The Trade Talks Roger Wakefield

I sat down with Frank Denton, Chairman of the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners, to explore the dynamic world of plumbing in Texas. Frank has licensed more plumbers in Texas than almost anyone else, attributing this success to the state's robust economy and abundance of opportunities, especially when compared to neighboring states like Oklahoma. We delve into the challenges and potential of establishing reciprocity agreements for journeyman plumbers from other states, highlighting Louisiana and Arkansas as key examples. Frank explains the critical need for skilled tradesmen in times of natural disasters, such as hurricanes, and how these agreements could aid states like Florida in emergency situations. Frank's journey also includes his tenure as Chairman of the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation during a tumultuous period when the Sunset Commission considered abolishing the licensing and plumbing board for Texas plumbers. He shares his insights on Governor Greg Abbott's decision to sustain the TSBPE and the passion and pride that drew him to the role of chairman.
We discuss the core values of the tradesmen, evidenced by a 7,000-person rally at the state capitol in Austin, where no trash was left behind. Frank addresses the lengthy process of becoming a Master Plumber in Texas and the need for more specific requirements for apprentices. Frank's optimism shines through as he talks about the impact of institutions like Collin College on the future of plumbing in Texas. Despite the impressive statistic that 98.7% of plumbers in Texas have no complaints against them, he emphasizes the importance of maintaining high standards to protect the reputation of the profession. Join us for an insightful conversation with Frank Denton as we uncover the intricacies and values of the plumbing industry in Texas and beyond.
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Tradesmen built America. This is the "Blue Collar Channel"... Where you can listen to the top tradespeople around the world. Everything you need to learn about getting into the trades, becoming the best tradesman, starting your own business, and using networking and social media to GROW in the trades!!!!

Mark Latham worked as a roofer in high school before becoming a firefighter for 22 years. Being a fireman taught him major life lessons, and how to lead others effectively. Latham would later start Firehouse Roofing Incorporated in 1997, earning the award of Best Roofer in DFW (Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex). They now specialize in all areas of exterior home services — roofing, siding, gutters, windows, and painting. He built his business the hard way, passing out flyers door to door. As a roofer in high school, he was making more money than any of his buddies which led to getting in some trouble and spending his money on “stupid stuff.” In fact, the paychecks were so good, he ended up quitting football and all other sports to focus on the trade. But it wasn’t easy. He tried several other side-businesses trying to find a way out of roofing. However, nothing could match the revenue or the pride he found as a roofer. His parents didn’t have the money to send him to college. So he tried his hand at the local junior college just so he could get into the fire academy. His mom was a teacher, and his dad was a small business owner doing insurance adjusting. Mark is still shocked his dad introduced him to the roofing industry because it is a wild bunch of guys operating in what are sometimes rough neighborhoods. But what hooked him was the grind, the hard labor. He developed a sense of pride and accomplishment. His sense of craftsmanship and pride came from his first boss.
To Mark, leaders are more important than ever when it comes to developing young tradesmen who will eventually go on to solve residential problems. Once Firehouse Roofing started taking off, Mark realized he couldn’t do it on his own. In fact, in the beginning, he didn’t even have money to spend on marketing — which is an entirely different beast these days. He also explains the differences between a roof repair and a roof install. As opposed to being familiar with an existing customer, a roof install is a brand-new venture on its own. And with roofs, customers don’t realize if it’s done well or not, all they really know is if there’s a leak. And Mark stresses the importance of doing the job with respect and care.
According to Mark, one of the major issues most business owners need to face are their systems and processes. If the operator isn’t good at it, then it would benefit them to hire someone who enjoys it. For young men and women who can’t get a job in their college major or choice, Mark recommends checking out your options in the skilled trades and labor market. Want to make thousands of dollars this summer? Try roofing, or any of the skilled trades. But as Mark stresses, there is no magic bullet. To build wealth, to grow your bank account and your status, it takes constant hard work.
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LeakPro® has been providing reliable slab leak and swimming pool leak detection equipment for 40 years. Our products can help you find underground water leaks quickly and easily! Go to https://leak-pro.com

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Tradesmen built America. This is the "Blue Collar Channel"... Where you can listen to the top tradespeople around the world. Everything you need to learn about getting into the trades, becoming the best tradesman, starting your own business, and using networking and social media... To GROW in the trades!!!!

The politics in plumbing and the skilled trades can be nasty. They’re great for regulating policy, but behind closed doors where backhand deals are made between the regulators and the lobbyists, the industry is shaped by the few. For example, plumbers in Texas came within one signature of losing their license across the entire industry. What this means is that plumbers have little control over their own future. To prevent the legislation, a group of 7,000 licensed plumbers protested on the steps of the Texas state Capitol. Mike Prencavage, Jr. didn’t start out as a plumber. He was more interested in the role of an automotive mechanic. But then he eventually started plumbing 15 years ago as a sophomore in high school. In his words, “those water service lines don’t dig themselves.” He started as a technician, worked his way up to an installer and a shop foreman.
He’s now the owner and operator of The Family Plumber in Orange County, California. His father started the company, a grassroots effort. And now, Mike runs the business with a new school mentality and old school values. They are professionals, and don’t half-ass anything. They do their training through the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling-Contractors Association (PHCC). Never did he think it would transition from training for his guys, to a second profession as a board member at the local. According to Prencavage, a good plumber can earn a salary that would more than pay for their college tuition.
As a business owner, he’s willing to invest in your training, your tools, and everything else you need to be successful. The perception of tradesmen is changing rapidly. Their value is appreciating. It’s going to be a long time before AI and robots can do everything a plumber or tradesmen does. In this episode, Roger and Mike discuss the differences between plumbers and licensing between states like Texas and California. They discuss the value of training and networking, of best practices groups, and of establishing open lines of communication to help your business grow.
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LeakPro® has been providing reliable slab leak and swimming pool leak detection equipment for 40 years. Our products can help you find underground water leaks quickly and easily! Go to https://leak-pro.com 
 
 

Growing up, Lee Meazle never thought he would be the owner of his own plumbing company. However, the writing was on the wall. His grandpa and father were both plumbers. Following the death of his father, his mother worked three jobs to support him. High school he wasn’t fond of class or CNC. College was not interesting either. According to Lee, one of the overwhelming aspects of plumbing is all of the different specialties and required knowledge. From drains and gas lines to water, flow and backflow it was a lot of information upfront to become a good plumber. He questions if the journey to become a licensed plumber should take six years because of all of the information required to be a skilled tradesmen. But Roger Wakefield counters this argument, thinking the job could be done and as little as a couple months with the right teacher. Lee’s first job as a plumber was slab leak and leak detection. He was a plumber for 22 years before filing the paperwork to start his own company. He prefers hiring green plumbers over experience plumbers to teach them and guide them. The way a plumber should be as opposed to fixing existing plumbers bad habits. Lee credits God with placing him in the right place at the right time to become a great plumber, which allows him to pay off his wife’s college student debt and loans. In this episode, Roger and Lee recount not only their best plumbing stories like working in building and creating the great Wolf Lodge. It’s but also some of the worst most disgusting stories of leaks that had gone on for several years. One of the best plumbing jobs he recounts was working at MLB pitcher Clayton Kershaw’s house and the McDonald’s factory commercial job.
Our Sponsor: LeakPro | Leak Detection Equipment
LeakPro® has been providing reliable slab leak and swimming pool leak detection equipment for 40 years. Our products can help you find underground water leaks quickly and easily! Go to https://leak-pro.com

Ben Alexander is a high school dropout, and he runs one of the largest, most professional handyman companies in the United States. He started out as an HVAC tech and worked up to the equivalent of a master’s license. He picked HVAC because there were more job opportunities. He-- never imagined he’d make the move from a designated skilled trades position to that of a handyman. What Ben couldn’t understand is the negative stigma associated with handymen. He believed there was little difference between a handymen and tradesmen. Additionally, he realized how much work handymen could create for the skilled trades, especially plumbers. It’s vital to have top notch customer service, as well as a great relationship with highly skilled local, licensed tradesmen.
According to Ben, handymen don’t do HVAC, plumbing, or electrical. His company has remodeled bathrooms, done paint and drywall, texture, window replacement, tile, carpentry, and exterior door replacement. College was never an option for him. His parents divorced. His father took the money and split. So he felt compelled to provide for his single, stay-at-home mom and his siblings. He went to the fire academy and found quickly it wasn’t the route for him. He tried flipping houses, and that wasn’t for him. Then he found out about HVAC and air conditioning in the classified ads of the newspaper. In trade school, he found he excelled at it — and realized he did poorly in school because he was bored. His first venture into the trades failed.
His second company, a new construction and geothermal installation business thrived. He managed the residential service portion, and within eight years they were a $9 million company with 45 employees. His strong work ethic was built from necessity. He’s couch-surfed and slept in garages during hard times, but the trades gave him a path to success, to a better standard of living.
Our Sponsor:
LeakPro | Leak Detection Equipment
LeakPro® has been providing reliable slab leak and swimming pool leak detection equipment for 40 years. Our products can help you find underground water leaks quickly and easily! Go to https://leak-pro.com
 
Tradesmen built America. This is the "Blue Collar Channel"... Where you can listen to the top tradespeople around the world. Everything you need to learn about getting into the trades, becoming the best tradesman, starting your own business, and using networking and social media... To GROW in the trades!!!!

David Butler had ambitions of being a doctor, so joining the skilled trades as a plumber was purely by chance. In high school, a man pulls up at football practice asking for players interested in digging ditches and trenches to help his lawn and irrigation business. By the end of summer, David was digging it, trenching it, wiring it, and connecting all of the irrigation lines and sprinkler heads. So naturally, plumbing was a logical transition during his time in med-school. He started out making $4 an hour. And his high school sweetheart, who’s now been his wife for 44 years, they were struggling, both pursuing intensive majors, so David dropped out of college and became a full-time plumber with the goal of one day owning a business. And in 1984 he got his masters license and started Butler Plumbing Company, with focused on commercial construction. At a young age, he was mechanically inclined. Learning to work on cars and change the oil with his dad. He made the transition from commercial to residential plumbing when he experienced the tradesman pride of satisfaction — fixing a problem that someone needs. He loves working with his hands and wanted to learn everything. He got his journeyman license within three years. His goal has always been to the be the biggest and the best plumbing with the highest job satisfaction. He sold his six-truck company in 2015 and is now the Responsible Master Plumber for Milestone Home Services in Dallas, Texas — a company that has gone from 3 trucks to 70 trucks and over 700 employees in 8 years. In this episode they discuss residential and commercial plumbing, home service, and even inside details of that dreaded dollhouse plumbers must tackle in Waco, Texas. David discusses that hard work will only get you so far. Many other things must fall into place. Never give up. Keep going. And everyone, at some point, needs a little help along the way. In David’s words, one of the hardest thing to do for an employer is to make payroll every Friday.
Our Sponsor: 
LeakPro | Leak Detection Equipment LeakPro® has been providing reliable slab leak and swimming pool leak detection equipment for 40 years. Our products can help you find underground water leaks quickly and easily!
Go to https://leak-pro.com
 
Tradesmen built America. This is the "Blue Collar Channel"... Where you can listen to the top tradespeople around the world. Everything you need to learn about getting into the trades, becoming the best tradesman, starting your own business, and using networking and social media... To GROW in the trades!!!!