From time to time here on the O’Grady Plumbing blog, we like to highlight one of our team members. This time around we’re pointing the plumber’s spotlight at Tung Pham. Maybe it was his Army training, but Tung hit the deck running when he joined our team in the spring of 2014.
Here’s Tung Pham in his own words:
O’Grady Plumbing: What did you do prior to coming to O’Grady Plumbing?
Tung Pham: I worked as a welder with a steel company just previous to O’Grady Plumbing. At age 17, I came here from my native Vietnam. After a few restaurant jobs, I chose to enlist in the U.S. Army where made a real difference, not to mention many lifelong friends.
OGP: What attracted you to O’Grady Plumbing?
TP: Long before picking up a wrench and become a professional plumber, I had worked with tools. As far back as I can remember I had tools and before long I figured out how to use them. I can fix anything. It’s in my blood.
OGP: What is your all time favorite O’Grady Plumbing success story?
TP: There are quite a few pleasant surprises floating around the company. A few months back I was in a downtown hair salon that continued to flood their basement commercial space and the first floor because of a plastic bottle that was bobbing 10 feet deep in a trap by the curb. As a result, this place was Disasterville.
The owners told me the sewer had to be dug up 10 feet deep on this very busy downtown street in order to retrieve the offending plastic bottle that had caused them so many problems. I was also told there was no sense in trying because five very experienced plumbers had failed.
I slipped a looped wire through a length of ¾-inch pipe, fashioning it to allow the loop to get bigger as I pushed in and smaller when I pulled back. Thirty seconds and voila! I got the line freed of the bottle. It was funny when the group of cheering hair salon workers joined me on this busy downtown street and began to pop open the champagne bottles. Now that was nice.
OGP: When you’re not working, what do you do in your spare time?
TP: I spend most of my time watching my little boy grow up. And I smell the roses — that sort of thing.
OPG: What reality TV show should you be on and why would you win or be kicked off?
TP: While there is talk around the shop of an upcoming reality show featuring plumbers, my guess is you’re asking about a competition reality show like “Big Brother” or “Survivor.” Unfortunately for every one else, Tung always wins!
OGP: What’s one thing not many people know about you?
TP: I am a firearms specialist.
OGP: On a scale between one and 10, how weird are you?
TP: Haha, I’d have to say a 2.
OGP: What would you do in the event of a Zombie apocalypse?
TP: Oh boy, let me say this: It wouldn’t be pretty for the zombies.
OGP: Who is your role model, and why?
TP: I have so many that it’s hard to pick just one. My good friend Robert Costello has always been there for me. I like his style and he introduced Paul and myself a few years ago through an announcement at my Army reserve training. In addition, my family has a good way of helping each other out. Most times I look at them as my role models.
