How long have you been in the PHCP-PVF industry?

I always joke that I've been in plumbing my whole life. My dad is a plumber and his dad was. My Pawpaw had a shop, and I started helping out when I was around 10. I mostly swept floors and bagged parts; just doing odd jobs to make a few bucks. Around 16, I started working as an apprentice for my dad's company. I squeezed it in around school, sports, scouts, etc. After high school, I tried college for a semester, but I realized I'd rather stick with plumbing since I was already familiar with it. So, I came back, finished my apprenticeship, and I've been with Sunshine Plumbing & Backflow Prevention Inc. full time for 12 years now.

What drew you into the industry?

Experience. It started out as just a way to make a buck, but it runs in my blood. I was very good at it at a very young age.

What is the most rewarding aspect of working in the industry?

The most rewarding aspect is helping people. When I was in the field, it meant solving problems for customers—doing a job I could be proud of every time. Now, as a leader, it’s about watching young men grow, guiding them in their careers, and helping them succeed; even if their path eventually takes them beyond our company.

What motivates you every day?

I’m not just doing this for myself and my growing family; I’m also doing it for my parents and my autistic sister, who isn’t able to work. Every step I take to grow this company helps support each of them. My hard work here is more than a career; it’s a way to take care of the people who mean the most to me.

What is one thing you wish more people knew/understood about the PHCP-PVF industry?

Plumbing is far from an “uneducated” career. While some may look down on it because it’s manual labor with its share of unpleasant moments, the reality is that to be good at this work requires skill, dedication, and continuous learning. A qualified plumber not only completes the demanding apprenticeship and licensing process; often involving years of hands-on training and rigorous exams, but also keeps up with mandatory continuing education each year. The best in the field goes further, earning additional certifications, mastering new tools and technologies and learning the complexities of modern systems. It’s a profession built on expertise, safety and problem-solving, not just a wrench and a toolbox.

What has been your proudest moment in your career so far?

My proudest moment was rebuilding after loss. In 2016, South Louisiana was hit by a massive flood that took everything, our homes, our facilities, our trucks, our equipment. The company we had poured ourselves into was washed away with the rain. We started over from nothing; just me, my dad and a single loaner work truck with no A/C. We put our heads down and worked. Sometimes, it felt like that’s all we did. If we weren’t plumbing for our customers, we were working on our own homes and lives, trying to piece them back together. But, we didn’t quit. We buckled down and rebuilt, from the ground back up. And today, that hard work is the foundation of everything we’ve achieved.

What is one thing most people don’t know about you?

One thing most people don’t know about me is that I’m a licensed pilot. Flying has taught me discipline, focus, and problem-solving, skills that surprisingly translate well into helping to run a business. It’s all about preparation and just like everything in life.