Viega North America’s new $179 million sustainable manufacturing and training facility in Mantua, Ohio, marks a major milestone in U.S. production — expanding domestic press fitting manufacturing, creating local jobs, and setting a new standard for innovation and carbon-neutral industrial design.

This year’s batch of 18 service vehicles do much more than get a tech from Point A to Point B. 

With a passion for both plumbing and teaching, Thomas Hicken—aka “Plumber-Tom”—is reshaping apprenticeship education through hybrid learning, hands-on mentorship, and code-focused YouTube content, proving that trades education can be as innovative as the work itself.

At 80 years old, Jim “Caino” Cain still shows up daily to solve plumbing puzzles with a smile, proving that passion, people, and decades of know-how never go out of style.

Welcome to the second edition of our annual Manufacturers’ Training Directory. No matter if you’re an experienced professional or new to the trades, education is what sets PHCPPros apart. 

From forklift driver to national president, Jason Pritchard’s journey proves that with grit, vision, and a love for the trades, you can build a business that empowers others — and lead an entire industry into the future.

From aviation to plumbing, Marki Huston is leading Viega North America into a bold new era—focused on innovation, press technology, and sustainable growth while preserving a strong, people-first culture.

More than just bricks and boilers, A. O. Smith’s new Product Development Center is a bold leap toward the future—where collaboration, sustainability, and innovation come together to shape the next generation of high-efficiency water heating solutions.

From flashlight-holding kids to third-generation leaders, the Head family’s story is more than plumbing — it’s a legacy of resilience, representation, and redefining what it means to build a business that serves, inspires, and lasts.

Now in its second year, SupplyHouse’s Track to the Trades Scholarship program is expanding its $50,000 commitment to support both trade students and schools, spotlighting the growing importance of skilled trades through financial aid, community partnerships, and a deep respect for the industry's future.