Michelle Heckmann, of Hers and His Plumbing, works on a water heater in Collegedale, Tenn. She decided to become a plumber in the late 1990s after remodeling a bathroom in her home.
Judy Broadrick, mechanic and owner of Ringgold Radiator Repair, torches a radiator, part of the repair process. She’s been a mechanic for 35 years.
Connie McAdams, 57, drives a Covenant transfer truck with her husband, Bill. McAdams and her husband plan to drive about 10 years and then retire, she says.Her mother offered some advice when Michelle Heckmann decided she wanted to be a plumber.
Never go into a bank to deposit your paycheck when you’re dirty and sweaty from crawling around under someone’s house.
And never let your butt crack show.
As might be obvious, Heckmann’s family wasn’t wholly supportive when she first trained to be a plumber back in the late ’90s. But things change.
“As the years have gone by, they have learned to appreciate my profession,” she says. “[My] sister calls and says, ‘Hey, can you bring your tool bag?'”