Hermanson Plumbing Foreman Brady Stocking's family history in the plumbing trade dates back to his great-grandfather, and he is proud to be a fourth-generation plumber.
Brady grew up in Auburn, Washington, and graduated from Auburn High School in 2004. Growing up, he enjoyed spending time at his family cabin on the south fork of the Skykomish River in Index, Washington. His great-grandfather purchased the cabin, who worked for a plumbing company in the 1950s, which used it as a plumbing material and tool yard. Brady has fond memories of spending time there with his father and grandfather, fishing, swimming, and enjoying the beauty of the river and mountains.
Brady has a strong sense of family and a deep respect for his family's history in the plumbing trade. His great-grandfather, grandfather, great-uncle, father, brother, cousins, and himself are all members of Local 32. Brady started working in the plumbing industry early, helping his father and grandfather on home projects as young as 13. He learned how to solder and do other plumbing tasks while growing up. It was clear from an early age that he wanted to follow in his family's footsteps and become a plumber.
After graduating high school, Brady signed up at Local 32 as a plumbing helper and worked for Auburn Mechanical for a year and a half. Unfortunately, they weren't taking in a lot of apprentices at the time, so he left the state and went to college for two years. However, he soon realized that plumbing was his true calling and signed back up with Local 32 to start his apprenticeship in 2007.
From left to right: Brady with his grandfather at the family cabin; View from the Skykomish cabin.
One of the things Brady loves about the mechanical industry is seeing a job or plumbing system come together from scratch. He enjoys working with a team and having a sense of accomplishment and understanding of what it takes to build the buildings and facilities that they do. He appreciates that there are many different types of materials to work with on any given job, and there is always something new to learn. Brady also likes that plumbers usually start work before 9 am and always work in different places or buildings throughout their careers.
Brady has been working at Hermanson for seven and a half years and is happy to be part of a large group that works together and makes each other comfortable. He appreciates that the company has a family feel and that everyone gives each other the acknowledgment and respect they deserve. Brady takes pride in his work and is always prepared, shows up to work every day, works hard, and does things safely and correctly, even if it takes longer. He feels that Hermanson is one of the best companies to work for in Local 32.
In terms of his specialties, Brady feels well-rounded in the plumbing field. He has worked on unique projects such as the North Satellite Airport Terminal (NSAT), fire stations, apartment and office towers, and restaurants. However, he is never afraid to admit that he is still learning new things on every job and will probably always be learning.
In his free time, Brady enjoys cheering on the Seattle Seahawks and Pittsburg Penguins and going to see the games live. He especially enjoys traveling to other teams' home stadiums and seeing the different experiences across the country. He also absolutely loves spending time with his nephew and three nieces. In addition, Brady and his girlfriend have a dog (Yoshie) and a cat (Sookie).
When asked what advice he has for others in the trade, Brady offers these insights:
"I would tell foremen to always be clear in their communication. Teach as much as you can, don't be afraid to ask questions, and don't be arrogant. We can't all know everything.
For journeymen, work hard, work smart, and teach your apprentices as much as possible. They will take over one day, and the more they know, the better we all are.
For apprentices, don't just work hard but also pay attention. Never be afraid to ask questions; there's no such thing as a dumb question."
Brady Stocking's story is a testament to the value of family history and the rewards of hard work and dedication. As a fourth-generation plumber, he profoundly respects his family's trade and is proud to continue the tradition. In addition, he enjoys working in the mechanical industry, where there is always something new to learn, and he takes pride in his work.
From left to right: Brady and his cousin Randal Rodriguez (also a plumbing foreman at Hermanson); Pets Yoshi, Muffin, and Sookie; Brady and girlfriend Cam; Brady with his nephew and nieces; Brady, cousin Randall, and father Steve outside the North Satellite project .
