Northern Nevada Business Weekly: Tell us about Paul's Plumbing and your position.
Ric Martinez: Paul's Plumbing has provided plumbing, heating and air conditioning service in the northern Nevada area since 1957. I am surrounded by many fantastic professionals and I'm lucky to consider them family.
NNBW: How did you get into this profession?
Martinez: I was approached by the original owner several years ago when he was looking to focus on the service side of the business. I focused on inventory management, cost control and customer relations immediately. The company has gone from being focused on sales to client retention as a priority. Our repeat customer business is the foundation to our future success.
NNBW: What's the most important thing you have learned in your career?
Martinez: How the customer feels when we are done with the service is paramount compared to the actual sale of the service.
NNBW: What was your first job?
Martinez: I worked at Western Nevada Supply cleaning phone receivers and bathrooms.
NNBW: Tell us about your dream job. Why aren't you working it?
Martinez: My dream job is to train dogs for search and rescue as well as drug detection. I am working on it with the dogs I have now. Kantor is capable of the search and rescue, and Kona has been trained for property protection.
NNBW: Everyone knows the recession has been brutal for construction companies how have you kept the lights on during this difficult time? What new strategies have kept your company afloat?
Martinez: Although sales have dropped with the economy our business model is to repair and replace what is already existing. We've increased our marketing budget to reach new clients and have been fortunate enough to have a repeat customer base large enough to sustain the high level of service our customers have grown to expect.
NNBW: Have any advice for someone who wants to enter your profession?
Martinez: Anyone can fix a broken pipe, furnace or a/c but it takes a professional to treat someone right.
NNBW: Tell us about the most fun you have had on the job.
Martinez: We recently came to the aid of a local pet daycare when the existing air conditioning system wasn't providing the comfort that it was originally designed for. We had to creatively propose a solution on the weekend to ensure comfort to our customer as well as dozens of furry friends.
NNBW: What are your favorite hobbies or pastimes? How do you spend your time away from work?
Martinez: I like to remain active away from work. I train in the gym four to five days a week, mountain bike, hike the numerous trails that this great state has to offer, target practice with a variety of guns and rifles and game online from time to time.
NNBW: If you could live your life over again, what one thing would you change?
Martinez: I would have gone out of state to one of the colleges that I was accepted to.
NNBW: What has been your biggest professional disappointment?
Martinez: Seeing long time team members leave for reasons out of my control.
NNBW: If you had enough money to retire right now, would you?
Martinez: Yes. The Elite Training Center would be operational.
NNBW: What's the best advice anyone ever gave you?
Martinez: The truth is easier to remember than a lie.
NNBW: What's the last concert or sporting event you attended?
Martinez: An Aces baseball game and my daughter's cheerleading competition.
NNBW: Where's your perfect vacation spot?
Martinez: A tropical island in the Caribbean.
NNBW: Why did you choose a career in northeastern Nevada? What do you like most about working/living here?
Martinez: I was born and raised in Nevada and I think it is still a great place to raise a family. There are plenty of outdoors activities to do in every direction with little to no cost involved.
Ric Martinez can be reached at www.85pauls.com or at 775-857-2857 .
Know someone whose perspective you want to share with NNBW readers? Send contact information to: rsabo@nnbw.biz or call (775) 850-2146.
The basics:
Name: Ric Martinez, President, Paul's Plumbing, Heating and A/C Inc.
How long in this job? 13 years
How long in the profession? 15 years
Education: Honors graduate, Sparks High
Best movie ever? "Braveheart" and "Big"
Last book read? "American Assassin" by Vince Flynn
What's on your iPod? Slipknot, AC/DC, Eminem, Mudvayne, Motley Crue and Rob, Arnie and Dawn
Spouse, kids or pets? Daughter Kennedy and my German shepherds Kantor and Kona
