PHCPPros, a trusted name with more than 3 years of experience covering the plumbing, heating, cooling and piping industry, is proud to celebrate the first year of its RUGGED Mind and Body initiative. 

Formally established in Fall 2024, RUGGED aims to bring more awareness to mental health and wellness to improve the overall well-being of tradespeople. Throughout the year, RUGGED achieved its actionable goals to create, educate and advocate through the following pathways: 

RUGGED wanted to make sure these efforts were actually making an impact, and after surveying nearly 200 readers, the results were overwhelmingly positive: 

  • 84% of readers have gained at least one positive takeaway from RUGGED Mind and Body magazine 
  • 88% of readers feel they are making more of an effort to improve their mental health since reading RUGGED Mind and Body magazine 
  • 93% of readers feel RUGGED Mind and Body magazine is helping them improve their work-life balance

“When we began this journey, we did not know where it would lead,” said PHCPPros Principal Cate Brown. “We just knew that with the tremendous reach we have in the PHCP industry, we had the responsibility to try to help tradespeople lead healthier, happier lives. 

“This initiative has already illustrated amazing growth during its first year, especially through our RUGGED Road Shows,” Brown continued. “Each of the three events drew more attendees than the last, and one-on-one conversations with attendees made it clear that RUGGED is resonating with our industry and helping to normalize discussions around mental health and wellness.” 

One such attendee, Abel Villagomez, owner, NEXGEN Plumbing & Drain, left a Road Show feeling that RUGGED gave him a new perspective. 

“Attending the RUGGED event was a powerful reminder of how important it is to invest time into developing myself — not just for business growth, but personal growth as well,” said Villagomez. “I realized how much I’ve been focused on production without giving enough time to my own mind. Taking that step back and refocusing is what fuels better performance in both life and work.”   

RUGGED thanks its sponsors for helping it achieve a successful first year, and looks forward to the year ahead. At the highest level of sponsorship, Cintas and Watts Water Technologies, along with Watts brands AERCO International and Bradley Corp., return as Vanguard Sponsors for 2026.

F.W. Webb Co., Legend Valve, and U.S. Boiler Co. also return as Guardian Sponsors, with new additions Charlotte Pipe and Foundry, Liberty Pumps and Matco-Norca signing on for the same tier of sponsorship.

New for 2026, RUGGED plans to launch a digital toolkit with various educational materials focused on mental health and wellness, as well as a video series on social media focused on physical fitness tips for tradespeople. 

Those interested in becoming a 2026 RUGGED sponsor or contributing editorial content for our print and digital publication should email Digital Strategy Manager Nicole Meyer at [email protected].

Subscribe to PHC News magazine to receive your quarterly print edition of RUGGED and stay up to date on our upcoming 2026 Road Shows.