How long have you been in business?
Since 2010

What do you love most about what you do?
Getting to help customers during what is typically a very challenging time, along with creating meaningful jobs in our community.

What’s a piece of advice you tell to your clients or customers that will save them time, money, or both?
The most expensive issues we run into are often the result of neglect of the system. Regular maintenance and some relatively minor investments can go a long way to prevent major, unanticipated expenses.

Tell us about a moment when you knew you chose the right career.
The first time I was able to promote one of our employees all the way from completely green (knew nothing about plumbing) through our apprentice program and into their own van. The ability to build meaningful careers is one of the most rewarding aspects of what I get to do every day. Prior to owning John Padilla Plumbing, I was a financial advisor, working at Fidelity Investments in Manhattan. While I enjoyed what I did, I didn’t get that sense of reward and fulfillment that I do now, owning my own business in our community and employing hard working professionals that are passionate about what they do. Guiding and supporting my team has been the best part of my current professional career.

What’s a memorable experience you’ve had with a customer or client?
One memory that vividly stands out is when I personally made a bad mistake with a customer. I was helping out on the phones, took her information to book the appointment and then completely forgot as I got tied up handling some other things. I never booked the appointment and she sat around waiting for someone who never showed up. Needless to say she was very upset and I was mortified. I decided to buy her flowers and a card and personally drop them off to her home so I could apologize in person. While this didn’t change my mistake, she recognized we are all human and appreciated that I cared enough to pause, and go out of my way to do something for her after this mistake.She told me she realized we were not just one of the big companies that forgets how important each customer is. We got to chat and get to know one another a little and despite the mistake, I was so glad I got to connect with her one on one. She’s still a customer to this day.

What’s a lesson you’ve learned the hard way in business?
As the owner of a trades business, it is easy to think everyone understands what you are saying the first time you say it. I’ve often made the mistake of rolling out new ideas or processes during large team meetings. I now make sure we have multiple meetings covering any changes and offer lots of opportunities to answer questions and document any changes in writing so there is no ambiguity.

Which part of your job will AI never be able to do?
I actually don’t think there is any aspect. This is something that keeps me up at night and I have spent a lot of time thinking about. You’ll see a lot of pundits say the trades will be the last to be impacted, but at the pace everything is moving, I won’t be shocked to see robots in the field at some point in my career. We are focused on being the best plumbing option in San Diego and it is my job to continue monitoring this ever changing landscape and adapt accordingly. There’s also a personal aspect to our work that perhaps (hopefully) cannot be replicated. If a pipe bursts or there’s an emergency plumbing situation, our plumbers are trained and dedicated to supporting our customers in that scenario. Maybe AI can advance enough to do some of the technical work, but it’s that personal touch that sets us apart. For now…

What makes your work environment somewhere you enjoy being?
Cliché but of course the people. We’ve been blessed to attract highly ethical, deeply caring professionals. One of our core values is Constant Improvement and being surrounded by people that want to grow personally and professionally is highly enjoyable and motivating.

What’s your go-to music while you work?
I’m a country music guy.

What’s your favorite local spot for a client lunch?
Point Loma Fish Shop

What other local clubs or associations do you belong to besides the PLA?
Between work and three little kids, I don’t have as much time anymore and I have had to cut back on some of my prior commitments with other organizations. My wife and I have made it a priority to be involved in our children’s schools as our oldest attends Loma Portal Elementary. I was previously active with the Ryan Family YMCA, San Diego Girl Scouts, and am also the one plumbing company that has been invited to be part of LeTip San Diego, an exclusive business-to-business networking organization.

Where’s your go-to spot in Point Loma when you need to think, recharge, or celebrate?
We love to take our kids to Loma Club in Liberty Station. It’s a great kid friendly and energetic environment with live music on the weekends.

What’s something interesting, fun, or unique about you or your business that might surprise us?
Before getting into plumbing, I was a financial advisor in New York City. A very natural career path…

Since moving to San Diego, I had been working with lots of small businesses owned by baby boomers who were looking to retire. Many of them didn’t have a succession plan. That’s what led me to look at the trades and ultimately buy my first plumbing company. I knew the finance side of things, and knew I could quickly study and pick up on what I needed to know about plumbing in order to support my team and grow the business.

To this day, I’ll never forget the look on my wife’s face when I presented my business plan “pitch” to her, telling her I was thinking of leaving my successful career in finance to buy a local plumbing company. Oh, by the way, it was during COVID and our daughter was 9 months old.

Thank goodness she supports my entrepreneurial spirit!

What did you want to be when you grew up — and if it’s not what you do now, why did you give up on that?
I always wanted to be in the NHL. Originally from Boston, I’m a big Bruins fan. During high school I quickly realized I wasn’t remotely good enough… However, I do currently plan in a men’s league here in San Diego. Just for fun. Unfortunately, not for pay.

What’s a TV show or movie that accurately or inaccurately portrays your profession and why?
The running joke in plumbing is always Home Alone. The bad guys are plumbers. I think sadly the trades have not carried the prestige they deserve for the hard work and commitment to keeping America safe and healthy that our professionals carry out every day.