The Fix

In part 1 of our Oatey Ambassador Mini-Series, our hosts chat with Danielle “Twig” Browne (@thelittestplumber) and Thomas Young (@t.y.custom) who are in Cleveland visiting Oatey Headquarters for Ambassador Fest 2022, a two-day immersive experience that includes exclusive training, networking and recreation activities. Coming from Newfoundland, Canada, Twig discusses her work and establishing her r...

Oatey’s own Maureen Pansky and Brian Lippert are in the studio to you give the inside scoop on all of the exciting innovation and workforce development opportunities that continue to unfold at the organization, including Oatey’s emphasis on building cross-skilled technician generalists through its rigorous Industrial Maintenance Apprenticeship Program. They debunk common misconceptions and emphasi...

Our latest guest Patrick McCombe is truly a jack of all trades. He’s spent the past 17+ years refining his remodeling skills, championing the trades and writing about residential construction on behalf of several well-known trade publications. He currently holds the title of Senior Editor at Fine Homebuilding Magazine and hosts the publication’s fan-favorite podcast. His authentic approach to writ...

We had the privilege of sitting down with Dr. Michele Scott Taylor, who has spent most of her career in higher education administration developing and guiding a myriad of young students toward successful professional paths. Currently, Michele serves as the Chief Program Officer of College Now Greater Cleveland, an organization that helps middle/high school students and adult learners throughout No...

Jeff Patterson, also known as the “Home Repair Tutor,” is a licensed general contractor from Pittsburgh who’s turned his passion for home renovation and video creation into an impressive online community with over 1.3 million social media followers/subscribers. Utilizing his diverse skillset, Jeff produces comprehensive, step-by-step videos and courses to aid homeowners tackling all kinds of renov...

Get ready for an episode packed with entertaining “Doug-isms” coupled with insightful (and downright hilarious) stories from one of our favorite dynamic duos – John and Chris Sbrocco. They join The Fix to discuss their career journeys, what it’s like working with each other and passing on the trade within their family. The uncle-nephew pair shares a special bond over their love of plumbing, entrep...

If you’re asking yourself, “what’s a manufacturers’ rep agency?” or “what does this type of job entail?” – then you’ve come to the right place. Mike McLeod, a technical sales expert with 22 years of experience, answers these questions and more, as he details his experiences partnering closely with the trades and owning an agency. Mike’s agency, Harry Warren of Georgia, specializes in offering inno...

We’re back for Season 2 of The Fix and are joined by our friends over at Mechanical Hub – the go-to digital resource for plumbing and HVAC pros across the country. Since its inception in 2010, Mechanical Hub has delivered the cutting-edge content that trade pros crave right to their fingertips, including expert advice, the latest industry news, how-to guides, product reviews and more. In this epis...

Oatey Technical Experts Erin Bullock and Matt Valore join Co-Host Doug and answer questions submitted by YOU! Covering everything from favorite products and best application tips to sharing hilarious jobsite stories, pet peeves and everything in between. Whether you’re thinking about going into the trades, are a seasoned pro or an ever-curious DIYer, this episode has something every skill level an...

If you’re a trades pro in the Ohio area, you’ve likely worked with licensure legend Carol Ross and the top-notch organization she leads – the Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board (OCILB). However, if you’re not familiar with Carol, we guarantee you can learn a little something from her during this episode. She’s a seasoned and passionate leader who continues to serve as strong voice in the t...

This episode of The Fix features Polaris Career Center, a leader in career-technical training located right in Oatey’s backyard in Middleburg Heights, Ohio. The public vocational school offers a variety of real-world application programs (HVAC, welding, cosmetology – just to name a few) for middle and high school students in conjunction with multiple school districts in Greater Cleveland and highe...

Learn about the value professional associations bring to the trades and how they propel our workers forward with higher salaries, better benefits, job security and more. Rocco Fana Jr., who oversees Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors (PHCC) of Ohio, breaks down what these types of organizations are all about and just how convenient it is to become a member, often leading to life-long friendships...

How do you know if a career in the trades is really for you, your child or student? This can often be an overwhelming task for many individuals to navigate in today’s world of endless career options – many of which focus on obtaining a college degree. This episode helps guide those considering a career in plumbing or another trade through the eyes of seasoned tradesman and educator Jason Shank, wh...

In this episode, we sit down with Cleveland business owner and third-generation plumber Mike Corsillo who shares learnings from his unique, unconventional journey into the trades, and discusses how others can use their fierce entrepreneurial spirit to build a successful career. He offers helpful insights for parents and schools on how to embrace the trades and promote the next generation of young...

We welcome Doreen Cannon, an influential tradeswoman, leader, mentor and advocate who continues to trailblaze the construction industry for generations of women to come. Some of her many accolades include becoming the first female president of Plumbers Union Local 55 Cleveland and co-founding the Cleveland Tradeswomen Committee. Throughout the episode, Doreen provides ideas on how to effectively r...

Welcome to The Fix ! In our first-ever episode, we kick off the conversation by getting to know our Co-hosts Katherine and Doug, both exceptionally knowledgeable professionals with decades of experience in their respective careers. Katherine is a savvy and creative marketer, while Doug is a Master Plumber with 40+ years of experience in the field – the good, the bad, he’s seen it all in the plumbi...