Bill and Tina Howe
Bill and Tina Howe
Bill and Tina Howe
Bill and Tina Howe
Bill and Tina Howe

The Bill Howe Family of Companies is our 2013 Contractor of the Year

Dec. 11, 2013
Bill Howe Plumbing and the Howe family have shown unmatched support for the PHCC of San Diego. The Howes are dedicated to training. They are excellent mentors to their employees, as well as an inspiration to fellow business owners. Bill and Tina Howe are also involved in youth outreach within the plumbing industry. Bill Howe Plumbing is dedicated to giving back to the San Diego community. They are also the first to donate to employee-driven causes whenever they are approached. Our thanks to Shark Bite Plumbing Solutions for sponsoring this year’s Contractor of the Year Award. 

SAN DIEGO — CONTRACTOR magazine has selected the Bill Howe Family of Companies (www.billhowe.com) as its Contractor of the Year.

“I have had the pleasure to work closely with the owners, Tina and Bill Howe, and their team of employees,” said Danielle Dorsey, executive director of San Diego Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors. “Bill Howe Plumbing continues to demonstrate outstanding dedication to the industry, their employees, and the San Diego community.”

Our thanks to SharkBite Plumbing Solutions (www.sharkbite.com) for sponsoring this year’s Contractor of the Year Award.

We will cover Bill Howe Plumbing in an in-depth feature story, but here are the factors that led us to select the firm as our Contractor of the Year.

The Bill Howe Family of Companies is a San Diego-based, family-owned and operated plumbing, HVAC, restoration and water mitigation company. Since its founding in 1980, the mission and values of the company have always been based on three main factors: 1) ensuring the happiness and good health of employees, 2) 100% customer satisfaction, and 3) giving back to the San Diego community.

Bill Howe recognized the importance of his three principal values early on and continues to make significant investments in all three. Bill Howe Plumbing has not only become a company of success stories, but has grown into one of San Diego’s largest commercial and residential property services companies.

Bill Howe Plumbing and the Howe family have shown unmatched support for the PHCC of San Diego since 1985. The company has played an active role within the organization for almost 30 years, had numerous members of their company serve on the board, and helped support the organization through financial contributions. Tina Howe was installed as PHCC-SD president for the 2013-2014 year, joining an illustrious list of alumni in the San Diego community including her husband, Bill. Bill Howe has served on all levels of the Board of Directors, as president 2006-2007, and he remains involved today.

The family continually contributes in significant ways to the betterment of the industry and set positive examples of enthusiasm and commitment in the PHCC organization. When Tina Howe took office as the San Diego PHCC president in July, her mission was to increase the PHCC membership and come together in the best interest of the community.

“There is strength in numbers,” Tina said. “As business owners, we need to support one another and that is why we have the PHCC. We can come together and build our industry as we build our companies, with honesty and integrity.” 

The Howes are dedicated to training. This is evident in Tina Howe’s success in implementing the San Diego PHCC’s new two-year HVAC training program, demonstrating her hard work, planning and dedication to the industry. 

Bill and Tina Howe have both been recognized for their personal and professional commitment to upgrading the industry through education. They understand the need to properly train and educate the next generation of plumbers who will be responsible for the future health and safety of our communities.

Currently the Howes are sponsoring 24 of the students enrolled in the PHCC-SD Apprenticeship Training Program as well as the newly created HVAC training program. Understanding the importance of training industry technicians, Bill Howe Plumbing sponsors the full tuition, including the cost of textbooks and supplies, to allow their employees to further their careers and continue their education in the trade.

Like many successful entrepreneurs, the Howes realize that happy employees are invested in the business and take good care of customers. They are excellent mentors to their employees, as well as an inspiration to fellow business owners. The Howe’s commitment to their employees has had the largest impact on the success of the business. It is because of their dedication to employee satisfaction that the Bill Howe Family of Companies was named a finalist in the San Diego Business Journal’s 2010, 2011 and 2013 Best Places to Work Awards as well as being in the top 10 companies in the 2013 San Diego Union Tribune Top Workplaces Award.

Not only is the company family-owned and operated, but the Howes have created a family-like atmosphere where employees of every level are not only welcomed, but encouraged to utilize the open-door policy created. It is not uncommon for employees to go to Bill or Tina about technical questions, personal advice, or even financial help.

They offer employees good benefits including paying for 90% of employees’ health coverage. The technicians’ salaries are based on a generous commission rate, and they ensure employees have everything they need to excel in their jobs. This includes everything from a fully stocked company vehicle with a GPS, to a gas card and cell phone.

They also host employee appreciation parties, an end-of-the-year party that is more like a gala, and a summer picnic that is open to employees’ friends and families with everything from a DJ and caterer to a bounce house, climbing walls and more.

Bill and Tina Howe are also involved in youth outreach within the plumbing industry. For the past 10 years, they have worked closely with San Diego Job Corps creating a shadowing program that allows plumbing students real life training alongside seasoned plumbers. Over the years, they have hired on 10 students as full time employees.

In 2011 and 2012, they also supported the Andrew Chapman Mentorship Program together with Second Chance. The program needed money and Bill and Tina donated enough that the program was able to acquire a facility for classes, books and classroom materials, and created a similar shadowing program like San Diego Job Corps.

In addition to their tireless efforts for the industry, Bill Howe Plumbing is dedicated to giving back to the San Diego community. They have inspired their “Pay-it-Forward” Spirit in their employees and volunteer numbers routinely reach over 30 employees plus family and friends. For example, every month the Howe family, their employees and families get together to volunteer at the San Diego Food Bank.

Bill and Tina both generously give to organizations such as the Burn Institute of San Diego and the American Heart Association. Over the past three years, their contributions have topped $85,000 together for the organizations and they have signed on with the AHA for another two-year commitment of $50,000.

They are also the first to donate to employee-driven causes whenever they are approached and are sponsors of Little League, softball, soccer and local Boys & Girls Clubs branches.

The Howes continually contribute in significant ways to the betterment of the industry, set a positive example of enthusiasm and commitment to the industry, and represent the highest standard of professionalism.

2013 Contractor of the Year is Sponsored By:

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