ABC-SEMI Issue 2 2019

12 When Christine started out in the car business selling fleet vehicles to contractors, she never imagined she would one day be in the trades. But not only did she marry a plumber but left her job to help run his company. There sons joined them in the business, and it was a family affair but when her husband, Paul, succumbed to cancer she was left with a tough choice to make. “I had too many people depending on me to keep this business going,” said Scott. “I knew I had to get my plumbers license to keep the business open, but I was up to the challenge. I am proud that we not only made it through a difficult time, but our company is growing and prospering. My sons and the team we have here are second to none—they are really our best salesmen (or women). It is a testament to the commitment we have here to our customers that we have been able to sustain continued growth.” Paul Scott Plumbing provides both residential and commercial plumbing service and instillation for their customers and feature a state-of-the- art facility, complete with an inhouse training facility. With workforce development being a continued challenge, Scott feels it is up to her to train her own staff and others to fill the void in the plumbing industry. “Baby-boomers are retiring at an alarming rate and there is a big demand for plumbers,” said Scott. “These jobs pay between $80–$100,000 a year and I was just not seeing candidates going into the plumbing field, so I decided to start my own inhouse training. I would eventually like to expand this to include students from other companies, but we are not quite there yet, but this is important to me. I have to admit I do get a little kick out of customers calling and asking for the boss expecting it to be a man’s voice, but when I get talking, they have no doubt who is in charge.” Christine Scott Owner of Paul Scott Plumbing Alyssa Angellotti Sales/Relationship/ Marketing Manager at Expert Heating and Cooling MINI -PROF I LES permanent office and has grown to nine trucks handing primary gravel hauling. “You know I am proud of what we have achieved, but we still have a lot more work to do,” said Starke. “I do enjoy working with my husband everyday and with our young son we have to strike a balance between work and family. But those challenges affect both of us equally—on any given day he is just as likely to pick him up from school as I am. We are committed to providing timely service for our clients and take great pride in getting there on time. I credit that commitment with our growth and believe it will be the key to our continued success. With a degree in advertising and marketing, Angellotti was enjoying work in agency, media and television, and vividly recalls having breakfast with her father discussing the tedium of the advertising business. “I was sure I was boring my father with the melodic repetition of my job,” said Angellotti. “We would talk often about how formulated the advertising industry was and tedious product campaigns could be. He mentioned that their operations manager has been continually called out of the office on work- related issues and that the communication and client relations were suffering as a result—and would an opportunity with their company interest me. I thought yes, can I start tomorrow—he said ‘no’, but I could interview for the job.” Angellotti is proud that the job she has with Expert Heating and Cooling was earned and that “yes” she is the owner’s daughter, but if she didn’t have the skills or ability to do the job that she would not have gotten the opportunity. An opportunity that has led to her taking on more responsibility over the years and one that may ultimately lead her to running the company one day—but not too soon. “My Dad can be tough, but he is always fair,” said Angellotti. “He never once questioned if me being a woman would hamper my ability to work in the trades—in fact he has always encouraged me to take on the tough jobs and get out of my comfort level. I do get the occasional client that was initially hesitant to speak with me because I am a girl, but they are won over quickly when they realize I know my stuff and the information I am giving them is valid. I do love that there is some different challenge each day and this industry continues to change and evolve as regulations and technology change. It is my job to stay up to speed on this and it is a job I take seriously.” n continued Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc.