Stallings celebrates 60 years of community service — Neuse News | Rare Techy

More than 60 years ago, Bill Stallings Sr. purchased Quinn Plumbing and Heating Company to form Stallings Plumbing and Heating in 1962. Today, Stallings is a trusted name in Kinston and surrounding areas. almost. As they celebrate their 60th birthday, second generation owner Wayne Stallings prepares for the future and stays true to their family tradition.

“We started doing air conditioning in the early ’70s,” says Stallings. “Using Singer’s gas and going from there.”

The retail industry has changed over the years. There has been a decline in skilled trades workers going into fields such as plumbing, heating, and air conditioning. The Stallings family prepares for a third generation to take the reins despite this downturn to provide services that the community deserves.

“There are very few plumbers who work for me right now as much as I do,” said Stallings. “It’s going to the point where you can’t hold back. It’s scary.”

More than 30 years ago, Stallings Sr. died. who died in 2007, told his son that people who work with their hands can be paid what they want. His words are telling the truth. Stallings has reached out to local schools, including North Lenoir, South Lenoir and Kinston High Schools, to offer high school students an alternative to college by helping them learn a trade. At one point, he hoped to establish a plumbing training facility to help with the labor shortage.

“When I first started, it was nothing like it is now,” Stallings said. “It’s changed a lot.” Stallings looked at his daughter, the former, and joked about how she likes the old ways, and that she and her team will keep up with the new ways.

Competition for work is fierce. Companies are poaching workers from established businesses, and some of those businesses are going out of business due to layoffs. Stallings returned to his work roots to keep the company going through a labor shortage and pandemic.

“We’re very lucky to be in this place,” Stallings said. “We do more service. That’s what we’ve decided.

Stallings is looking for the youngest people to work in the plumbing field. They provide hands-on training. Stallings wants his employees to be safe. He is proud of his team members who are doing well.

“This is not a clean job, the pipeline is not clean,” said Stallings. “But it would be very rewarding if they took it and ran with it. If anyone wants to get out of high school or out and think about what they can do, this is the place to go.”

Stallings thanks Kinston and Lenoir County for their support over the years.

Stallings Plumbing, Heating and Air, Inc. at 1509 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. in Kinston. Their phone number is (252) 523-5772.