Tyler began his career right out of high school by training as an auto mechanic. After about a year and a half of working in an auto repair shop, he quickly realized it wasn’t the path for him.  

Later down the road, Tyler was offered a job at a local HVAC fuel company. Now, as a Foreman and Lead Installer at Farr Mechanical in Toronto, Ontario, Tyler leverages his 15 years of experience, specializing in hydronic and boiler installations.

His passion lies in creating remarkable projects using dependable, efficient, and secure products, Tyler shared, “Using Viega makes things go three times faster, allowing me to complete more projects while maintaining a high quality of work.”

Travis Abaire has some advice for contractors looking to start their own company: “Don’t undervalue yourself and don’t let other people undervalue you. You know what you’re worth, you know what you need to pay your bills and stay in business. If a customer says they can find someone cheaper, let them. You don’t need or want that kind of customer because they don’t value you.”

The owner of T.A.P. Plumbing and Heating in Bristol, Conn., has 23 years of experience and has been using Viega press fittings for the past 15 years. “It saves me time,” he said. “I’m a one-man show, so anything that can help me get a customer up and running and get me on to the next job, I’m all about.”

Like many contractors who own their businesses, Matt Fleming of All Star Plumbing & Heating in Manasquan, N.J., wishes he could spend more time in the field and less time in front of a computer. “Quite often, I’m stuck at a desk doing paperwork, but getting my hands dirty assembling and installing is what I really like to do,” he said.

Matt, who recently took over the family business from his father, uses Viega press because it’s fast, clean and dependable. “We can get jobs done much faster and it’s on to the next job – and that’s the whole point,” he said. The 22-year veteran has the same advice for those thinking of entering the trades and contractors thinking of starting their own businesses: “You get out of it what you put into it. If you stay focused and dedicated and constantly improve, you’ll succeed.”

Evan Berns was in the right place at the right time when he began his plumbing career. While doing landscape design and sprinkler systems he met his future boss and everything changed from there. "He taught me everything he knew and put me in a van. It was basically sink or swim at that point," Evan is now the lead technician and does all of the service and repair calls for The Plumbing Pros in Sacramento.

4 years and a ton of Viega press fittings later, Evan's support for the trade and press has exploded in the online community. His advice, "act like the whole world is going to see you do the job and inspect it after. It will make you a better plumber.

Being fast on the snow earned Jonathan Cheever a spot on the U.S. Snowboarding Team. Being fast on the job with Viega earns him a living. Recently retired from competitive snowboarding, Jonathan now owns Team Cheever Design Build in Park City, Utah. A second-generation master plumber, he got his start at age 10, helping his father and uncle in the family business, which was an early adopter of pressing.

Viega delivers speed and reliability, Jonathan said. “Why wouldn’t I use pressing?” he said. “Any tool that is easier on my body is going to make me last longer in the trades and allow me to do more activities outside of work. It's easier on my joints. The process of pressing is light years ahead of other connection methods; less time on a job allows me to do more jobs or more recreational activities. Time is freedom and time is money, no matter which way you bend it.”