The Fix

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 higher education institutions throughout Ohio. Polaris also offers adult education programs with custom training opportunities for businesses. Polaris High School Guidance Counselor Ned Barnett and College/Career Coordinator Jamie Bollinger give us an overview of the school’s mission, robust program offerings, as well as what students and parents can gain from this type of hands-on learning experience. You’ll learn more about how trade schools like Polaris are preparing students for a career they’ll love, while accelerating their skills to new heights early on.   

Connect with Our Guests:

Ned Barnett, [email protected]

Jamie Bollinger, [email protected]

Related Resources:·       

• Polaris Career Center Website
• Polaris Career Center Facebook & Instagram

Questions or Feedback:

 [email protected]

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, camaraderie and support with other like-minded, passionate individuals.

Connect with Rocco:

[email protected]

Related Resources:

• Ohio PHCC Website & Facebook

Questions or Feedback:

[email protected]

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, who serves as the Training Director at Plumbers Union Local 55 Cleveland and President of ASSE International. He breaks down the everyday realities of working in the plumbing field, including apprenticeship training, on-the-job expectations and the types of traits/skills it takes to be successful in this type of career.

Connect with Jason:

[email protected]

Related Resources:

• ASSE International
• Plumbers Union Local 55 J.A.T.C. (Joint Apprentice Training Center)
• The Cleveland Building Trades Council
• Max S. Hayes High School and Vocational Programs
• Cuyahoga Community College Pre-Apprentice Training Program

Questions or Feedback:

 [email protected]

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 recruit women into the trades and empower them once they’ve entered the male-dominated field to cultivate safe, inclusive jobsite cultures. She dives into thoughtful strategies women can employ to combat common misconceptions, foster career growth and meet their full potential.

Connect with Doreen:

[email protected]

Related Resources:

• Plumbers Union Local 55
• Cleveland Building and Construction Trades Council
• Cleveland Tradeswomen Facebook & Instagram

Questions or Feedback:

 [email protected]

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 professionals.

Connect with Mike:

[email protected]

Related Resources:

• NCD Corsillo Plumbing
• Case Study on Oatey’s MODA Supply Box & NCD Corsillo Plumbing

Questions or Feedback:

 [email protected]

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 plumbing world. From humble beginnings, Doug shares how he went from sleeping in a van to achieving a lucrative plumbing profession and helping others along the way.

Together, they’ll delve into the trades through the lens of other industry pros who bring their own unique expertise, perspectives and ideas to the conversation about why these essential jobs are so important to all of us.

Co-hosts:

Katherine Lehtinen: Oatey Co. Senior Vice President, Brand and Digital Marketing

Doug Buchan: Oatey Co. Technical Applications Manager

Related Resources:

• Oatey University
• Max S. Hayes High School
• Greater Cleveland Habitat for Humanity

Questions or Feedback:

 [email protected]