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PHILADELPHIA, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 31, 2021
ZOOM TRIBUNE
TABLOID NEWS • SUNDAY • OCTOBER 11
Regd. ZDP/mm/210331 • No. 2021/Q1 • Iss. 001 • QUARTERLY EDITION • 2 PAGES • US 0.00
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ELLEN’S ROAR, PAGE 2
DOPPLEGANGER, PAGE 2
REVIEWS, PAGE 2
THE TECHNICIAN’S APPRENTICE Five graduates prepare to get behind the wheel as full time Zoom Drain technicians.
Graduating class celebrating with dinner at Nabrasa Steakhouse in Horsham. Pictured left to right: Dan Hockman (Install), Jesse Rodriguez (Service), Chris Roche (Service Manager), Steve Solla (General Manager), Jarrod Hamlers (Service), Chris Booth (Service), Patrick Parmer (Service), Eric Paolucci (Install Manager).
BY BRENDON HENDERSON Who were the wealthiest and most respected people during the Medieval Times? This question is sure to spark images of knights riding on their trusty steed or of the Starks and Lannisters battling to claim the Iron Throne. While it’s easy to conjure up these fantastic images in our minds, the reality is the most integral members of that time were typically the tradespeople. From blacksmiths to bakers and weavers, these were the people tasked with protecting the welfare of their communities through the mastery of skills essential for daily life. But this master status wasn’t given to them overnight. Rather they first had to commit themselves to the extraordinary dedication of studying their craft as an apprentice. With happy smiles and considerably less metal armor, this age-old tradition continued with the graduation that saw five of our apprentices become certified service technicians. Chris Booth, Jesse Rodriguez, Jarrod Ham-
STRANGE FACT #915 Did you know that cleaning sewers in 19th century Paris required giant balls of iron? Crews would assemble the ball on one end of the sewer, slowly lower it down and then the water would help push it forward. The iron would gather up any silt, sand or other grime and would push through any major clogs with ease.
lers, Dan Hockman and Patrick Parmer officially completed the Zoom Drain apprentice program with a ceremony that may have been modest in size, but large in significance.
Moving from an apprentice to a technician in many ways is similar to the same processes and principles that apprentices lived by in the 15th century: Observation, study and practice.
Zoom Drain has always been unique in its commitment to offering customers help from the most knowledgeable technicians in the industry. Which makes it all the more impressive that many of the expert techs that come out of the apprentice program typically have little to no prior experience in the field of drain and sewer work. At Zoom, this is what we pride ourselves on.
The technician training center, indepth curriculum and role playing is what Service Manager Chris Roche attributes to the high calibur of techs coming out of the program.
Graduate Chris Booth fell into this category. “I’d never done any work with drains before!” he says with a relatable laugh that seems to imply nobody really does before joining the team. “But my dad works in the trades and when I was getting ready to plan the next steps in life he reminded me that there’s always a want and need for it. I can’t sit behind a desk, I need to be able to move around so I was ready for the challenge.”
“A lot of people forget that there’s a technique and skill involved with this stuff. There’s a lot of tricks to the trade.” And in order to learn those tricks, it took a lot of hard work. While the volume of lessons and studies could oftentimes be intense and overwhelming, the graduates never wavered. “I know that once you put your mind to giving up, you’re going to give up,” said Booth. That’s not to say there were never moments early on where they were prone to doubt. When recalling the apprehension he felt during his first
LUNCH ON US With the fresh release of our first newsletter, we’re offering lunch on us! Refer your family & friends to receive the Zoom Tribune by visiting this link: zoomdrain.com/getazoomtribune Once submitted, we’ll send a $10 Wawa gift card in the mail. Offer valid 1 per employee once submission is validated.
week, Booths’ eyes widened with panic as he exclaimed, “When I got in here I thought ‘Oh my God there’s too much to do! How am I gonna learn this in six months!?” But looking at him now, no one would believe this doubt ever existed as his relaxed, but attentive, demeanour projects the confidence of someone now knowledgeable in the trades. Booth is in good company with his fellow grads, all of whom possess an unwavering dedication to getting the job done to the highest standard of quality. In addition to Booth, the other graduates include... see ‘GRADUATES’ on page 2.
LEAP BLOG: Bringing a fun new approach to drain and sewer education. Need something to scroll through when trying to pass the time or avoid awkward conversations in public? We may have just the thing. This exciting and fun new addition to the website won’t only be entertaining, it will also play a big role in showcasing Zoom Drain’s unique personality and high level of expertise. From exploring the subterranean threats that come from tree roots to attempting to decipher how a cow wound up in a sewer, this blog runs the gamut from the informational to the unbelievable. It’s live! You can read the blog by visiting zoomdrain.com/blog and be sure to share it with your friends who wonder what you do!
