piece. Tax credits like Section 25c could be pretty safe but the HOMES and HEARS Acts may not be as safe since they represent almost $9 billion.
WHITE: Most of HOMES and HEARS programs have yet to roll out which could make them a prime target but since they have a low- and moderate-income focus, there may be an optics issue to remove those acts. The issues are complicated, but PHCC has been cautiously supportive of the IRA since much of that program flows to plumbing and HVAC contractors.
MH: What is the climate from your constituency? In other words, what are you hearing about this new election cycle—positivity, negativity or a wait and see approach?
VALENTINI: Positivity but also wait and see. PHCC must be vigilant on workforce policy as the new government may reconsider industry-recognized apprenticeships which risk watering-down training by compartmentalizing it into credentialing—contractors need skilled workers with a holistic skillset, not workers who are certified in a handful of specific tasks.
MH: How do interest rates come into play here?
VALENTINI: Lower interest rates bode well for real estate, which in turn bodes well for new construction, service, and remodeling work.
MH: From what I recall, Trump’s 1st term was pro-trades? Do you have any indication this will continue?
WHITE: While President Trump’s first term had support from the trade’s rank and file, the Industry Recognized Apprenticeship Rule received more negative public comments than perhaps any other rule. Those negative comments came overwhelmingly from those same rank and file workers. Polling data throughout the election shows that the President-elect enjoyed substantial support from skilled blue-collar workers, but his future actions must support their jobs in the workforce.
MH: Does anything change on the union front?
VALENTINI: That’s a sensitive question. I would venture to say that Teamsters and other labor groups that withheld endorsements are reading the room when it comes to their rank-and-file.
MH: Please give examples of any changes/addendums/eliminations to specific policies moving forward, if applicable. (i.e. Clean Water Act)
VALENTINI: We can expect to see legislation on tax reform and energy in the new Congress. Tight margins particularly in the House will require all Republicans to be on board to pass anything.
WHITE: It is possible that the new administration will review regulations that are currently in litigation, like the residential gas furnace rule, and perhaps decide to pull back those rules for revisions. This could also affect decisions on whether to appeal adverse court rulings such as the recent ruling against the DOL Overtime Rule.
The Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors—National Association (PHCC) has announced the promotion of PHCC Educational Foundation Executive Director Dan Quinonez to PHCC Chief Operating Officer. “I am pleased to announce this expanded role for Dan, as he continues his position as the Executive Director of the PHCC Educational Foundation,” said PHCC CEO Cindy Sheridan. “Drawing on his strong Read more
The Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors—National Association (PHCC) has announced the promotion of PHCC Educational Foundation Executive Director Dan Quinonez to PHCC Chief Operating Officer.
“I am pleased to announce this expanded role for Dan, as he continues his position as the Executive Director of the PHCC Educational Foundation,” said PHCC CEO Cindy Sheridan. “Drawing on his strong association management background, strategic mindset, leadership and creative direction, Dan will assist me in driving strategy and operations for the association; he will also oversee most revenue-generating areas of the organization.”
Since joining the Foundation on June 1, 2023, Quinonez has overseen the release of new plumbing and HVAC training materials, an increase in annual giving campaign donations, expanding the PHCC Academy® to develop more post-apprentice courses, the addition of new scholarships for veterans and Latino applicants, and an industry joint effort to train the U.S. competitor for the WorldSkills competition.
“I am truly honored to take on this new role and am excited to collaborate closely with CEO Sheridan, the PHCC team, and all of our members,” said Quinonez. “Together, we will enhance operational performance and remain dedicated to delivering exceptional value to our members, all while upholding the highest standards of quality and service in everything we do.”
Before joining the PHCC Educational Foundation, Quinonez served as a Senior Account Executive for the Kellen Company, a prominent Association Management Company. In this capacity, he served as the Executive Director for the Roof Coatings Manufacturers Association (RCMA) and the Professional Electrical Apparatus Reconditioning League (PEARL), playing a pivotal role in expanding and promoting these organizations through various initiatives, including education, outreach, technical advancement, and advocacy.
His other roles included working with the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) in Washington D.C., where he advocated for the home building community. In addition, he served in the United States Army Reserves for 12 years.
Quinonez’s appointment was part of an internal structural reorganization of PHCC that is designed to increase membership, sponsorship opportunities and industry exposure.
“I am excited to head into 2025 with this new organizational structure and am looking forward to a new phase of growth for PHCC,” said Sheridan.
Trusted manufacturer renews support with $17,000 grant to expand nonprofit’s educational outreach in raising awareness of skilled trades opportunities. Ambler, Pa. — Bradford White Corporation, an industry-leading manufacturer of water heaters, boilers and storage tanks, has partnered with Explore The Trades for the second year in a row as they continue to bridge the technical Read more
Trusted manufacturer renews support with $17,000 grant to expand nonprofit’s educational outreach in raising awareness of skilled trades opportunities.
Ambler, Pa. — Bradford White Corporation, an industry-leading manufacturer of water heaters, boilers and storage tanks, has partnered with Explore The Trades for the second year in a row as they continue to bridge the technical talent gap by raising awareness of career opportunities in the skilled trades and support the next generation of industry professionals.
Explore The Trades, founded in 2005, is a nonprofit organization that raises awareness about the trades with students in kindergarten through 12th grade throughout the United States and Canada. Through educational resources, the organization’s mission is to give educators, students and parents a foundational understanding of the plumbing, heating, cooling and electrical trades.
Philadelphia’s Mayfair Elementary School has been able to provide materials to students interested in the skilled trades thanks to the “Explore The Trades Skills Lab, Built by Ferguson” equipment grant program.
Through a grant from its Industry Forward® charitable giving program, Bradford White Corporation is donating $17,000 to Explore The Trades to support the organization’s expansion of its poster kit program, which has delivered more than 3,500 kits to North American classrooms since July 2021. The expansion includes a Spanish translation of the posters kits as well as an infographic series aimed at ages 5-11.
“We’ve already reached more than 700,000 students through our poster kit program — and we’re thankful for that — but widespread awareness of the trades is slow-going,” said Kate Cinnamo, executive director at Explore The Trades. “This expansion will give us the opportunity to connect with Spanish-speaking and English as a second language learners, which is so important with the K-12 Hispanic student population in the United States growing to nearly 30%. Bradford White’s support helps us reach this new audience, as well as introduce young learners to the trades in a simple, friendly way.”
Through Industry Forward®, Bradford White partners with nonprofit organizations and technical schools to educate individuals and families on the importance of the skilled trades and the role that industry professionals provide in the health, safety, sanitation, and infrastructure of their communities through strategic grant funding that supports workforce development training and education programs and industry career opportunities, events, and partnerships.
“We’re grateful for the top-of-mind awareness Explore The Trades is bringing to skilled labor, and we’re proud to be able to help them expand their reach,” said Rebecca Owens, senior communications manager for Bradford White. “Introducing the career and financial opportunities that exist within the skilled trades to today’s youth is a vital component when it comes to staffing these essential positions in the future. We applaud organizations like Explore The Trades for ensuring that introduction is happening.”
For more information about Bradford White Corporation, visit https://www.bradfordwhitecorporation.com.
For more information about Explore The Trades, visit https://explorethetrades.org/.