At the recent National Craft Championships, John Davis of Shapiro & Duncan won a silver medal in the plumbing category. Davis has been with the Rockville, Maryland mechanical contractor for nearly 3 ½ years and is now a lead man for the firm. ABC asked him what working construction means to him.
How did you get started in the construction trades?
I initially started at Shapiro & Duncan, and construction in general, when a friend suggested the job to me. I had recently moved and wasn’t sure what I was doing career wise.
What do you like most about the work you do?
I like the challenge of looking at an entire project and figuring out the most efficient way to complete it. There’s a great amount of satisfaction in seeing a finished product you were responsible for impressing both your employer and the customer.
What advice do you have for others considering the construction trades?
The more you dedicate yourself to your craft, both the hands on and academic aspect, the farther you will go. There is always a place in plumbing for anyone willing to apply themselves.
What did you learn from the NCC event?
I learned I was even better than I thought I was, and I always considered myself to be pretty damn good.