From working as the first woman acquiring cars for leasing companies to a licensed journeyman plumber, Chris Scott does not shy away from hard work and running an award-winning company. The Associated Builders and Contractors of Southeastern Michigan is excited to have her as our new chair of the board.
Scott first got involved at Paul C. Scott Plumbing working in the office and helping her husband build up the business. A few years later, she pursued her license to be a journeyman to become rooted even more in their company, but the trip there was not easy as she recalled.
“I took my licensing exam in the livestock barns at MSU in the mud. I went into the barn and watched all the guys there start unfolding flowered sheets to keep their tools out of the mud and instantly panicked because I didn’t think that far ahead,” Scott said. “I fortunately passed the exam on my first try and jumped into my new role at PCS Plumbing.”
“We could not have asked for a more genuine and authentic leader to guide our association,” said Keith Ledbetter, president and CEO of ABC SEMI.
For the better part of 10 years, Scott has been centered on bringing in the next generation of skilled workers. She has seen the need firsthand for workers, mentioning how much more work can be done if four more plumbers joined the business. Scott knows that she is not alone in needing workers if it’s even just a few more.
“I think we are at a crucial point that if we don’t engage younger workers, the skilled trades will continue to see shortages in the workforce,” Scott said. “They’re the future of these small contracting businesses and for the association. If we don’t embed them into the business and external relationships now, we lose in the long run.”
Scott’s mission over her term as chair is to boost services that engage younger workers such as apprenticeship programs and professional development.
“We could not have asked for a more genuine and authentic leader to guide our association,” said Keith Ledbetter, president and CEO of ABC SEMI. “She is a level five leader, winning the Detroit Free Press’s Plumber of the Year award for metro Detroit and is recognized by Crains Detroit as one of the top 50 women in construction.”
