Lehmann Plumbing Celebrates 50 Years of Growth and Gives Thanks
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he year was 1954. Bernie Lehmann was leaving post-war Germany to build a life for himself in Canada, bringing an industrious work ethic that would serve him well. For the next 10 years he put in long hours, bringing his work ethic to bear on job after job for someone else’s company, someone else’s dream. Consequently it didn’t take him long to realize that if he was going to work that hard, he might as well work for himself and his own dream. In 1964, he packed up his tools, rolled up his sleeves and started B. Lehmann Plumbing Heating and Gas Fitting Ltd. Taking the reins after his father’s retirement, Rick Lehmann now carries on his father’s proud heritage. When Rick speaks about those early days, you can hear the unmistakable tone of a son’s pride. “My father had a few employees, and he would go to the site hours before everyone else. He’d be there at six digging trenches and getting everything ready for them so he could minimize time spent and earn some money on the project. My father was definitely a hands-on owner.” Rick wears the work ethic of his father comfortable and confidently, with the direct, steady gaze of a man you can trust. “When I graduated from high school in 1977, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do. My dad said, ‘you might as well come and work for me.’ And I never left.” In the mid ’80s, a back injury meant that Rick had to take a break from working in the field. This gave him the chance
Rick Lehmann, president and Jason Prentice, general manager.
to work in the office, a challenge he took on with enthusiasm. “At that time, we started to go after new clientele. My father was looking towards retirement, which happened in 1988. I started bidding contracts all over the city.” Rick and his father watched their sales volume nearly double annually for the next four years. “Initially, I was the estimator, project manager and purchaser, but eventually there just weren’t enough hours in the
Lehmann Plumbing | 50 Years | 1