Our spotlight this month is on Don Robertson, president of Steam & Plumbing Service Corp. in San Francisco. He's been a member of the ASA Executive Committee for three years and is currently serving as the organization's Treasurer. Don also serves as a Trustee of the ASA Education Foundation and as the Chairman of the ASA PAC Board/Government Affairs Council.

Steam & Plumbing has been in business since 1924 and was founded by Don's grandfather, Arthur Zeitschel. The company currently has one location in San Francisco serving the San Francisco peninsula area, with commercial plumbing products, pipe, valves, fittings and heating and boiler controls. Its customer base includes plumbing and mechanical contractors, government agencies, and service and repair contractors.

Don himself has been with the company for 34 years, and like so many in the industry, he started his work experience in the warehouse. From there he made the rounds as a pricing clerk, an inside/outside salesman and purchasing manager. He was named president in 1985.

Don and his wife, Nina, have been married 36 years and have two children, daughter Carrie, who is a 2nd grade teacher, and son Chris, who works for the company.

When he's asked why he volunteers his time so freely to ASA causes, Don says, "I'm involved with ASA out of a very firm belief in supporting our channel of distribution. Our industry performs a vital function in the economy through our warehousing and credit functions, as well as our joint efforts with manufacturers to promote brand-name awareness that doesn't exist in other channels."