04/22/2025
Ten years ago, I started out as a gopher for my dad. Handed him tools and kept quiet. I wasn’t an apprentice—just a kid with a driver’s license and a strong back.
Then I went and broke that back. Not on the job, just one of those dumb life moments.
After I healed up, I ended up working at Dish Network. One day, some customer told me I should get back into plumbing. Zero clue why I listened, but I did.
I got hired by a plumber who didn’t do paperwork. Worked a year, learned a lot, got no credit, and moved on. Found a guy who finally put ten months on my apprenticeship card. It wasn’t much, but it felt like something.
Then I packed up and moved to California. After four years of plumbing out West, I moved back to Illinois, and the system acted like those four years never happened.
So I started over. Again. The crew at Steve Ray Plumbing welcomed me in as an apprentice.
Then COVID hit. A full year of my apprenticeship mysteriously disappeared. “Sorry,” the state said. “It’s gone.” Like a year of your life doesn’t count if the paperwork gets misplaced.
Eventually, my four years logged, I took the test—and failed. Missed a section because I didn’t hear the instructions about cast iron materials. Failed by two lousy points. Took it again. Passed.
I knew a long time ago that I would one day own my own business. I wanted to be my own boss. Once I had my license in hand, I knew that I was ready.
And now? I’ve started that business--Dubs Plumbing Service.
I’m proud to serve the Springfield area and the surrounding communities. Took me a decade to get here, but if you hang in long enough, even the worst luck runs out.
