A former star center linebacker for the College of Toledo, which progressed to the Marion Mayhem indoor skilled soccer group, after which to an All-American center linebacker for a semi-pro soccer group for practically 10 years, Shawn Ziegler has now turned to boxing. After a while had handed after his soccer profession, he began figuring out and getting again into form, when his buddy messaged him and requested if I needed to check out boxing, Being the competitor that he’s, Ziegler mentioned sure. He’s had three fights up to now and, you guessed it, he’s undefeated.
Ziegler is unsure if he’ll battle once more, however he’s not closing the door completely. It’s robust to get within the ring on the age of 40, says Ziegler, particularly after taking part in soccer for therefore a few years. “I’m a 40-year-old residing in 60-year-old physique, however I wouldn’t commerce it for something. I’ve loved each second of my athletic profession,” says Ziegler.
For the previous 5 years, Ziegler has been the mechanical piping subject supervisor for Correct Mechanical, Inc., Lancaster, Ohio, which incorporates dabbling in mechanical piping and gear set up—boilers, chillers, air handlers, cooling towers and VRF programs. “My crew and I can do all of it,” says Ziegler.
Ziegler has at all times been part of the trades, so long as he can bear in mind. “My grandfather and my father have been each concerned within the trades; my father was a brick, block and stone mason, so I used to be launched to the labor drive on the ripe previous age of 5. I can bear in mind tagging together with dad on facet jobs and him placing me to work mixing mortar,” recollects Ziegler.
From an early age, Ziegler’s grandfather and father taught him what it meant to work for the stuff you need in life. “They formed me into a person, and I didn’t even understand they have been doing so,” says Ziegler.
As a younger grownup, Ziegler labored a number of totally different trades after his faculty soccer profession ended. He labored in concrete, masonry, and demolition earlier than, what he says, “stumbled upon plumbing.”
“I used to be laid off from my demolition job the place I used to be making I measly $10 an hour so I talked to a buddy who was in a plumbing apprenticeship and he mentioned the corporate was on the lookout for new apprentices. So, I signed up, and the remainder is historical past,” says Ziegler.
That historical past was outlined by his journey into plumbing and pipefitting practically 16 years in the past. “Inside these 16 years I’ve labored my manner via the trenches and into a great position as the sector supervisor the place I over see a crew of 10 pipefitters,” says Ziegler.
He started as a plumbing apprentice in 2008 and graduated from the Affiliation of Plumbing and Hydronic Contractors (APHC) apprenticeship program in Central Ohio in 2012 close to the highest of his class. Though, Ziegler says he discovered rapidly he loved working within the HVAC trade greater than the plumbing trade. “I began my HVAC profession in 2010 after solely two years plumbing. I’ve at all times been an even bigger and stronger man than most of my co-workers, so I used to be at all times placed on the roles the place heavier lifting was required. Now I’m able close to the highest of my commerce,” says Ziegler.
As a pipefitter, Ziegler’s No. 1 software will at all times be a RIDGID pipe wrench. However with the magnitude of a few of his jobs—numerous huge business, industrial work—Ziegler makes use of all kinds of instruments, together with grooving machines, huge hydraulic cutters, thread machines, and his crew makes use of numerous rigging instruments to set their gear into place. “Most firms rent sub-contractors to maneuver and set their HVAC gear, not us we pleasure ourselves in the truth that we will do a job from begin to end,” says Ziegler.
Ziegler presently is taking faculty lessons to get his enterprise administration diploma, in hopes to proceed his climb to the highest of his profession.
Ziegler does need to ship a shout out to some nice males that helped develop him into the skilled that he’s at present. The primary nod goes to an previous man named Dave Boehringer. He was a senior piping foreman that Ziegler labored with for practically 10 years. “He could also be one of many smartest and hardest working males I’ve ever identified. Dave taught me what laborious work and dedication was all about. He had a strategy to attain out and pull the younger apprentices in, and he was nice instructor of the commerce. I used to be blessed to have a foreman like him in my early years,” says Ziegler.
The following gentleman is Andy Jacobs. He took an opportunity on a younger man that didn’t know which course was up on the time. Jacobs employed Ziegler, simply as he was stepping away from plumbing, as a journeyman pipefitter at an organization named Engineering Excellence, a service-based firm that focuses on HVAC retrofits. “I realized quite a bit throughout my eight years there. I’ve labored with Andy on and off for practically 10 years, possibly extra. And to this present day, he’s considered one of my greatest buddies,” says Ziegler.
But, Ziegler sees himself as a task mannequin for folks trying to get into the pipefitting commerce. He usually attends profession days and talks to the youthful technology. He additionally coached highschool soccer for a few years, serving to a number of of his younger athletes get into the trades.
“The perfect factor we will do to draw the youth to the trades is deal with them the proper manner. Do not forget that they’re younger and studying one thing new. Make them really feel as if they’re needed and appreciated. That goes alongside manner,” says Ziegler.
As well as, Ziegler’s message to the youthful technology attempting to get into the trades is to keep it up it doesn’t matter what. “Occasions will get robust, the pay sucks beginning out, however if you happen to do your greatest and apply your self in the whole lot you do, it would all work out in the long run. The perfect factor they’ll do is take heed to these above you,” says Ziegler.
What does Ziegler like probably the most about his work? The largest reward Ziegler’s gotten whereas on a job is somebody from one other commerce complimenting him on his craftsmanship, telling him that one thing I put in is the very best they’ve seen; nevertheless, probably the most difficult issues he faces now are finishing job on schedule with restricted manpower. “I’ve an excellent crew, however I might love to have the ability to clone the blokes I’ve now and double my crew,” says Ziegler.
Ziegler says that it is extremely essential to stability work and life, however typically instances that’s laborious to do. “This can be a greater query for my spouse,” says Ziegler. His spare time is spent studying—Stephen King novels are his favourite—and serving to his spouse care for their 5-acre passion farm the place they elevate rabbits, and chickens, geese, and his 5 Nice Pyrenees canines that they’ve rescued over time. “We’re a busy household. I work, go to high school, assistance on the farm, and assist elevate our two disabled youngsters. So, time is a troublesome factor to search out generally,” says Ziegler.
And, Ziegler tries to maintain in the very best form as he can. “Figuring out and staying in form helps the thoughts and physique tremendously,” says Ziegler. “I battle generally to remain motivated, however after I’m figuring out it delivers a peace of thoughts. It’s at all times good to be in some type of form whereas working as a pipefitter. We do a ton of heavy lifting whereas we’re putting in.”
On the finish of the day, it’s that stability that helps him benefit from the good life. “Once I get up within the morning, I at all times inform myself that at present goes to be an excellent day. It doesn’t matter what challenges could lay forward of me. I’m actually blessed to work in a commerce that I take pleasure in. I believe I truly loved it extra after I was bodily doing the work within the subject, however I like to have the ability to educate and assist my apprentices develop into productive tradesmen.”