Market SectorsPlumbing

Next Gen All Star: Josh Moss

By Natalie Forster, Editorial Director, Nicole Krawcke

AGE: 32
COMPANY: ADVANCE PLUMBING & HEATING SUPPLY CO.
TITLE: VICE PRESIDENT, SHOWROOM OPERATIONS

How long have you been in the PHCP-PVF industry?
JM: I have been in the industry full-time for 10 years. As a family business, I have grown up in the business and started by cleaning chemical cans, fittings, etc., and taking inventory when I was not in school.

What drew you into the industry?
JM: My family business. My great grandfather started our company in 1920 and it is an honor to carry on our legacy. I am fourth-generation. I also really enjoy selling plumbing fixtures. People do not realize how much plumbing fixtures can make your life easier or more fulling and is the secret piece of jewelry in the home.

What is the most rewarding aspect of working in the industry?
JM: I love helping clients select fixtures for their homes and helping bring their dreams to reality. I really enjoy when clients come back to me years later saying how much they love their plumbing fixtures, especially when them mention their toilets. I always get a laugh. I also work with lots of apartments and condo projects in the City of Detroit and I enjoy being part of the revitalization of the city.

What is one thing you wish more people knew/understood about the PHCP-PVF industry?
JM: I wish people understood the importance of our industry. Without this industry and plumbers, our society would not have been able to advance so far. This industry made it possible to dispose of waste in a proper manner and deliver clean water to advance society. People do not realize how connected they are to the plumbing fixtures that they use every day. A faucet is not just a faucet. I wish they understood the breadth of what is offered in this industry so builders, plumbers and contractors can budget their projects accordingly. Plumbing fixtures can be the jewelry for the home.

What has been the proudest moment in your career so far?
JM: I have a few that I would like to mention. First, I was able to join my family business to help it reach over 100 years in business. Second, I was given the opportunity to build my first showroom in Detroit (the only showroom in the city) and win multiple awards for it. Our Detroit showroom won the 2018 Decorative Plumbing & Hardware Association “Showroom of the year”, multiple UNESCO/Design Core Awards and Detroit Home Design Awards. Third, I received the 2021 Decorative Plumbing & Hardware Association “Showroom Person of the Year.” Lastly, I was voted on to the Forte Buying Group’s board, something I have wanted to be part of since I joined my company.

What is one thing most people don’t know about you?
JM: I love camping and disconnecting from the world. My favorite thing to do is go on a canoe trip and leave everything behind to essentially live off the land and the few belongings you bring with you. My favorite place to canoe is north of Minnesota in Quetico Provincial Park.

Why he was chosen as a Next Gen All Star Top 20 Under 40 winner:
“In 2018 Joshua was awarded the thirty-six under thirty-six for his impact on the community & helping make Metro Detroit an amazing place to live, work play and be a part of the community. In 2019 he was named thirty in their thirties by DBusiness Magazine. He has become an authority throughout the decorative plumbing industry. He participates in many organizations such as Forte Buying Group, Decorative Plumbing & Hardware Association and American Supply Association. Amongst one of his greatest accomplishments to date, Joshua had an instrumental hand in building the City of Detroit’s first-ever decorative plumbing and lighting showroom. This showroom is 5,000 square feet of state-of-the-art working showers, tubs, lighting and faucets, and has recently received the Decorative Plumbing & Hardware Association (DPHA) 2018 showroom of the year award.

This award-winning showroom also lights up Cass Avenue, beautifying this historical block in Midtown, Detroit. In 2021 Joshua received Showroom Professional of the Year by the Decorative Plumbing & Hardware Association. Joshua has written many articles pertaining to the plumbing industry many of which can be found in the Detroit area publication. He has also had many speaking engagements at events like Design Core Detroit, Seen Detroit & the Detroit Home awards. He has done all this while operating two award-winning decorative plumbing showroom. One in the City of Detroit & the other in Walled Lake, Michigan. Joshua participates in "Rebuilding Detroit." He has specified products for many of the new homes, building and commercial projects that have developed in and around the City of Detroit. He has developed a reputation with plumbers, builders, architects, interior designers and specifiers as the expert when it comes to decorative plumbing products. At 32 years old, Joshua is having a long and amazing career ahead of him in this industry,” says Jeff Moss, president, Advance Plumbing & Heating Supply.

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

Natalie Forster is the director of communications for the American Supply Association (ASA), where she leads the association's public and media relations strategy, social media efforts, and member-focused online and print communications. Prior to joining ASA, she was the Editorial Director of Plumbing & Mechanical and Supply House Times. Before that, she served as an editor and digital content director for Southern Trade Publications, a publishing company focused on the PHCP trades and real estate industries. Natalie holds a bachelor's degree in communication studies from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

Nicole Krawcke is the former Chief Editor of Plumbing & Mechanical. She joined BNP Media in 2014 and served as Web Editor and Business Management Editor of The ACHR NEWS. Prior to joining BNP, she worked at Patch.com, a hyper-local news platform focused on community journalism. She has 10 plus years of writing and editing experience and holds a bachelor’s degree in Journalism from Michigan State University.