Influence-Her | American Plumber Stories

Summary

The video script tells the inspiring story of Daphne Ziggo, a young woman who found her passion for plumbing through the Lehi Career and Technical Institute. Initially uninterested in traditional education, Daphne's journey in the plumbing industry began with hands-on experience and a supportive mentor, Ken. Her story highlights the importance of vocational training and the potential for women to thrive in non-traditional careers. Daphne now advocates for more females in the industry, writes children's books to inspire kids, and is well on her way to becoming a master plumber.

Takeaways

• 👷 There is a significant demand for skilled workers in the plumbing industry, with many contractors struggling to find enough qualified people.
• 🏫 The speaker initially did not value high school education, believing that a GED or diploma was not necessary for employment opportunities.
• 🔧 The speaker's perspective changed after attending a technical education school, where they discovered a passion for plumbing.
• 🌟 Daphne, a student at the Lehi Career and Technical Institute (LCTI), found her passion for plumbing through the school's program, which offers a hands-on approach to learning.
• 🚀 The LCTI program aims to prepare students for their careers upon graduating high school, whether they choose to go to college or enter the workforce directly.
• 📚 Students can enroll in the LCTI program in eighth grade, and the program includes a variety of technical courses, including plumbing.
• 🛠 Daphne's instructor, Mr. Ken, played a pivotal role in her development, encouraging her to overcome her shyness and excel in the plumbing field.
• 👩‍🏫 Ken, a former plumber turned teacher, is known for his hands-on teaching approach and for teaching students life skills in addition to technical skills.
• 📚 Daphne has written children's books to inspire young people to learn about plumbing and develop practical skills.
• 💼 Daphne has found her place as an advocate for the plumbing industry, using her story to inspire others and promote the benefits of a career in plumbing.
• 🏆 Despite facing negative comments and stereotypes as a young female in the industry, Daphne has embraced her role and is proud to be a plumber.

Q & A

What is the main issue discussed by the speaker at the beginning of the script?

The speaker discusses the crisis of a shortage of skilled workers, particularly in the plumbing industry, and the lack of awareness among high school students about career opportunities outside of traditional academic paths.

What does the speaker suggest about the mindset of high school students regarding their education and future careers?

The speaker suggests that many high school students, like the speaker themselves, initially believe that traditional education and academic achievements are not necessary for success, underestimating the value of vocational training and practical skills.

Who is Daphne Ziggo and what is her significance in the script?

Daphne Ziggo is a woman who found her passion for plumbing in school and serves as an example of how vocational education can ignite a career path. She is highlighted as a successful figure in the plumbing industry and an advocate for more women in the field.

What is the role of Lehi Career and Technical Institute (LCTI) in the script?

LCTI is a career and technical education school that provides students with practical skills and experiences, helping them to start their careers upon graduating high school, whether they plan to go to college or enter the workforce directly.

How did Daphne's perception of her career change after attending LCTI?

Daphne's perception changed significantly after attending LCTI. Initially, she found high school pointless and had no interest in traditional academic pursuits. However, her experience at LCTI ignited her passion for plumbing and led her to pursue a career in the industry.

What is the significance of the instructor Mr. Ken in Daphne's journey?

Mr. Ken played a crucial role in Daphne's journey by being a supportive mentor and teacher. He helped her to overcome her shyness, encouraged her to pursue her passion for plumbing, and taught her important life and professional skills.

What does the script suggest about the importance of vocational training in the plumbing industry?

The script suggests that vocational training is essential for the plumbing industry, as it provides practical skills and experiences that are directly applicable to the workforce. It also highlights the need for more schools like LCTI to prepare students for careers in trades.

What is Daphne's current role in the plumbing industry, and how does she contribute to it?

Daphne is a plumbing technician working towards becoming a master plumber. She contributes to the industry not only through her work but also as an advocate for more women in the field and as an author of children's books that promote hands-on skills and the plumbing trade.

How does Daphne's family perceive her career choice, and what does it mean to them?

Daphne's family is very proud of her career choice. Her father expresses pride in telling others that his daughter is a plumber, and they see her success as a validation of her hard work and dedication.

What challenges does Daphne face as a young female plumber, and how does she address them?

Daphne faces negative comments and doubts about her abilities due to her gender and age. However, she addresses these challenges by proving her competence on the job and by being an advocate for women in the industry, showing that she is capable and passionate about her work.

What is the role of the employer, Larry, in supporting Daphne's professional development?

Larry plays a supportive role by providing training opportunities, paying for Daphne's education to obtain her journeyman's license, and creating an environment where she can grow professionally and contribute to the company's success.

Outlines

00:00

👷‍♂️ The Journey of a Non-traditional Student to Plumber

This paragraph introduces the theme of the video, highlighting the story of individuals who find their calling in non-academic fields, such as plumbing. It emphasizes the importance of vocational education and the opportunities it provides for high school students to explore careers outside traditional academic tracks. The speaker, Craig Morgan, sets the stage for the story of Daphne Ziggo, a woman who discovered her passion for plumbing in school and is now an advocate for the trade. The summary touches on the initial mindset of many students who underestimate the value of high school education and the transformative experience of vocational training, as exemplified by Daphne's journey.

05:02

🛠️ Overcoming Stereotypes: A Woman's Success in the Plumbing Industry

This paragraph delves into the personal narrative of Daphne Ziggo, who initially found high school uninteresting and irrelevant to her aspirations. However, her experience at the Lehi Career and Technical Institute (LCTI) changed her perspective, igniting a passion for plumbing. The summary highlights her transformation from a shy, introverted student to a confident professional in a male-dominated field. It also underscores the influence of her instructor, Ken, who provided equal opportunities and life skills, preparing her for a successful career. The paragraph concludes with Daphne's current role as an advocate for the plumbing industry, aiming to inspire more females to join the trade.

10:02

🏗️ Building a Legacy: From Student to Influential Plumber and Advocate

In this paragraph, the focus shifts to Daphne's professional life and her contributions to the plumbing industry. The summary outlines her journey from being a student at LCTI to becoming a licensed plumber and an advocate for vocational education. It details her work with children's books aimed at inspiring the next generation of plumbers and her involvement in various educational committees and apprenticeships. The paragraph also introduces Larry, Daphne's employer, who supports her career development and pays for her further education. The summary captures the essence of Daphne's growth into a leader in her field and her commitment to changing the perception of women in the plumbing industry.

Keywords

💡Contractors

Contractors are individuals or businesses that contract with clients for construction, repair, or renovation projects. In the video, the mention of contractors reflects the demand for skilled workers in the construction industry, highlighting a workforce crisis due to a shortage of available workers.

💡GED

A GED (General Educational Development) is a certification that signifies high school equivalency. The script references a mindset where a GED or diploma was not seen as necessary for employment, reflecting a societal view that practical skills can be more valuable than formal education in certain trades.

💡Career and Technical Education

Career and Technical Education (CTE) is an educational approach that prepares students for immediate employment in specific occupations. The video underscores the importance of CTE in providing practical skills and career pathways, particularly in trades like plumbing, which are in high demand.

💡Lehman Career and Technical Institute (LCTI)

LCTI is a specific institution mentioned in the script that offers career and technical education. It serves as an example of how educational institutions can bridge the gap between academic learning and vocational training, providing students with hands-on experience and career readiness.

💡Plumbing

Plumbing is a trade that involves the installation and maintenance of water, drainage, and gas systems in buildings. The video's central theme revolves around plumbing as a viable career choice, showcasing the personal journey of Daphne, who discovers her passion for plumbing and pursues it as a career.

💡Advocate

An advocate is someone who supports or promotes a particular cause. In the context of the video, Daphne becomes an advocate for the plumbing industry and for women in the trades, using her personal story to inspire others and break stereotypes.

💡Gender Stereotypes

Gender stereotypes are societal expectations about the roles and behaviors of different genders. The video challenges these stereotypes by featuring a female plumber, Daphne, who excels in a traditionally male-dominated field, demonstrating that gender should not be a barrier to pursuing any career.

💡Journeyman

A journeyman is a skilled worker who has completed an apprenticeship and is qualified to work independently in a trade. The script mentions the journeyman's role as a step in Daphne's career progression, illustrating the structured path of professional development in the plumbing industry.

💡Master Plumber

A master plumber is a licensed professional who has extensive experience and knowledge in the plumbing trade. The video highlights the aspiration to become a master plumber as a pinnacle of professional achievement in the field, showcasing the commitment to continuous learning and skill development.

💡Apprenticeship

An apprenticeship is a structured training program that combines on-the-job experience with classroom instruction. The video refers to apprenticeships as a critical component of vocational education, providing practical experience and a pathway to professional certification in the plumbing trade.

💡Occupational Advisory Committees (OAC)

OACs are groups that advise educational institutions on curriculum development to ensure it meets industry needs. The script mentions OACs to emphasize the importance of industry involvement in shaping educational programs, ensuring that students are prepared for real-world work scenarios.

Highlights

Contractors face a crisis due to a shortage of workers, emphasizing the need for more people in the trade.

The speaker didn't value high school education, believing one could work without a diploma, reflecting a common mindset.

High school students should have the opportunity to explore vocational paths for life-sustaining careers.

Many students are pushed into academic tracks without being aware of vocational options.

Craig Morgan introduces the story of Daphne Ziggo, who found her passion for plumbing in school.

Daphne's work ethic is highlighted, showing her dedication to earning her piece of the pie through hard work.

Daphne's initial disinterest in high school and her preference for hands-on work is discussed.

LCTI (Lehigh Career and Technical Institute) is introduced as a place where students can start their careers post-high school.

Daphne's journey from shyness to confidence in plumbing is detailed, showing her transformation.

The importance of having a mentor like Mr. Ken, who encourages and supports students in their vocational journey.

Daphne's realization that she could own a female-owned plumbing business and the support she received to achieve it.

Ken's teaching philosophy is shared, emphasizing life skills and equality in work regardless of gender.

Daphne's advocacy for more women in the plumbing industry and her efforts to break the glass ceiling.

Daphne's creation of children's books to inspire the next generation of plumbers.

The story of Deluxe Plumbing Heating, started by Daphne and her wife, and their journey in the industry.

Larry's role in supporting Daphne's education and career, highlighting the importance of employer support.

Daphne's experience as a female plumber facing negativity and her determination to prove her capabilities.

Daphne's goal to become a master plumber and the steps she is taking to achieve it.

The pride Daphne's family feels for her accomplishments in a traditionally male-dominated field.

Daphne's reflection on how plumbing has given her a life she never imagined and her sense of belonging in the industry.

Transcripts

[Music]

we got a crisis it's crazy how many

contractors I talk to in the course of a

day and hear that if I only had and the

rest of the sentences 10 more people

just can't get

them I didn't really care for high

school I didn't think it was worth my

time you know I could go to McDonald's

without a GED or diploma and that was my

mindset going into

it students at high school age should be

able to take opportunities like this and

turn them into life sustaining career

objectives right you should be able to

experience what it's like to be in a

plumbing class we all know that's not

the way the world spins today it's

getting better but a lot of students are

pushed into the academic track and never

even know this exists in some areas in

the country we don't have schools like

this I'm Craig Morgan This Week on

American plumber stories we're going to

Pennsylvania to meet Daphne ziggo she

would tell you that school was not her

thing however it was in school where her

passion for plumbing was

ignited some days I'm working before the

sun kisses the sky I watch the world

wake up from the seat of my truck I'm

out here earning my piece of the

pie a good honest bu

no it ain't love I was T to do the

things I do so I don't depend on anyone

I work hard enough through the year so I

play whenever I want I have more than I

deserve including a wife who says I'm

hot yeah it's better than a good life

that I

[Music]

got

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I thought high school was pointless in

the

beginning basically sat in the back of

the class watch Netflix or I fell

asleep I didn't even think about college

in high school I took the SATs I just

didn't care for it I didn't want to sit

behind a desk I didn't want to work at

an office building I didn't want to

stare behind a computer all day I always

wanted to be Hands-On it basically

changed when I went to

lcti

lcti is a career in technical education

school we have a complimentary high

school program here that students can

come all day they can come half day and

lcti is called Lehi Career and Technical

Institute that's what that stands for

because we truly think that we are

starting Learners into their career upon

graduating high school whether they're

going to go to college for their career

or they're going to go in right into the

workforce we feel that that's what we're

doing for our

students in middle school to get Intel

CTI you have to sign up in eighth grade

year before you go to 9th grade when I

was picking out the list of what I

wanted to do I put number one as

Plumbing because before that when I was

in eighth grade I took a tour of all the

labs and it was it seemed really

interesting and my instructor Mr

he said that if you have a spot here if

you want to take it at first uh Daphne

was shy as a rabbit and um it took a

little bit of going to get her out of

that get her out of that shell and

eventually she came out of that she was

always kind more of the shy personality

a little bit more of an introvert but

she was not afraid to get dirty or touch

wrenches she wasn't afraid to pick up a

piece of 4in cast IR on the throat on

her shoulder she just you know she was

right into it she had an interest she

wanted to do the work she believed in

what I told her and that you could be

whatever you want to be in this if you

want to own your own female own Plumbing

business you can do that right from here

this is where it's going to start from

this spot I'm going to be here I'm not

going anywhere you can always come talk

to me during your career just like I

talk to everybody else that came from

this

school Ken was a plumber sold his

plumbing company and became a teacher

everything he does he just takes to the

next level he took this this class

guided to the point where there's a

waiting list to come into the class kid

every student that's in that class that

is eligible for any kind of Co-op or

going out on a job is out there he

doesn't only teach him Plumbing he teach

him his life skills the soft skills how

to be a a person he just takes it to

that next level everyone called him

coaching the lab when he was instructing

me is that he was handson he made it

very fair and lamb he didn't care that I

was a woman all the work was equal no

matter your gender no matter anything he

still helped you out I knew I wanted to

acquire more females I realized that

females should be working in the

industry the industry is hurting for

people to work in it and this was one

way for me to help fill that void to try

to get females in here and I used to say

things to the ladies like there's no

glass ceiling in the pipe trades right

and they didn't understand what that

meant and I would do the whole spiel

about how men were paid higher than

women even in equal positions in the

white collar world and how they they

weren't able to get escalate the same

salaries those there's no caps here it's

completely up to you how much you want

to earn and where you want to go in your

[Music]

career Ken an instructor at lcti

has influenced many students over the

years like dapan herself as well as

current influencer pays the plumber so

Ken is my teacher he taught me

all four years of plumbing and we call

him Coach he's been an amazing mentor

super supportive and one of the reasons

I think that I didn't give up on myself

and quit while I was still going to

school I am very passionate about

working with my hands being in the

industry working on Plumbing I I really

thought PL being a plumber was my

purpose but then I really found my place

as an advocate because when I shared my

story I saw how much inspiration and

light it brought to other students and I

saw that passion that I had inside of me

about the industry inside of them and I

want to help them

continue and grow that passion as much

as I had that support system to Help Me

Grow I want to help these other people

grow I wrote two children's books it's a

plumber page series the first one is

plumber page let's replace a showerhead

and then the second one is plumber page

let's fix a running toilet this is the

new one I'm really proud of this one

these books are basically a step by step

to instruct kids at home with guidance

from their parents how to do things at

home work with their hands and see that

they can do stuff within their home I

like to say I could add one person to

the industry by joining it or I could

add thousands of people into the

industry by talking to

[Music]

kids Deluxe Plumbing Heating we're in

Bethlehem Pennsylvania me and my wife

started in 2003 just me and her in the

field she was in the field with me for 6

years before we started bringing people

on at that time we did a lot of cookie

cutter housing moved from that um I

brought people in you know my brother

and other people in to do that I started

the service department on the plumbing

side about 9 years ago now we started

the HVAC department uh brought that in

and that's almost all service and now

we're doing uh electrical for about a

here now the roles I carry I'm on a lot

of the OAC boards which which is

occupational advisory committees for I

think six schools locally I run the

local apprentiship program for the PHCC

I'm on two national committees for

Education through the PHCC I'm on the

National nocti Committee I'm a licensed

lobbyist for the PHCC so we go out and

Lobby for uh the license and the

apprenticeship and I think that's I I

teach for uh certain path I used I

taught over 10 years for the PHCC for

the local partnership

program I've been doing this for over 10

years with these students bringing them

in teaching them Daphne was part of a

group that came in she was just a great

fit we look for attitude and we hire

attitude I want attitude over skill any

day I can teach the skill and that's

what we do here he took a chance on me

he gave me trainings he put his faith in

me that I was going to do something and

I was going to be a plumber and he does

that with a lot of

people half of the employees today are

from

lcti they graduated they came here

they've been working here since high

school so I knew knew right off the bat

she had some skills and then when I saw

her in the class and things do she was

doing in the class we knew she had a

good hold on what she was

doing we are going to install a faucet

the customer has a faucet that's been in

there for x amount of years he's not too

sure because he just bought the home and

he's just looking for new fixtures

[Music]

being a female plumber especially my age

I do get a lot of negative comments um a

lot of it's are you sure you can lift it

are you sure you got it I also got told

that this is a man's job and you know

women shouldn't be in the industry so

there's a lot of negativity so the

perception of a woman in the field is

that you know they don't know as much

but I think they can do a lot better

than a mtech can out out there I have a

lot of people when they open the door

they're like oh wow I'm not expecting a

female plumber or that's great you're in

the train um working with dney it's a

great experience I'm just a good person

uh definitely has made great strides in

the field I work side bys side of DNE

pretty often um we do lot of sewers he

did a big job last week probably one of

my favorite cats

[Music]

here

so right now I am a plumbing technician

I hope to be a master plumber in order

to be a master plumber I have to get my

journey Ms in order to get my journey

mens I have to have 6,000 hours under a

master plumber and I have to go to

school for 3 years I do not pay for that

though because I am very lucky to have a

employer Like Larry that pays for it

after that I can take my journeyman's

test become a qualified journeyman work

for a year with my journeyman license

and then I have to take a test to get my

masters dapan going to votch changed her

world she went in there as a follower

she came out a leader every time I'm on

a job site I see plumber or something I

said yeah I tell them my daughter's a

plumber makes me proud and we're so

proud yeah we're so proud of her cuz

like when I mention it to at work that

my daughter's a plumber the guys are

just like what did you just say that

right I'm like yeah she's a

plumber in the beginning of Plumbing I

felt like I didn't belong I was an

outcast didn't talk to anyone as of now

in and plumbing I just feel like I fit I

definitely appreciate this company for

how they treated me like family and took

me under their wing and being able to

rely on them Plumbing has definitely

given me a life like I don't imagine

myself doing anything else I feel like

if I never did Plumbing I'd probably

into my sister's footsteps and I

probably wouldn't have graduated high

school I'm Daphne zingus and I'm an

American

[Music]

[Music]

plumber