The Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors (PHCC) Educational Foundation has announced key leadership appointments to guide its national workforce development, apprenticeship, and trade education programs.

Longtime industry professional John Zink has been appointed executive director of the foundation, and Nicole Urizzo has been named director of Academy Services. Concurrently, Steve Rivers, owner of Rivers Plumbing and Air in California and a past president of the PHCC—National Association, has begun a two-year term as foundation chairman.

The transitions come as part of a planned succession following the retirement of PHCC CEO Cindy Sheridan and the movement of former foundation Executive Director Dan Quinonez into the PHCC—National CEO position.

Deep Industry Roots and Proven Community Relationships

The foundation’s new executive team brings decades of direct PHCC community experience, institutional knowledge, and established industry relationships to their respective roles:

John Zink, executive director: Zink steps into the top executive post after 29 years of service with PHCC and the foundation. Throughout his nearly three decades, Zink has managed communications, fundraising, scholarship funds, construction management education, and training partnerships across PHCC’s national network of chapters.

Nicole Urizzo, director of Academy Services: Urizzo brings extensive chapter-level execution to the national team. She will continue in her dual role as executive director of PHCC of New Jersey and the NJPHCC Online Apprenticeship Academy, directly bridging regional contractor training needs with national PHCC Academy resources.

Steve Rivers, board chairman: Rivers brings decades of hands-on mechanical contracting leadership and national association governance to the foundation, succeeding outgoing Chairman Patrick Wallner.

“Leadership transitions naturally bring change, but what makes this next chapter unique is that very few of us are new to this work or this community,” Zink said. “Our strength lies in the deep network surrounding the Foundation, our contractor volunteers, chapter executives, donors, and industry partners. My priority is to build on that base, taking the world-class resources we’ve created and expanding their reach to new audiences across the plumbing and HVAC sectors.”

Evolving Demographics and the Rise of Career-Changers

This leadership transition comes at a pivotal moment for the skilled trades, as demographic shifts and economic factors drive record enrollment across trade education and scholarship programs. Data from recent Foundation scholarship applications and technical training enrollees underscores a growing trend of adult career-changers entering the p-h-c industry:

Rising Average Age: The average age of enrollees across PHCC online apprenticeship and technician training programs is now 26 years old.

Shift to Career Permanence: Over 30% of scholarship applicants are age 25 or older, with many transitioning out of entry-level or service-sector roles seeking stable, family-sustaining careers in the trades.

Entrepreneurial Ambition: A significant portion of applicants explicitly express goals of leveraging trade education to eventually start their own businesses and give back to the p-h-c industry.

Strategic Priorities: Expanding Reach and Elevating Trade Standards

To meet surging demand, the foundation under Zink, Urizzo, and Rivers will focus on expanding access and awareness of the PHCC Academy’s online curriculum, and elevating workforce standards over short-term, superficial training programs.

“Delivering robust, transferable education that creates well-rounded trades professionals is essential for long-term career success,” Urizzo said. “By bringing chapter-level perspectives directly into our national Academy programs, we can ensure our technical training, online apprenticeship courses, and workforce partnerships continue to meet the real-world operational needs of contractors on the ground.”

With growing national attention on skilled-trade careers, the foundation plans to leverage its institutional momentum to connect emerging funding sources, corporate partners, and new talent with local PHCC chapters and contractor employers nationwide. Through online technical courses, local chapter partnerships, and national workforce alliances, Zink and Urizzo will expand access to the PHCC Academy, elevate trade standards across all regions, and promote the diverse ecosystem of opportunities within the p-h-c industries.