Second Generation Plumber and Navy Vet Shawn Marsh Shares Hopes for the OPC and More
The three Marsh-Adamson owners: Shawn Marsh, Doug Withington, Chris Eisenhauer
Shawn Marsh and former President Barack Obama go way back. They first met at a political fundraiser in Chicago when Obama was an Illinois state senator. The two talked casually about da Bulls and da Bears over a drink. All those years ago, Marsh couldn’t have predicted that one day he would be working on a historic structure honoring Obama as our nation’s first Black president.
Marsh-Adamson Plumbing — a joint venture between Marsh’s firm, SCM Plumbing Company, and Adamson Plumbing Contractors — is performing work on the Obama Presidential Center’s tower library.
“When you go into the OPC and drink out of a water fountain, it will have been installed by Marsh-Adamson,” Marsh said. “It makes me proud to do a presidential library. Projects like this don’t come around in many people’s lifetimes, so it’s an honor to be a part of.”
Lakeside Alliance caught up with the U.S. Navy veteran ahead of Veterans’ Day on November 11 to thank him for his service, learn more about his journey in the industry and hear about his greatest hopes for the OPC. Read on below!
Marsh-Adamson team members together on the Obama Presidential Center site
How did you get into the plumbing field?
Marsh: My dad was a plumber, so I had exposure to the industry through him. After my time in the service, I went through the apprenticeship process and worked for several different contractors on several different projects. I started my own firm in 2014. Before the OPC, our largest project was the Engine Company 115 firehouse at 1024 W. 119th St. — the largest in the city at 27,000 square feet.
Thank you for your service. When and where did you serve in the Navy?
Marsh: I joined the Navy in 1980 and was stationed aboard the USS Seattle based out of Norfolk, Virginia.
How did your time in the military inform your leadership style?
Marsh: First, to give instruction, you have to be able to take instruction. Time in the service teaches you to respect the chain of command and who to seek out to resolve conflict, which is relevant in the construction field. Most of all, it taught me discipline and patience. When you own a business, nothing ever seems to happen when you want it to, and construction moves quickly. You have to learn to be patient and understand that everyone’s needs exceed your own as a business owner, so there are no excuses. The job has to be done. That's how it is in the military as well. It’s not a matter of if it can be done but how you’re going to get it done.
What are some of the biggest challenges that minority contractors face in Chicago?
Marsh: Funding is always a difficult subject when it comes to smaller contractors. We get paid every 30 to 40 days or sometimes every 90 to 100. If you’re paying your team weekly, you sometimes cannot afford the extra two to three weeks of work that is asked of you.
How did you get connected with Lakeside Alliance?
Marsh: I worked previously with two of the firms in Lakeside Alliance, Safeway and UJAMAA. The firehouse that I helped build was an UJAMAA project, so they knew my work and background. Lakeside Alliance is paying attention to the smaller contractors and making sure they have a part in this. And it’s not just with plumbing, I’ve seen them do so with electrical, HVAC, and more. They are looking for actual minority contractors and people who want to build their business and employ people from the neighborhood.
What is Marsh-Adamson contributing to the OPC?
Marsh: We’re in charge of all of the plumbing in the tower library. We’re onsite now and have been for the last five or six months. Being a smaller contractor myself, I wouldn't be able to do it on my own – the financial aspect nor the manpower. So, I formed a joint venture with Adamson and we decided it would be a good fit for us. Since we came together, we have identified three or four additional projects that we can work on together as well.
What sets your team apart?
Marsh: We’re a union shop. All of our people are top-notch and have been trained through the Local 130 apprenticeship. Having been in the field, I can relate to every aspect of plumbing that they may encounter on a job. We have a good relationship because we have that in common.
What is your greatest hope for the outcome of the OPC?
Marsh: That it brings value to the area and upgrades the community tremendously, which I think it will. That it provides a place for the youth to go and be able to express themselves. There will be different theaters and halls for young people to utilize and programming that will include the youth and the neighborhood. I grew up in Chicago so I’m very familiar with the area around the OPC. I used to play basketball at the gym nearby.
What advice would you give to others who are working to break into this industry and build their own business?
Marsh: Form relationships. Be truthful and don't bite off more than you can chew. It’s a process, but you’ll get to the point where you have enough work. Above all, don't get discouraged!