Plumber Support Manager Profile: Billy Martin

I am a Plumber Support Manager for Rheem WHD responsible for the SE region. I was born and raised in Dallas TX. My father owned and operated a plumbing business and that is where I got introduced to the trade. Every summer, school holidays and a lot of weekends starting in junior high school, I would tag along with my dad to “the shop.” That is how I got my start. I worked in that business until the early 2000’s, then I moved to Oklahoma and started my own plumbing business, specializing in residential/light commercial service, remodels and new construction plumbing. I moved to North Georgia in mid-2020 and tested, passed and received my Georgia Unrestricted Master Plumbing License in preparation of starting another plumbing business. That is where I discovered a very interesting position with Rheem, and the rest is history as they say!

Q: Why did I get into plumbing?

A: Becoming a plumber was a natural progression for me. My father owned and operated a plumbing business in Dallas. I grew up in that business starting as an apprentice, becoming a journeyman and eventually becoming a Master Plumber handling the operations of that business.

Q: What do I like most about being a plumber?

A: My favorite thing about being a plumber was being able to find, diagnose and fix the plumbing problems for my customers. I enjoyed that no two situations were ever exactly the same. Every job presented a new and unique set of challenges, which kept it interesting from day to day.

Q: What do I like most about my role at Rheem?

A: My role as a Plumber Support Manager gives me the opportunity to give back the industry that has been so good to me. The many years of experience I have will stay with me if I don’t share them. This job allows me to share my experience and to talk to plumbers daily, allowing me to pass on what I have learned to the next generation of plumbers.

Q: What is my favorite memory of a time I helped my customers?

A: My favorite memories of helping my customers were during the holiday season. I would pick a customer that may have been having some financial difficulty at the time, and I would donate the work I had done for them as a gift. I would never tell them ahead of time. When it came time to collect, I would write “Merry Christmas” on the ticket and tell them to enjoy the holidays. The reaction made my year every time! I miss doing that!

Q: What is my proudest moment as a plumber?

A: My proudest moments happened every time a regular customer would refer me to a new customer by “word of mouth.” You can’t buy that kind of advertising. You get it by doing your job right and treating people fairly. I always took a lot of pride in that!

How to Contact the Plumber Support Team

Rheem’s Plumber Support Managers are located throughout the country and are here to educate plumbers on Rheem’s products and programs and to help them grow their water heater businesses. If you’d like to be introduced to the Plumber Support Manager in your region, please call 1-866-339-2388.

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