“Born from 1981 to 1996, the millennial generation has now seen two economic downturns, once while the earlier millennials were entering the workforce in 2008 and now again as the last of the generation starts their careers during the COVID-19 pandemic.” – Colorado Real Estate Journal, ‘How generations will affect the post-COVID-19 workplace’ 

Working from home, flexible schedules, digital communication. Some of the new normalities that have come with workplace realities of COVID-19 have previously been stereotyped as millennial. Yet, the skills of pivoting and resilience that many millennials have gained in the face of an economic recession and global pandemic feel redeeming right now.

“Despite the individual challenges and personal sources of anxiety that millennials and Gen Zs are facing, they have remained focused on larger societal issues, both before and after the onset of the pandemic. If anything, the pandemic has reinforced their desire to help drive positive change in their communities and around the world.” – Deloitte, ‘The Deloitte Global Millennial Survey 2020’ 

The Deloitte survey also notes, “The world that follows the COVID-19 pandemic surely will be different and likely more aligned with the ideals that millennials and Gen Zs have expressed in this and previous Millennial Surveys. They’ve seen how quickly the earth can heal, how rapidly business can adapt, and how resourceful and cooperative people can be. They know that a post-pandemic society can be better than the one that preceded it, and they’re tenacious enough to make it a reality.”

Considering that millennials make up more than half of today’s workforce, hopes for this generation’s leadership to be defined by innovation and positivity are timely  ⁠— as is the second annual “PHCP Millennials On The Move” series! 

In this feature, PHCPPros introduces its readership to 10 young professionals making a mark in plumbing, heating, cooling and piping.

David Emami
Outside Sales, Industrial
Wolseley Industrial Group

How did you get into the PHCP industry?  

I started as a Management Trainee with Ferguson Enterprises in 2006 shortly after I graduated from Oregon State University.

What have been some of your career highlights so far?

Before my time in outside sales, I was awarded “Inside Salesman of the Year” for Oregon. As an outside salesman, I have been amongst the top sales leaders for Oregon since 2010. I have led the entire district in Gross Profit Margin since 2015.  In 2020, I received our company’s first quarter leadership award.

Are you affiliated with groups and organizations in the PHCP industry?  

Currently, I am not affiliated with any other groups in our industry, as in my spare time, I am a City Councilor for Happy Valley, Oregon.

Do you have any mentors in the PHCP industry or otherwise?

I have had many mentors since I started my career. Most notably, Bradley Hagedorn, Gregg Burback, Ty Baker and Jim Coon. These guys always looked out for me and helped me thrive in various roles throughout my career. My father, who passed away in 2007, was my biggest mentor and he instilled a work ethic in me that set the pace for my entire career.

Do you consider yourself a mentor?  

Definitely!  As someone who’s been through the trainee program and has worked his way up the ranks, I am always trying to help our younger associates develop. As I moved up in my career, I had many mentors I could always look up to for advice, and I hope to be that person for the younger generations as they continue to enter our industry. 

What does it mean for you to be featured as a PHCP Millennial On The Move?

I am honored to be featured and I sincerely thank our management team for believing in me since day one. I am proud of the partnerships that I have built and look forward to taking on more responsibilities and challenges in the future.

Anja
Managing Partner
All Clear Plumbing

How did you get into the PHCP industry?

I got into the PHCP industry the old fashioned way - I followed my dad. 

What have been some of your career highlights so far?

I come from a background in small business development, design, and marketing. So, seeing our business grow beyond my dad's wildest dreams is pretty cool. He just can't believe what we have accomplished in less than 10 years. In 2018, we purchased an 8,000 square foot facility with a warehouse, dock, and nearly three acres of land. That's been a game changer for us from an operational standpoint. The initiative that I am most proud of though is getting our apprenticeship program up and running. It is a USDOL-accredited program and we just graduated our first class. 

Are you affiliated with groups and organizations in the PHCP industry?

I have sat on the board of my state PHCC chapter. I currently sit on the board of SCSTA, a statewide initiative to improve workforce development in the trades. I write a regular column for Plumber and Cleaner magazine and have spoken at several industry conferences.

Do you have any mentors in the PHCP industry or otherwise?

I wouldn't be where I am today without my dad's knowledge and really the entire staff of plumbers who work with us. 

Do you consider yourself a mentor?

I love helping others and teaching business skills, so, yes!

What does it mean for you to be featured as a PHCP Millennial On The Move?

It's always nice to be recognized in the industry! I try to do my part in promoting the industry and it is humbling and exciting to be recognized.

Iasmin Acioli
Executive Support
Gerber Plumbing Fixtures 

How did you get into the PHCP industry?

I actually got into the PHCP industry as my first job out of college! I began working for Gerber Plumbing as an HR Assistant & Receptionist and never looked back. When I was filling out those first applications I was simply looking for a place to call home, and have now almost a decade later I can say I found that home in plumbing manufacturing. 

What have been some of your career highlights so far?

So far in my career, I have always held hybrid roles that were a bit of jack-of-all-trades. I did not have any previous background in our industry, so the biggest highlights have been working with so many individuals to learn things from the bottoms up. It is absolutely a highlight to say I started out in Gerber’s front desk and am now helping with our biggest strategic initiatives. 

Are you affiliated with groups and organizations in the PHCP industry?

I am a member of the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) and American Supply Association (ASA). I am also the Secretary for The Storehouse of World Vision Executive Committee. The Crystal Vision Committee, for short, works with many other companies within the industry to serve communities in need of building products around the U.S. and the world.

Do you have any mentors in the PHCP industry or otherwise?

I consider myself lucky to have many mentors within the PHCP industry. In my role, I report to Gerber North America CEO Keith Yurko. He has been a true mentor for me, not only teaching me about our business and the industry, but also many valuable lessons that carry far outside of the office. He has taught me how to navigate difficult conversations, and how to be a champion of our “humble, hungry, smart” culture. I am also lucky to work with an extremely gifted and personable senior management team, all whom have helped me personally and professionally grow. Furthermore, the Crystal Vision Committee has taught me so much more outside of plumbing. Through the committee I have the benefit of interacting with talented colleagues and mentors from all cross the industry. 

Do you consider yourself a mentor?

While I do not consider myself a direct mentor to any single person, I always try to pass along any knowledge and lessons that I have learned. I have always received help when asked and have had a listening ear, and I try to give that back as much as I can. 

What does it mean for you to be featured as a PHCP Millennial On The Move?

Being featured is honestly an honor. It is a recognition not only by those who nominated me, but also by a publication that means so much to our industry. To me, it means truly finding a place of belonging in an unwavering community. Current events have shaken up the world, but amongst all that is happening our industry was always considered essential and necessary. I am thankful to have found a place in which I can grow, and honored to be joined by my peers that are being recognized for the moves we are making. 

Ashley Zachry
Market Segment Manager, Commercial Buildings and Service
Grundfos American Corporation

How did you get into the PHCP industry?

I joined the PHCP industry when I joined Grundfos back in 2018. I have worked across a variety of industries, always focusing on helping B2B companies demand generation marketing programs, but what attracted me to the PHCP industry was the ability to work within an industry that can have a real impact on the health of our planet. On both the plumbing and hydronics side of residential and commercial buildings there is a lot of unnecessary electricity and water consumed, and through new applications and technologies we can cut it drastically. This motivates and excites me, because we all have an opportunity to drive real and positive change everyday with our work.

What have been some of your career highlights so far?

I believe the most notable career contribution to date would be in launching the concept of packaged systems to the HVAC market, a paradigm shift from the status quo design practices that have been nearly unchanged over the last 100 years (e.g., specifically using end suction, cast iron pumps, designed for 100 percent load.) I am passionate about moving the market to a more efficient packaged pumping approach, like the movement seen with AHUs and Chillers years ago. I developed the strategy and led the content creation of multiple campaigns in terms of educating on the importance and how this can simplify and drive increased building efficiency and comfort. Ultimately the efforts led packaged system sales for HVAC doubling from 2018.

Additionally, I believe one of the most important pieces for the industry is education, because knowledge is power. And as the pumps across multiple industries continue to face increased pressure to meet new regulations, I developed multiple educational pieces to break down the 2020 Department of Energy pump regulations and how they will affect everyone in the industry. Producing both digital and e-books content around this topic.

Do you have any mentors in the PHCP industry or otherwise?

Working at Grundfos has afforded me the opportunity to work with so many people who are passionate and leaders of innovation in the PHCP industry, both within the company and through our distributors. Since joining back in 2018, there have been three key individuals in helping guide my education and grow in to my role at Grundfos: Pete Korzeniewski, Business Development Manager for Commercial Building; David McMillan, Executive Vice President of Commercial Buildings and Product Management; and Greg Bretz, VP of Commercial Building Sales.

Do you consider yourself a mentor?

Yes. Throughout my career, I have been fortunate enough to have amazing women in leadership who have mentored me, and without them I would not be where I am today. I am a firm believer that we all need to take every opportunity to “pull up” our peers by being an ally who shares the lessons we've learned and pay it forward by mentoring others who are starting out in their careers.

What does it mean for you to be featured as a PHCP Millennial On The Move?

I am extremely passionate about the PHCP industry, and being featured is an extreme honor and I am humbled to be included in the list of such intelligent and talented individuals.

Matt Guidish
Director of Marketing
Preferred Sales Inc.

How did you get into the PHCP industry?

I worked outside the industry at a public relations agency in Las Vegas for the first part of my career. I was recruited to join Preferred Sales by my father, Alan, and his business partner, Michelle Lewnes-Dadas, in 2014.

What have been some of your career highlights so far?

Getting to work with my father every day is an obvious highlight. You always hear disaster stories about working with family, but that's not the case at Preferred Sales. They've built an amazing family culture that started with Pete Lewnes and Michelle. Learning how to excel as a manufacturers' rep has been such a rewarding professional growth experience. We get to wear a different hat every day, and all those learning experiences have been so vital throughout 2020. The relationships with our manufacturers, wholesalers, and contractors that I've been fortunate to make since joining PSI are the ultimate highlight. 

Are you affiliated with groups and organizations in the PHCP industry?

Yes. AIM/R, ASA Emerging Leaders, and NCWA Emerging Leaders

Do you have any mentors in the PHCP industry or otherwise?

My father and Michelle have both been amazing teachers and mentors since I joined Preferred Sales. Their instincts and industry knowledge are so strong, and I love picking their brains constantly. My former boss in Las Vegas, Terri Maruca, is one of the best networkers I ever met and taught me the value of the thank you card. I haven't worked for her since 2014, but she's still a gracious mentor when I'm looking for marketing guidance.

Do you consider yourself a mentor?

I enjoy helping our newer employees because I was in their shoes not that long ago. I'm not sure that makes me a mentor, but I enjoy seeing people get into this industry and succeeding. We need more people to see how truly essential and rewarding our little corner of the economy is.

What does it mean for you to be featured as a PHCP Millennial On The Move?

I'm just grateful someone thought enough of my work to nominate me.

Sarah Beyerlein
Executive Assistant
Everwell Parts, Inc.

How did you get into the PHCP industry?

I was born into it. My parents are second generation in the industry and have more than 30 years of experience managing retail and wholesale HVAC/R supply stores in Venezuela. When my father moved to Miami, Florida in 2010 he pursued the American Dream by doing what he knew best and scaled it to a worldwide level. This is in short how Everwell Parts, Inc. was founded. My whole life, as the eldest daughter, I felt responsible to ultimately take over and carry on the family legacy. Hence, when my father asked me to officially join the family business in 2014, it was only natural for me to accept and learn all about it.

What have been some of your career highlights so far?

Most recently, I accompanied my father to the international Canton Fair of 2019 and put together our booth in the AHRI Expo 2020 in Orlando. Since my youth, I had always looked forward to the opportunity to travel abroad for business and learn about manufacturing and trade relationships alongside my father. This is why I chose to do my bachelor’s degree in International Business. It also felt like a great feat putting together Everwell Parts, Inc.’s booth in the AHRI Expo 2020 because it was my first time having so much responsibility upon its planification, and experiencing such a great exposure and feedback from it.

 Are you affiliated with groups and organizations in the PHCP industry?

Everwell Parts, Inc. is a proud member of HARDI Mexico, and I enjoy participating in their seminars, bi-annual congregations, and other insightful events. It is a great way to learn and network within the industry.

Do you have any mentors in the PHCP industry or otherwise?

Not officially, but I do look up to my parents for their extended experience in the industry and guidance.

Do you consider yourself a mentor?

No, but I am always open for the possibility to network and help other young professionals in the industry.

What does it mean for you to be featured as a PHCP Millennial On The Move?

It is very thrilling and a great honor to be selected and be given the opportunity to be the face and exemplar of my generation and other young women in the industry. Not to mention that it highlights the family business and takes us closer to the American Dream.

Sofía Cárdenas Corzo
Engineering Coordinator
CELE Energia Verde

How did you get into the PHCP industry? 

Well, I'm a mechanical engineer and at the end of my career I was increasingly interested in renewable energy and energy efficiency. I was very lucky that my first and current job was channeled into this. One of the most important missions of the company l work in is to provide to the client with solutions for their comfort, savings and less environmental impact, so my boss began to approach me about these technologies in order to offer a better range of solutions for our clients.

What have been some of your career highlights so far?  

I was lucky to join my team when the company was in full development. I had the great experience of going from 2 kW photovoltaic installations to installations of more than 200 kW. I also had the experience of going from designing radiant heating systems for a small house to designing and coordinating a project of over 46,900 square feet for the pig farming industry. All this in less than three years. It was definitely a great challenge for me as a designer and for my team as installers since we had never done anything so great and in limited times. The commitment reached such that we spent entire nights monitoring the temperature of the soil in the pig pens to ensure that they would be at the ideal temperature upon arrival. That experience broadened my vision, made me realize the great opportunity areas that we have as a company and the variety of applications that radiant cooling/heating can have in addition to comfort at home.

Do you have any mentors in the PHCP industry or otherwise?

Of course, first of all my boss, who was the first person to approach this technology. Later, the engineer Luis Sepulveda, from REHAU Mexico, and Max Rohr, from REHAU America, became a great support during my professional development and with the help of all their experience they have given me support whenever I need guidance

Do you consider yourself a mentor?  

In a way, yes, although I still have many skills to develop and a lot of experience to acquire, I think that other people may see me as not becoming small or being scared of challenges just because you are young or because you have little time in the field. In Mexico it is still difficult to find women first in engineering and secondly in front of large projects and management positions. And I am not speaking only for myself, but also for my colleagues who are almost all of the same generation and we are doing great things. I think the correct message is that although the challenge is great, if you have the right commitment, you will achieve it.

What does it mean for you to be featured as a PHCP Millennial On The Move? 

It means a lot since it makes me realize that in a certain way the work done is being valued, and now that it is so common to hear people say that millennials are a weak generation, to demonstrate that we are capable of great things and that we are the great part of the working force that keeps this world moving.

Marlee Gannon
Senior Manager of Product and Channel Management
Oatey

How did you get into the PHCP industry?

A mentor of mine began working in the PHCP industry at Oatey and was looking to build a team. I knew nothing about plumbing but I was really amazed by the opportunities and people at Oatey so I took the job and haven’t looked back since.

What have been some of your career highlights so far?

When I think about my career highlights thus far, I am struck by how all of the everyday wins make up so many of my memories at Oatey. Highlights like getting my first purchase order to launching new products, raising money for cancer research or just enjoying dinner with coworkers who have become like family are things I am so proud of. While the big things definitely matter, I am so lucky to have all the little things that remind me each and every day why I am grateful to be where I am.

Are you affiliated with groups and organizations in the PHCP industry?

ASA Women in Industry, ASA Emerging Leaders

Do you have any mentors in the PHCP industry or otherwise?

I definitely have mentors inside and outside the industry. I think it is so helpful sometimes to have an outside perspective, especially when facing new challenges or obstacles I haven’t seen before. My mentors within the industry help me to navigate everything from best practices, developing relationships and they are a sounding board when I need advice. I am thankful to know they are always only a phone call away and make time to help me grow and develop.

Do you consider yourself a mentor?

I never really used to consider myself a mentor but as my positions have changed at Oatey and as our company landscape changed, I am really starting to love being a mentor to others. Relationship building is so important to me and I feel passionate about investing in people, whether it is people on my team or our summer interns.

What does it mean for you to be featured as a PHCP Millennial On The Move?

I am incredibly honored to be featured. I have been in this industry about five years now and am amazed at how quickly it has gone by. I think back to when I first started – so much has changed within me to get to where I am today. Team members, mentors, customers and my fellow associates are the reason I have been able to thrive in the industry and I am thankful for the support.

Brett Butler
Marketing Brand Lead
Navien

How did you get into the PHCP industry?

Before working at Navien, I was working for a boat manufacturer in their Marketing department. The skills I had developed at the boat manufacturer prepared me to take on a stronger marketing role, especially on the manufacturing side and I was fortunate to come across an availability at Navien as a Digital Marketing Coordinator. Now I have been contributing to a fantastic marketing department at Navien for over four years.

What have been some of your career highlights so far? 

Career highlights within the PHCP industry would include being part of the Navien team that achieved one million units sold in 2018, launching industry changing products like the NPN series non-condensing tankless water heaters, developing award winning advertisements for industry publications and working for the best marketing team I have ever been a part of.

Do you have any mentors in the PHCP industry or otherwise? 

I have been very fortunate to work with great leaders on both the marketing side and technical side of the PHCP industry.

Do you consider yourself a mentor?

I don’t know that I consider myself a mentor, but I hope that I act and contribute in a way that others can view as positive and inspiring.

What does it mean for you to be featured as a PHCP Millennial On The Move?

It means a tremendous amount to me to be featured. I have met so many inspiring and talented millennials within the industry and I have worked with many at Navien that are all so deserving of being featured. I am very honored and I hope to continue making a positive impact within my team, Navien and the PHCP industry.

J. Philip Hotarek
Operations Manager
Lutz Plumbing Inc. 

How did you get into the PHCP industry?  

My dad was a plumber and I was appointed as his apprentice at a young age against my will, just kidding. We have a family business with a full service plumbing company and decorative plumbing and hardware showroom. I have been involved in the business for the better part of my adult life, and childhood.

What have been some of your career highlights so far?  

Cultivating relationships with new vendors and successfully launching our Authorized Service program that has been pivotal in beneficial recognition of our two departments working together.  I have served on the PHCC CA Board of DIrectors for the last two years and currently serve DPHA as their Executive Secretary also for the last two years. In 2018, I was recognized as the DPHA Showroom Professional of the Year and received the President's Award.

Are you affiliated with groups and organizations in the PHCP industry?  

Yes, DPHA, PHCC, ASID and NARI.

Do you have any mentors in the PHCP industry or otherwise?  

Yes, Jeff Meahan, Gary Erickson, and Mary Labowitz.

Do you consider yourself a mentor?  

I think there is still much for me to learn but I am always willing to give back and help when the opportunity presents itself.

What does it mean for you to be featured as a PHCP Millennial On The Move? 

It is always nice to be recognized but the fact that someone went out of their way to even nominate me is a pretty special thing.