在这个季度，美国好施集团很荣幸能够将关注点聚焦在我们位于美国圣地亚哥的一个超级客户上： 美国周末水暖公司 的本·朗特先生与我们分享他的经验、对水暖行业的看法，以及对水暖行业未来的展望！我们希望你会和我们一样，有兴趣阅读他的看法或观点。

This quarter we're happy to shine a spotlight on one of our incredible San Diego customers: Ben Lunt from  A Weekend Plumber.  Ben gave us the low down on his experience, the industry and where he sees the future of plumbing heading! We hope you enjoy reading his responses as much as we enjoyed hearing them!

你从什么时候开始从事水暖工作？

我从事水暖工作已经24年了。我一直有个理想，希望自己能够开办自己的公司。2006年，机会出现了，因此我决定开始开办自己的公司，不再为别人打工。

How long have you been a plumber?

I've been a plumber for 24 years.I always knew that I wanted to have my own business and in 2006, the opportunity presented itself so I decided to go that way instead of trying to work for someone else again.

在你的职业生涯中，你看到了美国水暖行业发生了什么重大变化？

我看到的是，在美国从事水暖行业工作的专业人员大幅减少，这导致这个行业的技术人才也大幅减少。15年前，当我在美国科罗拉多州开始创业时，那个时候的美国水暖行业从业人员都已经50多岁了，他们说，“随着时间的推移，你将很难找到合格的员工”，他们说的是对的。我还看到美国水暖行业产品的材质也发生了很大的变化 - 从冲洗管道到线路管道，如今都采用柔性软管，极大提高了美国水暖行业的工作效率，能够非常快速的完成水暖安装和维修工作 - 而且，美国水暖行业拥有适用于几乎所有工作环境与对象的工具。

What major changes have you seen in the industry throughout your career?

I've seen a big decline in people moving towards a trade type career, which has lead to a decline in skilled people. When I started my business 15 years ago, that was in Colorado and the guys that were working then were in their 50s and said "you're gonna struggle to find qualified people as the years go by" and they were right. I've also seen a big change in the material used - from sautering and threading pipe to now using flexible water piping, there's a huge change in speed and gives the ability to do jobs very quickly - and they have a tool for almost everything now.

你最刺激的一次水暖工作经历是什么？

我去帮助美国科罗拉多州的一个朋友，他的房子被淹了，而且第二天他就要搬家，因此他必须在第二天搬家前把这座房子打扫干净，并且干燥不湿，且使用功能完好无缺。那一天，我整整连续工作了24个小时，在地下室安装了一个锅炉和热水器系统。我可能打了30分钟的盹，醒来后继续工作直到全部完成。随后，我还得继续干下一个预约的工作。我之前从来没有连续工作那么长时间，对我来说真是一个巨大的挑战。我很自豪，我赢得了挑战。

What was your craziest plumbing job?

I went to help out a friend in Colorado who's house was flooded, and was given the timeline that they wanted to move in the next day with it already cleaned and dried and functional. I ended up doing a 24 hour run by myself installing a boiler and water heater system in the basement. I maybe fell asleep for 30 minutes and woke up and the job was done and I went on to the next for myself I was proud to have completed.

你当地的美国好施集团分公司是哪一家？谁是你的主要服务人员？

我绝大多数是与美国好施集团位于圣地亚哥市卡尼尔梅萨区的分公司办理业务，美国好施集团的史蒂夫先生是我的主要合作伙伴。

Where's your local Hirsch Branch and who's your go-to guy there?

I go to Kearny Mesa most of the time, and Steve is my main guy.

你与美国好施集团合作时，最欣赏美国好施集团的哪一部分？

美国好施集团给我的工作带来一个家庭般的环境。当我还是一个很小的公司时，美国好施集团员工对待我就像是对待一家10人以上的公司。而且，美国好施集团还乐意为我提供额外的送货、现场指导帮助，等等。借助美国好施集团的鼎力相助，尽管当时只有我一个人，但是却能够为我的客户提供大型公司才能够提供的服务。

Favorite part about working with Hirsch?

Hirsch has a brought a family environment to my work. When my business was smaller, the connectivity of the crew that's there made me look and function like a 10 man company because Hirsch was willing to go the extra mile to help me delivery, help on site, etc. Hirsch helped made me more efficient and look like a bigger company even though I was just one guy.

新冠肺炎疫情对你有多大影响？你对美国水暖行业总的看法是什么？

新冠肺炎疫情对我是一个巨大的挑战，我们目前仍然面临着材料短缺和交货延迟。我觉得美国水暖产品质量也在不断下降，美国水暖行业制造商并没有在尽心尽力地工作。

How has COVID affected plumbing for you or do you think in general the plumbing industry?

It's created big challenges that we're still facing with material shortages and delays, and I feel like inferior products have come down the pipe because the manufacturers are not working at 100% rate.

你认为美国水暖行业的未来将走向何方？

我可以看到美国水暖行业的未来将更加需要熟练的水暖行业员工，人人都希望拥有一个优秀的水暖服务人员。所以，美国对水暖行业有技术的人员需求是巨大的，掌握水暖行业技术的人员将会得到很高的报酬。我认为，建筑行业（包括水暖行业）的工作待遇将迎来一个巨大的反转，有创意、有技能、精益求精的水暖人员，将会比办公室白领更受欢迎。

Where do you see the future of the plumbing industry heading?

I can see the future of the industry going much more towards skilled plumbers, and people will have a plumber on a retainer who is good. The need for people who have technical ability is huge, and the people with that technical ability will demand a much larger pay. I think there will be a role reversal back to building type work and the trades that require thought and skill and precision are going to flip flop with office work and be in a higher demand.

再次感谢来自美国周末水暖公司的本·朗特先生观点深刻的谈话！如果你希望成为美国好施集团的客户亮点，请通过邮箱  marcomm@hirsch.com 与我们联系。

Thanks again to Ben from A Weekend Plumber for such a thoughtful conversation! If you'd like to be featured in a customer spotlight, reach out to us at  marcomm@hirsch.com .