Episode Overview
Khadija Head and her brother, Odari Head, are proud to succeed their parents in running the oldest Black-owned plumbing company in Atlanta (and possibly in the Southeast United States).
Head’s Plumbing Sales and Service is a third-generation business. Khadija, the CEO, and Odari, its president, profess the utmost pride for their parents’ resilience and ability to thrive in an era when race played a significant part in hiring practices.
Now tasked with taking over the helm and growing the company, the siblings respect the path the family has taken while now facing the challenge of being leaders and decision-makers.
“It is easy to be an employee,” Khadija says. “But when you take on the burden of entrepreneurship, it is something that you carry morning, noon and night, and even throughout your dreams.”
Nearly 90% of the company’s work is residential service and repair. Head’s Plumbing clients include HouseProud Atlanta, Meals on Wheels and Atlanta Habitat.
I find pride in giving our community the quality of service that they deserve,” Odari says. “That's one of the real highlights of being an owner, being able to work with these nonprofits.”
The Heads recently did a rebranding. They consciously chose to have a logo representing themselves as a Black-owned company.
Even with a widespread employee-shortage issue in the trades, the Heads are particular about the quality of their hires.
“When we vet individuals to come join our plumbing family, it's not so much about what you're able to do,” Khadija says. “It's more about your ‘why.’”
Lots of companies seek to fill their ranks with quality employees. At Head’s Plumbing, a business that survived blacklisting in the Civil Rights Era of our country, it takes on an even weightier significance.
Siblings Khadija and Odari Head recently joined ServiceTitan’s Jackie Aubel on the “Toolbox for the Trades” podcast, which included their thoughts on:
(8:51) The burden of entrepreneurship and their company’s origin story
(17:40) Why they pride themselves as “the plumber’s plumbers”
(25:19) Making the bold decision to rebrand the family business logo
(33:08) How owners can attract more young people to the trades
(40:51) Finding techs who prize work-life balance
To hear more stories from the trades, subscribe to Toolbox for the Trades on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, our website, or anywhere you get podcasts.
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