Mike Barker, third-generation plumbing contractor and owner of Barker and Sons Plumbing & Rooter, has been named president of the Plumbing Heating Cooling Contractors Association of Orange County, Riverside and San Bernardino following his term as president in 2016.

Alongside Barker, PHCC ORSB was pleased to install the following officers: Scott Harrison - vice president, Scott Harrison Plumbing; Larry Orton – secretary/treasurer, Foothill Plumbing; Richard Cadogan – director, Pristine Plumbing; Thomas Pangrazio – director, Parzival Plumbing; Scott English – director, Scott English Plumbing; Daryl Pierce - affiliate director, Rewind Restoration; Ed Beaudin - affiliate director, PRC Restoration. Each of these individuals bring years of experience and a passion to promote the values and ideals of the plumbing, heating and cooling industries.

Barker attributes much of his success to his PHCC membership. Since 1994, he has been a contractor member of the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association, tirelessly advocating for the plumbing industry. Barker has served the CAPHCC Board since 2010 and served on the Board of Directors of the PHCC ORSB, moving through the chairs and serving as president of his local chapter for 2011-2012, positions that more than prepared him for his role as president of the beginning in 2016. 

Barker has dedicated his career to promoting education in the trades. His steadfast belief in the importance of training and certification for plumbers led to his central role in the creation of the PHCC ORSB Apprenticeship Training Program, a course designed to ensure the next generation of plumbers will continue to be educated to the highest standard.

“I went through the (PHCC) training and I know what a difference in my life that made, having that education. And the value for me, is that I’m giving my customer the best that’s out there by training them,” he added.

Throughout his career, Barker has been an advocate of grassroots advocacy for the plumbing industry. Independent business owners and contractors are severely underrepresented at the state and national level and to combat this underrepresentation, Barker has lobbied for change, promoting certification for plumbing technicians, combating the underground economy, and touting continuing education for the betterment of the industry.