Mike Barker, third-generation plumbing contractor and owner of Barker and Sons Plumbing & Rooter, has been named President of the Plumbing Heating Cooling Contractors Association of Orange County, Riverside and San Bernardino (PHCC ORSB) following his commendable term as President in 2016. The installation was held at the Orange County Mining Company.
Barker attributes much of his success to his PHCC membership. Since 1994, he has been a Contractor Member of the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association, tirelessly advocating for the plumbing industry. Barker has served on the CAPHCC Board since 2010 and served on the Board of Directors of the PHCC ORSB, moving through the chairs and serving as President of his local chapter from 2011-2012. These positions more than prepared him to take on his role as president beginning in 2016.
Barker has dedicated his career to promoting education in the trades. His steadfast belief in the importance of training and certification for plumbers led to his central role in the creation of the PHCC ORSB Apprenticeship Training Program, a course designed to ensure that the next generation of plumbers will continue to be educated to the highest standard. “I went through the (PHCC) training and I know what a difference in my life that made, having that education. And the value for me, is that I’m giving my customer the best that’s out there by training them,” he says.
Throughout his career, Barker has supported grassroots advocacy for the plumbing industry. Independent business owners and contractors are severely underrepresented at the state and national level and to combat this underrepresentation, Barker has lobbied for change, promoting certification for plumbing technicians, combating the underground economy, and touting continuing education for the betterment of the industry.
The Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association is dedicated to providing plumbing education for the health, safety and protection of the environment.
