Eric Stowe

How long have you been in the PHCP-PVF industry?

I have been with Torrco and the industry 10 years.

What drew you into the industry?

When I was entering the job market after graduating with a degree in Economics, I initially expected to join the finance industry. While navigating that difficult job market, a family friend approached me about coming to work with him at Torrco. At Torrco, I found a growing company in an industry that was hungry to bring in the next generation of young employees, a stark contrast from the finance industry, where many of the firms I was applying to and interviewing with seemed to have a glut of underemployed young workers and were actively downsizing. After an interview process in which I spoke directly with Torrco’s CEO Joel Becker and our now-current President and Chief Operating Officer Chris Fasano, I knew I wanted to join the Torrco team. Having access to those executives demonstrated the level of care and involvement they took in the business. It made the decision to join the company an easy one.

What is the most rewarding aspect of working in the industry?

As an estimator and project manager working on the commercial side of our business, I get to see and participate in nearly every stage of the process for supplying PHCP-PVF to new commercial projects. From first seeing design development plans, to estimating PHCP-PVF materials, all the way to turning over closeout documents at the end of a project, I get to see the evolution of these construction projects. I am an inquisitive person by nature, so I really appreciate the understanding of how new commercial building projects come to fruition that being in this industry affords me.

What motivates you every day?

Every day I get to see the influence of the work that I do. Whether I am shipping material to a project that will become part of our community, or helping a customer resolve a difficult issue, I am able to see the direct impact of the work that I do. I especially like that Torrco encourages communication across all departments, so I enjoy being able to learn the challenges that my co workers face each day and how I can best perform my job to make their lives easier as well. Although Torrco continues to grow, it still has a small company feel.

What is one thing you wish more people knew/understood about the PHCP-PVF industry?

There is so much more to the PHCP-PVF industry than most people realize. Every day presents new challenges; whether it is navigating supply chain difficulties during a time like the COVID pandemic, or learning new technologies that will bring efficiency to commercial buildings, no two days working in the industry are exactly alike. In the 10 years I have been working at Torrco, I have gotten to see everything from raw materials being cast in foundries, to completed buildings being turned over that I provided plumbing materials for. It is a peek behind the curtain to our complex economy that most people never get to experience. Sometimes I think how far removed from all this my classroom learning in Economics felt, seeing everything hands-on brings a different perspective.

What has been your proudest moment in your career so far?

When I started at Torrco, most of my fellow team members were very long tenured employees who had a vast wealth of industry knowledge. At the time, it felt daunting to ever reach that level of expertise. It is now 10 years later, and while I still learn new things from those same team members, I find it very rewarding that I am now able to teach them new things as well. A few years ago, I was able to train a new hire in all aspects of my role for the first time. I think that was the first time I realized I had achieved the level of expertise I had been striving for, but also that I would continue to learn and grow with the company and the industry for my whole career. There is no end point where it is possible to know everything about the industry, there is always room for growth.

What is one thing most people don’t know about you?

For my whole life, I have been an avid outdoors person. I grew up sailing, skiing, backpacking and camping in both summer and winter, dirt biking, and otherwise enjoying the outdoors.