Most people only think about their plumber when something goes wrong with their pipes. But South Side native and licensed plumber Anna Hall wants people to know that she’s part of an important profession that does a whole lot more than fix leaky faucets and clogged toilets.
“Plumbers protect the health of the nation,” Hall said. “Our job is important because if your water is contaminated, you can die.”
Hall has been a licensed plumber for over 30 years. For most of that time, she has been the only African American woman on the job. Today, she is the proud owner of P&H Divine Plumbing, Inc, a subcontractor who has done plumbing projects for the likes of CHA and the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago.
Hall spoke with us about how she broke barriers to become the first African-American female plumber with the City of Chicago and how she is trying to make things a little easier for a new generation of African-American women to enter her profession.
What made you decide to become a plumber?
I used to work for the City of Chicago at the Department of Aviation. They had very few black plumbers at that time. There was a [male] plumber there who would always tell me and the other ladies to apply to the apprenticeship program. Our supervisor got tired of him bothering us, so when it opened, she told us to apply. I give credit to that guy for pushing me.
Were there challenges?
There were a lot of challenges. Around that time, only a few women were getting into plumbing. And most of the time, I was the only Black woman on the job. A lot of men tried to make things difficult to see if I would quit. But quitting wasn’t an option for me. I grew up in Robert Taylor Homes, and if you can make it out of there, you can make it anywhere.
Years later, after I finished the apprenticeship, I came back to the City of Chicago, and I was the first licensed African American female plumber to work for the city. I made history.
Who were your mentors? Were there any women who helped you along in your career?
When I started, there were only 3 ladies ahead of us, so there weren’t many women who could mentor me.
I have to give credit to Deborah Whitaker, Director of Business Development at HIRE 360 Chicago. She’s not a plumber, but she knows a lot about construction and has been in my corner from day one. Michael Charles, Executive Director at Black Contractors Owners and Executives, has been very supportive. And my Pastor, Corey B. Brooks, is my spiritual guide and an entrepreneurial motivator.
But a lot of times, people look up to me as their mentor. I have a reputation for not backing down. I stand firm in things I believe in, and I consider myself an advocate for other plumbers. I speak up for our male plumbers more than anybody, because they need help. I believe God has challenged me to help those who can’t help themselves. Being a plumbing contractor has put me in a better position to understand why it was meant for me to be a plumber in the first place.
How did you become a subcontractor?
About 3 years ago, I took an entrepreneurship class at the Urban League. We learned about things like marketing, branding, finance, and whether it’s best to be an LLC or S-Corp. And when I started to apply for my license with the state, they had someone there to help me with that. In the end, I had to pitch my business, and I got a perfect score. The Urban League got me started in the right direction, but I had to learn a lot on my own. I didn’t have anyone else to show me the way. A lot of opportunities have opened up for me because of my certifications. I’m an MBE (Minority Business Enterprise), a WBE (Women’s Business Enterprise), and a DBE (Disadvantaged Business Enterprise). When I started my business, I knew that just being a black woman wasn’t going to get me in the door. I needed to have the certifications. And because I’m a licensed plumber, I self-perform.
Do you find that you have to do more to prove yourself? Do you feel like people are just doing business with you because they have to?
I think it works both ways. A lot of people don’t know that I’m a plumber. They assume that I am the front and that someone else is doing the work. But when they see my plumbing license and my contractor’s license, they take a second look. [Contractors] may be forced to do business with someone like me, but it’s an opportunity for them as well as for me.
What is the toughest part about being a business owner?
I think the biggest challenge is getting financed. I’m sure other minority subcontractors would agree with me.
How have you been able to get your foot in the door?
I’ve belonged to a union for 30 years. I also belong to a lot of different organizations. I go to a lot of networking events because that’s how people get to know you. When I pass out my business cards and talk to people at the city events and CHA events, I can find
out when people are looking for subcontractors with the certifications I have. The city, state, and county are cracking down and not giving contracts to people who aren’t subbing out their work to a minority or woman-owned business. I think a lot of times, I’m just at the right place at the right time.
What do you do when you’re not working?
I’m a Christian, so I give God a lot of my time, especially on Sundays. I’m pretty balanced, so at a certain time, I shut down my firm. I also take vacations and belong to different health clubs. I enjoy spending time with my family and friends. And I have no problem giving things to other people to do when I need help because you can’t do it all by yourself.
What do you want people to know about you and your company?
I want people to see that we’re just as qualified as anyone else. We’re not looking for a handout, we just want an opportunity.